FOX19 Morning News

The Shamrock Shake is BACK!!!!!!!!

2012-02-10T01:02:00.000-08:00

Good Friday morning, Dan Wells writing. I hope your day is off to a good start.

If you follow this blog you may remember my (mild obsession) love for the Shamrock Shake.

Last year I "RANTED" on this web-site about not being able to find the minty green deliciousness here in the Tri-State.

Well my prayers were answered.

For the first time, McDonald's is offering its signature green Shamrock Shake nationwide from now through St. Patrick's Day.

WHAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Previously, McDonald's left it up to local market operators to decide whether to offer the shake, and roughly half of McDonald's nationwide offered the shakes last year, according to Crain's Chicago Business. This year, the Shamrock Shake - topped with whipped cream and a cherry - is available at all McDonald's restaurants until March 25.

I actually like it plain.

First launched in 1970 as a week-long promotion to help raise money for a "home away from home" project for families of children being treated at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Shamrock Shake helped raise enough money to buy the first Ronald McDonald House - a seven-bedroom home near the hospital.

Since then, more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses have opened, and the shake has developed a cult-like following (YOU BET IT HAS) with some fans going so far as to create a website to help Shamrock Shake lovers find the treat.

Others have created Facebook fan pages dedicated to the shake, including one that has more than 43,000 "likes" so far.

So if you haven't tried one please check it out. You won't be sorry!

Have a great weekend!
Dan

Jazz It Up

2012-02-09T02:28:00.000-08:00

Good morning, happy Thursday! Katy here… I don’t know about you, but the winter months always seem to me cooped up indoors. That keeps me from exercising as much as I would like. But I think I’ve found a solution, thanks to the FOX19 Morning Crew adventures! Yesterday I took Rob, Sheila, Tracey, Dan and Stephanie to Jazzercise with me. I loved it! I’ve never taken a class before, but I’ve heard a lot about them. My mom and cheerleading coach use to Jazzercise back in the day, when head bands, spandex and leg warmers were all the rage. But this isn’t your mothers Jazzercise anymore! I was pleasantly surprised that the class is filled with women of all ages (and sometimes a few guys!) dancing to the popular music of today. I knew yesterday’s class with the Morning Crew was going to be fun when the Party Rock Anthem came on. It’s the same song the crew used to flash mob my wedding! We only took a 30 minute express class, just to get a taste of what a real class is like. Most classes are an hour long. Boy was I tired…just after 30 minutes! All of the positive energy in there kept me going, though.. and It’s motivated me to come back to try a few more classes! I can’t wait to jazz it up again!

Pink In The Rink

2012-02-08T01:10:00.000-08:00

Pink ice sounds like something you'd get from a shave ice stand, but this Friday you can find it at U.S. Bank Arena!

Sheila here, and the Pink Ribbon Girls is the new sponsor for the Cincinnati Cyclones "Pink in the Rink" game this year! The Cyclones take on Trention this Friday, February 10th at 7:30 p.m.
The ice will be pink, the PRG logo will be on the ice, and the team will be wearing custom jerseys adorned in pink. You have a chance to get your hands on the jerseys when they're auctioned after the game! The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a Cyclones Ribbon Magnet, and the first 1,000 female fans receive a free pink carnation from Hiatt's Florist!

The Pink Ribbon Girls is a support group for younger women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, and Founder Tracie Metzger is always coming up with fun events like Pink on the Rink. Tune in tomorrow morning at 8:15 a.m. to see one of our hometown's hockey stars, Goaltender Brad Fogal. Brad's life has personally been touched by breast cancer. He lost an Aunt to the disease, and the Pink Ribbon cause means so much to him that he even placed it on his Goalie Mask.

For every ticket sold to this Friday's match, $5 will benefit Pink Ribbon Girls. The doors open at 6:30, and you can download a ticket form here:
http://www.pinkribbongirls.org/

Get Out of the Gym and into Nature

2012-02-07T00:38:00.000-08:00

There's a guy in town who can make you feel like a kid again.

Hey everyone. Rob here.

His name is Kevin Wimmer. His business is ELMNTL Fitness. The morning team was able to experience a workout with Kevin out in the elements. The weather was perfect.

From his website: ELMNTL fitness is a fundamental circuit of exercises set within the outdoor elements at Woodland Mound Park.
Fitness in nature truly challenges you physically and mentally to be prepared for circumstances that may arise in your daily life. The environment around us is constantly changing and we need to be able to adapt with it. By embracing those changes, or elements, we effectively manage the outcome.
Accomplishing a workout at the gym, prepares you for a workout at the gym. When you challenge yourself in nature, the workout is different each time. Heat and humidity force you to be conservative with your energy. Rain forces you to compensate with balance and resiliency. Snow increases resistance and focus. That is training within the elements. And of course, in spring and fall, why would you want to be inside on a perfect day? Fresh air, no chemicals or crowds, the sun on your face and the feel of nature under your hands and feet, that is what ELMNTL fitness is all about.

He took us out last week, and it was a blast. The weather was perfect. In addition to getting a workout, we had a blast and got our hands dirty. I will have a story on our adventure, later this month. If you want to find out more click here http://www.elmntlfitness.com/

My Favorite Ad

2012-02-06T02:05:00.000-08:00

So which ad did you like? Every year on the Monday after the Super Bowl we sit here and pick apart and talk about how the commercials were not good or if they blew you away. I think for the most part they were good. I will start with my favorite, the Chevy ad about the world ending and the only people surviving are those who drive the Chevy Silverado. It is set to a Barry Manilow song and shows the trucks driving through a destroyed city with American ICONS like the Big Boy statue and a box of Twinkies. It all ends with the actor asking where Dave is and the other Chevy guys say he did not make it because he was driving a Ford. I also liked the Clint Eastwood ad for Chrysler, I am a little bias though since my brother was on the team that produced that ad. I thought all in all the game was good and the entire atmosphere was awesome. I spent sometime in Indy last week, and I found the way they hosted it all to be classy and top notch. You did not have to have a ticket in order to enjoy it. If you want to check out the ads just go to our web page http://www.fox19.com/

Pretzels & Girlfriends

2012-02-03T03:14:00.000-08:00

One thing I love about this city is there’s always something to do.

Stephanie here.

One thing I hate is….I never have an excuse to stay in with my cat and watch Bridget Jones’ Diary after a long day at work J
Last weekend my best friend in town, Cassie Wissel, introduced me to Pretzelfest! It’s a fundraiser for Over-the-Rhine’s Bock Fest, which celebrates historic OTR breweries from March 2nd to the 4th. Needless to say, it wasn’t hard to talk me into a night of delicious Moerlein beer, beer cheese, and carb overloading.
Venue 222 hosted the party. Although the building was built in 1868, it’s been restored and glammed-up for OTR nightlife. A few local vendors came out and generously donated their goodies for the festival. I indulged in a delicious Queen City brat in a pretzel bun (yum!), cooked up by the nice folks at Mecklenberg Gardens. I have to say though, there’s nothing simpler or more delicious than a giant Servatii pretzel with hot beer cheese. My mantra for the night was, “diet starts tomorrow!”
Of course, Cincy Beerfest kicks off next Thursday at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Can’t choose between Beerfest and Bockfest? Don’t! There are plenty of brats and beers to go around J

- Stephanie

http://www.cincybeerfest.com/
http://bockfest.com/

Cherishing The Moment

2012-02-02T01:12:00.000-08:00

Last week I was given the privilege of visiting a place that could easily be mistaken for Disney Land.
I’d like to think of it as a little piece of Heaven here on Earth.
Hi…..Tracey Johnson here.

It was all about the children. Every corner of this plot of land in Memphis, Tennessee. I found myself in awe as we entered the campus. Towering buildings on this beautiful setting. As we entered the main building, a peace came over me. Everyone greeted us with such a warm, sincere “thank you for coming.”
As we began our tour, I was flooded with emotions. Mixed emotions. Children’s art brightened the hallways. One room after another, decorated to the hilt from celebrities like Brad Paisley, Amy Grant, Shaun White and the Jonas Brothers. For a moment, I forgot that the sweet giggles I was hearing were from children that are battling cancer and other catastrophic diseases. I was at St. Jude Research Hospital.

Several families I met have made St. Jude their home. Literally. Living a life they never imagined they’d be faced to live. On the other hand, can’t imagine where they’d be in their journey without St. Jude. As a mom, I was truly thanking the Lord for my children’s health. Because of my trip, I have made it my mission to sell 9,000 tickets for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway. We are thrilled here at FOX19 to join St. Jude and help those who are and will make St. Jude their home.

Over the next few months, I’ll bring you stories from sweet children that will share life as they know it, living with cancer. The most brave children I’ve ever and will probably ever meet. Children that have learned to cherish the moment!

Will you help? Tickets go on sale April 11th. More details on FOX19.com
Many Blessings…..
Trace

On The Same Page

2012-02-01T01:05:00.000-08:00

It may not be a typical winter, but the season is always a good time to settle in with a good book. I'm reading The Submission, and so are hundreds of other people around town.

Sheila here. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County partners every year with area arts and cultural organizations for its On the Same Page program. It's an annual community reading event every February and March. It's aimed at encouraging local readers to enjoy the featured book, reflect on how the issues it raises affect our own community, and relate to their neighbors through book discussions and special programs.

I cracked open The Submission this week, and I am hooked. In the first chapter, the reader meets the jury charged with choosing the design for a memorial to those who died in the September 11th terrorist attack in New York City. Two strong women -- one an artist and one a 9/11 widow -- are locked in a battle over the final two designs. The jury finally makes a decision, only to discover that its creator is an American Muslim. Through the eyes of its characters, The Submission explores how 9/11 has challenged our personal convictions and changed the public debate on what it means to be American.

Author Amy Waldman was a city desk reporter for The New York Times and was in New York City on 9/11. She helped cover the response to the attack, both in the city and later internationally as the paper's co-bureau chief for south Asia. Waldman wrote The Submission, her first novel, to explore how America and the world have changed in the aftermath of 9/11.

Waldman will be visiting Cincinnati March 4-5. She will be with us on the Fox 19 Morning News on the 5th, and she will speak and discuss her novel at several locations both days: the Downtown Library, Xavier Univeristy, The University of Cincinnati, and the Mercantile Library. (You need to reserve a spot at the Mercantile Library.) You may pick up a copy of The Submission at your local library or bookstore, and log onto the Library website to get involved in the discussion. You can also see what your neighbors are saying on Twitter. Happy reading!
http://cincinnatilibrary.org/samepage

Indy is ready for some football!

2012-01-31T00:44:00.000-08:00

The biggest NFL game of the year is just two hours away, in my hometown, but I’m missing it because I fell down some stairs. Good morning, Brad here.
We have been talking about it for over a week now, showing you pictures and videos from Indianapolis as the circle city gets ready to host Super Bowl 46 this Sunday. This past weekend I had planned to head home to check out everything Super Bowl Village had to offer. That didn’t happen. I’m wearing a boot on my right foot because I fell down the stairs, sprained my ankle and tore two ligaments. Idiot.
While sitting at home watching movies and catching up on my DVR I kept getting text messages with photos emails with videos of downtown Indianapolis from friends and family who spent their weekend having fun. If I sound a little bitter, I am.
However, I must give it up to my city! Indy does it right. For about 10 days multiple streets are closed around Lucas Oil Stadium. There are stages set up for concerts, a zip line through downtown, the large roman numerals on the circle and my favorite the Indy Cars. Leading up to Monument Circle sits 33 Indy cars, each with the design of all the NFL teams and one with the logo for Super Bowl 46. Check out the Bengal car!
It’s really the ultimate fan experience and it’s less than 100 miles west on Interstate 74, so I encourage you to check it out before it’s gone. I will get to catch of glimpse of it traveling through Indy this weekend but I do wish I could spend more time than a pass through. As for the game, sorry little Manning, I’m cheering for the PATS!

Sunday Dinner

2012-01-30T01:52:00.000-08:00

Marzullo Here: So this weekend we did not to do much, and sometimes those are the best weekends. One thing we did do which I always find time for, is that we cooked and we ate. On Sunday I had a craving for Lasagna, however I changed it up a bit and I wanted to go with roll ups instead of regular Lasagna. I got the idea from Giada on the Food Network, and I altered the recipe just a bit. I started by making a quick marinara sauce and then I got into the Lasagna. I start my making a bechamel sauce which is a white sauce that goes on the bottom of your baking dish. It is fairly simple, you melt butter in a pan and then head flour and saute it together. Then you add milk, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg and continue to heat and stir until it becomes thick and set it aside. Then boil your noodles but do not cook them all the way through make them al dente. While the noodles cook steam some fresh spinach to wilt it slightly. Then tear it apart and add it in a bowl with riccota, one egg, Parmesan, romano cheese, and some basil. Stir this fully then had scoops on to each noodle. After you spread it roll them and place them seam down in the baking dish on top of the bechamel sauce. Then after they are in the pan cover with the marinara sauce and top with fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh parsley. Then bake covered for 20 mins and uncovered for a additional 10 mins. You can always add more sauce afterwards but it is a nice twist to traditional lasagna.

Progress Report: Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields

2012-01-27T01:07:00.000-08:00

Karma is cool.

Sheila here. I'm not just saying that. I am seeing a wonderful example of it in the construction of the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields in Fairfield. Miracle League fields are special places where kids and adults with special needs get to step onto a field of dreams. Quite simply, they get to play baseball, many for the first time in their lives. Construction is finally underway after four years of fundraising and planning.

Bringing a Miracle League field to his old stomping grounds was one of the dreams of Reds legend Joe Nuxhall after he saw a feature story on ESPN. His son Kim and a lot of kind and generous people are making Joe's dream come true. I don't have to tell you what Joe Nuxhall meant to Cincinnati, Fairfield, and Hamilton. His character education program, scholarships for high school seniors, and other local efforts to help children? That's all good Karma.

I'm not sure if you know what Kim means to the folks up that way in Butler County, but I saw it firsthand last month, and I witnessed it again yesterday.
Kim, Joe, and Reds great Sean Casey put together a Joe Nuxhall Character Education program several years back to bring to local schools. Kim was a teacher in Fairfield schools and saw the need for it. Last month Katy Morgan and I joined Kim and some athletes and teachers at an "I Can" basketball game at Fairfield Intermediate School. I was really touched to see the way the kids reacted to Kim, even though he is no longer in the classroom every day. When he walks into a classroom or the gym, the students cheer for Kim like he's a rock star. I've never asked him about this, but I'm sure it's because they know he cares about them, and still stands up for them and inspires them. That's good Karma too.

Now the good Karma is coming full circle. Construction started on the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields at Hatton Park in Fairfield on December 28th. Since then water and storm sewer lines have been installed, the foundation for the building was poured along with footers for the patio and pavilion area, and the main electrical conduit for the building and parking lot lights are in. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we could be watching our first Miracle League game at the field by this July.

Katy and I got to attend an appreciation luncheon yesterday at Receptions in Fairfield, where Kim honored the people who are making his dad's dream come true. "The Mayor" Sean Casey was there to thank them too. Sean doesn't even live in Cincinnati any more, but he travels back here regularly to see the progress and help it along. Sean said something that really resonated with me: "You don't make a life by what you get. You make a life by what you give." Two young ladies with special needs also touched listeners with their letters to the giving people in the audience. Jesse Hutson and Karlee Thomas can't wait to play baseball, so they can forget about doctors and surgeries for a little while, and feel "normal" by taking part in America's pasttime. I can't wait to see them on that field.

