Blue Manatee Literacy Project is one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. They have such a great…read moreassortment of gifts and books for every age, and are constantly getting new things! Their mission is what really makes them stand out in the community though! Every book you purchase, whether child, adult, in person or online, they donate a book to a school in need! I love knowing that by expanding my daughter's library we are also helping out kids right here in Cincinnati who may not have access to new books without programs like BMLP.

Unfortunately I have not been able to take my kids in-person to visit yet. Looking forward to…read morethings going back to normal and getting to experience the store in-person. I ordered some Christmas gifts online and they were a great price and shipped quickly. I had accidentally checked local delivery instead of shipping. An employee called me and changed to shipping and didn't charge me shipping prices even after I offered to pay. Very lovely employees.

Their prices were great! The store was clean. The children's section didn't have a lot of clothes…read more Other than that, recommend!

Larry is the the perfect example of someone who should be in a management spot. Accommodating to…read morecustomers, positive and helpful. helped me and my friends checkout and was just overall a great person to represent the good work this store does for the community! Also, if you come here and have extra plastic grocery bags laying around, bring them in so that the cashiers can reuse them! I will be doing this every time I return. Shout out to Larry!

The absolute BEST place to adopt a dog in Cincinnati…read more Yes, they may go over your background with a fine tooth comb, but it's only because they care. (That's a GREAT thing...) The process really isn't that difficult or lengthy, it's simple. Remember adopting is a big life decision and owning a dog takes paitence! In comparison to the SPCA and others, STAF actually takes the time to make sure every pet is super healthy and well groomed. I was amazed at how much care they give their rescues. They REALLY work hard on behavior issues and training too. The effort their volunteers put in is beyond outstanding. These people are true people pet. Adopt a dog from STAF or go pay them a visit. You'll know why STAF deserves far more than 5 stars!

Only good things to say about STAF having adopted several cats there over many years. Recent…read moreadoption was a previously adopted cat returned after a rather traumatic home situation. Volunteers (Jean, Amanda, Julie, Amy) were so helpful, supportive, friendly. I can't praise them enough. In just 5 days my "scaredy" cat has left his hiding place, explored the house and is happily settling in. I think this reflects the good care he received at STAF while awaiting a new home.

Nothing but love for this amazing place that is helping teachers out all over the Cincinnati area…read more It's organized, it has variety of products and new items throughout the months. Easy process to get started and understand the lay of the land. They even have pick up so you can do your shopping on line. The volunteers and people running the place are very kind and helpful. This place is great, will share with all teachers that don't already know about it!

Awesome resource for teachers. Free supplies donated by local business and individuals. May is…read moreP&G month as well as 5/3 Bank. Very nice that Los businesses support such a value charity. With school districts cutting funding (ask your kids teachers how much they really spend out of pocket. You'll be amazed) this is a welcomed supplier of needed materials. Thanks!

Great bunch of folks. Convenient location. If you're visiting out of town easy to get to centrally…read morelocated or if you're local, pretty easy to get to.

My uncle used to run this lodge (not sure when, but it was fairly recently.) Back when it was…read moredownstairs (in my childhood) I liked it much more. I was fond of its wrecked charm... like say, a bird with a broken wing. I haven't been back to Norwood in a couple of years, but I must say, a stop into the Moose with my Dad can't and never will be avoided, as long as it is possible. Although, they've got nothin' on the $1 Jell-o shots of the American Legion. The Moose is a family place for me, and I wouldn't insult it with something as Spring Break-y as a liquor-infused gelatin shooter. I would, however, say hi to all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, before pulling up a seat in front of the Video Poker machine for old time's sake. *Members Only*

The Brewhaus Bakery is an adorable storefront in the heart of downtown Madeira. They supply not…read moreonly dogs, but also humans, with very tasty treats and even some gifts! Upon walking in you get the feel of a cozy gift shop and bakery combined. There is some pretty awesome dog decor all around. So much to see... there are all kinds of gifts and goodies from local vendors around the perimeter walls. How about some local honey or chocolate for you, and an adorable bowtie for your pet?! Then there is the real star, the dog biscuits. They are handmade from spent grains (at the end process of beer brewing) from many local breweries. Each bag lists what brewery the spent grains are from, and the tag names the staff member that made them! Who could forget to mention that the whole purpose of this business is non for profit. They employ special needs adults, and do programs with special needs teens! Everyone here was very kind and helpful. The final high point for me personally, of course, is the human treats! They have a baker who is very talented. I took home a maple oat scone, which was delicious! This is a great place to indulge for yourself, your pet, and find some great gifts for any occasion while supporting a good cause and shopping local!!!

