Who knew that there was an art gallery across the street from Shanghai Mama's? Located inside the…read morebuilding marked "Cincinnati Bar Center," the Art Gallery is presenting Panorama of Cincinnati Art, currently in its 25th year. Unlike the art museum, this gallery is a business that sells paintings. I was buzzed in through the from door, welcomed by the receptionist. As I browsed the exhibit, salespeople kept approaching me, asking about my collection. This was a little awkward as, while I do collect art, I could never afford any of the pieces here which averaged around $3,500, some reaching $25,000 - $150,000. I kindly dismissed the salespeople, explaining I just wanted to view the exhibit. There were 100 paintings lining the walls, but only a few were impressive to my eye. Many were scenes of Native Americans, sailboats, or generic landscapes. The most notable Cincinnati artist, Frank Duveneck, is what drew me to the exhibit. Duveneck is known for his breathtaking murals inside Cathedral Basilica and Mother of God Church. Unfortunately, only one painting in the exhibit was a Duveneck. There was also only one Harlan Hubbard landscape. Hubbard was a folk artist who painted Ohio River scenery, known for living off the land well into the 1980s. Understandably, these prominent artists may only have a few paintings for public purchase (most are in museums.) I was expecting for the rest of the art to be of Cincinnati landscapes or period pieces of the city by lesser known artists. Not quite. A handful of portraits I recognized as Cincinnati, whether modern or past, or mentioned Cincinnati in their description. Of those few artists, I found these pieces to be beautiful: - Tom Bacher, who paints with phosphorescent acrylic for a textured, glowing look. http://www.cincinnatiartgalleries.com/painting/artist-browse.aspx?p=3&id=ART86 - Lewis Henry Meakin (1850-1917), who painted a landscape of rural Clifton. Yes, Clifton was farmland at the turn of the century. http://www.cincinnatiartgalleries.com/painting/artist-browse.aspx?id=ART1127 - Shafer, who created a sole black and white sketch resembling an old newspaper cartoon with clippings of musical notes. It was my favorite piece in the gallery with a style unique from all the rest. I enjoyed seeing these Cincinnati artists and their local pieces. I'll be on the look out for their works around town, especially Bacher, since he is still living and creating art. Overall, Panorama of Cincinnati Art could have used some more details explaining the artists ties to Cincinnati. The Gallery itself was exquisite and a perfect place for the art connoisseur. While you definitely need deep pockets to purchase the portraits, Cincinnati Art Gallery has a selection of local art books, including many on Rookwood Pottery. They also have books on the past Panorama exhibits with vivid pictures of each of the paintings. Books are more affordable, averaging around $25.00.

One of Cincinnati's icons, Raymond Thunder-Sky was easily recognizable as he walked the streets…read moredressed in a clown collar, construction hat, and a toolbox. Thunder-Sky, an autistic Native American, sketched demolition and construction sites throughout the Queen City. When he passed away in 2004, he left behind 2,000 drawings and a variety of costumes. Thunder-Sky Inc. was founded to preserve the legacy through art exhibits, educational programs, and an exhibition space for unconventional art. Many of Raymond's works of art and outfits can be viewed at the gallery which is opened Friday evenings and weekend afternoons. Prints of Thunder-Sky's work are available for purchase for $50.00 with proceeds contributing to the operation of the gallery. Since his passing, Raymond's art has been collected by enthusiasts across the nation.

It was a warm pleasant early spring evening and it wasn't actually raining for a change. I read on…read moreFacebook about an art exhibit opening that night. The theme was crime scenes so I just had to attend. I could not recall ever being at Thunder-Sky before which made it more of a special treat. I walked up because it was nice out but discovered there was plenty of street parking upon my arrival. The gallery is located in an older but attractive building with a sign hanging over the sidewalk. The exhibit hall is smaller then some but it looks spacious and bright. I found the crime scene paintings and mixed media works very fun and engaging. Down a staircase was more exhibition space. I loved seeing what appeared to be an ongoing Golden Girls' tribute display with framed and mixed media pieces. This is where the food and drink was found. In addition to the typical fruit, meat, pretzels, crackers & cheese was a delicious chocolate cake of a heavier texture with chocolate icing. On top of the cake were these awesome little plastic hatchets like the kind you might murder someone with. How cool is that! By the staircase was a nice variety of cold cans of beer and water. Out the back door there is a small patio space offering a view of the hillside. I really like this art gallery. I plan to return here again. Until next time be kind to each other. #yelpcincy #thunder-sky #crimesceneart

Greenacres Art Center is a magical place. The grounds and the mansion feel like you are in some…read moremagical fantasy land. While it is generally closed to the public, the events are a must see. It is one of the few places in the city where you can see the Cinci Pops, the Opera, the May Festival Chorus and the Ballet all on the same stage. The summer concert series is a seems too good to be true for the price. The fall events are centered around the Greenacres Artists Guild, made up of 27 of the cities best realists fine artists and illustrators, are also quite fun. Aside from the opening art show in October, the events during the run of the show are pretty cool. The beer tasting and bourbon tastings make for a great way to check out the art while sampling local craft alcoholic beverages served by the company representatives. While the place can feel like you are entering a forbidden secret society with a long driveway lined with no trespassing signs, I recommend you check the place out. The staff are helpful and love to share info about the center. Proceeds from many of the events go to the foundations charitable activities, including the bus fund for bringing inner city kids to Indian Hills for educational programs in the arts and agriculture.

