Finneytown - Cincinnati, OH

Revolutionary War veteran Ebenezer Ward Finney came to this area in 1798, bringing with him his extended family from Rensselaer, N.Y. They set up their homestead in the wilderness around an old Indian trail, and as the area grew this trail, now Winton Road, became an important crossroad. The village, named Finneytown after its founder, grew as well and drew more settlers. Many of these pioneers were buried in a small cemetery that still exists in town.

As part of Springfield Township, Finneytown enjoys a thriving arts and culture scene today. The township, through its ArtsConnect program, brings performances, music, arts exhibitions and classes to the area. Every summer, Finneytown plays host to the Panegyri Greek Festival, a three-day celebration of Greek culture and heritage that features Greek delicacies, music, dancing and carnival amusements. One note of local fame: Pringles Potato Chips were named after Pringle Drive, a street in Finneytown.

The Winton Road corridor, one of the busiest in Cincinnati, attracts every kind of business and restaurant, from the national chains, such as Panera Bread and Chipotle, to the kind of mom-and-pop operation that makes a neighborhood unique.

For Cincinnati-style chili, Finneytown has both Skyline Chili and Gold Star Chili, where you can sample a "way," which consists of chili on pasta with your choice of beans, onions and cheese. If you prefer, try a coney, the Cincinnati version of a chiil dog. Long-time residents maintain that nothing else qualifies as chili.

Another Cincinnati mainstay can be found at Graeter's in Finneytown, serving unbeatable ice cream, baked goods and candies, such as Buckeye Blitz ice cream, Graeters' take on the signature Ohio peanut butter candy. For something completely different, though, sample Elena's Blueberry Pie ice cream, an incredible combination of two amazing flavors. Many families make a habit of their weekly run to Graeter's, which still has the feel of an old time ice cream parlor.

Look for the retro sign out front to lead you to Brentwood Bowl, another popular Finneytown attraction. You can bowl on 48 wooden lanes, join a league, or come for Rock'nBowl on Friday nights, with music, a light show and door prizes. Attached to Brentwood Bowl, Steak Nina Tavern serves up steaks, sandwiches and pub fare, plus your favorite cold brew. Sloppy Mike's Pounder consists of two 8-ounce burgers and lives up to its name; get it with the Saratoga Chips and hot slaw.

If you're after more exotic dishes, Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine fills the bill, with dine-in, takeout, delivery and lunch buffet selections.

For a place to grab a beer join the locals over at Sundy's Pub on Winton Road. This hole in the wall sports bar serves up good beers and good times. You can also head across the street to Lu Lu’s Tap Room to grab a cheap brew.

While the sidewalks in and around Finneytown prove ample, the sprawling nature of the neighborhood almost requires a car to get around it. There are no bike lanes, so cyclists have to brave Winton Road traffic without them. Drivers, though, have easy access to the Cross County Expressway, which connects both to I-75 and I-71, the main north-south highways through Cincinnati. Parking is free and plentiful, with a lot for each business or shopping center.

For those without cars, cab companies and Uber both serve Finneytown. Expect to call them, though, since cabs rarely idle here waiting for passengers. Cincinnati Metro runs no fewer than five lines through Finneytown, with plenty of departures daily to take you as far as downtown or out to Tri-County Mall.

Springfield Township, which includes the neighborhood of Finneytown, maintains several parks around town, all of them kid-friendly and open to dogs on leashes. McEvoy Park has picnic areas, ball fields and playgrounds. Warder Park, on the site of the former Warder Nursery, runs more to wooded areas. Brentwood Park, accessible by foot only from the Brentwood subdivision, has picnic areas, grills, and playgrounds, plus a creek for exploring.

A more ambitious park complex lies up Winton Road, about a mile from Finneytown. Winton Woods provides campgrounds, picnic shelters, a lake with rental boats, and miles of hiking and walking trails, including a parcours fitness trail.

Every year in early December, Springfield Township puts on Winterfest, an indoor celebration featuring holiday activities and concerts, and during the summer, music comes to town in the Summer Concert Series.

Cost of living in Finneytown closely matches that of Cincinnati itself, running only 4 percent higher than the city. Most of that is due to housing, since the area consists mainly of older single-family homes. A one bedroom apartment will run around $520 a month on average. Gas, however, tends to be about 9 percent cheaper than the national average, a boon to commuters. At local bars, expect to pay about $4 for a beer.

The stores and businesses up and down the Winton Road corridor provide every kind of service residents require, from grocery stores to pharmacies to clothing. Most of the stores in Finneytown are large national chains, such as Petsmart or Hallmark, but some local gems do exist.

Baroque Violin Shop, located in the historic Smith-Jessup house, provides sales, service and lessons of such quality that it has become a favorite of Cincinnati musicians. This store supplies instruments and music for many local schools, but just browsing the unique instruments on display or looking at the restored building itself makes this shop worth visiting.

Cincinnati's nickname of "Porkopolis" shows through at Humbert's Meats on Winton Road, one of four locations in the city. Here, the friendly, enthusiastic staff sells the finest meats, breads and prepared foods, making this store an integral part of the neighborhood.

Spend an afternoon and lose yourself browsing the books, comics and collectibles at Maverick's Cards and Comics. Owner Jack can help you find anything and everything for any fan or collector, from superheroes to Star Wars to Pokemon.

With not a lake or ocean anywhere nearby, it may seem ironic to have a dive shop in Finneytown, but Cincinnati Diving Center is one of the city's oldest. Here you can get the latest and best in scuba diving equipment, or you can take lessons from certified diving instructors.

Kroger Supermarket at the heart of town provides residents with most of their groceries. For produce and local products, try Country Fresh Farm Market in nearby Hartwell or Wyoming Farmer's Market Tuesday afternoons during the warm months.