While The Queen City is a noble and elegant nickname, Cincinnati has long embraced its other, earthier appellation: Porkopolis. In the 19th century, this American jewel was the pig-packing center of the nation. In those days, citizens shared the streets with thousands of hogs. Today, nods to the city’s past are present in many ways, including the Flying Pig Marathon and a proliferation of objets d’pig sprinkled throughout town.They were even present at the Taste of Cincinnati USA, held this past (Memorial Day) weekend.
Taste of Cincinnati Collage
Top left: Revelers enjoying one of the nation’s largest street festivals. In its 34th iteration, it is the longest-standing food festival in the country.
Top right: One of many festive pig statues specially decorated for the event.
Bottom left: The cuts of this pig represent local neighborhoods.
Bottom right: A 95 degree day called for Frozen Margaritas. It was, unfortunately, way too hot to sample most of the food. We settled for pork and chicken tacos from a food truck, a slice of pizza and Irish nachos made with Saratoga chips.
Taste of Cincinnati USA 2012
After 2 hours of downing cold drinks and people watching in the extreme heat, we went home and collapsed into bed, far too tired to function for the rest of the day.
*Photographic proof that I do, indeed, have a life outside of writing and reading and editing.
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 
Love the photos! 🙂 It reminds me of “Cow Parade.” Are there painted pig sculptures all over the city? That’s what they do for Cow Parade. I have heard Canada has a Mosse Parade or something like that. I would love to go to Cow Parade. The first one was in Chicago, late 90’s. They have it in different places every year.
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Cinci had something called the Big Pig Gig in 2000 (well before I moved here), which was inspired by the Cow Parade. There are statues left over from that dotted around the city. There have also been many events since then that have involved pig statues. I’m beginning to think that it is almost an “any reason to make pig statues” type of thing around here! When I first moved here in ’06, I was really confused by the prevalence of pigs. My now-husband and I went to a local (albeit very crappy) mall that had pig sculptures/flying pigs everywhere. I had no idea what to make of it! 🙂 As a side note: there is a little suburb near where I worked for a couple of years whose main street is dotted with painted squirrel statues. That confused me, too!
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LOL too funny! 😀 I have a thing for pigs (miniature ones) so I get that … the squirrels are a bit strange, though!
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Apparently, their town symbol is the black squirrel…..but I think the squirrel statues (which are brightly painted and decorated) are just odd. I also think that having a town symbol is odd, too. At least for such a teeny place!
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I really like moniker “Porkopolis”. In fact, it’s going to be my Word Of The Day tomorrow.
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Ha, nice! It is very descriptive, isn’t it? The nickname goes back to the 1830s, so Cincinnati has been called that for the better part of two centuries.
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