Top Ten Things to do in Cincinnatti

9. Graeters Ice Cream: 14 locations citywide, main downtown branch at 41 E. Fourth Street, hours are Monday through Saturday 7 A.M.-6 P.M. In addition to a fixation with chili, Cincinnatians obsess over Graeters famous ice cream. The homemade treat is served in many flavors, but be sure to try these two favorites--vanilla bean and chocolate chip (which is actually more like chocolate chunk.)

8. Rookwood Pottery Restaurant: A factory for pottery has been transformed into this innovative restaurant in which diners can sit inside huge brick kilns and feast on the burgers voted the best in the city by Cincinnati Magazine. Vintage photographs, original pieces of pottery, and a great make-your-own sundae bar add to the ambience.

7. Museum Center at Union Terminal: Due to America's love affair with the automobile, the last train left this station in 1972. Now restored to its original grandeur, it is home to not one but three fantastic attractions: the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, the Cincinnati Historical Society, and the Robert D. Lindner Family Omnimax Theater.

6. Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse: For more than 40 years, locals swear that this restaurant cooks the world's best barbecue pork ribs. Add to this a lively, casual atmosphere, and it's no wonder that repeat customers include not only local business people but also Bob Hope, Arnold Palmer, and Bill Clinton.

5. Corporate Headquarters: For those of you keeping an eye on job opportunities, be sure to take advantage of what Cincinnati has to offer. As a Midwest commercial center, Cincinnati is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Proctor & Gamble, Chiquita Brands, and Kroger. Nearby is Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located about five miles northeast of downtown Dayton.

4. Mt. Adams: Cincinnati's answer to Greenwich Village. It is an amusing area to stroll through, with a United Nations worth of ethnic restaurants. Plus, the bars and cafes offer a great choice of music, food, and atmosphere. Among the best are Blind Lemon, a cocktail bar in a dark, cavernous setting, and The Pavilion, a bar with a terraced outdoor deck. Warning: parking spots can be hard to find so take a taxi from downtown (around $3) or the #49 bus.

3. Cincinnati Art Museum: Eden Park Drive at Art Museum Drive. Housed in an 1886 Greek Revival-style building, this museum is considered to be among America's best. Highlights include a rich collection of European impressionist and abstract paintings and Asian art exhibits. Recently restored to its original glory, the museum has vastly improved the lighting and atmosphere in the main galleries. Don't miss the excellent Sunday brunch offered at the in-house cafe.

2. Chili: As the "Chili Capital of the World," Cincy is the only place where fast food not only means burgers and tacos, but also this mixture of tomato sauce, meat, and ground chili. But instead of the traditional Tex-Mex style, chili parlors such as Skyline and Gold Star spike it with cinnamon and allspice. The spices are due to its Greek origin. When they ask if you want one-,two-,three-,four-,or five- way, you are choosing among the five main ingredients of hamburger, beans, cheddar cheese, onions, and spaghetti. Adventurous diners should try the Coney Island, a hot dog smothered in chili and cheese. First- timers, on the other hand, should opt for the classic "three-way" (ladled over spaghetti and topped with mounds of cheddar cheese).

1. The Ohio River. Refer to the accompanying article for activities on the river.