A Poem: City Love

 

Fireworks Over Skyline

 

 

 

My first glimpse of her,

through rising river steam and

teasing sculptured curves,

was everyman’s dream.

 

My eyes swept her ample mounds

Surrounding central crests

And ancient, old world amenities;

There are others, but she’s the best.

 

From that first moment, I was in love.

Her friendly warmth and inviting way

Has kept me coming back for more.

To fill an insatiable need to play.

 

The heart and soul of this beauty,

Like a theater in the round,

Is most sophisticated and vibrant

With an excitement so profound.

 

Statuesque and pillared, yet modern.

Fed by flowing ribbons of diversity;

Ethnic, religious and political,

Like a free and good University.

 

Powerful leaders Taft, Harrison and Stewart;

And Sabin, Crosley and Stowe of fame;

Plus the old money of Kroger, Corbett and Gamble;

Can only mean…Cincinnati is her name.

 

By Chuck Klein ©2016

 

 

 

Montgomery Inn to open new venture at Great American Ball Park

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Peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs…that’s just the same-old same-old ballpark food. Want to chomp into something really different? Try the new Mr. Red’s Smokehouse at the Great American Ball Park, brought to you by Cincinnati favorite Montgomery Inn.

For twenty years, you’ve been able to pick up a pulled pork or chicken sandwich at a Montgomery Inn stand at GABP, or dig into a rack of ribs when enjoying a private suite, but now you can watch the game while diving into your favorite Montgomery Inn favorites such as beef ribs, turkey legs, chicken wings and pulled pork sandwiches – fresh from the smokehouse! Side dishes abound too, with corn on the cob, mac & cheese and creamy coleslaw to round out your meal. There will also be rotating menu items, tied to a visiting team and it’s regional cuisine (“smoked cardinal”, anyone?).

You’ll find Mr. Red’s Smokehouse at the end of the first base concourse, overlooking the Ohio River. Fans can eat at high-top wooden tables instead of their seats if they choose, or even belly up to the bar for a cold beer.

Mr. Red’s Smokehouse was inspired by barbecue shacks around the country, and has been constructed from repurposed and locally-sourced materials such as rough-cut oak barn siding, reused industrial lumber logs and salvaged steel support columns. It’s got that authentic feel a smokehouse should have, complete with a bar made of polished concrete set on strapped wood barrels and beer kegs on ice in a bathtub salvaged from a renovated Over-the-Rhine building.

So if you’re sitting at the game, thinking that your appetite can’t be satisfied with just the usual suspects on the menu, stop by the new Mr. Red’s Smokehouse and get your barbecue on!

Art Beyond Boundaries to host encore exhibition of “White People: A Retrospective”

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Cincinnati Post Photojournalist Melvin Grier will be reprising his exhibition, “White People: A Retrospective”, at Art Beyond Boundaries through May 15, 2016. Previously shown in 2011, this photography exhibit highlights Grier’s 33 years at the Post, when he often found himself to be the only man of color in the room.

Curated by Jymi Bolden of Art Beyond Boundaries, “White People” will present a stunning collection of photographs, depicting Grier’s immersion into the world of the majority and some of its more interesting characters. Seeing the world through the eyes of a minority, Grier has created a unique and riveting perspective; with over 30 years of collected works, he shows a side of humanity not everyone gets to see.

The Art Beyond Boundaries Gallery is a professional, main-stream fine art gallery where local and regional artists with disabilities display, market, and sell their artwork. The mission of the gallery is to promote awareness and understanding of artists with disabilities. The gallery strives to demonstrate to both the artists and the community that art transcends the limits of disabilities. They are located at 1410 Main Street in downtown Cincinnati.

Don’t miss out on this chance to see “White People: A Retrospective”-whether it’s for the first time or an encore viewing!

Cover Story: Prime 47 Cincinnati is now locally owned and operated

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A good steak is never hard to find in Cincinnati, and one of your best bets is Prime 47 Cincinnati, located downtown at 580 Walnut St., now proud to be locally owned and operated.

