Meet Cincinnati’s Very Own Rory Gilmores
You can smell it in the air—the first hint of crispness, the sunlight turning golden—and you know what that really means: it’s fall, and yes, it’s time to rewatch Gilmore Girls. As it hits its 25th anniversary, I can honestly say that I’ve watched the show too many times to count. So instead of settling in with Rory and Lorelai this year, I decided to see if I could find some real-life Rorys right here in Cincinnati.
Enter freshman Leah Greniman, heading off to Miami University in Oxford, ready to build her own college life, meet people from across the country and discover a little independence along the way. And senior Gabby Goldstein, returning to the University of Cincinnati for another year, who has a two-step ladder for those impossible-to-reach shelves and a secret stash of Cheese-Its for emergencies.
Cincinnati may not be Stars Hollow, but it has its own charms: the promise of a last scoop at Aglamesies’s or a frosty mug at the Root Beer Stand before it closes after Labor Day. And then there’s the hardest part: leaving means saying goodbye to the parents and the town that raised you, the familiar streets and routines that shaped who you are before you set out to make your own mark.
Greniman knows leaving home isn’t easy. “The hardest part for me is not being near my mom and her cooking. She is my best friend, and I can’t imagine her not being a couple steps away,” she says. “I’m excited for the chance to try new things, meet people outside my comfort zone, and expand my perspective.”
Even while leaving Cincinnati behind, Greniman is focused on maintaining her identity. “The biggest way I plan to stay connected is by joining Hillel,” she says. “As much as I love the Jewish community in Cincinnati, I can’t wait to find my own community in Oxford and celebrate Judaism with people from all over the country. I plan to come home for holidays as well—being home for those special occasions, and having that part of my life stay the same even though I’m leaving, will make me all the more connected with my Judaism.”
Like Rory, Goldstein has big ambitions for her senior year. “I’m looking forward to another season with UC Football Sports Marketing, where I can combine my love for sports and communications while contributing to the game-day energy. I’m also excited to tackle a few of my upcoming classes, which will challenge me, spark new ideas, and help me grow both academically and professionally.”
Goldstein has found ways to bring a little piece of home to campus, whether that’s tracking down her own Luke’s-style dinner or a comforting side of matzah ball soup. “Finding those familiar flavors makes busy days feel a little brighter,” she says. And, like a true Lorelai, she keeps the essentials for a late-night study session—Cheese-Its, Goldfish, and Oreos.
As the leaves turn and the air hints at change, Greniman heads to Oxford and Goldstein returns to Cincinnati, each carrying that Rory mix of ambition, curiosity, and quiet excitement. Friends and family line the sidewalks with last-minute advice—Goldstein’s favorite: “Take nothing for granted; in the blink of an eye, you’ll be graduating.” Teachers share a word of encouragement, neighbors wave from porches, and everyone who shaped them, big and small, sends them off with love, pride, and a touch of Stars Hollow magic.