The fundraising efforts and the work have reached two big milestones: One million dollars in monetary donations and one million dollars worth of "in kind" donations, from architectural and engineering designs to construction and electrical work. Not everyone can donate thousands. In face, one donor gave $2.47. Every little bit means the world to Kim and his family, and will make an impact on special kids. But I think it would please them so much to have thousands and thousands of local people "invested" in this great project. We all loved Joe, and what I love more is knowing how he will continue to touch so many thousands of kids and their families who just want to go out and enjoy a baseball game for a little while. You can find out more about the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields here:
http://www.nuxhallmiracleleague.org/

And be sure to like the page on Facebook to watch the progress: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Joe-Nuxhall-Miracle-League-Fields/126938827383004

Here's a list which shows how all of the good Karma is not only paying off, but I believe creating even more. Maybe you can support these businesses and special people.
The Hatton Foundation donated $500,000 in a matching grant.
Other big donors include Mercy Hospital, Clemmons & Wolterman Law Office, Union Central Life Insurance, the Pfau Foundation, Butler County, and of course, the Nuxhall family. But the effort continues because an endowment is needed to ensure that the field can be maintained and used for years to come. The goal for that is $500,000, and every donation, no matter how big or small can make an impact.
Lots of companies, groups, and workers are helping by donating their services and equipment.
Bown Industries, LSI Lighting Industries, John R. Jurgensen, Ernst Concrete, Halcomb Concrete & Foundations, Dallis Homes, Bayer & Becker Engineers, DHA Architects, Magna Engineers, Lykins Oil, KoKosing, Enerfab, the City of Fairfield, the Fairfield Community Foundation, and local Ironworkers.
And an extra special shout out to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers #648. Some of them are unemployed right now, but they are all working hard on the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League Fields. Their good Karma will inspire me for years to come.

Where Is All The Snow ?

2012-01-26T02:22:00.000-08:00

Good morning, happy Thursday! It’s Katy… and recently I’ve been getting the same question here in the newsroom and out in public. Where is all the snow?! Hard to believe we’re now at the end of January, and we’ve gotten by with a pretty mild winter (*Shh! Don’t tell Mother Nature!) As much as I am enjoying the mild weather, I have to admit.. I do miss the snow. It may be that most people yern for what they don’t have. If you remember last year, we had quite a bit of snow! In fact, this time last year, we had already logged 28.6 inches of snow! Compare that to the 2.0 inches that we’ve seen this year! (On average, we should have seen about 10 inches of snow by now… which puts us 8 inches behind for the year).

So… why so little snow this year? You remember the Storm Team talking about the La Nina winter that’s set up for us this winter. For our region, that typically brings a slightly mild, wetter winter. Take a look at the outlook that NOAA put out back in October, which basically follows what a typical La Nina would bring to the United States. Our region is under the “average “ temperature, seeing temperatures right around 40 degrees, with wet conditions. The reason why? The Jet Stream. The Jet Stream hasn’t been able to pull in the arctic air we need to produce snow. Instead, many southern systems have formed, pulling in warmer air from the south, with shallow cold layers in the upper levels. The result is more rain than snow.

But we still have the rest of January, February and early March to get through. Will we see a big snow at all this year? According to Chief Meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer, it may not happen. The pattern this winter has been pretty steady, with a west to east jet flow, keeping us around average with rainy conditions all winter. I’ll have to agree with Steve. The chances are dwindling for a cold, deep snow to form. But, being in the business of meteorology… I won’t completely rule it out. I’ve been in the line of work long enough to know that Mother Nature can and DOES surprise you. We’ll just have to wait and see!

My REVIEW of Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales!

2012-01-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday. Dan Wells writing, and I hope your day is off to a good start.

This past Sunday afternoon was a day spent with Disney Princesses. I had the pleasure of taking my family to see Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales at US Bank Arena. This was the first live theater experience for my daughters, and let me tell you, it was a great introduction to live entertainment.

The show started at 12:00pm and kept a good pace, especially for two young kids who tend to get distracted (my girls are two and four years old).

Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy greeted the audience and then began to tell the story of "Snow White". The set was close, magical (in that Disney sort of way) and the pace was perfect. A word of warning for next time, the Evil Queen in the Snow White story can be frightening for young kids who may not be familiar with the story. (my girls almost cried) However, all those fears went away when the goofy seven dwarves took the stage and the girls pulled their faces out of my jacket!

"Cinderella" was the next Fairly Tale. My girls loved Cinderella (that's they're favorite story) and what's nice about this story was a well placed intermission in the middle of the story.

Belle from "Beauty and the Beast" was the last princess featured. The costumes for the Beauty and the Beast were big, sparkly, beautiful, and the music was fun as well.

The grand finale featured all three couples in their wedding garb (I think this is what my girls imagine their wedding will be) and then everyone was joined by Mickey Mouse and friends.

The entire show was about an hour and a half long and was the perfect length. In closing, if you get the chance to attend the next Disney Live! event....go for it, you won't want to miss it when one comes close again!

Cheers,
Dan

Beating the Winter Blues

2012-01-24T00:56:00.000-08:00

We are starting a new series here on the morning news. It will hopefully give you ideas on how to beat the winter blues.

Hi everyone. Rob here.

We all headed to Rockquest in Sharonville yesterday. Everyone except for Brad Underwood. He's already beating the winter blues. He's on vacation in Florida.

Rockquest allows people of all ages and all levels of climbing ability to act as Spiderman for a bit.

The wall we scaled was 4 and a half stories tall. I took a picture of Sheila, Katy and Tracey climbing the wall. Katy's way up top, but all three made it to the top. Actually, everyone made it to the top except for one. (I will allow you to guess who that is)

It was challenging and surprisingly grueling. The height can freak you out for a while. It did me, but the more you climb the easier it gets.

The expert climbers who guided us yesterday were fantastic. They made us feel comfortable and most importantly safe. Find out more at www.rockquest.com

Our Dan Well has some advice for men and what not to wear. If you want to know more, email him at dwells@fox19.com

Come Chat With Me

2012-01-23T02:01:00.000-08:00

Good Morning...Frank Here...Did the rolls of thunder wake you up this morning? We had some areas of heavy rain up to a half of inch in spots, but for the most part no wind damage here at home. So where is the snow? Where is the cold air? What is going on? I know all questions you have as we have only seen 2 inches of snow this season. We have addressed all of these questions on air and now I have another way you can chat with me. Join me every morning on FOX19.com for a morning chat while you enjoy breakfast and get the kids to school. On mornings when the weather is the story we will be here with you as Meteorologist Katy Morgan will join me to answer your questions. Then on other mornings we will just chat about whatever is on your mind, so let the questions fly. I will include a link here for you to find our chat or you can simply go to our homepage at http://www.fox19.com/ and click on the chat with Frank link. Here is the direct link: http://www.fox19.com/category/229883/frank-marzullos-weather-chat

Jamaica, Mon!

2012-01-20T02:40:00.001-08:00

No passport? No problem, mon!

What do you pack when you go on a tropical vacation? Sunblock? Swimsuit? Trashy romance novel?

How about a passport? Whoops...forgot that one.

This was my reality last Thursday night. I had just fought through Cincinnati snow and 8 hours of flight delays to get home to Delaware. The next morning my lovely boyfriend and I were headed to Ochos Rios, Jamaica.

Or so I hoped. I realized with terror as I was having dinner with my parents, little brother, and boyfriend that I left my passport in my apartment in Cincinnati. Immediately Team Stephanie went into action. My wonderful friend Cassie Wissel faxed my passport to me Friday morning (at 7am no less!) and my parents tore the house apart looking for my birth certificate. According to the U.S. Department of State website, you can enter Jamaica with only a photo I.D. and a birth certificate.

No problems, right? Not so much. Lordhamercy!

U.S. Airways stopped me at the gate, saying there was "no way" I was getting to Jamaica. After demanding that they pull up the country exception policy and crying enough to embarrass my boyfriend, we got on the flight. Thought Jamaica was laid-back? Jamaican customs officials claimed there was no birth certificate policy with the U.S., and locked my boyfriend and I in an interrogation room for an hour. After a lot of documents, pleas, and tears...we somehow got in the country. Customs demanded that I FedEx my passport ASAP to Jamaica.

Now...I don't want to sound like Negative Nancy. We got in the country and had a wonderful next five days. We swam, snorkled, sailed, and drank a few too many Jamaican Smiles :) We stayed at Couples Tower Isle in Ochos Rios. The resort hosted the most amazing Jamaican steel drum band and dancers at dinner. But we didn't stay on the resort...we also hiked up the slippery Dunn's river falls in Ochos Rios.

Relaxed yet? I was too...but too soon. Although my passport was supposed to arrive Monday...it wasn't set to be delivered until Tuesday afternoon...after our flight! I requested that the passport be held in Montego Bay near the airport. A $150 cab ride later and a lot of patience....and we were home bound for America.

The moral of the story is....always remember your passport...and don't believe everything you read online. And relax, mon! Everything will work out fine :)

- Stephanie

PINK!

2012-01-19T01:29:00.000-08:00

Today we remember those making a journey many of us pray we'll never have to make! We celebrate those that have passed through the valley and are on their way to the mountain top. We celebrate those that are no longer with us. I'm talking about breast cancer patients and survivors. Hi...Tracey here.

It's the 19th of the month and that means it's THINK PINK here at FOX19.

I don't know what it's like to hear the words, "you have breast cancer." I've come as close as I hope I ever will. Just a short time ago, I spent much of my time driving one of my best friends, a single mom, back and forth to chemo, trying to convince her 2 daughters that she was going to be okay as she could barely lift her head from her pillow. I am thrilled to share with you that her journey has her making her way up the mountain side to the mountain top :)

Every month, we here at FOX19 hear the stories of the most courageous women and a few men too, that I'll ever meet in my lifetime. The 19th of every month, we commit to raising awareness for the 1 in 8 women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer. We call this day, THINK PINK! We wear pink. We tell you about events in the community that help the cause. We shed tears along with those that are making the journey and with those whose loved ones did not. We'd love for you to join us in the fight. Won't you help the close to 300 thousand that will be diagnosed this year? Won't you commit to making sure your girlfriend gets her yearly mammogram? We invite you to visit the special section on our website we call THINK PINK. Share your breast cancer stories and events with me. traceyjohnson@fox19.com and together.....WE'LL THINK PINK!!!!

Steamboat Springs

2012-01-18T01:25:00.000-08:00

Greetings, friends, from Steamboat Springs, Colorado!

Marzullo here. I know the weather was a bit rough at home on Tuesday, here it was about 8 below here when you had your thunderstorms. If you have been watching some of our broadcasts you know I have been here LIVE as part of the 23rd Annual Steamboat Weather Summit. It has been a great time learning from some of the tops in our field while at the same time hitting the slopes.

To start, on the work side of things, did you know the field of space weather is one of the fastest growing areas of forecasting? It's increasingly important to know when solar flares may occur and radiational storms could take out radio transmissions for several hours. Airlines, especially, have to have a heads up.

On the fun side I have been getting a lot of ski time as we got 11 inches of much needed fresh powder here. This morning on the Xtra you will see me try to snow board. I took part in this yesterday and I have to be honest that's the only reason I am writing this blog.

I am so sore right now I can't move, so I said "Oh, let me lie here with my glass of wine and a few Advil and write my blog. Seriously though, I loved it and found it really challenging, but I have never been so sore or felt so out of shape. In the meantime, stay tuned for my live reports from Steamboat on Fox 19.

I’m still coming down from my sugar high…

2012-01-17T01:06:00.000-08:00

Good Tuesday, Brad here.
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to be a judge in cookie contest for a great cause, Cookies4Cancer. The event was put on by hospitality science students at Antonelli College in West Chester. The money raised went to the Bowman and North families who are both dealing with cancer.
A mix of 20 amateur and professional bakers sold their cookies to the public to raise the funds for the families, but before that I was a judge with some baking superstars. We had to judge all the cookies and announce a winner and runner up. The other judges were: Chef Pamela Sturkey, formerly of mesh restaurant in West Chester Twp.; pastry Chef Megan Ketover from the Netherland Hilton; Chef Ronnie Givens from Morrison’s; and General Electric executive Christian H. Blake .
I must say it was a blast, I have never done anything like it and it showed. I ate the first two cookies then realizing there is no way I could eat 20 cookies! It was so interesting watching and listening to the real chef’s taste, critique and compare all the cookies. It was especially fun to watch Chef Sturkey and Chef Ketover. They took tiny bites and then placed the rest of the cookie on a napkin and number it. Later they would take another bite and compare some more. So, like a nerd and a fan of the two, I followed their lead.
The winning cookie was from Cleveland, it was a tea cookie with fresh raspberry jam on top with an icing glaze sealing it all in. very delicious. However, my favorite cookie which was actually the runner up was this sugar cookie made by a 17 year old high school student from Hamilton. Sarah Stumpf and her sugar cookie covered in green and red sprinkles. It was so good, a very simple sugar cookie, but soft and full of flavor. Sarah actually sells them through her email, she has a business card and even a good company name, Cookies For College. She makes Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Crème Pie, Gingersnap, Snickerdoodle and Sugar. She told us that she is hoping to go a culinary school for college. Good Luck Sarah, so far so good with the cookies.
I think I would love to do something like this again, I just hope there’s a smaller number of samples to taste, my sugar levels were that of a kid on Halloween.

Martin Luther King, Junior Day

2012-01-16T01:10:00.000-08:00

"There is nothing new about poverty. What is new, however, is that we now have the resources to get rid of it. The time has come for an all-out world war against poverty … The well off and the secure have too often become indifferent and oblivious to the poverty and deprivation in their midst. Ultimately a great nation is a compassionate nation. No individual or nation can be great if it does not have a concern for 'the least of these." -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior

Good morning, it's Sheila.
Today is Martin Luther King, Junior Day, and there may have never been a time when his words about poverty are more true than they are today. I was watching an interview with Congressman John Lewis last fall after the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth died. Of course, Rev. Shuttlesworth marched alongside Dr. King during America's civil rights movement. Rep. Lewis told his interviewer that he believes many have forgotten Dr. King's commitment to ending poverty in America, so today I think it bears repeating as we commemorate those principles for which Dr. King stood.

Millions of Americans will pray today, and many will march, and they will celebrate people who carry on Dr. King's legacy. How many of them will help the poor at a time when so many in our great country need help? I know that Jenny Laster will. I interviewed Jenny last year on MLK Day. Jenny is the director of the African-American Leadership program at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, and she witnessed Dr. King's work as a child growing up near St. Louis in the 40's and 50's. At the age of 70, Jenny decided to pursue her Ph.D. in the MLK program at the Union Institute and University here in Cincinnati because she wanted to inspire others to make Dr. King's vision a reality. When I interviewed Jenny, I asked her how she would commemorate the holiday, and she told me she would help the poor. Jenny told me she often goes through her home and cleans out what she doesn't need, and she donates the clothing and household items to the poor -- she pointedly said she never sells any of it. That stayed with me. Now, every time I take some work clothes to Dress for Success or give kids items to the
Madonna House or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, I think of Jenny, and I think of Dr. King. It seems rather a small thing, but it's one way of taking care of another person in need.

In the early 90's, I was able to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center and the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Being in those places was very meaningful for me, and as I left I picked up a small card which I carry in my wallet. The card carries this Living The Dream Pledge: "In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and work, I pledge to do everything that I can to make the world a place where equality and justice, freedom and peace will grow and flourish. On the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday, I commit myself to living the dream by:
Loving, not hating
Showing understanding, not anger
Making peace, not war.

Today's public commemoration in Cincinnati is themed Be the Change - Live the Freedom. Let's face it. Our world still needs change. The challenges of violence and poverty still resonate, and people still suffer. But each and every one of us can make the conscious decision that we will be the change - even if it's in the seemingly small offerings of clothing for the poor, or a shoulder when someone needs it to lean on, stopping bullying, or mentoring a child. We all have different reasons for honoring Dr. King - I like to think that he will best be remembered if we take some action and show concern for "the least of these."

