Arts and Entertainment
By Christian Cullen, Staff Writer
Picture this: you are a +21 Xavier student, and it is a Friday night. You and your friends are gearing up for a fun night in the shining metropolis of Cincinnati. But where to go? Inevitably, two main options arise.
You could head down to The Banks, the name given to the row of bars and clubs down by the Reds’ stadium, or you could head to Over-the-Rhine (OTR). While the solution should be simple, this question can overtake a group quite easily.
The answer is clear: OTR. There are many pros for OTR and many cons for the Banks. The bars in OTR are all pretty varied; Rosedale’s is different from Pins, which is different from Japp’s.
I like to actually be able to hear my friends when I go out. OTR has many different bars that are more of the pub/tavern where you can hear yourself think.
However your night goes, there is a Goodfellas Pizzeria in the area, conveniently near where Uber or Lyft drivers can pick you up. Most importantly, the drinks are not super expensive. I can get a drink for $3 in OTR, and honestly, that is all I need.
The Banks could not be more of a contrast. Each bar is the same. They all have some variation of loud music, some small seating areas, a dance floor with either a DJ and/or live music and the bar setup.
Killer Queen is the same as Tin Roof, which is the same as the Park, and so on. It gets very repetitive. Not only that, but all the bars are pretty tight, with very little space to move around. You cannot hear anyone you are with due to the music.
Finally, the nail in the coffin: you have to take a loan out to afford a night out at the Banks. Every drink is $10-15. It’s ridiculous. The Banks has a mix of cloned, expensive bars.
I will put in a caveat here: do not take this article as me saying you should never go to the Banks. It’s just that the Banks seem to be an every weekend thing for the upperclassmen. If people are going out, the Banks seem to be the default option. I would hope that that switches to OTR in the future.
The Banks was developed in a 1990s revitalization program, focused on giving life to the riverfront area. There was a focus about the bar scene in The Banks.
Also, there are certainly places in OTR that are similar to what you would find at the Banks. The difference is that there are other options as well aside from those places, unlike the Banks, where that is really the only option.
In sum, OTR is more cost-effective, more varied and more accessible than the Banks. The Banks is just one big club and not much more. The main difference seems to be that more Xavier folks go to the Banks than OTR.
You have a better chance of seeing other friends and acquaintances out at the Banks than you do in OTR, which I can appreciate.
Next time you and your friends are debating where to head out, try to think of what you would rather do: spend $30 to not be able to hear anyone or anything, or spend maybe $15-20 and have some good conversations and make good memories. The choice seems easy to me.