Attended a beer tasting event and art exhibit here on a Friday night and was not sure what to…read moreexpect. Awesome! The estate is filled with history and beautifully maintained. The event with 4-5 breweries sampling and small bites was well executed. Crowd was friendly and a good mix of ages. I can't wait to come back!

What a cool place! Old building converted to support local artists and resident programs for kids…read moreand adults alike. They have art gallery to view spotlights on artists and pretty sure they have studio space that artists can rent if they don't have room at home. They have a massive Xmas shop event towards the holidays and yes I do have my artwork there as well! When you are on Montgomery road, make sure to pay them a visit or check out the summer camps for your kids! Highly recommend!

There's some cool art but more importantly really cool opportunities to create art here, the…read moreneighborhood is made better by having an outlet for expression and creation, and the people that operate this center are top notch. Definitely check it out and support it if possible

A wonderful place to spend a good couple hours exploring artwork through the centuries, from all…read morearound the world -- including Cincinnati. It's art plus history, and some of the exhibits include tactile, audible AND olfactory enhancements. The classical old building housing the museum is a work of art in itself. That sweeping staircase! Not to worry, there are elevators. And the entire premises is fully wheelchair accessible including plenty of designated parking spots. There is a gift shop and a cafe on premises. My only regret from our visit is we only allowed 90 minutes. I would say at least two hours plus to see everything without rushing. They also offer guided tours, not sure of the duration on those. And..... FREE admission, free parking. And a great view from Mount Adams as an added bonus. What a gem!

So thankful we have such an amazing art museum in our city. It's a gem…read more Our favorite part though is definitely the children's education room. My boys love to come here and see what's new in the REC and eat lunch in the atrium. The staff in the REC are fantastic too. One of our favorite places!

In town and enjoy artwork... stop in and check out the Taft museum. You'll find your collection of…read morecanvas creations, various eras of pottery. Talk with the docents as they give you more facts about the artwork and the historical former home of Charles Taft... President William Howard Tafts brother. Free entry on Sundays and Mondays and free parking on Sundays and Mondays too. Parking on site but limited.

The Taft Museum is the home of former President Taft and was built in the 1820's. It became a…read morepublic museum in the 1930's. There are both permanent exhibits and periodic special exhibits plus a small restaurant and gift shop. During this visit the special exhibit was quilts, and more specifically, quilts made with indigo dyed cloth. Indigo was a prized dye years ago many tears ago and entire plantations all over the world were growing and processing the plants. German scientists eventually developed a synthetic indigo dye that replaced the labor-intensive farming process that had been used for centuries. The Taft is a great place to spend some time. Free parking in their garage under the museum. Admission is $15 for adults; $12 for seniors. Sundays and Mondays are free! Closed Tuesdays.

When you're downtown and looking for a a great gift handcrafted by a local artist look no further…read morethan the Fifth Street Gallery. A variety of artists with mixture of jewelry, pottery, glass, paintings and photography you will love to pick up for family, friends birthday, Christmas or a special treat for yourself knowing the work was made right here in Cincinnati.

This is a good place to find 'local' artists (who own and run this gallery in a cooperative of 15)…read more Pricing ranges from a few dollars for a custom card to $1000 for oil painting. Jewelry, pottery, glass works and other items. Good place for presents to take back from your trip to the Queen City on the Ohio.

What a charming, quirky and fun place! I was in the…read moreCincinnati area and this popped into my Facebook feed. You need to book an appointment to visit and the owner very graciously fit us in even though they had a fairly packed schedule. The space is in a cool art/studio space where various artisans rent out areas. The museum owner told me about some of the history of the building which was really interesting to hear. I love when old spaces are reimagined. When you get to the building that the museum is in, the cat museum is down the hall and to the right. (there isn't any directional signage when you enter the building). You know you are in the right place when you see the giant blow up lucky cat. The museum itself is a small space, but it is packed, literally wall to wall and floor to ceiling with lucky cat and other cat related items. There are several interactive items (noted with a paw so you know what you can and can't touch). There are items the owners collected, items created by the owners and items created and donated by others. One of my daughter's favorites was the weird al lucky cat and the super tiny lucky cat. We spent a surprisingly long amount of time in there because my daughter wanted to look at and take in as many details as possible. The museum itself is free, but you can make a donation. You can also support the museum and owner by making a purchase in the shop. They have everything from $1 small trinket items to large and expensive stuffed animals and souvenir shirts. If you are looking for something unique and quirky to do, definitely check out this super fun space.

A bit difficult to sign up for a tour and once you are there it is also a bit hard to find…read more Go to the big glass door entrance located in the corner of the building. Once inside go to the back and to the right... from there on it is easy because then you will see a big ole lucky cat and the entrance is marked. It is a small museum, but houses thousands of lucky cats. Varieties you have never seen before. Big ones, tiny ones, interactive ones, old ones, new ones.... Enjoy