LOCAL BUSINESSES LOVE THE REDS

So upon your recommendations, I went out today and visited a couple of local businesses that were rumored to have some unique Reds stuff.  I was not disappointed. 

My friend Jeff Van Kirk and I are suckers for places with personality.  We tend to hang out in the smaller joints, the cozier places with personality.  We flock to the hidden gems of the neighborhood, rather than the chain establishments in a strip mall (not that those places are bad, it’s just there are lots of them).  One of our sayings is “if it’s dark and doesn’t have a touch-screen cash register, it’s probably awesome.”  Thanks to co-worker Michael Anderson’s suggestion, I found one of those places today in Covington on Pike Street.  Unfortunately for Jeff, who has a real job with real hours, he couldn’t join me.  The name of the place is Herb and Thelma’s Tavern
and the name of the owner is Chip Boehmker, a 4th generation Reds fan who has been cheering for our Redlegs through good times and bad since the 1950′s.  His grandparents opened up Herb and Thelma’s in 1934 and ever since, Covington has been blessed with a friendly stop for delicious burgers and ice cold beers.

Chip is a big-time Reds fan.  On a wall inside Herb and Thelma’s, he has a display case that contains several Reds bobbleheads and other fun Reds paraphernalia.  But I must admit my favorite Reds-related item inside the tavern isn’t anything in the case, rather it’s a photograph hanging near the entrance, a picture of Chip’s parents posing with Pete Rose.  Pete is in full 1970s mode wearing a fashionable (at the time) 3-piece suit and that famous floppy haircut.

After ordering my $1.75 beer (for the record, I’m on vacation this week), I informed Chip where I worked and what my reasons were for stopping by.  I told him how long I’ve worked for the Reds and he asked if I knew Dave Miley.  According to Chip, Miley was a loyal customer of Herb and Thelma’s during his tenure as Reds manager.  In fact, Chip has a Miley bobblehead  in his display case, courtesy of Miley himself.

As business began picking up, Chip had to fulfill his duties as hamburger chef/suds slinger, so I didn’t want to hold him up with too much conversation.  I said so long to Chip and his bobbleheads and to Herb and Thelma and Pete and knew that at some point I’d be back…and next time I’d be bringing Jeff with me.

So my next stop was just a few miles away on 4th street in downtown Cincinnati, but it might as well have been 3,000 miles down on the opposite end of the spectrum.  Herb and Thelma’s is a good ol’ fashion tavern established in 1934.  Unheard Of is a modern clothing store that opened for business in June of 2008.  Owner Phil Lipschutz specializes in selling contemporary garb for the younger generation.  Cool t-shirts, sweet sneakers and fashionable hoodies are all up for sale at Unheard Of.  Reader Josh Shortt recommended that I catch up with Phil at the shop and to check out the giant mural of the “Big Dead Machine” that’s splashed across the store’s back wall.  Since tis the season for ghosts and goblins and zombies, I had to see it for myself.

It began with an enlarged classic Big Red Machine photo plastered to a wall inside the store.  Artist Carter Gillis then took over, turning the ”Great Eight” into the “Grave Eight,” having Bench, Morgan, Rose, Griffey, Concepcion, Geronimo and Foster morphed into terrifying zombies.  When I asked Phil how he came up with the idea to do such a thing, he said “I’m a huge Michael Jackson fan (think Thriller video).  I’m a huge zombie fan and I’m a huge Big Red Machine fan.  This was a perfect way to honor all 3.  The Big Red Machine was the greatest team that ever played the game.  Nothing could ‘kill’ them, they were like monsters, so this seemed appropriate.”  Take a look for yourself…

Lipschutz bravely poses with the Big Dead Machine

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So where else should I go?  Send me out to find some cool “Reds” places.  Some of you have sent suggestions that I plan on honoring (Big Art’s Bar-B-Que, Fries Cafe, etc), but I’d love some more.  Heck, if you promise to shower and wear a Reds cap, I’d be up for joining some of you at your favorite local Reds hangout. 

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Since you might be reading this on Friday, I hope you remembered to wear your Reds cap!  Seriously, if this blog doesn’t accomplish anything other than to make you remember to wear your Reds cap on Fridays (if not everyday), then I’ll die with a smile on my face without thinking the good lord gypped me. 

And speaking of the Reds Cap Club, please welcome our newest member, Joe Long from WOXY.com.  Whether they’re in Ohio or Texas, DJs Joe, Mike and Shiv are the only Reds fans on the planet who spin the best new music in the world.

Heeeeeeeeeere’s JOE!

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If you’re celebrating Halloween this weekend, have a great time, and please please please be safe and responsible. 

See ya,

Jamie