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 23, 10:30am to 6:00pm. The festival features over 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 140 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.

Cincinnati’s oldest restaurant, Mecklenburg Gardens, is famous for its Beer Garden, which is now the place for FC Cincinnati’s largest fan club, Die Innenstadt, to hang out before soccer games. The members come hours before every game, enjoying beer and appetizers, and then march together as a group to Nippert Stadium and sit in their section in The Bailey. And that’s not the only club that drops by: fans of German soccer team Bayern Munchen also get their pre-game on at Mecklenburg Gardens. If you’re a soccer fan, this is the hottest place to be!

It’s not just soccer Mecklenberg Gardens likes to cheer on…they are big UC Bearcat fans too! For every football game (except Sunday games), Mecklenburg Gardens provides a free shuttle to and from the games. Start the fun off by grabbing a snack or some dinner and a refreshing beer and then hop on the shuttle and enjoy the game knowing you don’t have to fight the parking lot crowds.

The Beer Garden also features a trivia game night on Wednesdays and music on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s a cool and shady place to relax (on hot nights there are misters out to cool you down), have a drink, enjoy some food and just absorb the atmosphere. You can also hold special events for up to 120 people in the Beer Hall, which offers a big screen tv, and is right next to the Beer Garden – perfect for enjoying your event inside or out. They often host weddings, private parties, receptions and birthday parties in the Garden, and upstairs they offer a more intimate space for meetings and occasions with smaller crowds.

Oktoberfest is when Mecklenburg Gardens rules as the German place to be! For the whole week leading up to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, they will be hosting a different event each night with drink and food specials to enjoy all week long. On Monday, September 12^th, Sam Adams Brewers will be in, hosting the “stein hoist”. The winner at Mecklenburg Gardens will go downtown to compete with other local bar winners to win a trip to Boston to visit Sam Adams Brewery in person. On Tuesday, September 13^th, Braxton Brewery will be in house; Wednesday, September 14^th will feature Bell’s Brewery as well as a pig roast; and Thursday, September 15^th Sierra Nevada will be featured. Each brewery will bring their own version of an Oktoberfest beer, to be offered alongside local craft beers. Friday is the start of Oktoberfest, and Mecklenburg Gardens will have a booth there all weekend, so stop by and visit.

Mecklenburg Gardens is more than just beer. They have always had the best in German cuisine on the menu, and it has just been redeveloped by Chef Brett Crow; Crow has worked for Jean-Robert and is now the chef at L in the Great American Tower. A long-time family friend of the owners, Crow consulted with them to create a brand-new menu that is sure to please any palate.

Locals and visitors alike rave about the Mecklenburg Gardens experience, so be a part of it and make plans to dine (and drink!) there soon.

Looking for a little Cincinnati style to take home with you? Or are you a local who just really needs some new Cincy swag? It’s time to check out Cincy Shirts!

Stop by their location in Over-the-Rhine at 1435 Main Street for all Cincinnati products, all the time! They offer both nostalgic and current designs -all designed in house- and always feature whatever sport is “in season”. Cincy Shirts is proud to be the ONLY provider of licensed FC Cincinnati gear, so if you’re a huge FC fan this should be your first stop when suiting up for game time.

Hoping to find a t-shirt that features old Kings Island rides like the Bat or King Cobra? They’ve got it. Surf Cincinnati or American Amusement Park? Done. Feeling more like a Skyline Chili shirt or maybe a fresh new Reds sweatshirt? Look no further. The retail location is open Monday through Friday 10am-7pm, Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-4:00pm. Coming in October….a second store in Hyde Park! Located at 2709 Observatory. Can’t drop by the store? Order online at www.cincyshirts.com.

You can’t leave town without a little piece of Cincinnati, so drop by and get your gear at Cincy Shirts.

Since 1956, anyone who’s anyone has dropped by Hathaway’s Diner for delicious delights from smoked brisket and ribs to homemade soups and classic breakfast food. It’s a classic 50’s-style diner with great atmosphere and fabulous food, plenty of which is made in-house.

