BLINK, the nation’s largest light and art event, transforms Cincinnati, October 12-15. The event spans more than 20 city blocks from Cincinnati’s vibrant riverfront through its central business district and historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, illuminating a U.S. city like never before.

As with popular international light festivals such as Vivid Sydney, Lumiere London and Germany’s Luminale, hundreds of pioneering local, national and international artists are commissioned to unleash their creativity and engage event-goers with magical, light-based experiences. Buildings will become light spectacles, wall murals will come to life through light animation, and through an immersive experience, BLINK will define Cincinnati as an innovative, inclusive and creative future city.

BLINK highlights include:

• An opening night light parade, Thursday, October 12, 7 p.m. around Cincinnati’s Washington Park.

• Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center will depict “What Freedom Means” based on submissions from a nationwide student art contest.

• Some of the world’s most popular and acclaimed street artists, including Ana Maria (Puerto Rico), Roa (Belgium), Bicicleta Sam Freio (Brazil), D*Face (UK), Demsky (Spain), Ernest Zacharevic  (Lithuania) and Saner (Mexico), will create nine new murals on Cincinnati’s Pleasant Street.

• Dozens of interactive light installations from illuminated seesaws and a 40-foot-wide LED peacock to a “pool” of touch pads that emit light based on user steps, and more.

• Architects of Air, a giant, walk-through sculpture and luminarium complete with tunnels and domes for exploring (There is a $5 charge for this attraction only)

BLINK is free and open to the public, and will run 7:15p.m.-midnight each night of the four-night event. BLINK is accessible by foot, the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar and the Red Bike bike-sharing system.

BLINK is produced by Cincinnati-based Agar, ArtWorks, Brave Berlin, The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

Learn more about BLINK at

www.BLINKCincinnati.com.

Have you ever been to the Ohio Renaissance Festival?  If not, you have no idea what you’ve been missing!  From the food to the entertainment to the atmosphere, this is an event you have got to try.

Located in Waynesville, OH, the Ohio Renaissance Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays until October 29, 10:30am to 6:00pm, all on a 30-acre permanent village that has been authentically and historically re-created in the flavor of 16th Century England. The festival features nearly 100 shows daily on 12 stages, so it’s hard to choose what to see first!  You can witness dueling swordsmen or daring fire jugglers amongst the strolling minstrels, or take in the hilarious Mudde Show or pull up a stool at the Aleing Knight Pub for music that’ll get your toes tapping.  As you wander the quaint village of Willy-Nilly, you can mingle with the “locals” and you might even catch sight of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth strolls the paths.  Of course, nothing beats a full-armored joist!  Those hard hits are delivered three times each day by the gallant knights and gorgeous steeds of the Knights of Valour.

The Artisan Marketplace is definitely a don’t-miss. The Ohio Renaissance Festival is home to one of the largest and most unique open-air Marketplaces in Ohio, with unique shoppes that bring to mind the ambiance and charm of a time over 400 years ago. There are over 150 master artisans and craftsmen from all over the country, who love to demonstrate the lost art of their crafts.  In fact, all craft items must be handmade and meet specific criteria to be allowed to be featured at the festival.  Glassblowing, candle making, stone carvers, boot makers, pottery, stained glass and more await you in the Marketplace.

Got the kids with you?  Of course you do!  They’ll love all the different rides and games available, and adults can enjoy them too!  Take a try at the Jacob’s Ladder or the Storm the Castle Climbing Tower, then see if you can take on the Barrel of Bedlam!

All that shopping, playing and being entertained makes you hungry.  And that’s good – because there is so much to choose from to eat at the Ohio Renaissance Festival!  Traditional festival eats like roasted turkey legs, roasted corn on the cob, ice cream and bratwurst abound, plus new favorites like Middle Eastern falafel and shawarma to a travelling menu inspired by Marco’s travels west on the silk road, featuring vegetarian fried rice.  It might take you all day, but you’ve got to sample it all!

Tickets are available at the gate or online; go to http://www.renfestival.com for ticket pricing, directions and all the information you need to make your day at the Ohio Renaissance Festival the best adventure ever.

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