Dining out at Prime Cincinnati is always special: great steaks, great seafood, amazing side dishes.  But now they’re upping their game for Cincinnati’s Burger Week!

Burger Week is July 16-22 this year, and restaurants all over town will be offering burger specials for just $5 to tempt your palate – and Prime Cincinnati should be the first (and last!) stop on your burger tour of the Queen City.  This year’s entry is the Jack Burger, a fantastic prime burger with arugula, aged Vermont cheddar, Berkshire Bacon, truffle aioli and the crowning glory: Jack Daniel’s infused bacon and onion jam, all served on a brioche bun.  Get a Jack & Coke as part of their Jack Daniel’s special for just $7.  Perfect for lunch or dinner, this burger is not to be missed!  You can also enjoy the Jack Burger for lunch at their @580 Market Gourmet location, at 580 Walnut Street.  While Burger Week is generally a one-week meat extravaganza, two restaurants in town were selected to continue on for an extra week, and Prime Cincinnati is one of them.  From July 23-30 you can keep on enjoying that $5 Jack Burger; meat lovers are getting a summer bonus!

Prime Cincinnati will also be starting their new entertainment series in July, called the Prime Cincinnati Summer Series.  Kicking off on July 20, join them at 9pm for the Cin City Comedy show, an exciting and hilarious improv group featuring alumni from Second City, Upright Citizen’s Brigade and The Groundlings.   For more information and tickets, call (513) 579-0720 or go to primecincinnati.com.  And Prime Cincinnati will continue to offer live music by local artists Thursday through Saturday nights.

Don’t forget, Prime Cincinnati is a great venue for private events, both personal and business.  Host a rehearsal dinner, a birthday party, a girl’s night out or perhaps a business meeting, corporate event or staff holiday party.  Whatever your needs are, Prime Cincinnati is sure to have the perfect fit.

 

We needed an escape.  A REAL escape that wasn’t too far away.  What an incredible find!

Glenlaurel Inn in Hocking Hills, Ohio…..less than a 2-hour drive from Cincinnati.  

What a warm welcome upon our arrival.   Cookies, beverages, meeting the innkeeper and some of the staff, then a quick tour. Secluded, luxurious and romantic rooms, suites, crofts & cottages…  The inn has 21 private, adult-only accommodations, with grand amenities, gourmet meals and exceptional service, with an emphasis on escaping the everyday grind.  Cell phones are discouraged, no smoking, and no cable tv….they do have a great selection of movies and books though that you may use at your leisure!  All accommodations have large tvs with dvd players!

We stayed in The MacKay Cottage and our dear friends were in The Wallace Cottage.  Each decorated in a Scottish theme….Living Room and Bedroom with fireplaces, kitchen, large bathroom, and hot tub on the private deck.  Heaven! So secluded in the wooded setting….it was perfect. 

We were fortunate to be guests of the beer-pairing dinner, which began at Happy hour in the Loch Ness Pub.  Dinner was then served in the Edinburgh Dining Room….It was fabulous!  Six courses with beer as a pairing and in the recipes. 

Back to relax in the Cottages and hot tub time, which was perfect on a star-filled night.  It’s amazing how different the sky and stars are when you get away from the lights of the city!

Breakfast was served in the Main Building of the Inn…..a lavish, homemade spread with daily features, homemade jams and biscuits, and included with your stay.  So yummy.

We decided it was hiking time to work off a bit of the food…beautiful grounds right on the 140-acres with hiking trails, waterfalls and their own private, scenic gorge.  Perfect.

We took a drive after to see around the area set in Amish Country.  We visited an Amish farmer’s auction, a glass blowing facility, had a picnic with the amazing lunch basket sent with us from Glenlaurel.  So much fun…hard to believe this is all less than 2 hours away!

Dining at Glenlaurel is an experience to remember. Glenlaurel’s gourmet dining is legendary for its Sottish flair, quality ingredients, and first-class service.  Menus in the fine dining restaurant are prepared daily with seasonal ingredients that build on the foundation of a nightly featured entrée with a six-course prix fixe menu served Sunday to Friday and seven-courses on Saturday. 

