BARS & BEERS

Opening Day parties & events

Shauna Steigerwald

ssteigerwald@enquirer.com

Jesse, lead guitarist with 'Frankly Speaking', entertains a huge crowd during the The Opening Day Block Party in front of the Great American Ballpark. It was the 137th Reds Opening Day. It was shoulder to shoulder as people tried to move through the crowd to reach the various restaurants or just stand in one place to listen to the live music. The Reds were up against the Los Angeles Angels. It was the first interleague Opening Day in Major League Baseball history. Reds Johnny Cueto was the starting pitcher. The game was a sold out.
The photograph was shot with a 15mm lens.
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Enquirer / Liz Dufour

From block parties to bar parties to book signings, there's a lot going on to celebrate Opening Day.

Aside from the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, here are some Downtown and Over-the-Rhine happenings to check out.

Fans gathered to celebrate in the streets and areas adjacent to Great American Ball Park.

OPENING DAY PARTIES:

Opening Day Block Party

Join the crowd outside Great American Ball Park on Monday at the third annual Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party. WEBN will provide the music (Alias plays from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Frankly Speaking plays 1-3 p.m.), and food and drinks from Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Kroger, LaRosa's and Queen City Sausage will be available to purchase.

Proceeds benefit the Reds Community Fund and the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy.

Details: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday. WEBN broadcasts live beginning at 9 a.m. Joe Nuxhall Way and Freedom Way, Downtown. Free admission.

Washington Park

Washington Park's Opening Day celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. with games and music by Cherry on Top. Event goers can watch the Findlay Market parade go by on Elm Street from bleacher seating on the park's Music Hall Plaza. Afterward, stick around for more music, family-friendly activities and food from Wertheim's and Washington Park's concession stand, which also will serve beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks and water.

Don't have tickets for the game? No problem – a giant LED screen will be set up for watching the Reds take on the Cardinals.

Details: 11 a.m. Monday, 1230 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Free. 513-352-4080; washingtonpark.org.

Fountain Square

Give Back Cincinnati will host the Rally on the Square, one of its biggest fundraisers of the year. Beer tents will help fans gear up for the game.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Fifth and Vine streets, Downtown. Free. 513-763-8036; www.givebackcincinnati.org.

Jim Tarbell waves as he passes spectators in the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade.

Arnold's

Cincinnati's oldest tavern is always a popular stop on Opening Day. This year, breakfast will be served from 9-11 a.m. Monday. Seven rare beers also will be tapped at 9 a.m.: Three Floyd Alpha King, The Brew Kettle White Rajah, two-year aged Founder's Imperial Stout, Great Lakes Chillwave Double IPA, Blank Slate Long Way Home Chocolate IPA, Rhinegeist Saber Tooth Tiger and MadTree's Rounding Third and Heading for Home Red IPA.

Todd Hepburn will play baseball songs on the piano from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Jeremy Dubin and Justin McCombs from Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will perform "Casey at the Bat" and "Who's on First." Jim Tarbell, dressed as Peanut Jim Shelton, will play harmonica.

If you get a specially marked draft beer cup, you will win one of more than 80 prizes: Cincinnati Reds rookie cards, game-used memorabilia cards, vintage cards from the '50s and '60s and autographed baseball cards.

Details: 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown. 513-421-6234; www.arnoldsbarandgrill.com

Christian Moerlein Brewery

Located just two blocks from Findlay Market, where the parade kicks off, Christian Moerlein Brewing Company's Malt House Taproom will open at 9 a.m. Baseball Art and Memorabilia, unveiled at Saturday's pre-Opening Day event, will still be on display. Moerlein beers will be flowing and Wienerwurst Mike Frankfurtary will be serving up frankfurters, sandwiches and more.

Details: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, 1621 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine. christianmoerlein.com.

Holy Grail

Opening Day is the busiest day of the year at Holy Grail. One of the closest bars to the ballpark, it has 38 HDTVs (35 are over 55 inches; three are 80 inches) and 20 beers on tap. This year, 700 WLW will broadcast live beginning at 9 a.m. through the start of the game, kicking off with Scott Sloan and Mo Egger and ending with Bill Cunningham, who goes on at 1:30 p.m. The Fox Sports Cam also will be filming starting at 1:30 p.m.

Details: Starts at 9 a.m. Monday, 161 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. 513-621-2222; www.holygrailcincy.com

Moerlein Lager House

Moerlein Lager House, with its prime spot near the ballpark, will host a party with a DJ ETrayn. The Lager House serves the full complement of Moerlein brews (and lots of other beers) to pair with its menu of appetizers, burgers, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads and entrees.

Details: Opens at 9 a.m. 115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. 513-421-2337,moerleinlagerhouse.com.

Tin Roof

Tin Roof, a live music bar at The Banks, will open at 9 a.m. and have music beginning at 10 a.m., including Jordan English, RPI Music and The Armory.

Details: Opens at 9 a.m. Monday, 160 Freedom Way, Suite 150, Downtown. 513-381-2176; tinroofbars.com/home/cincinnati

In Between Tavern

In Between Tavern has its biggest crowds of the year on Opening Day. This year, it will open an hour early and offer 12-ounce bottled beers for $4 and an Opening Day menu of burgers, fish sandwiches, chicken strips and more. There are 18 TVs for those who want to stick around and watch the game.