Here's a link, if you'd like to take part in today's events Downtown.
http://www.mlkcoalition.org/images/stories/mlkday-flyer-final-2012.pdf

The Freezer Bowl

2012-01-12T02:30:00.001-08:00

If I had to put together my “perfect” football forecast, it would be 30° at kickoff with cloudy skies and flurries. But I would never, I repeat, NEVER wish -8°F with a wind chill of -34°F upon anyone! That’s just nuts! But it happened, and many Cincinnatians remember that frigid afternoon in football 30 years ago this week!

Good morning, Katy here… and I’m talking about The Freezer Bowl, which took place on January 10th, 1982…30 years ago this week! I’ve actually heard stories of the Freezer Bowl before, from my husband’s parents. They lived in Lima (and still do today) but came down for the game that afternoon. (They were prepared for the cold.. but I don’t know if anyone knew it would be THAT cold!)

When the Bengals and Chargers took to the field, the air temperature was around -8°F. But that wasn’t the half of it. Winds were blowing 20 mph, gusting to 30… making the wind chill an unbearable -34°F. Actually, the wind chills were modified later in 2001 to -34°F using a more modern and realistic math equation to calculate the wind chill. Using the old equation in 1982, wind chills were reported around -55°F, and up to -80°F! Believe it or not..46,000 fans showed up for the game!

Based on the climatology from the National Weather Service, that day went down as the 6th coldest day in Cincinnati history, considering an average temperature of the high and low. (the average from that day was -9°F. The coldest average day on record is a three way tie of -12.5°F all set in January. 20th of January 1985, and the 17th and 18th of January 1977.

Chief Meteorologist Steve Horstmeyer was working at the game that day, and remembers the wind swirling around Riverfront Stadium… and even recalls the San Diego QB yelling out a few “choice” words as he was making his way to the field. Ha. This was pretty cold for Cincinnati, but can you imagine the San Diego Chargers playing in this weather?!

Needless to say, you know how this one ended. Cincinnati won 27-7.

By the way, if you were at that game.. I found a cool t-shirt for you! check it out.. http://www.homage.com/store/tees-tops/t-shirts/sports/football/freezer-bowl-82

Football, Food, & Friends

2012-01-11T01:14:00.000-08:00

People ask me all the time what my co-workers are like.
Does Rob really eat all of that food?
Is Frank ever in a bad mood?

Sheila here.
People also want to know if we are really friends.
The short answer is yes. Ric and I had my Fox 19 Morning News friends over to watch the football game Saturday. I don't want to talk about the Bengals' loss. As Rob said, "that game hurt my feelings!"

A few of our friends couldn't make it, but Rob and Stephanie were there, along with Katy, Dan, Brad (and their husband, wife, daughters, and girlfriend). Rob didn't eat as much as you would think. He's training for the Boston marathon. Katy is one of the smartest women I've ever met, and Stephanie is really funny! We are all getting to know her better, which is really fun. Dan is the sweetest dad. You should see him with his girls. Brad has a really cute girlfriend, and she made some amazing Buffalo Chicken Dip.

We had a great time talking about everything BUT work, watching the game, and eating A LOT of food. I made a soup which Rita Heikenfeld prepared on our show years ago. It's always a good dish for having people over, and several of my buddies wanted to recipe, so I thought you'd like to have it too. Enjoy!

RITA HEIKENFELD'S CHILL CHASING VEGETABLE SOUP
1 pound very lean ground chuck or ground turkey
1 generous cup chopped onion
1 tsp garlic
1 jar chunky style pasta sauce - 19-29 oz.
3 cans de-fatted beef broth
1 can chopped tomatoes with chilies
1 bag frozen soup vegetables - 16 oz.
1 box frozen mixed vegetables 10 oz.
1 can drained beans (I like black beans)
1/4 cup bulghur wheat (I substitute barley)

Handful of fresh spinach or other greens
Low fat cheddar or parmesan cheese

Directions:Saute meat with onions and garlic. darin fat. Thaw frozen vegetables. Add remaining ingredients, except for cheese. Bring to a boil. Lower to simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables tenderize. Throw in the greens for the last minute. Garnish with cheese.

Not To Be All Frank Like.....

2012-01-10T00:41:00.000-08:00

But this morning I wanted to talk about food. Specifically, eating brunch at Take the Cake in Northside. It is all kinds of awesomeness. Tried to go Saturday morning, but it was closed. I was bummed. It is only open for brunch on Sundays. Went down the street to the Bluejay Restaurant, which was also very good. Ventured back to Northside the very next day, best decision I made all day. That's how much I was craving the food at Take the Cake.

It doesn't have a traditional menu. It is written out on a black chalkboard. It is fluid. Determined by what's fresh and delicious.

I decided to order steak on top of biscuit. There were also black beans, a perfectly poached egg, and guacamole.

I'm not Tom Colicchio from Top Chef, but I thought it was a perfectly composed dish.

One other great thing happened during brunch. A woman (the owner I think) cracked a tart slightly, as she was taking it out o the pan. Looked over at us and said, "I think someone is getting a free dessert." I rarely eat dessert, but I ate this one. It was worth every single calorie. Take the Cake, check it out!

Still Dreaming Of Food

2012-01-09T01:48:00.000-08:00

It is hard to belive I have not seen or talked to you since last year! I know bad joke, right? Happy New Year to everyone, it has been awhile since we have talked but it is good to be back with you after some vacation time. Marzullo Here: I have to say while time is off is amazing after while you miss your everyday routine, maybe I can do without the waking up at 2:45am, but that means I would not be able to do what I so enjoy and that is waking you up every morning. We spent about 10 days down in Southwest Florida, a few years ago my parents bought a place in Cape Coral, Florida which is between Naples and Fort Meyers. With us gone for several days we decided to make it easier we would just drive so my girlfriend and I divide the drive up with the first leg to Atlanta and then onto Cape Coral the next day. So much I could talk about, yes the weather was fantastic with temperatures near 80 degrees and sunny our first 4 days and then it cooled down a bit into the 60 degree range before warming back up our last 2 days. One thing on want to touch on is the best meal I have had in a very long time. The restaurant is called Bistro 821 and if your heading to Naples anytime soon it's on 5th avenue in old Naples. A very comfortable atmosphere with food that will dance in your mouth with every bite. You will recognized most things on the menu but the tastes are amazing and presentation even better. My girlfriend who loves seafood had the seabass and prawns duet with a miso sauce while I went with the fork tender pot roast and the largest carrot I have ever seen. The gravy for my pot roast was a parsnip gravy and was served on the most amazing mash potatoes I have ever had. What was even better was the appetizer which was a goat cheese potato fritter with a demi glaze...OH MY AMAZING! I love food we are both foodies and trust me if your in the area this place is a must, especially for a special occasion, it was a our anniversary and it was the perfect way to spend the evening. The second part of my trip I loved was our spa and relaxation day but I'll save those stories for the air. It is good to be back and now lets track some snow!!!

Bengals Trivia!

2012-01-06T00:46:00.000-08:00

Good Friday morning, Dan Wells writing. I hope this blog finds you well and in good spirits!

The Bengals (9-7) are back in the postseason for the third time in seven seasons! This morning, I thought I'd dig up some fun Bengals trivia for you.

Check it out.

When Paul Brown originally attempted to form the Bengals, it was his intent to join the NFL and not the AFL.

In 1973, Essex Johnson became the first Bengals player to ever gain more than 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game.

The first Bengals quarterback to ever throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season was Ken Anderson in 1975.

Wide receiver Eddie Brown caught more touchdown passes from Boomer Esiason than any other player.

The first Bengals receiver to put up 200 or more receiving yards in one game was future Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner. He caught seven passes for 200 yards in a 1975 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Boomer Esiason threw more touchdown passes against the Houston Oilers than he did against any other NFL franchise.

Ken Anderson threw more touchdown passes against the Houston Oilers than he did against any other opponent.

The first Cincinnati Bengals player to put together a 1,000 yard rushing season was Paul Robinson in 1968. This would be the only 1,000 yard rushing season of his career.

The worst win-loss record by a Bengals starting quarterback who started at least 16 games for the team during their career is 4-20 and is the property of David Klingler.

Boomer Esiason's first career NFL touchdown pass was caught by M.L. Harris.
Carson Palmer's first NFL touchdown pass came in his first game ever, it went for six yards and was caught by Kenny Watson.

The Cincinnati Bengals had no 1,000 yard rushers during the entire 1970′s.

At one point over a span of six consecutive games in 2007, Carson Palmer threw seven straight touchdown passes to receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh without another player on the team catching one.

The Bengals joined the AFL in 1968 and then the NFL in 1970 as part of the NFL-AFL merger.
While with the Cincinnati Bengals, Charlie Joiner once accumulated 200 yards receiving in one game.

During Carson Palmer's senior season at Santa Margarita Catholic High School he threw 71 touchdown passes.

Boomer Esiason was the first quarterback taken in the 1984 NFL Draft… even though he wasn't selected until early in the second round. Esiason was selected in the first round of the USFL
Draft that year by the Washington Federals.

The final play of quarterback Boomer Esiason's career was a 77 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darnay Scott.

Paul Brown, the founder and longtime Head Coach of the Cleveland Browns also founded the Cincinnati Bengals.

Linebacker Reggie Williams, a Dartmouth graduate, served on the Cincinnati City Council while playing for the Bengals.

The Bengals unique tiger-striped helmets were debuted for the 1981 season.

GOOD LUCK BENGALS!
Have a great weekend!
- Dan Wells

We Bought A Zoo

2012-01-05T02:17:00.000-08:00

Growing up in a family with five kids, going to the movies was quite a treat. It is the same for my family today. It's not cheap for a family of six to catch a movie, popcorn, candy and a hot dog of course. It's what I look forward to the most!

Tracey here.
Monday was a special day for our family. We decided to go to the movie. We were celebrating Genevieve's 7th birthday. Before taking in a movie, we always check a particular website. It is www.pluggedin.org.
You choose the movie and it gives you everything you want to know from the positives to the negatives....right down to the number of profanities, sex scenes etc. It lays it all out.
We were sure we were going to see the movie, " We bought a Zoo." It is rated PG and the story line seemed to be one we'd all enjoy. After visiting this particular website, I was both appalled and saddened to see the profanity in the movie. Many of you may think, "what's the big deal?" The bottom line, I don't choose and will not sit with my little one only to hear language that I don't think is appropriate for her at her age. Does she hear it elsewhere? I hope not, but, probably. I just don't want to send the message that I think it's okay. Am I boycotting the movie? Absolutely not. I actually think it looks like a great movie. I love that it tells the story of a wonderful marriage and deals with real life issues like the pain of losing your soul mate and how to cope and help your kids with the loss of a parent. Bottom line here....I just want to offer you a resource that I find helpful as a parent.

So, I'll probably just have to wait until it comes out on video. Unfortunately, I won't have any of that yummy theatre popcorn to go along with my movie. But, I could make a hot dog in my microwave!:)
Enjoy the day!

My Vacation In Movies

2012-01-04T01:22:00.000-08:00

I had a fantastic Christmas vacation. I spent a good part of it just making myself relax! And what better way to kick back than with a good movie?

Sheila here.
I saw some dear friends and I had tons of great family time while I was off for the holidays. Katie and I got facials and caught lunch at Jean-Robert's Table (get the Frites! They'll change your life!) We also met my buddy from San Francisco at Trio's, and munched on Margherita pizza and calamari. Mmmm.

Eric and I hit the Jump Zone and the indoor swimming pool, and Ric and I had two dates! We met up with friends for dinner at The Precinct (and a steak that'll change your life!), and we chowed down on hot dogs while watching The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

I have been waiting forever for that movie! I read all three books in the series by Stieg Larsson, and I loved them. Rooney Mara gave an Oscar worthy performance as the unlikley hacker and heroine, Lisbeth, and let's face it - Daniel Craig is easy on the eyes. It's a great murder mystery with lots of twists, and it's true to the book. A warning--there are disturbing elements in this novel, and since the movie sticks to the book, there are some pretty graphic scenes, including a rape scene which is very difficult to watch.

I also caught up on a whole bunch of movies on my DVD player, On Demand, and Showtime. Horrible Bosses - really raunchy, but funny. Crazy Stupid Love is so good - Ryan Gosling coaches Steve Carrell on how to pick up women after Julianne Moore tells him she wants a divorce.

It's got an unbelievable twist, and it's really cute. Nobody's Fool garnered Paul Newman an Oscar nod several years back, but somehow I missed it. I liked it a lot. I also checked out The Mechanic - about a hit man who ends up training the son of a man he kills. Very violent, but a good story which had me rooting for the hitman. The Holiday with Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet was a cute chick flick for a slow afternoon with nothing better to do. And if you haven't seen The Help, order it On Demand or at your local Red Box. It's a must see with strong, funny women during the Civil Rights movement in the South. It was my favorite movie of 2011.

Hey, it's winter, it's cold and gray. Perfect movie weather, and the heavy clothes we're wearing can hide all of that popcorn (or hot dogs) we eat!

Honky Tonkin New Years

2012-01-03T00:39:00.000-08:00

Good Tuesday morning and Happy New Year. Brad here, just back from Nashville Tennessee where I rang in the New Year. It was a first time visit to the city and I can say with confidence I will return. The weekend went too fast but here are some of the highlights.
Friday night it was all about Broadway. If you are familiar with downtown Nashville you know what I mean when I say Broadway and we aren’t talking about a play. Several blocks of bars, restaurants, cowboy boot/hat shops, bright lights and lots of music. I’m not a country music fan, but it was nice to be there and experience it. Live music all the time, a cold beverage and some BBQ, yes I’ll have seconds.
Saturday, it was about exploring. There are multiple universities just outside the downtown area. Vanderbilt, Belmont, Lipscomb to name a few. Vanderbilt’s campus is beautiful, very old buildings, ivy lined sidewalks, tall brick clock towers. The campus is huge, much bigger than I thought the school was. Coincidentally Cincinnati was playing Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl on Saturday, so we had to do it...The UC pose of the vandy logo at the football stadium. Oh yeah, UC won 31-24! Then it was off to downtown to check out a new city. Printers Alley, the historic government area, the arts district, a couple stops for a drink and some food, all just so much fun. Then we came across Occupy Nashville. They are still camped out in front of the State Capital Building and directly in front of the War Memorial, where the concert was that we went to.
HERE COME THE MUMMIES!! I know, I talk about these guys all the time, but this is why the trip to Nashville happened. They are from Nashville and the venue was packed! What a great show and countdown to the New Year.
Overall an amazing time, very nice people and a great atmosphere, sunny and 60 degrees all weekend helps too!

Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr Zinzinnati!

2011-12-30T03:15:00.000-08:00

Or rather, a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year! This Christmas marked my first holiday season in Cincinnati, and I can say I’m happier then ever to call this festive town my home. Every week it seemed there was a different festival to go to, holiday party to attend, or mall crowd to fight through J
My favorite aspect of Christmas in Cincinnati, however, has to be the German heritage. So many American Christmas customs were originally German, including the Christmas tree (Tannenbaum), fruitcake (stollen), and the advent calendar. My family even adopted the Weihnachtsgurke tradition of hiding a pickle ornament on the Christmas Tree. Whichever kid found it Christmas morning (I usually let my little brother win) would gain an extra present from Santa! However, I learned recently that this tradition isn’t authentically German, but invented by German-Americans.
Whoops! So maybe my family needs a little schooling in the traditional German Christmas. Well, we got that a couple weeks ago. My wonderful mom, dad and brother trekked out to Cincinnati from Wilmington, Delaware (10 hour drive = not fun) just to see little old me and enjoy Christmastide in the town.
My Dad, who speaks German, had read about the German heritage here and was itching for a Bavarian Christmas meal. Where better to take them but Hofbräuhaus in Newport? Believe it or not, this was my first time at the restaurant, and it certainly won’t be my last. We ate schnitzel, drank Christmasbier (a pint each for me and the folks, a stein for my “little” brother), and chicken danced our tails off. The next night we dined at Montgomery Inn in Mount Adams. True, not a German institution, but home to the most delicious (and messiest) ribs I’ve ever had. Bibs recommended.
After food, the first thing on my holiday to-do list was the Cincincinnati Zoo’s Festival of Lights. It didn’t disappoint. Not only did we stroll around the beautifully decorated park, but also got to see many nocturnal animals usually not out-and-about during normal zoo hours. I particularly liked the American cougars (I am a cat lady J). I discovered that the zoo was founded by a German immigrant, Andrew Erkenbrecher, and is very similar to traditional German zoos and botanical gardens. Watch the FOX19 morning news on Monday. I take a closer look at the history of the zoo and its tenacious founder…
How better to wrap up the weekend than by enjoying a cup of Graeters hot chocolate and hitting the ice rink in Fountain Square? It was pretty cold Saturday night, so I opted to watch rather than skate. The folks were impressed by the huge Christmas tree – my Mom even said it rivals Time Square’s! But the main attraction for my family was the Genius of Water, or the Lady. As you all know, the Lady is another German facet of Cincinnati. Ferdinand von Miller Jr. created her, after his dad sculpted “Patrona Bavaria” for Munich’s Oktoberfest! You’ve probably heard the story, but in case you don’t know: http://www.oktoberfestzinzinnati.com/okt.aspx?menu_id=256&id=8474
After this holiday season, I can’t wait to see what Cincinnati brings us in 2012. Happy New Year!
- Stephanie

2011… What a Year!