Nelson Castillo is now the Operating Manager Partner of Prime 47 Cincinnati. Nelson closed the original restaurant to revamp the menu and re-decorate the space. Now, their stunning interior is the perfect showcase for the new menu, which changes with the seasons and features USDA prime cuts of beef sourced from critically acclaimed suppliers who specialize in this particular cut. New to Prime 47 Cincinnati is lunch service, offered Monday through Friday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. A full, exciting menu is available, with soups, salads, entrees and sandwiches, the most notable being the Paxton Prime Time Burger with balsamic onions and Habanero Havarti – this is a don’t miss speciality! They’ve also added Happy Hour from 4:00pm to 7:00pm Monday through Friday. Also offered is a three-course meal, “Prime Seating Menu”….available everyday from 4-6 pm…perfect before any show or event.

Prime 47 Cincinnati offers first-class seafood as well. Their extensive array is flown in daily and is ideal for those celebrating the Lenten season. Executive Chef Shawn Heine has stretched the imagination of classic seafood dishes, and you’ll find something fresh and new all season long.

In addition to the fabulous food, Prime 47 Cincinnati understands that a quality wine is an integral part of the complete dining experience; they have carefully selected an extensive and diverse Wine Vault on that basis. Their Wine Vault features a deep and distinguished selection of the finest wines from internationally recognized vineyards. Guests can enjoy an exceptional wine or beverage every time they visit, whether it’s a red, white or something completely different. They even have private wine lockers available.

Prime 47 is proud to offer live music Thursday-Saturday; be sure to check out the March calendar at www.prime47cincy.com. You can also hold private events; their many varieties of dining rooms provide you with an unlimited number of possibilities, complete with Prime 47’s excellent service and party execution talents.

This is a dining experience not to be missed. Make a reservation for lunch or dinner and enjoy a fine-aged steak at Prime 47 Cincinnati – it’s worth the trip.

Hotel of the Month: Symphony Hotel welcomes you to Cincinnati

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The Symphony Hotel welcomes you to Cincinnati, Ohio. Whether you are visiting from out of town, or want an in-town getaway and want to treat yourself to a five-course gourmet dinner any Friday or Saturday night, the ambiance can’t be beat!   The Symphony Hotel is a great place to find classical comfort, cozy surroundings, great bar scene, and wonderful, live music.

The Symphony Hotel’s main building was constructed in 1871, seven years before the completion of Cincinnati’s Music Hall. It was designed by a famous architect, James McLaughlin, who also designed the original McAlpin’s, Shillito’s, a wing of the Art Museum, Cincinnati Gas-Light & Coke Company, and the Cincinnati Public Library.

The Symphony Hotel is located just across from Cincinnati Music Hall, in OTR.   It’s the ideal location to enjoy a classical romantic getaway, eat an exquisite dinner, listen to live music, and experience the Opera, the Cincinnati Symphony, or the Pops Orchestra. Come back, stay overnight and wake up to the aroma of a gourmet breakfast.

The Symphony Hotel is award winning…. and was originally an old mansion. The building was restored into a boutique hotel where the rooms are named after famous composers: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Beech, Brahms, Mahler, and Copland.

What a gem right here in the Queen City……Cincinnati’s Premiere Boutique Hotel…come experience the wonder of The Symphony Hotel.

What’s Happening: Cincinnati Arts Association

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To know what’s happening in Cincinnati, look no further than the Cincinnati Arts Association, because whether you’re looking for theater, concerts, art or unique experiences, the Cincinnati Arts Association has their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in town.

The CAA was founded in 1992, and is not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of two of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of 600,000 people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached more than 1.3 million students.

The CAA brings a wide variety of entertainment and culture to Cincinnati. Like Broadway shows? Newsies is about to open at the Aronoff Center for the Arts on March 1, and the end of the month will feature smash hit The Book of Mormon. If you prefer straight drama, The Diogenes Theater Company will be presenting Saint Joan through March 5 at the Aronoff and if it’s dance you like, the Exhale Dance Tribe will present Wohali on March 5. The CAA has just announced the 2016-2017 Broadway series, which includes The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, and The Phantom of the Opera.

What about something off the beaten path? Try a Guided Ghost Tour of Music Hall. This icon building is well-known to paranormal enthusiasts, with activity dating back to the early 1800’s. And for those who appreciate art, the Weston Art Gallery is celebrating 20 years is business as well as featuring Canstruction 2016 in March.

Whatever your interests are, the CAA is sure to have something that fits the bill. Go to www.cincinnatiarts.org for more information and their calendar