The Beer, Wine, and Food Festival will return for its 8th year on Friday, October 13 and Saturday, October 14 in downtown Wyoming. The festival kicks off each day at 5 p.m. and includes an extensive variety of craft beer and wine to sample, including local varieties. There will also be a showcase of Cincinnati’s best eats ranging from barbeque to pizza and even something for your sweet tooth. Each night begins and ends with a wonderful lineup of live entertainment. Specific bands are still TBD, but be sure to check out the Beer, Wine, and Food Festival website a few months out for a complete lineup. Admission to the festival is $10 for Non-Tasting Admission (includes admission to the festival) and $30 for Tasting Admission (includes admission to the festival & wristband, and 5 tickets. New this year, you can become a VIP (single day or all weekend) and get admission, unlimited tastings, and commemorative drinking glass (Must be 21+) for $50 or $75.

This wonderful two day festival raises money for local non-profit, The Cure Starts Now Foundation, whose founders, Brooke and Keith Desserich, are Wyoming residents. All proceeds from the festival go directly toward funding pediatric cancer research through the incredible efforts of The Cure Starts Now Foundation. Many of the volunteers have been impacted by cancer and are happy to participate in an event to make a difference in the lives of kids battling cancer. By the end of 2017, The Cure Starts Now will have committed to $10 million funded in cancer research all over the world. To learn more about the festival or The Cure Starts Now, please visit to www.beerwinefood.com.

Recruiting firms in the country, connecting employers with the most qualified candidates for their hotel, resort, restaurant or casino.

But this agency is also highly philanthropic as well, and to this end they are sponsoring this year’s Envision Children’s Red Carpet Casino Night, held downtown at Prime Cincinnati.  Envision Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education services provider that engages students in interactive and fun activities.  These real-life activities enable students to see how their education benefits them now and how it will benefit them in their future.  It provides under-served students with supplemental educational instruction in science, technology, engineering, math, reading and critical thinking that will allow them to excel academically.

It’s important to Patrice & Associates to be active in the communities they serve, which is why here in Cincinnati they work with Downtown Cincinnati, Inc., Cincinnati Swords (a local youth hockey team) and the Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as Envision Children.  As lead sponsor of the Red Carpet Casino Night, they will be helping raise money to create quality educational programs for local economically disadvantaged children.  The event will be on Friday, October 20th, and for more information go to http://www.envisionchildren.org/red-carpet-casino-night/.

From recruiters and franchisees who are of the highest caliber to those looking for a job in the hospitality industry – or to those looking for the perfect employee at their hotel, restaurant, resort or casino, look no further than Patrice & Associates before anywhere else.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, presented by Sam Adams and produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, runs Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17 on Second and Third Streets in downtown Zinzinnati. First held in 1976, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati has grown to be America’s largest Oktoberfest celebration with nearly 650,000 people attending each year. The celebration showcases the rich German heritage of Southwest Ohio, offering German-style food, oom-pah-pah music and more than 80 varieties of beer.

2,000 barrels of brew are expected to be consumed at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati along with 25,000 potato pancakes, 24,000 soft pretzels and 225,000 bratwurst, mettwurst and sausages!

Throughout the weekend, you will experience Oktoberfest Zinzinnati favorites including the World’s Largest Chicken Dance. In 1994, the Crown Prince of Bavaria was Grand Marshal of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, helping set the world record for the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, with 48,000 participating. Other past Grand Marshals include Al Hirt, Weird Al Yankovic, Davey Jones, Verne Troyer, Eddie Money, Vince Neil, George Takei and Cincinnati’s own Nick and Drew Lachey.

Other attractions include the Sam Adams Stein Hoisting competition and the World Brat Eating Championship featuring nine-time champ, Joey “Jaws” Chestnut. Mr. Chestnut holds the world bratwurst eating record, inhaling 70 brats in 10 minutes at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, 2013.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati kicks off September 15 at 11:30 a.m. with the Running of the Wieners. This battle of the fast and the furriest features 100 racing dachshunds, competing for the first time at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds. The race is free and open to the public.

Immediately after the pups, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati continues with the Gemuetlichkeit (Goodwill) Games on Second Street, featuring local media personalities competing in beer barrel rolling and beer stein races. The official opening ceremonies are Saturday morning, September 16, 11:30am, with a ceremonial keg tapping by Sam Adams founder (and Cincinnati native) Jim Koch.

For everything you need to know about Oktoberfest Zinzinnati including hours, directions, and event schedules, visit OktoberfestZinzinnati.com.

Prost!

Oh, the fun of living in Cincinnati with so many awesome cities close by……next stop, Louisville!  A great weekend escape with so many things to do.  The food, the drink, the shopping, the parades.  Just a quick drive down south, and we arrived at the Seelbach Hilton, right next to the 4th Street Live!  What a grand hotel…. a storied past with modern amenities.   The suite was fabulous! Now off to discover…..