2011-12-29T01:51:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, happy Thursday! Katy here… can you believe 2011 is coming to a close? I sure can’t. It’s been quite a year for me, and boy does time fly when you’re having fun! 2011 was a great year for me and Tom. It was our first full year in Cincinnati, experiencing everything that the city has to offer, and it didn’t disappoint! We’ve visited tons of festivals, restaurants, and of course… Reds games! (That’s our favorite thing to do, by far!) But 2011 was the year of the wedding! Oh my gosh, what a wedding it was! Starting last January I began planning for the most important day in my life and it was a blast! From wedding colors, to bridesmaid dresses, reception venue and vows, there were tons of things to iron down, but thanks to a great group of bridesmaids, girlfriends, and my mom.. I got it all figured out. (And Tom got a few of his ideas in too!) Ha.

2011 was a great year, but I’m really looking forward to 2012. With my new husband, I’m sure we’ll find many more adventures in the Queen City!

Holiday Eve’s in Cincinnati and Nashville

2011-12-28T01:06:00.000-08:00

Good Tuesday morning and happy holidays to you. Does it get any better than the Nutcracker and Here Come The Mummies?
Brad here and thinking about one great show from Christmas Eve and an upcoming show that I know will be great on New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Eve started at the Aronoff. I attended the final performance of the new Nutcracker with the Dan Wells and his family. His girls, Alley and Kate were dressed in matching blue dresses. So cute. This was my first time inside the Aronoff and the first time ever seeing the Nutcracker. Really a great experience! Before the play we got a backstage tour. All the costumes, sets, it was really cool. The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra was incredible. I know this was the “new” Nutcracker but I didn’t have anything to compare it to. Some changes/additions were obvious to those in attendance, but overall the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Great job to everyone involved!

Onto this weekend, New Years Eve. I’m hitting the road to see one of my favorite bands in a city I’ve never been to, Nashville, TN. Here Come The Mummies, remember them? I blogged about them earlier this year when they played at Bogart’s. These Funky Mummies are incredible musicians. While I’m excited to see another show, I might be just as excited if not more to be in Nashville. I haven’t heard anyone say anything bad about this town and the music scene. I’m not crazy about country music but I am looking forward to walking around and listening to everything the city offers.

Want To Run A Marathon?

2011-12-27T01:10:00.000-08:00

There's help if you do.
Hey everyone. Rob here.
Training for 26.2 miles is tough. Especially, if you do it alone. You don't to though. Bob Roncker's running group is a great way to have some help. The group is also a great way to have some company.
After the first of the year, hundreds of runners gather for the first run. There are two weekday runs in the evening. Then there's the long weekend run. By the end of training, you will run 18, 19, 20 plus miles run. This is when the groups expertise and company of fellow runners really help. The encouragement of fellow runners and carbs and water set out along the way help you to keep moving.
There's a staff of 25 coaches that map out the training runs to get you ready for the half or full marathon. That's Joe Fung. He comes up with some really tough runs. Finishing a marathon, especially the flying pig is tough. Training with the group with make it easier though.
The next informational meeting is tomorrow night at 7:30. It will be held at the Running Spot in Newport. That's across the street from Atlas Cleaners. (great place to take your clothes BTW)
If you can't make it, there are two more. You can find all the information by going to this website: http://runningspot.com/flyingpigmarathon.php
The first training run will be January 7th. Hope to see you then. Happy New Year!

Where's My Little Girl?!

2011-12-22T01:20:00.000-08:00

OMG!

So it seems it was just yesterday that I was putting my daughter...Lacey’s hair in pony tails and maybe on special occasions...letting her paint her sweet little lips with my lip gloss.
She is all girl. Always has been.

Saturday night....we fast forwarded. I'm not sure how we got there....actually I can barely look at the pictures from the night's event. It was Lace's Winter Formal at her school...Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Middle School. To commemorate the event....Lace invited some of her very special friends and their families over before the big dance. Her friends arrived in their sweats......long dangling curls....NO MAKEUP! They were giggling and bursting with excitement. I caught my 14 year old boys rolling their eyes a few times...and mumbling..."Oh my gosh.” Oh...don't get me wrong...they like girls! So, we ate and visited. Thankful for the sweet friends Lace has found and their families. After dinner...the girls quickly disappeared upstairs.

Moments later....the transformations! OMG!!!!! Where did those little girls go?????? NO PONY TAILS... but, lots of lip gloss! We all gasped and stood in awe as they walked one by one down the stairs in their heels. The only saving grace.... they were still giggling.....acting like 13 year old girls do. AND …the blessing in it all? Not too grown up to kiss their parents goodbye. I even heard a few say..."I LOVE YOU!" Enjoy each moment!

NBA Is Back!

2011-12-21T01:15:00.001-08:00

“DA DA DA DA DA DAAA DA DA, DA DA DA DA DAAA DA DAAA DA DA DAAA DAAA DAAA DA DA...."

Good Tuesday morning, Brad here.
Do you remember that song? I do and it feels good to sing it because the NBA IS BACK!

Don’t get me wrong, I love college ball, so much drama and passion. I’m from Indiana, if there is a game on I’m watching. Sure the NBA guys are a bunch of millionaire ballers that whine too much but there is just something about the NBA that I just can’t abandon like many did during this latest lockout.

Growing up in Indianapolis I went to countless Pacers games each season. The roar of Market Square Arena, Reggie Miller sticking it to the Knicks and even Michael Jordan on a few occasions and who can forget the Indy Car sound effect that drove other teams nuts when it played over the PA system!

The lockout is over, training camp is underway and the season starts on Christmas Day. What a gift! There are five games on television starting with a classic rivalry, The Boston Celtics vs. The New York Knicks. Then a Finals rematch from last year, The Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat followed by The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, then The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Orlando Magic and the night ends in California with the Los Angeles Clippers and The Golden State Warriors. Wow, my DVR will be working overtime.

I also can’t wait to see how my favorite team, The San Antonio Spurs will do. They are old but I feel they have one more good run in them. How can we forget, the last time there was a shortened season because of labor disputes The Spurs won the title beating The Knicks. I’ve been a spurs fan as long as I can remember. Wearing Spurs jerseys as a kid to flying down to San Antonio about once a year to see friends and catch a game!
As they say...I LOVE THIS GAME. Welcome back.

Christmas Shopping... Almost Done!

2011-12-20T00:51:00.000-08:00

That is big for me. Usually, I'm the idiot hitting Kenwood Towne Center the 4 days leading up to Christmas. This year, I have a lot of gifts already out of the way. I started about 3 weeks ago with a visit to Crestview Hills Towne Center. I actually saw Sheila's sister-in-law at the Hallmark Store. To this Sheila texted, "what are YOU doing in a Hallmark store." Not my kind of store because I really don't like cards. (Yes, I do know that's little crazy) However, I was able to pick up a gift there. I also picked up a new pair of boots at Dillards. They were actually a good buy. I wear them all the time. Probably too much.

I also saw a segment on the Today show and found the perfect gift for a friend of mine. Before the show was over, I already ordered it online and it was being shipped. I bought Sheila's gift about two weeks ago. It was a good one. Already gave it to her.

See what it is here http://www.provenskinandbody.com/

Usually, I stink at buying gift. This year it's different. This is the reason why I think. I'm listening more now. All you have to do is pay attention.

Merry Christmas

Windy City Christmas

2011-12-19T02:01:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, Marzullo Here. Do you like last min road trips? I always do, unfortunately very rarely do I do them unless I do a little planning at least. I am a big time planner! On Saturday morning my girlfriend and I decided let's take a road trip to Chicago. The drive only took us 4 1/2 hours so it was well worth it. We had all of our Christmas shopping finished and nothing to do Saturday night so we left at 7am on Saturday morning and was able to get into Chicago by noon or 11am on our time. ( The time change makes these trips a lot easier ) It was the perfect time to head up as the Windy City made the spirit of the Christmas Season come alive. We stopped by Millennium Park and watched the thousands of ice skaters who come to the city every season. One of our favorites was seeing the Christmas Display Windows at Macy's which is the old Marshall Fields Department store. We spent the night at the Conrad which I highly recommend it is connected to the North Bridge Shops and Nordstrom right on Michigan Avenue, perfect location. After a lot of walking we were very hungry, here are a few restaurant recommendations I like if your heading up to the windy city. For some great Italian food we tried Piccolo Sogno, I tried the Italian pork and the lentil and sausage soup so good. My girlfriend loved her lobster and shrimp ravioli. This is off of Grand Avenue near my other favorite Italian joint La Scarola, which has the best veal I have ever head. We then woke up early Sunday morning and walked the city one more time before hitting the road. I am officially in the Christmas mood now and hope to make this a yearly tradition. Have A Merry Christmas.

Holiday In Lights

2011-12-15T01:20:00.000-08:00

I can't believe what I've been missing all these years!

Hi, it's Sheila. Friday night my husband Ric and I took the kids to Sharon Woods to see the Holiday In Lights display. This is the 20th year for the massive light show, but we had never gone before. This year, Cincinnati Magazine's Best of the City issue named the attraction the number one Christmas light display in our area, so I really wanted to get there this year.

Holiday In Lights is an outdoor light display which takes up more than a mile of wood roadway in Sharon Woods. It's easy to get there - just a mile off I-275's Mason/Sharonville exit. And you don't have to bundle up, because you view the whole thing from your car. We tuned the car radio to Christmas music, and turned off the headlights as we started our little tour. I was amazed by just how many characters, stories, and themes are depicted -- everything from a Godzilla wearing a Santa hat, to a Christian Nativity, to the Jolly Old Elf in a helicopter. Eric and Katie loved the massive light tunnel and the reindeer which seemed to jump over our car. I don't how many lights are used, but the display just went on an on.

It was great fun. After your ride through the woods, you can get out of the car for hot chocolate and a visit with Santa at Santaland. The Holiday In Lights website says: "Nightly entertainment is provided throughout the week. The Dickens Carolers will stroll throughout Santaland on the weekend nights singing traditional holiday melodies. Santa's Confectionaries will have holiday baked goods and candies available, and the Nature's Niche Gift Shop will be open for holiday shopping. Santaland also features a train display and photos with Santa for $5.00."

Cincinnati has so many great things to do during the Christmas season. I love finding different ways to have fun each year, and I was so glad we checked out this one.
Holiday In Lights is open nightly starting at 6 p.m. through December 31. It's $12 dollars per car, but if you go to the attraction's website, you can print a coupon for two dollars off.
Http://www.holidayinlights.com/santaland.html

Are You Ready ?

2011-12-14T00:51:00.000-08:00

Good morning, Katy here…The countdown continues… 10 days until Christmas! Are you ready? Surprisingly, I am almost ready for it this year. I’ve got decorations up, presents wrapped… but there is one last thing that I have to do before Christmas Day. I have to go see The Nutcracker! For me, The Nutcracker has always been a part of my childhood. I took ballet for several years, and too me, the Nutcracker is a yearly staple! I remember when I was in elementary school my mom treated me to the Pacific Northwest Ballets performance of the Nutcracker in Seattle. And for two years, I got to live one of my childhood dreams and perform in our island company’s version. My first year I got to play two parts (which I thought was a pretty big deal). I had a solo dance in the first act as one of the dolls Uncle Droselmeyer gave to Clara. In act two, I got to be one of the Chinese dancers in the Land of the Sweets. Then a couple years later, I got to dance with a group of girls in the Waltz of the Flowers. For me, it was a great experience, and to this day I credit ballet as one of the reasons why I’m so comfortable in front of the camera.

As for this year’s Nutcracker, I’ve got my tickets for opening night this Thursday for The New Nutcracker at the Aronoff Center! I’m already humming the tunes in my head…
For information about getting tickets to The Nutcracker, here’s the link: http://www.cballet.org/performances/nutcracker

Rise!

2011-12-13T01:22:00.000-08:00

Planet of the Apes, that is.

Good morning everyone. Rob here.
Rise! Planet of the Apes comes out on DVD today.
I could not be more excited. I have been urging everyone to see this movie. It would also make a great gift. I plan to buy it, and I own very few DVDs. This one, however, is worth having.

It's surprising that I liked this movie so much. Not a big James Franco fan. Didn't really like the "Planet of the Apes" movie starring Charlton Heston, or the remake with Mark Wahlberg. I went to the movie with very low expectations, urged to see it by a very enthusiastic Brad Underwood. Not to sound like a nerd, but it was awesome. It is about a super smart chimpanzee named Caesar. His mother was given a drug which gave her a human level of intelligence. James Franco's character, a scientist, cared for Caesar like a child. I don't want to give too much away here. However things happen, and Caesar leads a revolution. By the end of the movie, you are rooting for the apes. Also, by the end of the movie I wanted to be Caesar. Is the weird? It may seem so. However once you watch the movie, it will make total sense.

Running On Empty

2011-12-12T02:01:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, Marzullo Here...So Monday's are tough to begin with, you have a great weekend, running errands, spending time with friends, and sleeping in...so the best thing is to have a easy start to the day. My day started like any other with a quick shower and a glass of milk all by 3:15am. Then it was out the door, I spent 5 minutes scrapping ice off my car and then as I started down the road I realized I needed some gas, so I pulled into the gas station. However, the gas tanks were not working, there system was down, so I said to myself " I will be okay, I can make it. " So I was driving down Columbia Parkway when I heard my car sputter for a moment, and then the car lost it's get up and go. I started to coast for a little bit all while alarms went off in my car. Yep, I RAN OUT OF GAS! I got nervous because of all the stories we do on accidents on Columbia Parkway, so I wanted to make sure I made it to the turn off just before the Mt. Adams ramp. I made it just into the pull off and then I put on my flashers. So what was I to do? I called in to work, I knew I was going to miss the 4am show, then I had to call my WONDERFUL GIRLFRIEND! Yep, I had to wake her up, she ran to the gas station at 3:45am and got me 2 gallons of gas. This was so sweet, once she arrived however, I had to figure out how to open this darn gas can. This process took 20mins, pull the cap off, pull out this long funnel thing, and then try to figure out how to break the seal on the top of the can. This was the part that was a bit crazy, but after some time and gas spilling on my clothes I finally figured it out. The moral of this story do not run out of gas at 3:30am !

WINTER WEATHER FAVORITES

2011-12-09T01:09:00.001-08:00

Good Friday Morning! Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits.

My blog today, December 9th is all about this "cold weather" that seems to have settled into Cincinnati. I don't know if you think it's about time, but for me December means winter weather.