The enchanting evening consists of six and seven courses by candlelight, bagpipe music, poetry, and a post-dinner visit to the dining room by the chef. Overall, it’s a gentle blend of dinner and theatre that leaves ample room for intimate conversation, and the Chef is fabulous at Glenlaurel! 

I’m telling you, the hot tubs in the cottages are genius!  So relaxing…and the lack of cell phones really was incredible.  We all need a break from technology every now and then.  It’s very freeing.  Trust me!

Our last morning at the wonderful inn with another yummy breakfast.  It was time to head back though, and the inn sent us off with another fabulous picnic basket to go, homemade cookies and drinks.

– Patty Youkilis, publisher

 

Ohio is about to enjoy a new type of music festival, one that combines fabulous music with the fun of camping: welcome to Bellwether.

Bellwether will be held August 10th and 11th at Renaissance Park in Waynesville, OH; this location is equidistant from Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, so anyone can get there easily.  The venue will feature two stages, with 15 minutes between sets, and festival-goers get to see ALL the bands!  The lineup is incredible: MGMT, The Flaming Lips, Local Natives, Echo & The Bunnymen, Dr. Dog, The Psychedelic Furs plus 10 other fantastic bands.  Tickets are are $55 for a one-day pass, $95 for a two-day pass, through the end of June, not including camping.  Two-day tickets offer in-and-out privileges.  To purchase, go to https://www.xorbia.com/e/bellwetherfest/2018.

And if the camping part is intriguing to you, there are a lot of options.  You can rent space for your tent and/or RV, or you can choose the “glamping” option where a tent and cots for 4 are provided, as well as “Freshen Up” passes so you can take advantage of the shower facilities. Go to https://www.xorbia.com/e/bellwetherfest/2018 for more details or to purchase space.

Ticket prices go up in July, so be sure to get yours now and don’t miss one moment of this unique and amazing music festival!

 

So, there’s doing it easy, and there’s doing it right, and Casa Figueroa is all about doing it right. They feature Latin-inspired dining in Cincinnati’s Pleasant Ridge neighborhood; with regional, non-GMO, minimally processed seasonal ingredients, no hormones or antibiotics in any of the chicken, beef or pork served. Casa Figueroa is taking their food to the next level.

Casa Figueroa is passionate about being the best, not necessarily the least expensive. They source their ingredients, from tortillas made from local Ohio corn to fresh, never frozen, fish from the best fishmongers in the country.  In fact, Casa is a member of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch and commits to always serve the highest quality, most sustainable fish.  At Casa Figueroa, guacamole is made fresh daily, chips are dusted with lime salt, and the drinks are top-shelf.  Craving tacos?  You can have everything from fish and lobster to BBQ pork, chicken, and barbacoa, and vegetarians and vegans can enjoy potato, seasonal veggie and cauliflower options.  Entrees feature the fresh fish of the day, short rib chilaquiles, and an amazing item called Big Ass Casa Nachos that takes the finest strip steak around and turns it into a nacho dish that you’ve been dreaming of your whole life.

Plenty of fresh salsas are on the menu, as well as salads (beet, pazole, and a Tijuana Caesar, to name a few), starters to share (Rhode Island calamari, PEI Blue Mussels, casadillas), sides like crispy brussels sprouts and beans and rice and for dessert, Aglamesis Dutch chocolate ice cream and Latin treats such as churros and cornmeal tres leches pound cake.

There’s more to Casa Figueroa than just outstanding Latin cuisine, there is also a fabulous drink menu, featuring a carefully curated selection of tequilas, mezcals, craft cocktails, and small batch, cult-driven beers and wines.  The place is already on the map for their killer handcrafted margaritas!

Speaking of margaritas, there’s no better place to enjoy one than on Casa Figueroa’s gorgeous outdoor patio, the perfect place to meet up, enjoy a bite and take in the up and coming renaissance of Pleasant Ridge.