Great service & super responsive. The person I worked with sent me lots of different options to…read morechoose from for my puppy's cake. He ended up loving it so much! The price is so reasonable & fair. I also always get the treats whenever I see them sold. I love that this business gives back to the community. Can't wait to support them in the future!

The Visionarium is a location of Visionaries and Voices, an organization that works with artists…read morewith disabilities. The Oakley location is quite new and has a small retail space in front and a larger class/event space in back. I was walking by one day and decided to stop in to check out the retail offerings. It was fantastic. They carry awesome jewelry, t-shirts, tea towels, notecards and custom wrapping paper all designed by local artists. And I wanted to buy it all. (I didn't.) This is a great place to find something to treat yourself or a lovely gift for a friend. And it is located between Deeper Roots coffee and Aglamesis Brothers ice cream shop, so you can get all kinds of good things while you're in the neighborhood.

From the owner: art non profit retail classesread more

This place is an amazing collection of people and goods. You'll meet helpful problem solvers and…read morefellow crafters who often show interest in others' projects, and you may be overwhelmed with the sheer volume of art supplies that have been crammed into the small store. We always find a few gems we didn't know we needed. My favorite purchase so far has been a very high quality pair of sewing sheers for just a few bucks, and my most surprising find has been a set of paper-making screens. I also treasure a roll of cheesy wrapping paper, which I took home for free.

Oh my gosh, in my happy place!! This is an artist/crafter's dream. The trick is to try to see it…read moreall in 30 minutes, as customers are limited right now due to Covid. This was worth the drive from Louisville! Happy Happy Joy Joy!

I've taken a few Macs to Encore for upgrades over the years. They are always precessional,…read morereliable and are priced right. I will also add that their turn-around time for repairs is very quick and exactly what they said it would be.

Soooo, sometimes computers fall off of things and then the screen is cracked and you have to have…read moreit hooked up to an external monitor for almost a year because you don't just have a new-computer-screen budget hanging out in your bank account. It happens. Friends had told me about Elan, and I finally called them up and they said it would only cost $250 to replace my MacBook's LCD screen. So much cheaper than I had anticipated and been warned it would cost through Apple since my warranty/apple care had long since expired. Aside from the pleasantly surprising cost, the service was great. Friendly, helpful and fast. Dropped it off on a Thursday just before they closed (they're closed all weekend) and I got it back the following Tuesday. Way faster turn around than through the Apple store! Now I am free to review all sorts of cool places from the comfort of my cozy warm bed. :)

Wowzers! Are you looking for a fun Saturday morning for the kids, the family, or even a student…read moregroup? THIS is the spot. Ms. Fumi and the team at Bi-Okoto are ready to lead you and your group (large or small) through a fun series of movements, play, sound, and singing. Stop telling your kids to sit still and not make noise. Here they'll be encouraged to get up, move around, make all the noise they can, AND work together while learning about West African culture and traditions. I took a small group of students from UC for a private lesson today, and they had an amazing time, dancing, drumming, and even singing! I'm incredibly impressed with the ability of the team at Bi-Okoto to draw everyone into the fun, and will absolutely be back with other groups in the future!

For over ten years, Bi-Okoto Drum and Dance Theatre has promoted cultural diversity and…read moreunderstanding of African heritage through music, movement and language. This troupe has toured over 39 States and countries such as South Korea , Italy, Germany, and France. Dance styles include apepe (from Ijebu, part of the Yoruba land), koroso (ceremonial dance from northern Nigeria), jameba (Nigerian tribal dance), and apeja (celebrates end of fishing festival in Nigeria). Tempo varies from subtle and sensual to boisterous and energetic but always entertaining. After seeing this group perform at the Fines Arts Fund Sampler Weekend, I understood that Bi-Okoto are teachers as well as artists. Audience participation is integral to their performances, from rhythmic clapping to responding to songs in Nigerian dialects (don't worry they'll instruct you what to say). If you have the opportunity to see Bi-Okoto, definitely check them out. A trip to Africa will never be so close to home.