Boca Block Party
Oakley restaurant stays up late on Thursdays to party with diverse young crowd
TABARI MCCOY | CIN WEEKLY
It's Thursday night at one of Cincinnati's premiere upscale restaurants, a place where the meals are as exquisite as the waiting list is extensive.
The music isn't classical or contemporary jazz; it's the latest chart-toppers from hit-makers Kanye West and Mariah Carey mixed with a little old-school A Tribe Called Quest and Michael Jackson. Instead of expensive five-course meals, the menu for the evening consists of pizza at prices cheaper than most chains. And most surprising of all, the crowd of young men and women is so energetic you don't even think about how diverse it is.
Welcome to the Boca Block Party.
CLASSY, APPROACHABLE
Created four months ago by Boca maitre d' Bawe Shinholster with the blessing of head chef/owner David Falk, the Block Party has become a popular Thursday night destination for 20- and 30-somethings looking for a place with good music and good food at affordable prices. The affair features the dance-friendly turntable talents of DJ Rare Groove and Mr. Pillo, plus fresh, wood-oven baked meat and vegetable pizzas ($8) and a number of drink specials - including the $12 "Bawe Wowie" champagne martini.
Shinholster says he created the event to showcase a "classy, casual side" of Boca without a price tag that would prevent people from enjoying it.
"There's a need, because Cincinnati, as many options as there are, there's none like this. You can go to a restaurant for good service or go to a bar/saloon just for drinks and to lounge or go to a club for the DJ and the music, and we're the only ones I know of that offer all three," he says. "We don't charge a cover because we want people to come as they are. We want to make this as approachable as possible."
CROWD PLEASERS
East End resident Dawud Ansari is appreciative of Shinholster's efforts. Attending the event about once a month, Ansari, 31, says he feels comfortable coming to the event by himself or with friends. "It's a nice crowd, and everyone's open to meeting new people," he says. "(It's not) too loud where we can't enjoy (our) conversation."
