It’s all about Kentucky at Village Gifts

September 9, 2015 By

village gifts makers markYou don’t have to go far from Cincinnati to get a Kentucky fix. Just across the river, in Covington’s historic MainStrasse Village, you’ll find Village Gifts KY – where they’re “Everything Kentucky & Proud of It”. If it’s made in Kentucky, or has a Kentucky theme, you’ll be sure to find it on the shelves of Village Gifts KY.

Do you “love the Cov?” Then their line of I Love Covington mugs, stickers and gift baskets will definitely please you. If you’d like to support the sprucing up of Goebel Park, you can buy a t-shirt featuring the Goebel Park Goat and all proceeds will go back to the park. Have a hankering for Bourbon? Well, who doesn’t? Village Gifts KY has a complete line of Bourbon Barrel Food products, from desserts and seasonings to BourbonQ sauce and other delicious marinades and sauces, as well branded Kentucky Bourbon Trail products.

Some of the most popular Kentucky-made products at Village Gifts KY include Yankee Doodle Deli Pretzels and gourmet jams and jellies by Made by Mavis, both made right in Covington, Kentucky. The pretzels come in sweet and spicy varieties and the jams and jellies are not the everyday, put on your PB&J spreads; with flavors like Blueberry Lime, Apple Jalapeno and Honey, Pear and Vanilla, you’ll be going above and beyond the usual sandwich!

Village Gifts KY is open Wednesday through Friday, 11am-6pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; and Sunday, 12pm-5pm. Why only go home with just Cincinnati delicacies? Take home a full taste of the Tri-State area from Village Gifts KY.village gifts makers mark

Filed Under: Business Of The Month

‘My Mind is a Camera’ exhibit at Art Beyond Boundaries

September 9, 2015 By

mind is a camera

Photography exhibits are often perceived as just being about what you see in the pictures themselves, but Art Beyond Boundaries is presenting an exhibit that’s also about the perception and thoughts of the photographer as much as what’s in front of the lens – welcome to My Mind is a Camera.

My Mind is a Camera will feature local and regional photographers – novice, amateur and professional – in this unique single-media exhibit, opening late August and running through October 16, 2015. Featured photographers include Melvin Grier, Ann Segal, Jymi Bolden, Jeanine Steel and J. Miles Wolf, among others. All photographers participating in the exhibit are aspiring to be a part of FOTOFOCUS 2016, a biennial celebration of all things photography. The theme of My Mind is a Camera ties in to the upcoming FOTOFOCUS theme of “The Undocument”, where photographers will compare documentary-style photography with the notions of realism and objectivity.

Art Beyond Boundaries is a professional fine-art exhibition venue, a place where local and regional artists with disabilities can display, market and sell their artwork. By promoting awareness and understanding of artists with disabilities, the gallery demonstrates to both the artists and the community that art transcends the limits. Located on Main Street in Downtown Cincinnati, visitors can stop by to view exhibits or go online at www.artbeyondboundaries.com and view their on-line gallery.

Don’t miss out on the chance to see this riveting exhibit, and delve into the minds and lenses of the photographers..

Filed Under: Exhibit to Visit

Up on the roof…at Top of the Park, the Downtown Marriott Resident Inn

September 9, 2015 By

topper-Topofpark

One of the hottest – and in fact, the coolest – spots in Downtown Cincinnati is the Top of the Park, a roof-top bar at the Downtown Marriott Residence Inn. So much more than just your regular, run-of-the-mill gathering place, the Top of the Park offers up the best views of the city on two different levels, either of which is available for private functions.

With nearly 360-degree views of the Ohio River, Mount Adams, Lytle Park and of course, downtown Cincinnati, this happening spot is the ideal place to gather with friends relax, enjoy a drink and revel in the spectacular view; in the summer, you can even see Fireworks Fridays at the Great American Ball Park right from your seat!

Hand-crafted cocktails and a full wine and beer list await you, and appetizers and small plates are available; the Top of the Park chef likes to stay current with the latest food trends, so you’re bound to find many delicious nibbles to pair perfectly with your choice of libation. Only one level is usually rented out at a time, so even if there’s a private event you are sure to find a seat to relax after a busy day or hectic weekend. And if the Cincinnati weather doesn’t cooperate…well, they’ve got plenty of great inside space to accommodate the crowd.

Top of the Park can be rented out for everything from weddings, rehearsal dinners and holiday parties to corporate events and awards ceremonies. Come and see them Tuesday through Thursday from 5pm-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm-11pm and Sundays 1pm-8pm. Be sure to check on-line first at www.topoftheparkcincinnati.com to see which levels are open and then come down, have a drink while drinking in the best views of Cincinnati!

Filed Under: Hot Spot Of The Month

Cover Story: Western & Southern Open

July 31, 2015 By

Tennis

In Cincinnati, we don’t worry about the dog days of August. Why? Because we have the TENNIS days of August, and around here, the Western & Southern Open is what makes the summer.

Held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, OH, the 2015 Western & Southern Open will be in play from August 15th-23rd. The Open features the best men and women tennis players in the world – all top forty players who are at the top of their game. Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray are this year’s top 3 in the Men’s ATP; Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep are the top three in the Women’s WTA. Maria Sharapova fans don’t despair-she’s number 4 and will be playing as well.