With that said, I thought I'd pose this topic...what are YOUR favorite winter things?

Busting out the flannel sheets, it's one of my favorite parts of the winter season. Yup, I said it, oh flannel sheets, you are so soft and warm. You put the mmmm, in winter sleep. NOW don't laugh...come-on who is with me? This is what I'm talking about, the simple pleasures of winter that just make the cold weather better.

So the question this morning is did YOU ever sit and think about how great winter is and what YOU love about it?

HERE'S MY LIST

1) Christmas (one of my favorite holidays)

2) Family time

3) Snow, because the kids enjoy it, and when it snows, it creates beautiful scenery.

4) Driving through town at night, because my little girls look at all of the lights awestruck

5) Hot chocolate, because it's good :) 6) Wrapping presents, because I think I buy the best gifts

7) Christmas music and movies, because they lift my spirits (The Polar Express is my personal favorite, well National Lampoons too)

8) Skiing (if I didn't have to work for a living I'd be skiing every day of my life)

9) I like sitting by the fire, eating homemade soup or chili.

10) And finally (as stated above I love my flannel sheets)

So what are your winter time favorites? Think about it and have a great December weekend!

Kind Regards
Dan Wells

Merry Christmas

2011-12-08T01:52:00.000-08:00

THIS IS TRACEY JOHNSON….I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR. I ALWAYS HAVE! BUT, THIS CHRISTMAS MARKS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING NEW AND SO PRECIOUS FOR MY FAMILY. 3 ½ YEARS AGO WE MADE A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME. TO A SMALL VILLAGE DEEP IN NIGERIA….OTUTULU VILLAGE. IT WAS DESTINED TO BE. OUR FAMILY WOULD BECOME COMPLETE. WE WOULD FALL DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH A SWEET LITTLE GIRL NAMED GENEVIEVE.
TODAY, GENNA IS LEARNING ABOUT A HOLIDAY SHE HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED…MUCH LESS HEARD OF. YES, SHE’S MET SANTA….BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING AND BEING ABLE TO RECEIVE. OUR FAMILY LIKES TO BUY GIFTS SECRETIVELY FOR ONE ANOTHER. GENNA HAS CHOSEN HER PERSON. NOT QUITE SURE WHAT SHE’S SUPPOSED TO BE DOING….BUT, VERY EXCITED NEVERTHELESS. WE’VE HAD OUR HOME DECORATED FOR A MONTH NOW. GENNA STARTED PULLING CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FROM THE BOXES BEFORE HALLOWEEN…HOW COULD WE STOP THERE? RIGHT? FRANK SAYS MY HOUSE LOOKS LIKE THE FLIGHT LANDING PATH FOR SANTA. GOTTA MAKE SURE HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE GENNA LIVES! HOPE THIS HOLIDAY BRINGS YOU JOY …..AND PEACE. MANY BLESSINGS….TRACE

Firsts & Lasts

2011-12-07T01:14:00.000-08:00

Ever stop to think of all of the firsts and lasts in life?

Sheila here, and I've been thinking of so many of them this week. This Friday, I will be the mother of an 18-year old woman. It's so hard to believe that much time has gone by since Katie was born.

Being a mommy is highlighted by a long line of firsts. First tooth, first step, first time your baby sleeps through the night. First word (Katie's was Mama), first birthday pictured here, first day of school. I cried and cried the first time Katie climbed on the school bus and didn't look back. And the first time she was allowed to walk through the neighbors' yards to go to a friend's house one street away, I had a vision - "like a prophecy" as Elphaba sings in Wicked - of my little girl walking away from me for good.

This past year or so has been full of firsts too. First college visit, first job, first prom, first serious boyfriend, and first trips without Mom and Dad - visiting a girlfriend at college and visiting another country with her high school. It felt a lot like climbing out on a limb, trusting that she would come home safely without having me and Ric there to guide and protect her. The first college acceptance came just weeks ago - the University of Louisville. (Katie is waiting to see which others accept her before she makes her decision.) It feels as if we are racing down a road with no way of stopping or slowing down, each first a measure of my worth.

What I never thought about when Katie was younger is that parenthood also is marked by so many lasts. There's no way of possibly knowing which night will be the last when you will rock your sweet baby to sleep or the last time she'll want you to read a bedtime story. Katie and I were a couple of volumes into the Harry Potter book series when she was in elementary school, and one night she decided she would read the rest herself. Last week we went to her last school Christmas concert to watch her dance with the Pom team. As she and Eric carved pumpkins on our kitchen floor in October, I was thinking that she might not be here for this next year, and this week I've been wondering if this weekend will be the last one when she's home to put up and decorate our Christmas tree.

When Katie blows out 18 candles on her birthday cake this Friday, it will be both a last and a first - the last of her childhood, the first for a young woman with so much of life in front of her. And December ninth will renew Katie's birth day surprise for her mother - that moment when I looked at her on the day she was born and experienced a whole new level of what it means to love another person. Happy Birthday, darling girl.

Rise!

2011-12-06T00:54:00.000-08:00

Planet of the Apes that is.

Good morning everyone. Rob here.

Rise! Planet of the Apes comes out on DVD a week from today.

I could not be more excited. I have been urging everyone to see this movie. It would also make a great gift. I plan to buy it, and I own very few DVDs. This one however is worth having.

It's surprising I liked this movie so much. Not a big James Franco fan. Didn't really like the "Planet of the Apes" movie starring Charlton Heston, or the remake with Mark Wahlberg. I went to the movie with very low expectations. Urged to see it by a very enthusiastic Brad Underwood. Not to sound like a nerd, but it was awesome. It is about a super smart chimpanzee named Caesar. His mother was given a drug which gave her a human level of intelligence. James Franco's character, a scientist, cared for Caesar like a child. I don't want to give too much away here. However things happen, and Caesar leads a revolution. By the end of the movie, you are rooting for the apes. Also, by the end of the movie I wanted to be Caesar. Is the weird? It may seem so. However once you watch the movie, it will make total sense.

Queen City Joe

2011-12-02T02:15:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Here...I’m a newbie to the Queen City, but I already love it here. The food, culture, warmer weather, and most importantly, warm people. I’ve made a ton of new friends and never am short on things to do.

However, I can’t say I didn’t have chilly feet when I moved here in August. Although I grew up in Delaware, went to school in Virginia and Maryland, and worked in New York, I’ve been an east coast girl all my life. Cincinnati was a big, scary, but exciting new adventure for me, and I only hoped that it would love me back.

After I accepted my job at FOX19, I spent the next few weeks in a giddy state of disbelief. Then the panic settled in. The morning I was supposed to make the 10-hour drive to Ohio, Hurricane Irene was making her merry way up the coast. My mood matched the storm: moody and uncertain.

I was drinking our favorite coffee (Birthday Cake flavor) with my Mom in the kitchen during a break from packing. As all moms do (and mine is the best) she was calming my nerves and telling me everything was going to be okay. I felt like I was back in 1st grade on the 1st day of school: “You’ll do fine…we’ll only be a short ride away…and everyone will want to sit next to you at lunch.” Thanks Mom.

That’s when I looked down at the coffee package. Queen City Coffee. Wait a minute, I was moving to the Queen City! Sure enough, I checked the label, and it’s made in West Chester, Ohio. Around here they call it La Crema, and it’s the best coffee I’ve ever tasted.

My mom and I laughed at the irony of it, and she said, “Well, now we might be far away from another, but we can talk on the phone and drink the same coffee.”

So we do, and it’s usually the highlight of my day. We’ll gossip on the phone and sip our coffee (Mom’s drinking Cupcake now, I’m on Blackberry Cobbler) and it’s almost like we’re sitting at my parents’ kitchen table on a sunny Saturday morning.

I know it may seem silly, but a simple thing like a cup of coffee can tie your new life to your old, and put an extra spring in your step.

Do you drink La Crema? What’s your favorite flavor?

- Stephanie

Congrats Todd Kelly !

2011-12-01T02:24:00.000-08:00

Good morning, happy Thursday! Katy here… and do I have a Christmas gift idea for you! Yesterday evening, Frank and I had the pleasure of attending an event at the Hilton to honor their executive chef, Todd Kelly. Todd just finished his cookbook, which features a behind the scenes at Orchids at Palm Court and some of his favorite recipes. Frank and I were able to sample some of the dishes last night, and let me tell you, he is the best of the best! Todd was recently named the 2011 American Culinary Federation’s Chef of the Year and it shows within his cookbook.
From minestrone soup and Maine lobster salad to filet minion and yellowtail snapper, every recipe is thought out, with real-world restaurant technique. Plus, the pictures of each dish are amazing! It makes me want to go home and cook them all! In addition to the starters and entrees, the back features a dessert section with the help of executive pastry chef Megan Ketover. Realistically though, I think my husband will end up tackling the entrees, and I’ll tackle the dessert. He’s much better at cooking than I am.
Frank and I had a great evening though, talking with Chef Kelly and Chef Ketover, and sampling some of the dishes within the cookbook. Among our favorites, was the braised beef cheeks with spinach gnudi, shimeji mushrooms and roasted tomatoes, and blue cheese beignets with local honey frisee. In the cookbook, Chef Kelly explains that the honey is harvested from their rooftop beehive. I think that’s the thing that impressed me the most. Chef Todd Kelly uses fresh local ingredients when cooking up his recipes.
Be sure to check out the book! You won’t be disappointed…

EnterTRAINment Junction

2011-11-30T01:15:00.000-08:00

I saw rock legend Neil Young at EnterTRAINment Junction! Well, not in person, but I saw his photo alongside the big train display he donated.
Sheila here.

My girlfriend Sharon and I took our boys up to West Chester for a day of fun with the trains and a visit with Santa. I hadn't been to the train wonderland with Eric for a couple of years, and I was surprised to see so many new things (including Neil Young's train exhibit).

EnterTRAINment Junction is 25,000 square feet of a train lover's dream. It's a real history lesson to walk through time, seeing how trains have helped to build our country. Of course, Eric and Christopher just ran through that part of the Junction, hooting and hollering about things they spotted, and only taking time to stop when they wanted to push the buttons to make the trains move, cows moo, or church bells ring. Two miles of track are busy with steam engines, passenger trains, and diesel locomotives. Everywhere you look, there are trains, tiny people, and right now, little Santa Claus figures all over the place. You can't look at it the same way twice.

EnterTRAINment Junction also added a funhouse earlier this year, and Chris and Eric scared us to death when they ran into Curtain Chaos -- it's a maze of red and white curtains -- and the boys almost disappeared on us! We found them, and the four of us laughed our heads off, running into walls and plowing through the curtains. The A-Maze-N Funhouse also boasts a Mirror Maze, which is one of the largest of its kind in North America, an Ames Room, where the boys seemed to grow or shrink by walking across the room, and the Outer Limits: Journey Through the Black Hole. It includes a spinning vortex tunnel that'll make you feel like you can't stay on your feet, along with a room full of glowing planets.

Of course, the best part of all was our time in the Main Street Holiday Trains room, all decked out with Christmas trees, a candyland, Santa's toy-making machine, and snow in every direction, followed by our Christmas journey through a winter wonderland on the way to see Santa Claus himself. In one room, snow was falling indoors! Even our four-year-old's figured out it was made of tiny bubbles, but they loved catching the "flakes." Eric stopped to check out Prancer in the reindeer stable, and the guys were treated to sugar cookies from Mrs. Claus before they sat on the Jolly Old Elf's lap and told him about their Christmas wishes. Funny how two boisterous boys got very quiet and polite when it was time to see Santa. (That made their mommies proud!)

We wrapped up our visit with some playtime in the Imagination Junction - a railroad-themed entertainment center where kids can climb, slide, bounce, crawl, and even shovel coal on a steam engine. Our boys worked off some steam, then clutched their Thomas the Tank Engine sticker books as we headed for the car. It was a fun day full of new Christmas memories for all of us. http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com/

Dreaming of the Beach

2011-11-29T00:32:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. It's Rob, and I'm dreaming of a warm, sunny, beachy vacation.

Pretty sad considering that winter doesn't officially start for another 3 weeks.

For the last two years I have vacationed with friends. We all went to the UK earlier this year. We spent a few days in London and a few days in the countryside. The trip was fun and educational, but it was expensive. We also did a lot of running around, so it wasn't too terribly relaxing. Last year, we all went to Nantucket. Again a lot of fun, but expensive and not too relaxing. Well, we are all planning a vacation in March. I want it to be relaxing and inexpensive. I don't care where we go as long as it is to the beach. I want a book, a drink in my hand and sand under my feet. I also want to hear waves and feel the sun.

I haven't taken many beach vacations. I have been to Caye Caulker in Belize. I have also been to Miami. Other than that, I don't know much about island vacations. Some of the ideas being tossed around: Cabo, Atlantis, the Rivera Maya. I told my friends, I will go anywhere as long as it is inexpensive. I have never been to an all inclusive resort. The price sounds right, but will it be too crowded. I don't like cruises. Per Sheila's suggestion, I have checked out vacation beach rental by owner http://www.vbro.com/ That's also a possibility. I'm sure we will find something. I'm sure it will be fun. I won't complain as long as it is INEXPENSIVE AND RELAXING. I don't want to do a lot of running around. If you have any suggestions email me rwilliams@fox19.com

Oh Christmas Tree

2011-11-28T01:57:00.001-08:00

So do you like a real or fake Christmas Tree? I totally understand some circumstances that may keep you from getting a real tree every year, but it's something you must do from time to time. Marzullo here, and if your looking for a new Christmas Tradition I can't express enough to you HOW AWESOME of a experience the Big Tree Plantation in Morrow will be for you and your family. When I think tree farm, this is exactly what I think of. You can actually take a horse drawn carriage ride or tractor ride out to the trees, and they give you a saw and a sled and you can chop it down. I have had real trees in the past but my girlfriend has never had a real tree, so this was a big deal and it was well worth it. It took a while of going through the trees but we finally found our perfect tree, we chose a 7 foot Canaan Fir. In addition they have so many other varaities Colorado Blue Spruce, Scotch and White Pines, with live trees from 2 feet to 22 feet tall. If you do not want to cut down your own you can choose a pre-cut which includes Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, Scotch Pine, and White Pine. They cut and wrap it for you with the help of Moeller's Lacrosse Team volunteers, and while they do that you can hang out in The Winter Wonderland and see Santa and his real reindeer out behind the barn. Plus the gift shop is something out of Santa's workshop. Even if you already have your tree make this trip to Morrow and start a new tradition this what Christmas is all about!

Happy Black Friday!

2011-11-25T01:43:00.000-08:00

Good Friday morning....Dan Wells writing I hope this note finds you well!

The holiday shopping season has begun here in the Tri-state as stores opened their doors at midnight -- a few hours earlier than they normally do on the most anticipated shopping day of the year. A few retailers even had lines of shoppers when they opened on the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

We're told retailers hope the earlier openings will make Black Friday shopping more convenient for Americans who are more likely to be worried about high unemployment and the other challenges they face in the weak economy.

Black Friday is important to merchants because it kicks off the holiday shopping season, a time when they can make 25 to 40 percent of their annual revenue. It's expected that shoppers will spend nearly $500 billion during the holiday shopping season, or about 3 percent more than they did last year.

About 34 percent of consumers plan to shop on Black Friday, up from 31 percent last year, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers, and 16 percent had planned to shop on Thanksgiving Day itself. For the weekend, 152 million people are expected shop, up from 138 million last year.

So...to get people to shop, merchants pulled out of their bag of tricks. Only a few opened last year at midnight, but several more stores followed this year. Some are offering to match the prices of competitors. Others are offering layaway plans that allow shoppers to pay as they go.
But the deals are what's driving many early shoppers into stores. After all, Americans are focusing more on bargains these days, a habit they picked up during the economic downturn

It remains to be seen whether that enthusiasm will linger throughout the holiday shopping season. But analysts seem to agree that if retailers want shoppers to keep coming back, they'll have to keep discounting.

