CINCINNATI

One of the grand edifices of Cincinnati is the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza.  The hotel was built in 1930-31 and has been called one of the world's finest examples of French Art Deco design.  It is a charter member of the Historic Hotels of America and has been placed on the National Historic Register.  It sits on 5th Street with Fountain Square to it's side and in easy walking distance of Paul Brown Stadium and Great American Ball Park.

The entire hotel is ornate; the work of artisans.  It's main dining room, the Orchids at Palm Court, takes you back to the 1930's and is one of the finest dining spots in the city   Of course, the hotel has been fitted with updated rooms and modern facilities.

My wife and I stayed there once.  It was January 10, 1982.  The Cincinnati Bengals were marching toward the Super Bowl.  I worked for basically a two-man company - me and the owner, Mitch Tegreene.   We had four season tickets.  On 1/10/82, the Bengals were playing the Chargers for the American Conference title.  The weather forecast was calling for very bad conditions, so we took rooms on game day at the Hilton - checked in and went to the game.  

That football game, which the Bengals won, still holds the record for the coldest wind-chill during a game in league history.  It has become known as the Freezer Bowl - the temperature got down to -9𝆩F and the windchill to -33°F.   My wife and Mitch's wife, Dosia, couldn't take the cold and left the stadium at half time.  Lucky for them a Cincinnati police officer gave them a ride to the hotel.  I'll never forget it - nor will she.