Blind Lemon   

In the bar business, an establishment with a 10-year history is fairly impressive -- until you compare that against the four decades that the Blind Lemon has been around. A fixture in the hills of its Mt. Adams neighborhood, the bar was established in May 1963 and operated for nearly 10 years before former bouncer/bartender Ed Sheppard took ownership. The club has been a family affair for most of its existence; Sheppard met his wife Pat when she was employed at the bar in 1974, and Sheppard's friend and bartender Walter Brown began his 33-year tenure as the Blind Lemon's mixmaster back in 1971. Although the bar caters to an eclectic crowd, it has long been acknowledged as one of the premier nightspots for local jazz. The club has also hosted the likes of the Kingston Trio and Jimmy Buffett, long before either was known to their respective generations, and former Cincinnati city councilman (and future talk show sensationalist) Jerry Springer made occasional appearances on the Blind Lemon's stage. The club continues to book an eclectic mix of singer/songwriters and jazz artists. The outdoor courtyard is perfect for warm weather get-togethers, and the fire pit is great for the crisper evenings.