1. Folks Here Know To Be Prepared For The City To Shut Down On Opening Day
Nothing beats seeing Big Red Machine at Great American Ball Park on the first day of baseball season. It’s not just an American pastime in Cincinnati, Reds baseball is a religion. It seems like the entire city takes a day off work to celebrate, starting with the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade and hopefully ending with the first win of the season.
2. Everyone In Cincinnati Knows, The Best Chili In The World Is Made Right Here
Cincinnati does chili better than anywhere else in the country. While there are chili places on almost every corner, Gold Star vs Skyline seem to be the two strongest outliers. This isn’t your standard cup of chili either. It goes on everything, from pasta to hot dogs to even nachos. For the best, have a 3-way at Skyline with extra cheese, it can’t be beat.
3. Don’t Be Confused If You Hear Someone Refer To Cincy As Porkopolis
Cincinnati used to process more pork than anywhere else in the country, earning it the nickname “Porkopolis.” You can bet that the tradition of having awesome meat is still very apparent, as you’ll leave satisfied from any local barbecue joint. Check out Eli’s BBQ for one Cincinnati’s favorites.
4. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Will Have You Believing You’re In Germany
One of many celebrations in Cincinnati, Oktoberfest gives partiers more beer, sausage, and lederhosen than they can handle. Plus, its home to the world’s largest chicken dance. It’s probably best to take a day or two off of work for this celebration as well.
5. Cincinnati Is Basically Two Cities
There’s the Ohio side and then there’s the Covington/Newport, Kentucky side. During big celebrations, both sides of the river seem to bleed together, as they join up to throw some of the coolest festivals around. While technically, Cincinnati is only on the Northern side of the river, Cincinnatians tend to live in either state.
6. Cincinnatians Go Crazy For Bdubs
Cincinnatians remember Buffalo Wild Wings when it was “Buffalo Wild Wings and ‘Weck,” with the “weck” referring to the sandwiches on kummelweck rolls that they used to serve. It may be a well-known chain now, but that doesn’t keep Cincinnatians from grabbing a few dozen wings to go on football Sundays.
7. Cincinnatians Can Drink You Under The Table, Anytime, Anywhere
If it’s not apparent yet, Cincinnatians know how to have a great old time, usually with beer as their weapon of choice. Cincinnatians drink roughly twice as much as the typical American, knocking back 40 gallons of beer per person on an annual basis.
8. Cincinnatians Love Buckeyes, Just Not Buckeyes Sports
While the rest of Ohio is cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati prefers more local teams. However, they’re still always down to stuff their face with chocolate-coated peanut butter balls any chance they get.
9. Everyone In Cincy Has Gotta Get Some Goetta
It’s pronounced “ged-da” and this mix of ground meat, oats, and spices is amazing. It’s extremely versatile, eaten plain or as a topping for almost anything.
10. The Battle Of Red And Blue Isn’t A Political Reference In Cincy
As most Cincinnatians aren’t cheering for the Buckeyes, roughly half of them are still cheering for the red of the Cincinnati Bearcats, while the rest are wearing Musketeer blue. Most locals would prefer if everyone just picked a side, but will secretly be happy if either team does well on a national level.
11. Pancakes Here Are Wispy Thin And Oddly Delicious
A brunch lover’s paradise, Sugar n’ Spice has mastered the art of wispy thin pancakes. These pancakes aren’t as fluffy as they are in the rest of the nation, but after tasting them it’s a wonder more places don’t try to mimic their masterpiece.
12. “Salty” Isn’t Just A Flavor In Cincy
Across the state of Ohio, “salty” doesn’t just refer to the tableside seasoning. Here it translates to “grumpy” or “peeved.” The term gets thrown around a lot, leaving out-of-towners a little confused at first.
13. Yes, The Rumors Are True, The Bengals Are Cursed
The Bengals have notoriously done very poorly in the post season, something many locals blame on the “curse of Bo Jackson.” When a Bengals player injured Raider’s running back Bo Jackson in the 1991 during a playoff game, what ended up being the last game of his career, many people believe it brought an era of bad luck upon the team, barring them from playoff success until it wears off.
14. Cincinnatians Can Run Like Hell
A 5k benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the “Run Like Hell” race encourages Cincinnatians to don their most outrageous group costumes before hitting the route.
15. Nobody Rocks Harder Than Folks From Cincinnati
Capable of holding over 20,000 screaming fans, the Riverbend Music Center helped revive the outdoor concert movement in the United States, as one of only a few venues of its type when it was built in 1984. Bringing in some of the largest acts in the country, nothing beats watching an awesome band from the Riverbend lawn.
16. Cincinnatians Have A Deep Appreciation For A Smoother Genre, Too
While Cincinnati has huge venues capable of attracting big names, they also love their local musicians and more intimate settings as well. The Greenwich in Walnut Hills is the place to go for a more laidback atmosphere, as echoing jazz lines keep this audience super cool.
17. No, That’s Not The Brooklyn Bridge, It’s The Roebling
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge that connects Cincy and Covington was once the largest suspension bridge in the world after its 1866 construction. A lot of visitors point out its similarity to the Brooklyn Bridge as they’re leaving a Cincinnati sports game and heading back to the bars and hotels in Kentucky.
