Coincidentally, at the Golden Lamb Inn I found “Architectural Walking and Driving Tours,” a large illustrated brochure published by the Lebanon Conservancy Foundation.

        (I found a similar tour guide in Oxford. I'll walk there later.)

        The Lebanon publication — with a map, detailed information and 39 photographs — guided me to the Lebanon Public Library (financed by Carnegie in 1907), the Episcopal Church (with a 16th century Spanish bell) and a number of 19th century homes with unusual design.

        There's more to 200-year-old Lebanon than American Suburbanesque. The guide reveals fascinating architecture — Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Victorian, Romanesque Revival and Egyptian Revival.

        The tour takes you into the 16-block downtown historic district, which the Conservancy claims has lost more than 190 buildings since 1950.

        “Architecturally, residential styles expanded on the east side of downtown,” the brochure explains. “The west side of town developed commercially as a result of the Ohio Canal of the 1830s.” The tour guide costs $1 at the Golden Lamb. Or buy it from the Lebanon Conservancy District, P.O. Box 893, Lebanon OH 45036.

        INDIAN HILL — Robert Greiwe's book about growing up in Cincinnati a half century ago will soon be distributed throughout the Midwest.

        Life on Thin Ice: A Memoir Celebrating One Boy's Life in the '30s, '40s and '50s, is 250 pages of anecdotes and longer stories about life in a Cincinnati that is lost.

        Mr. Greiwe writes about taking the Island Queen to Coney Island, riding the streetcar downtown; driving through Frisch's parking lot to check out the girls; and driving a Mercury convertible to the Ault Park dance pavilion.

        “I was lucky to have a car,” he said. “We could buy one for 30 bucks. My friends and I hit the road to do something. We never waited for life to happen. We went out to greet it every day.”

        Mr. Greiwe drew humorous sketches and supplied a number of black and white photographs that reflect the spirit of Cincinnati in those days.

        “My drawings at the beginning of each chapter capture the look of mid-century cartoons and flavor of the stories,” he said. “The photographs that go along with some of the stories started more than 60 years ago when my parents gave me a Kodak camera for Christmas. I felt even then that the pictures might help me hold onto the moments.”

        The book is available at local bookstores, including Joseph-Beth in Norwood.

        TRENTON — Critter Caper, a 3.2-mile “walk/fun run for the animals,” will be at 10 a.m. Sept. 21 on the bike path at Joyce Park on River Road in Hamilton.

        All proceeds will benefit the Humane Association of Butler County.

        Runners start at 10 a.m., walkers at 10:05 a.m. You may walk or run with your dog but not your cat. Cat owners may bring a photograph of their pet and attach it to their Critter Caper bib.

        Register Sept. 21 for $30 for adults and $20 for children younger than 15. Kids 10 and younger walk free, if accompanied by an adult.

        Registration forms are available from the Humane Association, 5225 Hamilton-Trenton Road, Trenton OH 45067. Information: 867-5727, extension 15.

        MILFORD — Neeake, the official storyteller of the Shawnee Nation United Remnant Band, will discuss the importance of the natural world in balancing and enriching our lives.

        He will also talk about the ancient wisdom of native people at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Milford-Miami Township Branch of the Clermont County Public Library, 1099 Ohio 131, Milford.

        To register, call the library at 248-0700.

        FAIRFIELD — Responding to the growing Hispanic population in the area (the Fairfield Branch of the Lane Public Library will offer Spanish lessons.

        They will be given on Mondays at 7 p.m., from Sept. 30 through Nov. 4, at the library, 1485 Corydale Drive.

        Information: 894-6557.

        HAMILTON — Ed Polcer will present “The Magic of Swing Street, A Musical Stroll Down New York's Famous 52nd Street,” from 7:30-10 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Hamiltonian Hotel, 1 Riverfront Plaza.

        Tickets will be available at the door or from Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. The show is a presentation of the Little Chicago Jazz Society.

        Admission: $12 for members; $15, non-members. Randy McNutt's community column runs on Saturday. Contact him at the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester, OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150.

        E-mail: rmcnutt@enquirer.com.

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