As great as it is to come out and watch the tennis matches, not everyone is a die-hard tennis nut, and at the Western & Southern Open, that’s just fine by them. There are a ton of things to do if you aren’t interested in watching tennis! Food, shopping, music, themed bars…there’s so much to choose from you won’t have time to catch a match anyway.

The food arena features 14 great restaurants. Cincinnati favorites like LaRosa’s, Skyline Chili and Montgomery Inn will be there, as well as Tony’s, Taste of Belgium, Fusian Sushi and new this year, Palomino. For dessert, Graeter’s is on hand, of course. Once you’re filled up, you can enjoy fabulous music on the main stage, featuring 30 regional bands playing everything from classic hits to bluegrass. As something different, evenings will feature a DJ in the food arena that will play a special blend of music to truly enhance your experience at the Open.

The 20,000 square-foot retail plaza will have a wide variety of boutiques, and the keystone of the area is the Midwest Sports air-conditioned tent. This tent will hold the largest tennis in the world with equipment, apparel and accessories – and if you are looking to dress like the pros do, be sure to stop by, because the exact outfits the Open players are wearing will be available for purchase!

All that eating, shopping and toe-tapping is sure to make you thirsty, so be sure to stop by the many themed beverage areas the Open hosts. You can enjoy non alcoholic selections like soda, hand-squeezed lemonade or smoothies or hit one of the “destination bars” that are all around the Open.   The Michelob Ultra Legends Bar is your best seat in the house for listening to music while enjoying a cold brew. The el Arco Tequila Margarita Bar is a new addition to the Open, and will be the perfect place to grab an Arco Ace Margarita. More of a wine drinker? The Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Garden will offer the very best from the vineyards of Robert Mondavi surrounded by award-winning landscaping by LaMond Design. Each night at 5:30 a celebrity chef will be giving a demonstration in the Wine Garden.

Grab some shade and relax in the Emirates Lounge; you can try a little Belvadere Vodka and cool off while chatting with friends or watching the matches. And for a little style, stop by the Moet Champagne Bar: toast the players while treating yourself to the luxurious taste of Moet, the official Champagne of the Western & Southern Open.

New at the Open this year is area-wide FREE high speed Wi-Fi, covering all 20 acres. There is also an App available to follow the event: WSOpen Now. Get it now at the App store and start planning your Open experience!

Filed Under: Cover Story

Restaurant of the Month: Mita’s

July 31, 2015 By

Mitas artJose Salazar, chef and restaurateur, is opening his latest venture, Mita’s, in August. Located at 501 Race Street (5th and Race) in the Dunnhumby building, Mita’s will feature a Spanish and Latin American menu.

Decorated to evoke the feeling of South American and Latin culture, Mita’s will serve both classic and contemporary cuisine, such as tapas, ceviche, main entrees, salads, cheeses and cured meats, all created by Chef Salazar in his indomitable style. Salazar’s love of fresh, seasonal ingredients with local flavor are sure to be highlighted in this new menu. There will be a full bar, highlighting Spanish, Portuguese and South American wines – no Italian Reds or California Whites here! 30 seats will be available to enjoy at the bar, and there will be 100 seats in the dining area. Mita’s will open for dinner service to start.

“Mita” is what Salazar calls his Columbian grandmother, and this new restaurant is inspired by his relationship with her. Salazar’s wife, Ann, is opening the restaurant alongside him. Keep an eye out for the grand opening of Mita’s, a sure delight for the downtown dining scene.

Filed Under: Restaurant Of The Month

Destination of the Month: Mainstrasse Village

July 31, 2015 By

Mainstrasse art

Restaurants…shopping…dining…entertainment. Everything you could want to do or see can be found in Mainstrasse Village, Northern Kentucky’s eclectic home of Oktoberfest and Maifest. Right across the river from downtown Cincinnati you will find a wonderland of things to do, to eat and to enjoy – just minutes away!

Mainstrasse Village is filled with history, created from buildings from the late 1800’s and featuring the Carroll Chimes Clocktower and the Goose Girl Fountain. The Clocktower tells the story of the Pied Piper of Hamlin and the Fountain was created based on the Grimm’s Fairy Tale about a goose girl; there used to be a lot of goose farmers in the Covington, KY area, so the fountain hints to that history as well. Printable walking tours are available, with guides available on their website at www.mainstrassevillage.org.

Several special events are coming up at The Mainstrasse Village. The Classic Car Show will be held on August 2nd, featuring over 200 classic cars. From August 6th-9th, Mainstrasse Village will be holding the World’s Largest Yard Sale, with almost 100 vendors tempting you with unique items you likely won’t find anywhere else. On the fourth Sunday of the month, you can enjoy the Mainstrasse Village Bazaar, featuring everything from antiques to art. This antique and vintage display will also highlight recycled and repurposed items transformed into art.

Hungry? Try Bouquet Restaurant and Wine Bar, Dee Felice Cafe or Wertheim’s restaurant. Feel the urge to shop? There are candy stores, gift shops, magic stores and import businesses, to name a few. Need a way to blow off steam? There are pubs, bars, taverns and clubs a’plenty! Combine history, fun and culture and you’ve got Mainstrasse Village, and a must-see when visiting Cincinnati.

Filed Under: Entertainment
« Previous Page
Next Page »