Week 4: Cafe Gala and Art After Dark

We managed to nail down two free events this week: The grand opening of V's Cafe on 7th on Wednesday, and Art After Dark at the Cincinnati Art Museum on Friday.

A month or so ago Steve brought home a take-out menu for a new cafe in the Aronoff Center for the Arts at the corner of Walnut and 7th, operated by long-time Cincinnati catering company Vonderhaar's. I was familiar with the caterer, the menu listed a few vegetarian options and prices were reasonable, so we mentally added it to the list of places we planned to try. Then last week I received an email from V's Cafe regarding its official grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony, asking if the calendar team would list it in the dining events at Cincinnati.com.

We decided to attend. I mean, really, who doesn't like free food?

V's Cafe on 7th - Gourmet Deviled Eggs

V's Cafe on 7th - Savory Pasties

V's Cafe on 7th - Selection of sweet treats

V's Cafe on 7th - Selection of gourmet sandwiches

We arrived just after the gala began and were given name tags and free drink tickets. The bar station was inside the Aronoff concourse by the Weston Art Gallery. We started there and got a glass of white wine each before venturing into the cafe itself. There was a grand spread of food - but unfortunately for me the only vegetarian option on offer was cubed cheese with assorted Carr's biscuit/crackers and the desserts. So Steve enjoyed roast beef sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, deviled eggs, goetta empanadas and more, and I watched him enjoy it. We left shortly afterward and walked a block north to Taqueria Mercado, where I got a vegetarian burrito. Sadly, this "free" night ended up not being free for me.

On Friday night, Steve and I met up with calendar teammate Rasputin, his lovely wife Jena and their next-door neighbors for an evening of fun at the Cincinnati Art Museum's Art After Dark, a monthly event where the museum stays open late and visitors have full access to the galleries, live entertainment and docent-led tours. This month's theme was Winter Wilderness, where guests were encouraged to wear black and white in honor of current photography exhibit Field Guide: Photographs by Jochem Lempert.

Cincinnati Art Museum - Jim Dine's Pinocchio greets guests

Wilder performs in the rotunda

We enjoyed Northern Kentucky band Wilder's set in the rotunda while sipping wine, and ended up not seeing much of anything besides the cafe, where we commandeered a table and sat talking and laughing for much of the evening. I also learned that I can no longer safely drink three glasses of wine in a single evening now that I am 20 lb. lighter. Oops.

After 3 glasses of Chardonnay, I wanted to climb into this bed from the Rutherford B. Hayes collection

Detailed inset from a most comfy looking beddie-bye basket

We had a fun night and aside from the cost of the wine and parking, a free night as well.


Art After Dark happens the last Friday of each month from 5-9 p.m. at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Mount Adams. Parking can be tough - not only at the museum but all of Mount Adams - if arriving after 6 p.m., so plan to arrive early or Uber it.