Details: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday; closes two to three hours after the game. 307 Sycamore St., Downtown. 513-621-7009.

Head First Sports Cafe

The bar whose name is a reference to Pete Rose will be one of the earlier bars to open at 8 a.m. Monday. A DJ will be on hand, and a grill outside will cook up ribs, chicken, burgers and dogs. Drink specials will be offered, and there are 11 TVs to watch.

Details: , 218 W. Third St., Downtown. 513-721-3767 or visit its Facebook page

O'Malley's in the Alley/The Locker Room

As during other Reds' home games, O'Malley's in the Alley will open the bottom floor, on Third Street between Vine and Race, as The Locker Room (adding four TVs to the bar's seven). The Opening Day festivities there will include a DJ, special hot dogs named for Reds players, street dancers, 16-ounce domestic beer tubs for $3.25 and buckets of five domestic beers for $10.

Details: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday, 25 Ogden Place, Downtown. 513-381-3114; www.omalleysinthealley.com

Tina's

The Downtown neighborhood bar will be one of the earlier bars to open at 8 a.m. Monday. It will offer $3 bottles and the regular food menu, and there are 14 TVs to watch.

Details: 350 W. Fourth St., Downtown. 513-621-3567; www.tinasbar.com

Igby's

Opening Day at Igby's will include a ballpark menu with metts and burgers, Redd's Apple Ale specials, music by DJ Simo and Fuseamania, and giveaways, including a chance to win two tickets to the game.

Details: Noon Monday, 122 E. Sixth St., Downtown. 513-246-4396; www.igbysbar.com.

Blue Wisp Jazz Club

The Blue Wisp will open early Monday, and later, the eight-piece Queen City Dixie Cats will perform (12:30-3 p.m.). Drink specials will be offered.

Details: Opens at 9 a.m. Monday, 700 Race St., Downtown. 513-241-9477; www.thebluewisp.com

Rhinehaus

Over-the-Rhine's sports bar will serve up breakfast and bottomless mimosas for $15 from 9 a.m.-noon. They will be giving away standing-room-only tickets to the game, and Kaimelsky's food cart will be out front serving hot dogs and more food. If you're sticking around to watch the game, there are 14 TVs, including one large projection screen. (There's even a TV in the men's room.)

From noon to 4 p.m., a portion of sales will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Details: 119 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. 513-381-2277; http://rhinehausbar.com/

The Booksellers on Fountain Square

Three different authors will be on hand for an Opening Day Book Signing.

Two are children's book authors: Doug Coates is author of "Pitching for Success: Character Lessons, the Joe Nuxhall Way"; Louise Borden wrote "Baseball Is ..."

Bestselling author Kostya Kennedy also will be there to sign and discuss "Pete Rose: An American Dilemma," a re-examination of Rose's life.

Details: Noon-2 p.m. Monday, 505 Vine St., Downtown. Free. 513-258-2038; www.booksellersonfountainsquare.com.

Bob Kevoian, left, and Tom Griswold, of the Bob and Tom Show, broadcasted live from the Whisky Bar downtown.

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati

From 6-10 a.m., the national "Bob & Tom Show" will broadcast from Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati's large upstairs Pavilion ballroom. It's free and open to the public.

In past years, the show has featured guest appearances from "Bob & Tom" regulars, comedians and Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman.

Details: 6-10 a.m. Monday. 1000 Broadway St., Downtown. 513-252-0777; www.horseshoecincinnati.com

Knockback Nat's

Head to Knockback Nat's for specials that include Reds giveaways, $1 Jello shots, $1 hot dogs and 25-ounce cans of Bud Light and Budweiser with a Knockback Nat's koozie ($5.50). Chow down on wings while you watch the bar's 13 TVs.

Details: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday. 10 W. Seventh St., Downtown. 513-621-1000 or visit its Facebook page.

Local's Sports Bar

At Local's, red draft beer ($3) will be flowing in celebration of the home team. The front and back of the house will be open, meaning there will be three full bars, pool tables and darts, plus 30 TVs to watch.

Details: Opens at 10 a.m. Monday. 19 E. Seventh St., Downtown. 513-721-BALL (2255); www.localsbargrill.com

Hofbräuhaus

Just across the river, Hofbräuhaus will have live entertainment, circus acts and baseball on TV, plus its traditional Bavarian food and beer.

Details: Opens at 11 a.m. Monday. 200 E. Third St., Newport. 859-491-7200; www.hofbrauhausnewport.com

Opening Day All Day Long Bash, 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Monday, Mynt Martini, 28 Fountain Square, Downtown. Burger, hot dog and brat specials. Red beer, Reds-themed cocktails and shot specials. Music by DJs. Rain or shine with covered outdoor patio and indoor party. 513-621-6968; www.myntcincinnati.com.

BLDG Gallery

Work themed around baseball, Cincinnati and Opening Day from more than 40 artists will be on display at "199C: Cincinnati Opening Day Art Event."

Details: Artwork will be on display 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, or by appointment, through April 25. 30 W. Pike St. Covington. 859-491-4228; www.bldgrefuge.com