18. Only A True Cincinnatian Can Handle The Beast
One of the best wooden roller coasters around, “The Beast” at Kings Island has been giving people thrills and making people sick since 1979. The longest rollercoaster in the world, a ride last more than four minutes as brave souls are whipped around over 35 acres of land.
19. Cincinnatians Are Very Proud Of All Their “Things”
If it’s from Cincy, they won’t hesitate to let you know. Procter and Gamble is a great example. If you take regular trips to the grocery store with a Cincinnatian, you’ll quickly lose track of how many times they mention things like Crest, Tide, and Old Spice being “Cincinnati things.”
20. High School Allegiance Is A Big Deal To People Here In Cincy
Regardless of age in Cincinnati, it still matters where you went to high school. With so many different diverse areas in the city, Cincinnatians often base part of their identity on which school they attended.
21. Cincinnatians Love To Say “Please”
Living in Cincinnati, it becomes second nature. Just as a Canadian says “sorry” and a Southerner says “y’all,” Cincinnatians run the word “please” into the ground. The most common use is hearing the word “please” in the place of “excuse me.”
22. Cincinnati Gets Called A Lot Of Different Things
Cincinnati has a ton of nicknames, including but not limited to: Cincy, Zinzi, Cincinasty, Cincitucky, the Queen City, the Tri-State…the list goes on. Whatever it’s being called that given day, it’s the same place with the same awesome people and the same awesome times.
23. Everyone In Cincy Knows, Fountain Square Is Where It’s At
Cincinnati has spent a ton of time and money renovating their town square in recent history. As a result, it’s now one of the most energetic town squares around. Home to tons of events, awesome bars, and world-class restaurants, Fountain Square is the place to be.
24. Folks In Cincy Really Are Going Downhill—And That’s A Good Thing
While Cincinnati is just about as far south in Ohio as you can go, that hasn’t slowed the local ski hill, Perfect North, down at all. The slope achieved nationwide notoriety recently as hometown hero Nick Goepper competed and medaled at the Winter Olympics last year.
25. And Now For Something Spooky: There’s An Abandoned Subway Underneath The City
There’s an entire web of abandoned, incomplete subway lines underneath Cincinnati. Early in the 20th century, the city hoped it would replace their streetcar system, but after funding fell out the project got shut down. Today, many residents of the city have no clue it exists, as only 250 people are taken on a tour of the system each year.
26. You Better Believe That Cincy Knows Their Beer
With how much beer the average Cincinnatians drinks, it’s no surprise they’re obsessed with craft beer. With local favorites including Rhinegeist, Fifty West, and Mt. Carmel Brewing Company, it’s impossible to go wrong with any local brew.
27. You Won’t Get Eaten On This Purple People Bridge
Have no fear, there are no one eyed one horned flying purple people eaters on this bridge, just a ton of pedestrians making the walk between Cincinnati and Newport. It’s known as the “Purple People Bridge” for its unique coloring.
28. If You’re Feeling Lucky, Head To The Horseshoe
Still a relatively new addition to the city, the Horseshoe Casino is modeled after a Las Vegas-style establishment, offering adult visitors casino games, awesome food, and drinks.
29. Cincinnatians Are Massive Bookworms
The library system in Cincy is pretty sweet, and it should be, after all, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is one of the largest in the country with an annual circulation of over 15 million items, 4 million of which from its downtown location alone.
30. So Um, The Ohio River… Yeah, Swim At Your Own Risk
People get in the Ohio River all the time, but a lot of Cincinnatians would advise against it. No one is really sure what lies beneath its dark brown wake.
31. Jerry Springer—Yes, That Jerry Springer—Once Ruled This Town
Now more publically known for breaking up fights between irate exes and revealing the results of paternity tests, in a past life, Jerry Springer was the mayor of Cincinnati. This is something that Cincinnatians are sure to mention to any newcomer to their hometown.
32. Hope You’re Hungry Because The Food Scene In Cincy Can’t Be Beat
While Cincy often gets overlooked when critics are discussing the finest food around the country, a trip to the Taste of Cincinnati will have satisfied visitors thinking otherwise. Not only is the Taste of Cincinnati the country’s longest running culinary festival, it captures why Cincinnati should be a well-known destination on any foodie’s bucket list.
33. Even Pigs Run Marathons In Cincy
The “Pigs Can Fly” Cincinnati Marathon, now 17 years in the running, got its name when a commemorative pig honoring the city’s 200th birthday was set in front of a smokestack, giving the appearance that it was being launched into the air. On an annual basis, over 30,000 participants join in on yet another Cincinnati event that’s been dubbed the “largest party weekend in town.”
34. Cincinnatians Are A Cultured Community
Breaking nationwide stereotypes of the Midwest, Cincinnati is a city full of culture. From music to galleries, it has some of the best options in the country for the arts community. One must-see stop on the list is the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, also known as the CAC. The modern art here is constantly changing always keeping local fans on their toes.
35. Cincinnati Will Always Be The Best “C” In Ohio
With so much diversity, awesome food, and even better parties, Cincinnati is the most exciting place in Ohio to be. Known around the nation as one of the top emerging cities, there’s no place else in the country quite like the Queen City.
What do you love about living in Cincinnati? Leave a comment and let us know! 