Casa “puts it’s money where it’s mouth is,” not just by buying the best ingredients they can find, but by also making it a priority to recycle and compost; at Casa Figueroa, there’s virtually no waste.  It’s important to her that her restaurant not only delivers high-quality food but does it with a sense of responsibility.  

Have we made you hungry yet?  Good!  Now pop down to Pleasant Ridge, get some chips and queso, a taco or two and a drink and take in the best in Cincinnati’s Latin dining.

 

The best place to enjoy Greek food and culture is the Annual Panegyri Greek Festival, held at the Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 7000 Winton Road.  In its 44th year, this festival is a Cincinnati favorite, featuring the best in Greek food, dancing, shopping and culture.  It’s an event that’s perfect for all ages, with something to enjoy for everyone.

In addition to the abundance of Greek food and dancing, there will be a cultural exhibit; the Parish’s Greek Language School has prepared an exhibit that features three pivotal figures in world history: Pericles, Alexander the Great, and Constantine the Great.  You can discover their contributions to our civilization as well as examples of contemporary Greek culture, including traditional costumes.  You can also enjoy tours of the church while at the festival.

Of course, it’s all about the food at the Panegryi Greek Festival!  From gyros and moussaka to baklava and Greek coffee, there are a wide variety of food options to keep you stuffed the whole time you’re at the festival!  Food is available both inside the church and outside at the event, and if you loved what you ate, drop by one of the two daily cooking classes to learn more on how to cook like a native of Greece.

Once you’re full, you’ll need to take a break.  Every day there are numerous dance performances, by Greek dancers of all ages, from young children all the way through college students and adults.  You can revel in the artistry and rhythm of the Folk Dancers and when they aren’t on the stage, jump up and try out a few Greek dance steps yourself!  The dancers would be happy to help you learn how during the FREE “Learn to Dance Greek” lesson sessions.

Before you leave, be sure to browse through the Greek-style “agora” (open air market) and discover beautiful Greek art, jewelry, linens, religious items and of course: olive oil!

The Panegryi Greek Festival will be held on Friday, June 22 from 5:00pm-11:00pm, Saturday, June 23 from 3:00pm-11:00pm and Sunday, June 24 from 1:00pm-8:00pm.  Admission is just $2 per person, with children 12 and under free.  A portion of your entry fee is donated to the FreeStore FoodBank and The Good Shepherd Food Pantry.   Parking is free and there is a shuttle bus available at St. Xavier High School.  For more details, go to http://holytrinity.oh.goarch.org/panegyri/welcome. Opa!

 

There’s nothing better than getting a good laugh and having a good time while supporting a great cause.  And it’s easy to do in Cincinnati because Window World has their 5th annual “Laughter is the Best Medicine” event coming up on June 15th.

Held at The Syndicate in Newport, Kentucky, this event raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is Window World’s national philanthropy.  Window World has raised over $8 million for St. Jude, and the money raised will help defray the costs of treating patients at St. Jude’s, because no one ever pays a dime when they are a patient there.  Not for medical care, food, lodging, medications…everything is taken care of so families can focus on treatment and healing.

The evening begins at 7pm and your ticket will get you appetizers, a buffet dinner and all you can drink, all night long.  Two comedians will entertain you during the evening:  opening up will be Darren Cox, and the headlining act is Candy Baby.  Your emcee for the night will be former Bengals player Tom Dinkle, whose own son benefitted from a St. Jude’s protocol at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.  A patient, or a patient’s family, will be on hand to discuss their experiences with St. Jude Hospital, as well as a representative of the hospital itself.  

Don’t forget to drop by the silent auction, featuring items such as trip packages, jewelry, gift card raffles and a wine raffle, as well as participate in the live auction, all hosted by an auctioneer who specializes in “Laughter is the Best Medicine” events.

Want to buy tickets?  Just go to www.windowworldcincinnati.com and click on the link to purchase!  Tickets are $100 each, or $185 a couple; tables of ten are available for $1000.  

Come ready to laugh and have a great time, and help Window World support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.