Event of the Month: New Riff Distilling bring bourbon back!

new riff building

Greater Cincinnati Bourbon lovers rejoiced in May, 2014, when Kentucky Bourbon production returned to the area with the opening of New Riff Distilling. A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, New Riff is located right across the river from downtown Cincinnati. The distillery offers free tours Thursday through Sunday, and has a gorgeous events facility overlooking the river. Thousands of Greater Cincinnatians have already passed through New Riff, either on a tour or as a guest at one of their many events. (Weddings and receptions are scheduled nearly every weekend. Imagine, getting hitched at a Bourbon distillery!)

 

New Riff distills Kentucky Bourbon and Rye whiskey, to the tune of some 7,000 barrels per year. But these need to age at least four years before they’re ready for bottling. (Patience is a virtue among whiskey makers.) Local whiskey lovers can’t wait until June 2018 when the first New Riff Whiskey will hit the street. In the meantime, their Kentucky Wild Gin—distilled on site with locally foraged, wild botanicals—has taken Greater Cincinnati bars by storm. They also bottle a nine-year-old Bourbon distilled for them in nearby Lawrenceburg, Indiana. This is called O.K.I., and if you’re not from around here that stands for “Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana.” As the label states, it is “Distilled in Indiana. Bottled in Kentucky. Loved in Ohio.” We bet you’ll love it too!

 

The New Riff building itself is quite a sight. Recognizing that this is an urban 21st century distillery, Cincinnati architectural firm glaserworks designed a strikingly modern, cutting edge facility that blends form and function. The 60-foot-tall gleaming copper still is encased in a glass-and-steel tower soaring into the sky.

 

The free tours at New Riff are up close and personal. Unlike many of the big Kentucky Bourbon distilleries, at New Riff you can walk right up to the still (don’t touch it, it’s hot!) and see the entire Bourbon making process. And they have one last surprise up their sleeve…

 

New Riff is located on the campus that includes The Party Source, probably the largest liquor store in the country. All the way at the back of The Party Source, New Riff operates a microbrewery. With 42 draft taps, Ei8ht Ball Brewing serves up their own sparkling fresh suds—many of which are aged in New Riff Bourbon barrels—along with a stunning roster of the best craft beers in the world. It’s the perfect conclusion to a New Riff tour and tasting.

 

 

 

 

Destination of the Month: Ultimate Air Shuttle begins service to Cleveland

UAS cleveland flight

Ultimate Air Shuttle is proud to announce that they will be bringing their unique VIP air travel service to Cleveland, with the inaugural flight on October 26, 2015 (as pictured above), via the Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport.

They’re excited to welcome Cleveland as their newest destination, and look forward to connecting these two cities in a way that will allow their passengers to be both more productive and more time efficient. Cincinnati and Cleveland are two of Ohio’s strongest economic centers, and by giving their passengers easier access to Cleveland’s great communities, active business district and exciting sports arenas, Ultimate Air Shuttle becomes an even bigger force to be reckoned with.

Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport is located on the banks of Lake Erie, right next door to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; this location offers easy and convenient parking for Clevelanders to park up close and free at their facility. When Cincinnatians arrive to the lakeshore, they will be pleased to find that they are already in downtown Cleveland. Rental cars and cabs will be available to transport wherever and whenever is needed.

When Clevelanders arrive at Lunken Airport, there will be a free ground shuttle to downtown Cincinnati that will drop off and pick up for the return flight at the Cincinnatian Hotel. Ultimate Air Shuttle uses Mercedes Sprinter vans for ground transportation needs in Cincinnati, courtesy of their friends at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Mitchell. The 5-day schedule has been built to accommodate day trips for passengers originating from Cincinnati and Cleveland. The round trip fare is only $379! To kick off their newest destination, they are offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE flights to Cleveland, from now until December 22, 2015.

Ultimate Air Shuttle thanks you for flying them: because of you they are here today and will be here tomorrow.

Hotel of the Month: Homewood Suites in Downtown Enquirer Building

homewood roomOne of the most fabulous buildings…..which once housed the Cincinnati Enquirer, is home to a brand new concept in Cincinnati: The Homewood Suites (along with The Hampton Inn…a duel hotel). This new gem in the Queen City’s crown features a 105-room Homewood Suites situated on the buildings’ newly renovated upper floors. The historic integrity of the structure and its interior were preserved as much as possible.

 

When you enter the building, the first floor lobby features marble surfaces, bronze ornamentation, stone-carved detail work and large chandeliers. Motifs featuring elephants, dragons and squirrels are displayed throughout, and a two-foot diameter brass sculpture (“The Naked Printer”) is embedded in the floor. Guests can walk up the “grand stair” or take the elevator to the second floor, which is where you check in and enjoy the fitness center, library, business center, billiards and the separate Homewood and Hampton lounges.