Have a great weekend!

Dan

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T02:42:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone, We are taking a break from the BLOG on this holiday. However, we wanted to send a SPECIAL THANK YOU, to all of you who choose to spend your mornings with us every weekday. This morning Rob, Sheila, and I have reflected off air of what we are thankful for and we are thankful to do what we do each and everyday and we are so blessed in our professional and personal lives. We THANK YOU for allowing us to do what we do. We are also very thankful for our new friends and co-workers who have joined us over the last year, we are a team, we are a family, and we are thankful for all that comes with it. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

A Tribute To Those Who Feed Us

2011-11-23T01:18:00.000-08:00

Finally! We are done with the cook-off!

Hi, it's Sheila. Don't get me wrong. I have LOVED tasting everyone's cooking for the last week and a half, and I have enjoyed seeing another side of the Fox 19 Morning team during our friendly competition, but I am so glad my day in the kitchen is over. It's a lot of work!

Our contest has given me a new appreciation for the fantastic chefs and food experts who contribute to our show every month. Rita Heikenfeld, Giovanna Trimpe, Amy Tobin, Kia Crittenden, Barbie Hahn, this is for you. It's also for any chef who comes in on a not-regular basis, from Jean-Robert to Todd Kelly to "Gramma" Debbie Ganaway, Chefs Louis & Meredith and every other foodie we love here in Cincinnati. (I'm sorry if I'm forgetting someone!)

When you cook for TV, you have to do everything twice -- cook one version for the cameras (and for Rob and me to eat!), and prepare another one to demonstrate how to make it on TV. I forgot my salt, pepper, and garlic powder because I put it away when I was at home making the Oven Barbecued Pork for my entry! I had to schlep two boxes full of dishes, meat, tablecloth, fruit, and more into the station at 3:30 in the morning! And I woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, wondering what I had forgotten to do to get the dish ready. I ended up lying there, smelling the pork roasting for an hour before I got back to sleep!

It's all worth it when you see smiles on the faces of your friends eating the food, but let me tell you something, it'll be a long time before I agree to do that again! Watch Rob sweat today at 8:15, and watch Xtra to see which one of us won the contest.

And log onto to our friends' wonderful food websites for some great recipes for your family!
Rita Heikenfeld: http://cincinnati.com/blogs/cookingwithrita/
Giovanna Trimpe: http://www.holychowcookbook.com/
Amy Tobin: http://www.amy-tobin.com/
Kia Crittenden: http://www.kitchenvixen.com/
Barbie Hahn: http://andersonfarmersmarket.wordpress.com/category/barbie-hahns-eating-locally/

Guest Blogger 5chw4r7z

2011-11-22T01:29:00.000-08:00

5th annual Cincinnati Unchained and Holidays in the Bag
Last night we were treated to a mini “Taste of Over-the-Rhine” with venders serving their specialties as we learned about events for the upcoming Holiday Shopping/Event Season in OTR.
Jean-François Flechet, owner of taste of Belgium and Rob Williams, Fox19 news anchor80 local businesses throughout Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will offer shoppers specials this Saturday during the fifth annual Cincinnati Unchained, an event created to encourage shoppers to purchase holiday gifts from local, independent stores.For every dollar spent at a chain $0.57 leaves the community.For every dollar spent at a local independant store $0.73 stays in your community.Local businesses get less subsidies and pay more tax per acre than chains. Money spent at a local independent shop is an investment in your neighborhood. Independent businesses recirculate revenue locally twice as much and have four times the economic impact per square foot while consuming a fraction of the land.So I want to be clear, you don't have to drive to OTR to shop but you can. Support the independent merchants closest in your neighborhood.For a full list of participating businesses and more information click here.This Saturday, the 19th is going to be a busy day. We have in addition to Unchained;Balluminaria in Eden Park beginning at 4pmCrafty Supermarket Holiday Show! at the Clifton Cultural Arts CenterCINCINNATI CORNHOLE CHAMPIONSHIP at the American Can LoftsSloane Boutique Grand Opening Party 1216 Vine Street OTRLooking ahead to next week we have;OTR Bar Crawl, Wednesday November 23rdSpend the night before Thanksgiving in Over-the-Rhine. A unique drink will be available at each bar or restaurant in the neighborhood, including Abigail Street, A Tavola, Senate, Lavomatic, The Lackman, MOTR, Neon’s, Grammer’s and The Drinkery!Holidays in the Bag, Friday November 25thAvoid the rush of the malls by shopping Over-the-Rhine for unique, local gifts in a relaxed atmosphere. Over-the-Rhine is holding its fourth Holidays in the Bag event. Buy the official reusable holiday shopping bag at Coffee Emporium on Central Parkway or other retail shops in OTR from November 21 – 25 and receive a 20% discount at participating stores. Proceeds from the sales of the holiday bags benefit the Freestore Foodbank.And much much more, check out the full holiday schedule HERE

YOU CAN READ ALL OF 5chw4r7z's BLOGS HERE http://5chw4r7z.blogspot.com/ CINCINNATI MAGAZINE SAYS HE'S ONE OF THE BEST BLOGGERS IN THE AREA.

Meet Mr. Bo-Tis

2011-11-21T02:02:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, Frank Marzullo Here....Let me be the first to say I love Thanksgiving, the food and everything that goes with it, including family. I have never been one to put the Christmas lights up or a tree until after Thanksgiving. However, this year is a little different with my parents coming in town this weekend we wanted to have the house decorated for the holidays, so we started this weekend. This is the first Christmas that my girlfriend and I have spent together so we want to make it special and start our own traditions. We have decided to put two trees up this year one is my former tree that I got last year, all pre-lit with my green and red ornaments. It is very traditional but now that I do not live in a apartment, I want a real tree. There is something about the smell of real pine and the twinkling lights. So we will be getting our real tree this week to put up in time and we have been buying our decorations like crazy. By the way I never realized how much decorations are, my oh my. We also have our stockings up, including two for Mr. Benson and Mr. Otis. The outside is simple with white snowflake lights, with the exception of Bo-tis. This is a combination of Mr. Otis and Mr. Benson, a furry light up white dog with a Christmas hat on. It has been the centerpiece of our holiday so far! I just hope the tree does not dry out before Christmas! I will show you my unique way of watering the tree later.

Cranberry Salsa

2011-11-18T02:35:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday Crew! Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits!

Cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are an indispensable part of traditional Thanksgiving dinners...RIGHT? Well, I have a new spin on cranberries at the dining table, how about cranberry salsa.

Here's a good salsa recipe that calls for those fresh cranberries stacked up in stores right now.

CRANBERRY SALSA

1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries

1 large Granny Smith apple, cut into quarters

2 or 3 navel oranges, peeled, ends trimmed

1 or 2 fresh jalapeno peppers, or to taste, trimmed

1 to 3 sprigs of cilantro, or to taste

1/4 or 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste

1. Chop the cranberries, apple, oranges, jalapeno peppers and cilantro separately in a food processor.

2. Mix the chopped ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in the sugar.

3. Chill for 3 to 10 hours for the flavors to blend.

Makes 10 servings

-- "Living Well: More Than a Cookbook," National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences

- Per serving: 72 calories, 0 fat, 3.1 grams fiber, 0.6 gram protein, 19 grams carbohydrate, 1 milligram sodium, 0 milligrams cholesterol

I just thought it might be useful as we all head into the Thanksgiving and Holiday season! Plus, If you didn’t know the season for fresh cranberries is short, so stock up while you can. You should be able to find fresh cranberries through December. After that, the only fresh cranberries you'll find will be in frozen form.

Cheers Dan

Thank You Notes

2011-11-17T02:30:00.001-08:00

Good morning, Katy here… This week my goal has been to start my Thank You notes for the wedding. As I writing earlier this week, I realized my hand was cramped after writing ONE note! That got me to thinking… when was the last time that I wrote a note in cursive? It’s been forever! I was amazed that I haven’t hand-written a note in so long, but realize that writing notes is becoming less and less popular. Everything is electronic. Typing and texting is our main form of communication now.
Here’s where I get philosophical… What’s that mean for the future? I was watching a PBS special the other night, where celebrities dug into their family history, learning about their relatives and when they came over to the United States. So much of the research was finding hand-written documents that have been preserved for over a hundred years. What sort of documents will be preserved for the future if they are all on the computer? I guess you could print stuff out, but it takes the personal touch out of the document. A e-signature isn’t the same as your own John Hancock, in my opinion. And what about letters? I love reading old letters and journal entries from my grandparents, parents and even myself! My mom still has a journal that I wrote when I was about 8 years old, documenting our family vacation driving across the county. I also saved a few notes that I passed to my friends during middle school. They are both neat mementos about some of my life experiences. Technology is a great thing, but there are a few things that I’d like to hang onto for my kids someday. Hand-writing notes and journals is one of them. So I think one of my New Year’s resolutions is going to hand-write things more. Better start those cursive exercises again, my writing is a little rusty.

Lollipop Concert

2011-11-16T01:11:00.000-08:00

My pre-schooler got a little culture this weekend.

Hi, it's Sheila. I took Eric to the Cincinnati POPS' Lollipop Concert Saturday, and we were accompanied by my friend Megan Wells and her daughter Ali (Dan's wife and daughter). First of all, there's nothing funnier than a four year old kid, and Ali and Eric are both four -- double the funny! Being a princess is a lot of hard work for mommies. Ali made sure her mom helped her with a special pink dress and a fashion staple for little girls, black Mary Jane shoes. It made me miss having a little girl to dress up like a doll! Eric was very excited about going to what he called the Popsicle Party. He had no clue he was going to hear classical music!

They were the cutest thing when we got to Music Hall. Eric helped Ali out of the car and took her by the hand. Then he promptly ran off and left her behind until I fetched him back. Let's just says he's a gentleman with a short attention span!

This was the first Lollipop Family Concert since John Morris Russell returned to Cincinnati as conductor of the POPS. You can tell he's a dad because he relates so well to the kids in the audience, and he picked a great subject for the first show -- trains! A big screen behind the orchestra showed the audience maps from the pieces' countries of origin, along with photos and films of trains and inclines. Most of the songs were recognizable, from the theme song for Thomas the Tank Engine (complete with a steaming Thomas on stage!) to a medley from Polar Express. My Eric got excited when he saw Santa on the screen. He and Ali had fun doing choo-choo motions and stomping for one of the songs too. And they were happy to see that you really do get a lollipop at the end of the Lollipop Concert. The next one is scheduled for January 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Music Hall. http://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/content.php?id=86

We ended our outing with a trip to Taste of Belgium on Vine Street for waffles and cookies. (Megan & I induled in Jean-Francois' Belgian Frites -- to die for!) It's no wonder Eric wouldn't take a nap on Saturday after all of the sugar, but as Megan pointed out, it's okay to bend the rules of nutrition when it's a special day out with Mommy. http://authenticwaffle.com/

Fox19 Morning News Cooking Competition

2011-11-15T00:44:00.000-08:00

Frank made penne with vodka sauce. It was really good.

He took it very seriously, and freaked out when the burners failed to work properly. However it tasted good.

Good morning everyone. Rob here.

I cook next week. Unlike Brad Underwood, I don't cook that often. Don't get me wrong; I like cooking. I just don't like to eat what I have cooked. Is that weird? I digress. Stephanie cooks today. She's making risotto. I think that's risky. Has she not seen the show Top Chef? Risotto is like kryptonite to the contestants. We will see how it turns out for her. Watch her cook at 8:15.

I decided to make Tonkatsu for the cooking competition. What is that you ask? It is a popular dish in Japan. It consists of a breaded deep-fried pork cutlet. It was introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the late 19th century.

A pork fillet is salted, peppered, dredged lightly in flour, dipped into beaten eggs, coated with panko (Japanese style bread crumbs) then deep fried.

All that is easy. However, finding the sauce that goes with the dish was a little difficult. It is called bulldog sauce. (don't ask me why) I looked in the international aisle at Kroger, but couldn't find it. I knew that Jungle Jim's sold the sauce, but do you know how far that is for me. I then remembered that there is an Asian Supermarket in Evendale. It is called Cam's. Found it there, no problem. So I'm set for the Fox19 cooking competition. Hope I make my mother proud.

Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls, Anyone ?

2011-11-14T01:55:00.000-08:00

So, my girlfriend and I are big foodie people, we love trying food, eating food, and once we get on something we do not let it go. One of the restaurants we go to in town has this appetizer called buffalo chicken egg rolls, this my favorite appetizer of all time, and yesterday we decided to make them. Actually, she made them for me since she does not eat chicken or meat. It is the perfect football afternoon snack. Here is how we made them. You have to first start by buying egg roll shells, which you can buy at many grocery stores they are usually in the produce section. Take a 8 ounce chicken breast and poach it in boiling water with some salt. While that is cooking lay out the shells on a clean counter top. Once the chicken is cooked pull it a part and mix it with a hot sauce of your choice. Then lay some chicken on the shell towards one end so you can eventually fold the shell. On top of the chicken lay some slaw, lettuce, or cabbage of your choice for a slight crunch. Then sprinkle with blue cheese before rolling. Then you must role them and fold them into a closed egg roll shape. Lay them on a baking rack which is on top of a cookie sheet, this will allow them to cook on all sides. I also recommend that you brush them with some olive oil to give them a crisp shell. Then back them in a 375 degree oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until brown. Remove from oven and serve using your favorite ranch dressing as a dipping sauce. These were awesome and by baking them you keep them a tad better for you instead of frying. This makes about 14 rolls. Hope you enjoy!

Who Dey? Who Me?

2011-11-11T02:41:00.000-08:00

It's an understatement to say Cincinnati is excited about Sunday. The orange-hot Bengals host the Steelers at home. A win could mean the Bengals take the AFC North lead...and bragging rights to your loud Pittsburgh friends, I'mLookingAtYouDanWells.
But one fan is more pumped than most. I will not only watch the action this weekend...but also be part of it. This Sunday...I'm becoming a Ben-Gal!
Okay, not really. But the Ben-Gal Cheerleaders were kind enough to invite me to practice with them and live out one of my fantasies: to experience the life of an NFL cheerleader! I've been learning the pre-game dance, and will dance with the Ben-gals at Paul Brown Stadium before this Sunday's game.To say that I'm excited...and nervous...would also be an understatement.But the girls have been more than supportive. I went to my second practice last night at Paul Brown Stadium. Although I had learned most of the dance (Disclaimer: That doesn't mean well), I didn't know the formations the girls would be taking on the field. What I also didn't know, was that we would be going out on the field last night. Yes, the night of the first flurries of the season.But as my teeth were chattering on the field, I could only think one thing as I looked up at the stands: how cool is this? Although I was on the dance team in high school, I've never before done something of this magnitude.
The Ben-Gals get to perform on the field in front of thousands of fans every home game, but the girls don't let it go to their pretty heads. They demonstrated infinite kindness (and patience) with me as I learned the dance.
So your probably wondering, after all this practice, will I score or fumble with the dance? Join us Monday on the FOX19 Morning News to find out!

Mini - Moon

2011-11-10T02:57:00.000-08:00

This cooler weather has me thinking about warmer days in sunny Key West. That’s where Tom and I went for a few days after the wedding… I called it our “Mini-Moon”. But, I thought I’d share a few pictures from our adventure! We’ve always wanted to travel to Key West, and now we know why so many people love it! It was beautiful! (Not to mention… warm and sunny in the 80s!). We decided to hop on a ferry boat one day and head out to Ft. Jefferson on the island of Dry Tortuga. We’re both fans of history, and Ft. Jefferson delivered! It’s an old Civil War prison where the union held war prisoners. We enjoyed walking around then spending time on the beach lying in the sun! We also visited the Hemingway house, where I got to see all of the 6-toed cats. I think that was one of the highlights of the trip. But I think our favorite activity was the sunset wine cruise we took around Key West. Sailing around sipping wine during sunset was definitely a great way to end the trip! Oh, and I also tried escargot for the first time. Needless to say, I did not like it very much!

