The Ice Rink at Summit Park opens Saturday, Nov. 14, and runs through Jan. 10, 2027. This is the rink's first season with two new restaurants on Summit Place. Alcove by MadTree opened Aug. 11. D'Oro opened Oct. 6. The two keep very different hours, and on weeknights the rink closes at 8 p.m. So the time you skate decides which kitchen is still open when you come off the ice.
Two Openings Since August, Both on Summit Place
Alcove is at 1000 Summit Place, Suite A. FOX19 reported that the restaurant has greenery on its walls and ceiling, a greenhouse bar, a private nook for large groups and a rotating seasonal menu served with MadTree beer. It's the brewery's second restaurant and fourth location overall. In the same report, MadTree CEO Rhiannon Hoeweler said the company plans to donate part of Alcove's revenue to Blue Ash Parks and Recreation to support its sustainability efforts.
D'Oro took over the former Senate space at 1100 Summit Place. CityBeat reported that the Italian-Argentine menu is built around handmade pasta, steaks, dishes cooked over fire, empanadas and shareable plates. The owners are Chef Alfio Gulisano, Jennifer Birt and Michelle O'Brien, the same team behind Alfio's Buon Cibo and Noche. They describe D'Oro as more approachable for everyday dining than Alfio's. "We wanted D'Oro to feel special without requiring a special occasion," O'Brien told CityBeat. The restaurant has a full bar, a patio and a private dining room for up to 16 guests.
MadTree is also part of the rink operation itself. Its Blue Ash taproom, MadTree Parks & Rec, sponsors the free skate helpers that new and young skaters can use first-come, first-served. One brewery now runs two of the dining rooms in Summit Park's restaurant directory and also puts the helpers on the ice. TAHONA is the fourth name in that directory.
The Rink's Clock Shifts Twice
Every evening plan starts with the session times on the City of Blue Ash rink page. Admission is $7 per person, per session, and that includes skate rental.
| Dates | Monday–Friday | Saturday & Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 14 – Dec. 13 | 5–8 p.m. | 12–2, 3–5, 6–8 p.m. |
| Dec. 14 – Jan. 3 | 12–2, 3–5, 6–8 p.m. | 12–2, 3–5, 6–8 p.m. |
| Jan. 4 – Jan. 10 | 5–8 p.m. | 12–2, 3–5, 6–8 p.m. |
During the first four weeks there's one weeknight window. It opens at 5 and closes at 8, right in the middle of dinner hours. The restaurant hours below come from each business's own site.
Where the 8 p.m. Close Sends You
D'Oro's website lists dinner Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 4 to 8:30 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9:30 p.m. It's closed Mondays. The site still lists lunch as "coming soon." Alcove is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Weekend brunch runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MadTree Parks & Rec keeps nearly the same schedule but stays open until 10 p.m. on Sundays.
| Rink session ends | D'Oro still serving? | Alcove still serving? |
|---|---|---|
| Mon., 8 p.m. | Closed Mondays | Yes, until 10 p.m. |
| Tue.–Thu., 8 p.m. | 30 minutes left | Yes, until 10 p.m. |
| Fri., 8 p.m. | 90 minutes left | Yes, until 11 p.m. |
| Sat., 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. | Yes, until 9:30 p.m. | Yes, until 11 p.m. |
| Sun., 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. | 30 minutes left after the late session | Yes, until 9 p.m. |
The table shows the pattern. Tuesday through Thursday, D'Oro works as dinner before the skate. It opens at 4, an hour before the rink, and its kitchen closes half an hour after the last skaters come off the ice. On those nights Alcove and MadTree Parks & Rec are the after-skate stops, with two hours left once the rink closes. On Mondays, D'Oro is off the list entirely.
Friday is the one weeknight when both orders work. D'Oro serves until 9:30 and Alcove until 11, so a 5-to-8 skate can be followed by dinner at either one.
Weekends Run in Three Sessions
Weekend sessions start at noon, 3 and 6. Each one lines up with a different restaurant.
- Noon session after brunch. Alcove's weekend brunch starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3. Breakfast first, then a 12-to-2 skate, fits inside that window.
- 3 p.m. session, then an early dinner. The 3-to-5 session ends an hour after D'Oro opens at 4. On Saturday and Sunday, this is the easiest way to pair the rink with D'Oro.
- 6 p.m. session, with the day of the week deciding the rest. On Saturday, both restaurants are still open when the 6-to-8 session ends. On Sunday, D'Oro closes at 8:30 and Alcove at 9, while MadTree Parks & Rec stays open until 10.
The rink sells tickets only at the rink. There are no online or advance sales, and it takes cash, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, with no refunds. Groups of 25 or more can skate for $6 per person Monday through Thursday if they arrange payment by email at least three business days ahead. That rate isn't available at the counter. Rental skates run from junior size 8 to adult size 15, and a limited number of double-blade kids' skates go first-come, first-served.
The Holiday Weeks Change the Math
From Dec. 14 through Jan. 3, weekdays get all three sessions, except for the holiday closures and shortened days listed below. That makes a noon skate possible on a weekday during school break, and on most days the 3 p.m. session lines up with D'Oro's 4 p.m. opening. The calendar around the rink fills up over the same weeks:
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: The Blue Ash Veterans Day Ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Blue Ash Recreation Center, 4433 Cooper Road, with a luncheon afterward in the Blue Gym hosted by members of the 123rd Air Control Squadron.
- Saturday, Nov. 14: The rink opens.
- Saturday, Nov. 21: The Holiday O.F.F. Market sets up at Summit Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The O.F.F. Market describes itself as a monthly marketplace for small businesses, artisans, brewers, bakers and farmers. The market overlaps the noon and 3 p.m. sessions, so shopping and skating can share one Saturday trip.
- Thursday, Nov. 26: The rink is closed for Thanksgiving.
- Saturday, Dec. 5: The Holiday Hunt House Event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Historic Hunt House. The city says more details are coming. The house is at 4364 Hunt Road.
- Dec. 24 and Dec. 31: The rink runs only the noon and 3 p.m. sessions.
- Dec. 25 and Jan. 1: The rink is closed.
- Sunday, Jan. 10: Last day of the season.
The rink page still shows last season's events, such as the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan and Mascot Mondays, as reference, and says the 2026–27 dates are coming soon. The city also warns that weather and temperature changes can close the rink temporarily. When that happens, an alert appears on the Summit Park homepage, so check it before you leave.
Why the Order of the Evening Matters
The rink's weeknight window stays at 5 to 8 p.m. for all but the three holiday weeks. What's new this winter is that two restaurants on Summit Place keep very different hours. D'Oro starts dinner at 4 and finishes early on most nights. Alcove and MadTree Parks & Rec serve until 10 or later on most nights. A Tuesday skate fits best with dinner at D'Oro first. A Friday skate leaves time for either restaurant afterward. On Monday, Alcove and Parks & Rec are the choices. With both restaurants open for the full season, it's easier to plan a whole evening around the 5-to-8 weeknight session.
At Close to Home Consultants, we follow Summit Park's calendar the same way we follow Blue Ash home values, because both shape what it's like to live here. If you're curious what a home a few minutes from the rink would sell for this winter, start with a free, no-pressure home valuation from our team.