Hampton Inn is housed on floors nine through 15 (there is no 13th floor, of course) and caters to business and weekend leisure travelers. Homewood Suites on floors four through eight focuses on extended-stay travelers; each room has fully-equipped kitchens. Both hotels offer complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Valet parking is available in the Macy’s headquarters garage, adjacent to the hotel. You’re just a 17-minute drive from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport via I-75 and in walking distance of Cincinnati’s popular eateries, lively nightlife and unique shopping opportunities. The hotels are also close to entertainment venues such as U.S. Bank Arena, Great American Ballpark, Paul Brown Stadium, the Taft Theatre and the Duke Energy Convention Center.

Business…pleasure…leisure…it doesn’t matter what you’re coming to Cincinnati for, the new Homewood Suites in Downtown Cincinnati, along with the adjoining Hampton Inn, will fit the bill.

 

 

 

Cincinnati-themed artwork and art inspired by the newspaper and its former building are on display throughout 617 Vine.

 

 

Must Go: The Ohio Renaissance Festival: Thrill…Feast…Watch…Shop…Enjoy!

renaissance horse

Forget your cares and step back in time to this 30-acre re-created 16th Century English village and enjoy over 400 years of fun in a single day! The festival offers something for everyone featuring nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages, over 135 unique arts and crafts shops, hearty food and drink, games of skill and human-powered rides to amuse all ages.   Over 150 costumed characters welcome you to the village! Rub elbows with Royalty as you cheer your favorite knight to victory in the thrilling Full-armored Tournament Joust. Welcoming you to a festive day in the village are dueling swordsmen, rowdy pirates, nobles, peasants, and daring jugglers.

The sprawling landscape is dotted with hundreds of unique shops in the Medieval Marketplace featuring many one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted items. See time-honored crafts of glassblowing, stone carving, blacksmithing, leather tooling, boot making, and more demonstrated.

The air is filled with the scents and smells of the foods of the Renaissance period. Feast like Royalty on juicy, giant roasted turkey legs, fresh baked bread bowls overflowing with soups and stews, fish ‘n chips, steak-on-a-stake, succulent roasted corn on the cob and a wide variety of the finest ales and wines. There’s something for everyone’s taste buds!

Visitors of all ages will be amused by the games of skill and human-powered rides. Try your hand at archery and see if you’re a modern-day Robin Hood, or climb the castle tower and rescue the lovely damsel in distress.

SEPTEMBER 5TH — OCTOBER 25TH, 2015 • SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS • 10:30AM – 6:00PM

Destination of the Month: Mainstrasse Village

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.

Cincinnati…THE city for Ribs, Reds and Riverfront fun

dean and lk eating

The Queen City. Porkopolis. The Blue Chip City. It doesn’t matter what you call Cincinnati, as long as you call it a great place to visit!

Cincinnati is home to some amazing people, places and things to do. While you’re here for the All-Star Game, there is so much for you to explore and enjoy. Of course, you’ll have a blast at our Great American Ball Park while you watch the game, but that’s not all there is to do in our great city! Downtown is home to the Aronoff Center for the Arts, the Contemporary Arts Center, Fountain Square and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. There’s fabulous shopping, unbelievable restaurants and great art galleries and unique boutiques in Over the Rhine.   Right across the Ohio River is Newport on the Levee, which features the Newport Aquarium, “Ride the Ducks”, and lots of shops and eateries. And that’ s just while you’re downtown!

Head just a little north and you’ll hit upon the Cincinnati Museum Center, Eden Park, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Sign Museum, more shopping, more restaurants, and if you keep going up I-71 North, you’ll end up at Kings Island, our award-winning amusement park.

Speaking of great restaurants, look no further than the ribs that put us on the map: Montgomery Inn. The Ribs King, Ted Gregory, launched the joint in 1951, and has been pleasing Cincinnati’s palate ever since. Sweet, tangy sauce makes these barbecue ribs and chicken the dish to dine on while in Cincinnati. Serving up slabs of pork ribs, half orders of chicken and pulled meat sandwiches, amongst other yummy items, Montgomery Inn has something for everyone. If you’re staying downtown, order up your ribs at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, right on the river with a terrific view. You can also dine at the Montgomery Road location in downtown Olde Montgomery, or cross the river to Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky. It won’t matter which place you go, your taste buds will thank you!

Don’t just come to Cincinnati for the All-Star game, come and enjoy everything we have to offer – from food to entertainment and everything in between, Cincinnati is a destination that can’t be beat.