Wicked Good

2011-11-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

Most people know this about me. If I could, I would chuck just about everything to be a Broadway star.

Sheila here.
My husband Ric likes to joke that I'd even leave him and the kids in the dust for a shot at stardom on the Great White Way. Not true. And anyway, not gonna happen. Ha! But one of the things I love about seeing Broadway shows - even when they're not in New York City - is that for a couple of hours, I can imagine being that leading lady.

Mainly, I just love seeing the incredibly talented people who take me to another place for a little while. Last week, my daughter Katie and I went to Oz. Wicked is Katie's all-time favorite musical. (Keep reading to find out mine.) it must be the favorite of many, because it's always such a hot seller in Cincinnati. I was lucky enough to see it in New York about 6 years ago, and I absolutely fell in love with the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz story. Wicked tells the tale of her early friendship with Glinda the Good Witch and how they eventually were forced to become enemies. It's also a story of love, girl power, and rising above the lack of acceptance many of us feel at some time in our lives (think Defying Gravity). Not to mention, the music and lyrics are incredible. If you haven't seen it, treat yourself, and treat your teenagers if you can! http://cincinnati.broadway.com/

For me, when it comes to musicals, Wicked is only topped by one, and it's all because of Julie Andrews. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. I absolutely love that movie to this day - everything about it - from the Rodgers & Hammerstein songs to the Austrian scenery. I have no idea how many times I've seen it. I'll bet it's once a year for every year of my age. It also edges Wicked because it's a true story.

If you get downtown to see Wicked or do some Christmas shopping, check out Nicholson's for the restaurant's new Sunday brunch. The Scottish pub and restaurant is offering some delicious special drinks while Wicked is in town, but the new brunch fare is permanent. We tried the traditional Scottish breakfast and a couple of different versions of Eggs Benedict, and it all tasted great. The eggs are offered with short ribs, smoked salmon, or crab cakes. You can also find a Bloody Mary menu and entrees like Tipsey Berry French Toast with Drambuie whippped cream or Chicken & Waffle Sliders. Nicholson's is the latest downtown eatery to get into the Sunday brunch business, and this trend was badly needed. I remember a few years ago, my husband Ric and I stayed downtown for our anniversary, and on Sunday morning we couldn't find anyplace to get breakfast or brunch! What a shame! Now we have choices, and I'm all about supporting local businesses. http://nicholsonspub.com/

Never Too Early for Christmas!!

2011-11-08T01:26:00.001-08:00

That's how I feel.

Hi everyone. Rob here.

I don't really like Halloween. Thanksgiving kind of freaks me out. Way too many food issues.

However, Christmas I love everything about it. (except the parking lot congestion) I love Fountain Square during Christmas. Unlike a lot of people, I don't mind the ice rink. I enjoy seeing families getting out on the ice, and the kids with the hot cocoa. I already have my radio set on 93.3. Listening to Christmas music actually puts me into a better mood. That's hard to do at 3:15 in the morning as I drive into work. One of my favorite songs is, "What Child is This?" by Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige. Take a listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK748UllnWg

I also love the specials that hit the TV this time of year. You know the ones that have been running since I was a kid. The ones were all the animals look like they were made out of carpet. I love. Don't watch the whole show, that would be weird right? I usually just watch for a few minutes and feel like a kid again.

So for me it's never too early for Christmas. I love this time of year. However, I will wait until the very last minute to do my Christmas shopping. It is always to early for that.

DARE FRANK

2011-11-07T01:55:00.000-08:00

Over the past week and a half I have gotten a lot of feed back from you our viewers, more so than anything else I have ever done here at FOX19. We kicked off Dare Frank where you went to our Facebook Page and submitted DARES for me to do. I have had many questions about which DARE did I like the best and what I am going to do next. Let me start with I thought broadcasting from the top of Great American Tower, belly dancing, and getting kids off to school were my favorites. The views from Great American Tower were simply awesome, I would love to have a weather center on top at 655 feet in the air. The belly dancing was a real challenge but I think for learning the routine quickly I did pretty well, plus you saw my belly, I mean what else says great morning tv while eating your breakfast. So what is next? Well I am taking a a day or two off as we will be working on a new series on what we always have wanted to do, but I am taking new DARES as we speak. Just e-mail me at fmarzullo@fox19.com or visit our web page at http://www.fox19.com/ and click on DARE Frank! What would you like to see me do?

Fall Cocktails

2011-11-04T01:03:00.000-07:00

Good Friday Morning! Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits.

With the weekend mere hours away, I thought I'd dig up some cool fall cocktails, if you're in the mood.

According to a "mixologist", (yup, it's a real profession) as the sweltering days of summer lead into the unsettled, chilly days of autumn, most of our tastes change accordingly.

We tend to seek out warm drinks which help the body beat the new chills to which we're exposed. We are also inclined to choose flavors of the season: the apples are ripe, the cranberries that are prime for picking, and sweet honey (significant during Rosh Hashanah). Many of these flavors are found in some of our favorite fall cocktails. These are just a few.

HOT APPLE PIE

Apple cider is a big hit in the fall months and this warm drink features that wonderful, distinct taste. The liqueur used is Tuaca, a hidden treasure from Italy which has deep roots and a hint of vanilla and citrus flavors. Just as the season is a transition between summer and winter, these flavors mark a smooth transition between the fruitier and warmer libations.

Ingredients:
•2 oz Tuaca
•hot apple cider
•whipped cream
•cinnamon stick for garnish

Preparation:
1.Pour the Tuaca in an Irish coffee glass.
2.Fill with hot apple cider.
3.Top with whipped cream.
4.Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

MULLED WINE

Taste a bit of the Old World with a tradition that stretches back centuries. Mulled Wine is perfect for fall entertaining when something warm and zesty is called for. The trick to the perfect Mulled Wine is a slow warm up that allows all of the spices and sweet flavors to meld together.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
•One bottle (750 mL) of red wine (suggestions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot)
•One peeled and sliced orange (keep peel to add zest to taste into cooking pot)
•1/4 cup of brandy
•8-10 cloves
•2/3 cup honey or sugar
•3 cinnamon sticks
•1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp ground ginger (allspice can be substituted)
•Serves 4-6

Preparation:
To make the perfect cup of Mulled Wine, combine all ingredients in either a large pot or a slow cooker. Gently warm the ingredients on low to medium heat (avoid boiling), for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure that the honey or sugar has completely dissolved. When the wine is steaming and the ingredients have been well blended, it is ready to serve. Ladle the Mulled Wine into mugs (leave seasonings behind) and enjoy!

HOT APPLE TODDY

Save the traditional Hot Toddy for later, this is the season of apples. This toddy is a taste infusion of hot apple cider, honey and lemon. Depending on the brand, apple brandy can create an overpowering appleness, but a smooth Canadian or rye whiskey is a perfect blend with the sweet flavors.

Ingredients:
•2 oz whiskey or apple brandy
•1 tsp sugar
•hot apple cider
•lemon wedge for garnish
•cinnamon stick for garnish
•2-3 whole cloves for garnish
Preparation:
1.Coat the bottom of an Irish coffee glass with honey.
2.Add the whiskey or apple brandy.
3.Fill with hot apple cider.
4.Stir well.
5.Garnish with the lemon, cinnamon stick and cloves.

HUNTER'S COCKTAIL
It's a tradition that every fall thousands of hunters pack their gear, don their long johns and trek through the fields with one goal, getting the big one. Returning to camp, whether successful or not, cannot get much better than if there's a great drink waiting for you.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 2 minutes
Yield: 1 Drink
Ingredients:
•1 1/2 oz whiskey
•1/2 oz cherry brandy
•maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
1.Pour the whiskey and cherry brandy into an old-fashioned glass with ice.
2.Stir well.
3.Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

5. Manhattan
Classic and classy. When a Martini just won't do, the Manhattan steps in and takes care of all desires. Sweet flavors, warming whiskey and smooth palate are characteristics which place this drink into the fabulous fall cocktail line-up.

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 1 Drink
Ingredients:
•2 oz rye whiskey
•1/2 oz sweet vermouth
•2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
•maraschino cherry for garnish
Preparation:
1.Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes.
2.Stir well.
3.Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
4.Garnish with the cherry.

Just a few ideas to make the weekend a bit "warmer" (pun intended)! Have a good weekend!

Happy Hallo - Christmas

2011-11-03T02:01:00.000-07:00

Good morning, Katy here… now that Halloween is over, is everyone ready for Christmas?! Wow… Just a few days into November and we’re already talking about the holidays. Now, I never thought I’d say this... because I’m a huge Christmas cheerleader. (I admit, yesterday, after Rob said on the air that 93.3 started playing Christmas music 24/7.. I tuned in for a little Christmas cheer) But it’s TOO early! Phew.. ok I said it. It’s too early for Christmas stuff just yet. Listening to Christmas music when it’s 68 and sunny just didn’t feel right, so I switched stations. The weird thing is, when I got home yesterday, I saw a least a half dozen commercials on TV about holiday sales and deals. Really. Do they push the holidays on us a week earlier each year? It sure seems like it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably have my Christmas tree up a couple days after Thanksgiving… but let’s get through a majority of fall before we start talking about Christmas! I guess if there’s one positive note out of this, it’s that I’m already starting to think about gifts for family and friends. I can thank all those commercials for that. But then, that’s what they want, right? On another note, Tom and I had our first “trick or treat” on Monday. We got to pass out candy at the house, which was a lot of fun. I think I could get into the Halloween thing more next year!!

Autumn & Applesauce

2011-11-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

What is it about autumn that makes us want to eat?

Sheila here. A lot of people think it's some age old instinct to put some fat on our bodies for a scarcity of food in winter. Of course, we don't have to worry about that anymore! But the abundance of apples, and pumpkin, and squash have inspired me to cook some new (old) things.

My mom used to make homemade applesauce for my dad. I remember her spending a lot of time in the kitchen peeling and boiling lots and lots of apples, then mixing and mashing, and adding sugar and cinnamon until it was just right. And she always made a lot to put in the freezer for later. It was so good warm, cold, or right out of the freezer like a dessert! In my memory, I feel like it was a long process, so I haven't made Mom's version too many times.

So I was really happy when my daughter Kasey posted a recipe for homemade applesauce on her All Things Mamma blog. She makes it in the crockpot. Yes, you still have to do all the peeling, but once you add your water, sugar, and cinnamon you can walk away! Kasey is a great cook, and her blog is full of yummy recipes, household tips, and even contests, so check it out. http://allthingsmamma.com/

Here's Kasey's Crockpot Applesauce recipe. When I made it I used Jonagold apples, and it was perfect. And the amount of sugar and cinnamon is totally flexible, depending on your taste. Ric, Katie, and Eric LOVE cinnamon, so I pile it on there. For me, food, family, and friendship go hand in hand. Sharing a special recipe or dish is a way of sharing love. So here's some love and friendship from our family to yours!

KASEY'S CROCKPOT APPLESAUCE

7-10 fresh, semi-tart apples, like Jonagold

Peel and dice into small pieces and add to crock pot.

Cover with water.

Add 1 tsp of Cinnamon and 1/4 cup of Sugar.

Cook on High for 3 hours.

When finished – poor off excess water and smash with potato masher, fork or even a whisk. If you’d like smoother applesauce, use a mixer, blender or food processor.

Serve warm or chilled.

Halloween is over, on to Thanksgiving

2011-11-01T01:15:00.000-07:00

We all dressed up yesterday for Halloween. I was the Cowardly Lion.

Hey everyone. Rob here.

Anyone who knows me, knows I don't dress up for Halloween.

I like to be comfortable, which Halloween costumes are not. They're also often itchy. Before yesterday it has been about 10 years since I dressed up for Halloween. That was also for the Fox19 Morning News. The last time I dressed up for fun when was I was kid. Probably in middle school. Yesterday the lion costume was uncomfortable and itchy, but also fun.

I know it doesn't look like I'm having fun, but I am.

I did the make-up myself. Actually proud of the job I did. I looked up "face painting lion" on Google images and copied what I saw.

The entire morning show dressed up like the cast of Wizard of Oz. Sheila - "Dorthy" Frank -"Scarecrow" Katy - "Glenda the Good Witch" Dan - "Flying Monkey" Brad "Tin Man" Everyone looked great. But look at the Tracey as The Wicked Witch of the West. She looks fantastic. While we all looked like an off off off Broadway cast, Tracey looked straight out of Wicked. I was probably the most skeptical of dressing up during the show, but it was a lot of fun. Felt like a kid again.

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T01:48:00.000-07:00

This is the day that really sets it all up for me! The day after Halloween, I really feel as if Thanksgiving and Christmas is now on the fast track. The pumpkins are put away, the patio furniture is being stored, and the Christmas light planning begins. However, we still have the remainder of the day to enjoy Halloween. What are you dressing up as? This morning on the way into the station I started thinking about some of the former costumes I dressed up as kid. I remember my mom would actually buy the kits and sew my costume and brothers costumes every year. One year I went as tweety bird, another year I went as a pirate, and another year I went as Geppetto. I know, why not Pinocchio? Oh well.... It was also my favorite school day of the year because around noon time we would be able to change into our costumes and usually had a costume parade of some sort. Then my mom and some of the room mothers would bring in cupcakes with those plastic things in the frosting, you know what I am talking about? Sometimes a pumpkin or skeleton, I would always think it was a big deal to pick the right cupcake. So as your kids dress up tonight and head out to Trick or Treat, remember how you felt and the memories your creating for them.

My Own Road Problems

2011-10-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Woods Here: I’ve been reporting your morning commute here at FOX19 for almost 6 weeks, and I’ve seen my share of road scares. Accidents, construction, and delays…oh my! But this Tuesday, I learned what it’s like to be on the other side of the Artimis camera. I was driving home on I-71 northbound, listening to Phil Collins and planning my afternoon snack, when suddenly my car started to shake. I thought, could it be vibrations from a nearby tractor trailer? An earthquake in Cincinnati? Oh no, my back left tire blew off. As said tire careened across 71, I pulled my shaking, smoking car over on the right shoulder of I-71 at Reading Road. I wasn’t in the best situation. I don’t have AAA, and (embarrassingly) do not know how to change a tire. I was too far from an auto mechanic to drive, and towing my car would’ve cost a pretty penny. But all I could think was, ‘Dear God. I’m on camera 34.’ Thankfully after a few minutes a kind patrol officer took pity on me and pulled up on the shoulder. Officer Paul Grein not only talked me through the situation, but talked me down from the cliff (so to speak). Better yet, he asked a Freeway Service Patrolman to come and change my tire…free of charge! Mr. Brad Flowers arrived in an Artimis courtesy van within minutes. He got to work right away, getting my spare on and (what was left of) my old tire off. I literally could not have gotten out of this mess without Brad and Paul. You’ll likely not be in a good mood if you meet them on the highway, but if you do, you’re in good hands. Although I’ve endured some traffic headaches before, this was my first in Cincinnati. Although I certainly got off light, I now understand just a bit more what all of you go through every morning. Here’s hoping today is a flat tire-free Friday!

Newlywed

2011-10-27T02:12:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, Katy here… speaking to you for the first time as a Mrs! We’re back from the wedding and honeymoon, and phew! What a whirlwind. The one thing I heard most from others was how fast it goes by, and boy are they right! The good news is, the wedding was perfect! There isn’t one thing that I would have changed. Everything went as it should have, plus a few bonuses! I’m sure you’ve seen the flash mob video that the FOX19 Morning Crew put together. Tom and I were so surprised! We had no idea what was going on, but I thought it was so cool! I can’t believe how coordinated everyone was! (I hear they all practiced a lot without me knowing.) I was truly surprised, and grateful to work with such awesome people! How many people can say, my co-workers flash mobbed my wedding! Anyways, I’m glad to be back after a few great days in Key West! It was nice to wake up with the sunrise next to the beach. Keep a watch to my FOX19 facebook page, Katy Morgan WXIX. I’ll post a few more wedding pictures once they get in, but for now will leave you with a sneak peak from my photographer! And if you haven’t seen the flash mob yet, check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NQI_YmEfB0

Happy Halloween! Let's Go Christmas Shopping!