Did we mention how famous people enjoy a trip to Hathaway’s? Politicians, actors, athletes…it so happens that when Colin Farrell was recently in town filming, he slipped in for a taste of classic Cincinnati. Hathaway’s believes they are better now than they’ve ever been, and is excited to try something new and offer turkey and ham dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

If you’re looking for a restaurant not to be missed while in Cincinnati, Hathaway’s should top your list. Open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday 7am-3:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-2pm, it’s your go-to place for breakfast, brunch or lunch. And be sure to “like” Hathaway’s Diner on Facebook….you’ll be in the know when they run specials!!!! Try the pie when you go…..it’s so worth it. Trust us.

Ever dream of tooling around town on a motorcycle or scooter? It’s easy to do in Cincinnati with the Piston Society.

Offering a select variety of motorcycles and urban scooters for rent, you can enjoy the ride of a lifetime while experiencing their family-friendly atmosphere and enthusiasm for riding. If you’d like a tour, just ask. The Piston Society has individual tour guides available that they can refer you to, who are skilled local riders familiar with roads in the area; they can take you out for a 2-8 hour tour! These guides love meeting new people and showing off what’s cool and interesting about our area. Got a big group? No problem! The Piston Society has tour groups they’ve partnered with that you can contact that can accommodate your needs. Want to hit the road on your own? Grab a map and rent a GPS that the Piston Society has already pre-loaded with great routes.

You do need to be 25 years old to rent from the Piston Society, with a valid motorcycle license, as well as purchase their insurance for a safe ride. Passengers have no age restrictions but must be able to reach passenger foot pegs or floorboards of your rental. Helmets are included with your rental, and they have a full shop of motorcycle gear… like gloves, jackets and riding glasses for purchase. To make a reservation, you need to use their online form at www.pistonsociety.com; repeat customers get a 10% discount – just call to get your discount code!

Adventure awaits you…all you need to do is rent your bike and hit the road with the Piston Society.

The Western & Southern Open hits Cincinnati again at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason from August 13-21, and it’s going to be the best place to be this summer.

Of course there’s the tennis: with top male players like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal and female superstars like Garbine Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber, you’ll get to witness tennis being played at its peak and with fierce competition.

But there is so much more to the W & S Open!  From entertainment and shopping to the finest in dining in Cincinnati, there’s something for everyone.  If you need a break from the courts, you can relax and listen to the original bands playing on the Dayton International Airport Stage or in the Wine Garden.  Not cover bands, but eclectic, award-winning musicians.  It’s music at its finest.

Hungry?  Well good, because there is plenty to eat at the Open!  You can definitely find your typical sports-arena food, but if you want a real foodie experience, the Open will have 14 locally-owned restaurants preparing their signature dishes fresh every day – we’re talking James Beard-winning chefs, and you won’t need a reservation to enjoy it.  Feeling like gourmet taco?  Hit up Mazunte.  Need a little gyro in your life?  Kala Greek Grill’s got you covered.  Try some Chicken Coup Poutine from Revolution, or a turkey pesto panini from Baba Budans.  And of course, the gold standards of Skyline Chili, LaRosa’s Pizzeria and Graeter’s are waiting to bring you the taste of Cincinnati!

So you’ve watched a few matches, had a snack, tapped your toes to some tunes, and now you’re thirsty.  Whether it’s beer or bubbles, or anything in between, the W & S Open has what you want on tap.  The Miller Lite Legends Bar and Rhinegeist and Christian Moerlein Craft Beer Bars are perfect for those looking for a tasty beer, and the Moet Champagne Bar (the official champagne of the Open) is open for those who feel like toasting the best in tennis and fun.  There’s also the Robert Mondavi Private Selection Wine Garden, surrounded by award-winning landscaping by LaMond Design as well as first-timer el Arco Tequila Margarita Bar, featuring their signature el Arco Ace Margarita.

Gotta burn off those calories now, so take the time to go shopping at the huge retail center the Open is proud to host.  This 20,000 square foot retail plaza has it all, from tennis apparel and gear to jewelry and sunglasses.  The giant, air-conditioned Midwest Sports tent will have everything you need to outfit yourself like a tennis pro…even if you’re just a ping-pong aficionado.  Medella Natural, BANDI Wear, Sweaty Bands are just a few of the vendors you can drop by during your day at the Open.

There’s nothing like a day at the Western & Southern Open.  But before you head out, be sure to read up on their new bag policy on their website, www.wsopen.com.  It’s important to know what you can and cannot bring into the Open, so you can have the best day ever.  Be a part of this Cincinnati sports tradition – get out to the Western & Southern Open!