Route #9: Corryville

Friday is Kayla’s birthday. So, naturally she wanted to go on a Run 52 to celebrate. The alphabet said we were headed to Corryville. Over the last five years I have spent a lot of time in Corryville; however, plotting this course led me to realize that my time in Corryville wasn’t really quality time. It was mostly parking my car and walking to class. What I didn’t realize is that Corryville is full of sites that serve, entertain, and educate Cincinnatians. On the entertainment front, we will start on Short Vine in front of Bogart’s which has made a recent resurgence after its heyday in the mid 90’s. Kayla never made it to Bogart’s during its prime; she laments that Dave Matthew’s Band never played there. Down the street we will see the Corryville Library, where I spent many afternoons with Public Allies in Friday training sessions. This library was also the site of Kayla’s one Short Vine visit before moving back to Cincinnati with me in 2007. It was here where she attended a Peace Corps meeting with Maggie. Thankfully, her placement in Africa never panned out!

At Staggerlee’s carryout liquor store, we will hang a right. Staggerlee’s is named after a St. Louis folk hero who is the subject of many blues tracks. The Corryville Staggerlee’s is notable because it represents the place where the university and the neighborhood intersect, as you will see people from both settings leaving with alcohol in hand.Heading down a nice hill on East University we will pass my former parking spot in front of a barber shop. Its uncanny availability made me feel like a VIP.When we get to Eden we will turn left. Here we will see Stetson Square, a sprawling complex across from University Hospital intended to serve as housing for med students and young professionals.Across MLK we will continue on Eden through the hospital development.  .

Still on the hospital grounds, we will turn onto Albert Sabin Way. As I was plotting this course I asked myself--who was Albert Sabin; I discovered that he developed an oral polio vaccine, and proceeded to feel like I should brush up on my vaccination all-stars.

On ASW we will pass a tiny park named for Maurice Levine, a groundbreaking psychoanalyst, who helped Cincinnati become a leader in mental health. Given the current state of community mental health, a landmark like this can be a great reminder of visionary leadership.Eventually, we will make our way out of the medical area to Burnet, which will take us back across MLK. On our left we will see Crossroads Center, which certainly echoes Levine’s legacy.

On Burnet we will pass two organizations dedicated to youth, ProKids and Cincinnati Public Schools. Around the corner on Taft the youth theme will continue as we pass the Mayerson Academy.Along Taft we will pass the Woman’s Club of Cincinnati, a new discovery for both of us. In addition to the interesting programming that takes place inside, the club appears to be architecturally significant as well.We will round the corner and pass Corryville Triangle Park, which sits at the intersection of Taft and Euclid. From there we will continue to check out the residential section.

At University at Highland we will come across Mecklenburg Gardens, a great place to grab a German beer.Our run will finish along Jefferson on the very western edge of Corryville before we finish up on Short Vine and continue on with Kayla's birthday.