First food stop, Grind Burger Kitchen.   By partnering with local and regional farms and suppliers for ingredients, Grind has become an ambassador for the local food movement in Louisville.   We ordered the Cuban with Brussels Sprouts…..yum!  Necessary food to prime us for the upcoming bourbon to come……

Angel’s Envy.  What a facility, what a tour.  Stunning and new, copper everywhere….bourbon everywhere!  Do not miss this, I promise.  Our “tour guide” was so knowledgeable and entertaining.  And yes, we tasted…. A LOT.

We decided to do all the bourbon in a day…so next up, Jim Beam Experience!

Very fun!  We were seated at a group table and were introduced to a fabulous “lunch tray” of accoutrements…including many tasty tidbits to make specialty cocktails.  They even taught us how to “shake” properly.  Oops.  I made a serious mess ALL OVER the table when the lid came off.  Sorry!

Enough alcohol for a bit….time to shop! There are great little stores lining 4th…but my fave is Regalo.  A collection of so many different crafted items, from jewelry to purses, candles, artwork, socks (omg so many!), and many other cute things!  I stocked up on fun bracelets!

Time for a rest, then off to meet dear friends for dinner and the U2 concert!  It was a memorable night……with the most fabulous parade…Kentuckiana Pride!  Loved every minute!

The next day consisted of food, shopping, festivals and sightseeing.  Busy and fun, but the alcohol was going to have to wait ‘til evening!  We found ourselves at a fabulous dinner at Proof on Main, housed in the 21c.  Just wonderful, from the décor (I seriously loved every inch of this restaurant…different décor in each dining space!) to the craft cocktails, appetizers, main courses and dessert.  We began with the Blackberry Pop Tart with pate…and the charred Octopus.  Just order it, you won’t be sorry!   We dined on so many courses, including beet salad and a few of their heavenly sweet creations.  Oinkfest.  We will definitely be back at Proof!

So many things to see and do in Louisville, and if you’re looking for something awesome in September, be sure to attend Bourbon and Beyond!

Bourbon & Beyond will be an incredible all-in-one bourbon, food, and entertainment destination that honors the rich history of bourbon that is so deeply rooted in the heart of Kentucky. All together Bourbon & Beyond is a celebration of craftsmanship, soul and spirit, on September 23rd and 24th at Champions Park.  For tickets, visit:   https://bourbon.frontgatetickets.com.

Here’s to another fabulous weekend escape!  Until next time!

Patty Youkilis  

Publisher, Key Magazine Cincinnati

There’s nothing like fresh bread…or fresh sweets.  Are your taste buds watering for something yeasty and delicious?  Look no further than Breadsmith, located on Michigan Avenue in Hyde Park.

Breadsmith only uses the finest natural ingredients for all their artisan breads and sweets.  From their daily selections like French Baguette, Ciabatta and Sourdough to their specialties like Cinnamon Buns, Dessert Breads and Scones, everything is made from scratch in their 5-ton European hearth stone oven.  In addition to their daily offerings, Breadsmith has daily, weekly and monthly specials for your enjoyment.  You can also call in your order for pick up – what a great way to be stocked up on fresh bread and treats for the week!

To see all daily and monthly goodies, go to the calendar…  www.breadsmith.com/cincinnati and click on the calendar link.  Many goodies are in store, so get your bread knife ready!

Breadsmith is open Tuesdays through Sundays; drop by for a fresh loaf of bread, a cup of locally roasted coffee, a variety of sweets or the daily special now.

Get ready for tennis at its best: the world’s top stars AND off-court action that’s an event all its’ own. This is the tournament that gets you and your friends into the mix… close to everything about the Open that means the most to you.

Held at the Lindner Family Tennis Center just 20 miles north of Cincinnati, this is one of the most acclaimed (and most approachable) events in tennis, with the world’s greatest flocking here since 1899. Featuring top local music, cuisine from the area’s best chefs and deluxe libations and shopping, we’ve become the region’s most anticipated celebration.

With more than 200,000 fans coming from all 50 states and 30 countries cheering on modern day legends like Roger, Rafa, and Serena as they join yesteryear’s immortals McEnroe, Evert, and Connors in becoming enshrined in our 118-year history. See the next generation of legends up close and personal.

Getting next to these greats is easy, on- and just off-court. Hear the whip of the racquets in play and practice, the zip of the pens in intimate autograph sessions, and the excited murmurs as the pros pass by. Eat fine fare, sip on your choice of refreshment (craft beer, wine, and champagne to name a few), and catch world-class tennis at your Open for anything.