One World Wednesday

The old folks hate these. Loud, crowded, and completely disrespectful to the holy shrine that is the art museum. OK, they aren’t destructive, and everyone there has plenty of reverence for art, but it does shatter the hushed pall that usually shrouds the museum’s halls.
Here’s the set-​up: each OWW (first Wednesday of the month) is based around a country/​region — Canada, Japan, Argentina, Scandinavia, and Israel have been recent themes. There is native music (eg tango for Argentina), food and drink samplings (e.g. waffles and Labatt for Canada), strolls through the galleries (but finish your snack and sip first), and a change to mingle with a lot of young professionals, who compose the bulk of the crowd.
Truth be told, you could be completely oblivious to the artsy setting, simply snacking, sipping, and chatting in the large, loud main hall of the museum. It feels more like a spacious nightclub than a museum at these times. Indeed, one of the desk workers of the museum told me her son met his wife at a OWW.
It costs $ 8 (free for museum members), but that includes a couple of drinks and the chance to dance in the presence of van Gogh while being transported to a foreign nation.

Held at the Cincinnati Art Museum on the first Wednesday of the month (from October through May), One World Wednesday introduces visitors to various cultures from around the world. During the 2007-​08 season, the event circumnavigated the globe, touching down in Italy, the Caribbean, Canada, and Scandinavia.
For only $ 8 (members attend the event for free), visitors receive three alcoholic tasting coupons, two food tasting vouchers, and access to a number of entertainment options, including the spectacular Cincinnati Art Museum.
During our travails to Scandinavia, we tried various pastries, Swedish meatballs with ligonberry sauce, and Finnish vodka. Entertainment was provided by the Cincinnati Ballet.
Word of wisdom for all of the single men of Cincinnati: This has to be one of the best places ever to meet chicks. The girls to guy ratio is high – and the women that attend these events are cultured. Much better option than Party in the Park.