2011-10-26T01:11:00.000-07:00

I went shopping for a new Christmas tree yesterday.

Sheila here. My neighbors threw away my Christmas tree. I'm not kidding.
Here's what happened. I've always had an artificial tree for a couple of reasons. I don't have to remember to water it, it lasts longer, and my whole family is one big allergy waiting to happen, so it's just easier to set up the fake tree and enjoy our holiday (and we don't have to be in a hurry to take it down after Christmas.)

Last year, my wonderful pre-lit Christmas tree wasn't lighting up the way it should have. I had to turn one side toward the wall because the lights weren't coming on a big portion on the bottom of the tree. When I took down the tree after the holidays, I took the bottom third of it to my neighbor's house because her retired dad loves to tinker with electrical stuff. I forgot about it until the other day when I spotted an ad for a Christmas tree sale. I called my neighbor and asked if her dad had ever looked at the tree, and she told me her husband had thrown it away! After I picked my jaw up off the ground, I hit the stores yesterday, and let me tell you, Christmas trees are expensive!

So today's blog serves three purposes. 1- I fulfill my weekly blog commitment. 2- I get to ask you where you've seen a good deal on Christmas trees. 3- I can share a few of my tips on early Christmas shopping, because I get started around September every single year.

I always start early because I can't stand running around at the last minute, standing in all the lines, and getting OUT of the Christmas spirit when I can't find what I want. My daughter Katie's birthday is in December too, which just adds to my "to do" list. Early shopping just takes off some of the pressure. It seems like the holiday sales start earlier every year - in fact, several major retailers are offering guarantees that they'll give you the lowest prices on your Christmas goodies.

The Associated Press reported this week: "Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond have already said they will match the lowest prices of Amazon.com and other big Internet retailers. Sears is offering to beat a competitor's best price by 10 percent. Wal-Mart joined the fray Monday by announcing that it would give gift cards to shoppers if they buy something there and find it cheaper elsewhere."

I have been watching the Sunday circulars for 2 months now, and I head to the stores when I see something on my Christmas list that's on sale. I've made 3 trips to Toys R Us for Santa Claus. I also love to shop at discount stores like the Nordstrom Rack and the Cincinnati Premium Outlets. You have to keep an open mind, but it's a great way to save some money by getting an early start. I have also shopped online on the websites for Gap and Gymboree. They've already marked down their first round of fall and winter clothing, which also saved me some cash.

So get out there and save some money! I'm meeting my mom up in Dayton today to get a few more gifts marked off of my list. My biggest challenge will be hiding all of the goodies from curious little eyes!

You Know You're Old When....

2011-10-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

Your leaving a wedding and your in the car and you think it's 2am, because your body is so tired from having a blast, but then you realize it's only 11pm. That is exactly what happened Saturday night at Katy Morgan's wedding. What a wonderful afternoon, the weather was perfect, and the couple even more perfect. The ceremony was held at The Westin downtown so the venue was perfect overlooking Fountain Square. The bad news is that many people on Fountain Square had a front row seat to the Morning News Dance Party, that took place. During the past two weeks, the morning team with Tracey as our leader, met in a secret room here at the FOX19 compound. We met with our dance instructor and put together a flash mob dance to the modern day hit Party Rock Anthem. The funny thing, when we all started to dance others in the room jumped in to rock it out and kinda of got in our way. The video will be on our Facebook Page, and you will see that Rob met a new friend, she is the lady with the the champaign bottle, and is not a member of the FOX19 Team! haha I think we really surprised our friend and co-worker Katy and her new husband Tom. I have also included a picture of the bride and groom leaving church.

Trying To Keep You Healthy

2011-10-21T02:07:00.000-07:00

Good Friday Morning....Dan Wells writing I hope this note finds you well and not SICK. My girls are sick...so this blog is for all of sneezing, sniffling, coughing cold- and flu-sufferers: As miserable as you are, at least you're not alone.

Just a few weeks into the fall season, and it seems like everyone around you is already coughing and sneezing. Are you next? Well...not if you become proactive now and use preventative measures to help ensure that your immune system is working the best way it can.

So what can you do to maintain the optimal health necessary to help your body fight off those nasty bugs that cause respiratory infections and cold and flu woes?

First-line defenses include simple yet effective hand washing and proper hygiene, as well as maintaining a healthy diet rich in essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Reducing stress (I know you're probably saying yeah right) can keep the body strong and more resilient against micro-organisms too.

Here are some of the scientifically backed, immune-boosting ingredients (according to my Dr. friends). I just thought I’d pass it along…check it out and let me know if it works….dwells@fox19.com.

•Vitamin D has been a hot research topic for the past few years. Recent findings support the use of vitamin D for the prevention of common respiratory infections, including cold and flu. There is some indication that vitamin D deficiency, commonly occurring in the winter months due to lack of sunshine, may be linked to the increase of these conditions. Because vitamin D is not abundant in our food sources, supplementation may be required.

•Elderberry is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat fever, colds and flu. Black elderberry is rich in antioxidants called anthocyanins that appear to have an antiviral effect and support the body's immune system.

•Echinacea is one of the better known herbs that help boost the immune system. Echinacea is traditionally used to help fight off infections, especially of the upper respiratory tract, while relieving associated symptoms and shortening the duration of illness.

•Probiotics, or good bacteria, elicit a number of positive health effects, particularly in supporting a health immune system. Research shows that probiotics may be useful for preventing respiratory infections in adults and children.

So as we continue to move into the winter months, it makes good sense to protect ourselves with healthy habits and maybe some supplementation to stay cold- and flu-free throughout the upcoming season....Just an idea!

Good Luck and
Dan Wells

Fall on the Farm

2011-10-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday! Let's go on a little trip to my favorite farm.

Sheila here. Katie was off school on Monday, so I took her and Eric to McGlasson's Farm in Boone County. It's right along the river on Rt. 8 (River Road) in Hebron, and it's always been one of Katie's favorite places in the fall (mine too!). It's a small, family owned farm where you can wander through the pumpkin patch and pick your own gourd for your Halloween Jack-O-Lantern. Eric had fun running up and down in the field, and he had his first encounter with burrs. Pretty funny. He first thought they were bugs.

Once we found our perfect pumpkin, the kids climbed up on the straw bales for pictures.
You can buy the bales, along with Indian corn and gourds for decorating your home for autumn, but I especially love their apple products. We picked up a bunch of apples, McGlasson's delicious apple cider, and caramel apples, as well as a few potatoes to put in with a roast this weekend. I love the idea of supporting a local farm, but mostly we go to McGlasson's because the people are friendly, and it's so pretty there.

It's fun too. If you go on the weekends, you can be entertained by local musicians. This Saturday, you can see Jake Speed from 1 - 4 p.m., and on Sunday The Good News Boys provide the music (also from 1-4 pm.) McGlasson's roadside farm market has been in the family for six generations, and you can visit every day between July and October. http://www.mcglassonfarms.com/

After our farm adventure, we hit the Ohio River for a ride on the Anderson Ferry. Eric ran onto the ferry, looked right over the side, and said "let's see if we can find some sharks and dolphins!" None of those in the Ohio River this time, but he loved seeing the planes fly over the river and into the airport nearby, and he was amazed that a boat could take cars across the river. Katie and I were just happy to breathe the fresh air and feel the sun on our faces during a peaceful autumn ride.

Yellow Bus Ball

2011-10-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

In addition to watching Katy Morgan get married this weekend, I am hosting the Yellow Bus Ball.

Hi everyone. Rob here.

The ball will benefit Faces Without Places and happens this weekend at Longworth Hall from 7 to 11pm. Faces without places was founded in 1998 and removes barriers to education. It keeps children experiencing homelessness connected to their education. Every year about 6,000 children are homeless in Cincinnati, and their average age is 9. Homeless children on average change schools 7 to 8 times a year. Faces Without Places makes these children its priority. It provides uniform vouchers, school supplies, rides to school, and whatever it takes to keep these kids in school. There is also a summer camp every year. This summer the theme was Eat Smart, Play Smart, Be Smart. The kids focused on reading, math and healthy activities in the morning. The afternoons were used for enrichment activities like trips to the polls and other attractions. Both breakfast and lunch were provided to the children each day.

All this costs money and you can help Faces Without Places raise money by having a good time. The Yellow Ball boasts live and silent auction items, "dinner by the bite: games and an open bar. I will be there. Hopefully you will too. Find out more information at http://www.faceswithoutplaces.org/

Have a great Tuesday

Do You Have Your Costume ?

2011-10-17T01:53:00.000-07:00

Good Morning, Frank Here! The countdown to Halloween is upon us, and do you know what your going to be this year? It's the one time a year where you do not have to worry about being embarrassed and you can let yourself loose. This year I feel like I have several costumes to choose. For starters Halloween is going to be a lot of fun around the FOX19 newsroom as myself and my FOX19 morning news team colleagues will all dress up on Halloween morning. What will we all be? I will give you a clue, it will be a themed costume. So take some guesses and let us know what you think we should all be. This weekend my girlfriend and I got our dogs Mr. Otis and Mr. Benson all set for Halloween. I think we are becoming those dog people, but I do not care it is fun and we love it. We picked Batman for Mr. Benson and then Superman for Mr. Otis. The little guys were like kids who wear there costumes all day long when they first get them. I do not know what it is, but when they have there costumes on they behave very well, they hardly bark. Maybe its because they are embarrassed, haha! Do you dress your dogs up for Halloween? If so what will they be this year? There is something about dogs that warm the heart. Last week I and Mr. Benson co-hosted the Hyde Park Health Center's 2nd Annual Halloween Dog Fashion show. It always a pleasure to see the faces of the residents light up as dogs come down dressed as hot dogs, rock stars, and even chickens. So get ready for Halloween my friends and have some fun!

Are there times you wished you had your camera ready?

2011-10-14T00:47:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Crew - Dan Wells writing. I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits!

Are there times you wished you had your camera ready to capture your kid's amazed reaction to something you barely noticed anymore? And if your children are teenagers, do you miss those days of wonderment? Sigh.

Well, thanks to camera phones and technology...parents, loved ones and caregivers are capturing "LIFE" in its most raw and beautiful form.

With all of that said this is my "MUST SEE VIDEO" of the year.

http://vimeo.com/30519330

It's the weekend story of 4 year old Ella and 2 year old Kyra, these two sisters, from Erie, PA (my hometown) are actually the daughters of a high school friend. The video takes its viewers through a simple weekend of family fun. It makes me smile and think about the times my own kids delighted over stuff I'd seen or experienced a million times.

I like to think of this video as "through the eyes of babes" moments. Like when a lake tickles a toddlers toes. Or when my kids made s'mores and their marshmallows caught fire.

In Ella and Kyra's weekend, riding a tri-cycle, going down a slide and doing a summersault is about the best thing since slice bread.

I love the simplicity of life through their eyes and the reactions these two girls have to things that I forgot were some of the simplest pleasures in life.

So when you're having a bad day or just want to refocus on what's important in life, I hope this is your go-to video.

For Ella and Kyra meanwhile, stay just as you are as you grow. You make this world a little better.

God Bless - Have a great weekend!

Dan Wells

Finishing Touches

2011-10-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

9 Days to go!! Good morning, Katy here, Happy Thursday! Ladies and Gentlemen… we’ve reached single digits! 9 days to go until the wedding! I can’t believe it’s almost here! My afternoons have become pretty busy lately, putting final touches on the wedding. From pictures to flowers, final dress fittings and band meetings, it’s all coming together! It’s funny how people tell you to enjoy every minute of being engaged, because it goes so fast. It’s true! I can’t believe it’s been 11 months already! Seems like yesterday that I was sitting next to Tracey during the Morning X, talking about getting engaged the night before. Time flies. And I know the wedding will fly by too, so I’m taking in every minute of it now through next weekend!
I’d say the only thing that will keep me on a rollercoaster ride between now and then will be the forecast! Being a meteorologist, I of course look at the long-range forecasts at least twice a day. It’s funny how I know the forecast will change every single time a new model run comes in, but I can’t help it! The bride in me is taking over the meteorologist in me. Sometimes we’ll get emails from brides-to-be asking about forecasts a couple weeks in advance, and I’ll do my best to explain what could happen, but stress that the forecast will change! I keep telling myself that, but it doesn’t stop me from looking at each model run coming in!
Between now and then, each day will be more exciting than the next … and overall, I just can’t WAIT to get married to my Fiancé on 10.22.11 !!

A Taste of the Bluegrass

2011-10-12T01:56:00.001-07:00

Shame on me for living in Kentucky for 12 years before I experienced one of the Bluegrass State's signature products.

Hi, it's Sheila, and I finally took a journey on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Ric and I spent the day at Woodford Reserve, nestled in the hills of Woodford County, near Frankfort.

It was a beautiful autumn day for a drive south. The leaves were just starting to show a fall tinge of color as we traveled past acres of horse pastures to the heart of the Bluegrass.

We started our day with a picnic from Woodford's lunch counter - Bourbon cheese spread with crackers, local Rome apples, a Kentucky farmhouse sandwich made, of course, with Kentucky ham, homemade potato salad, and sweet potato whoopie pies. Woodford Reserve boasts a talented chef, Ouita Michel, and the food was delicious.

After lunch, we rocked on the porch while we waited to take our tour. Is this not the picture of relaxation? We felt as if time was standing still as we enjoyed the quiet and the scenery.

We also took a moment to look through the exhibits and photos which depict the history of Bourbon Whiskey, and why Kentucky's blend is so unique. We learned how Bourbon got its name. The whole area of what is now Kentucky was originally the Kentucky District of Virginia. Because America was grateful to France for helping us defeat England and win our independence, the Virginia legislature dropped a number of French names onto American soil, Louisville and Bourbon County are tributes to King Louis the XIV's first and last names. Versailles is named for his home.

When settlers started making whiskey in this part of Kentucky in the 1700's, they were amazed to find that the color was completely clear. That's because the layers of Kentucky limestone filter out the iron, along with its taste and color. The water is good for horses too because it contains so much calcium. We found out the company which owned Woodford Reserve early in the last century was one of only 10 companies in the U.S. which were allowed to produce whiskey during Prohibition - for medicinal purposes - and distilling is the only industry in America started with an Act of Congress (after Prohibition was a dismal failure).

The tour of the distillery by our guide Steve B. was so interesting. The limestone building where the Bourbon is made and put in white oak barrels is a National Historic Landmark. We saw the barrels roll out of the building, down a track to another building next door, where they're stored for eight years. We saw - and smelled! - the huge vats where the yeast is added to the grains.

We marveled at the three giant copper stills, made in Scotland, where the mixture becomes White Dog - white because it's so clear, and dog because it'll bite you!

And we wandered through the rows and rows of barrels were the Bourbon ages. You can see the

evidence on many of the barrels of Master Distiller Chris Morris's work, sampling the bourbon to make sure it's just right for the Woodford Reserve label.

There's a very cool Wall Street Journal article about his perfect palate for Bourbon Whiskey here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704529204576256994201597586.html

At the end of our tour, we sampled the amber liquor about which we'd learned so much. I can't distinguish all of the different "notes" Chris Morris can, but I did enjoy this small taste of Kentucky. Our trip wasn't so much about the Bourbon. It was the enjoyment of slowing down, noticing the little things about our surroundings, meeting friendly new people, and taking home memories of a lovely afternoon.

Habitat for Humanity

2011-10-11T01:24:00.000-07:00

I worked Saturday at the habitat house.

Hey everyone. Rob here.

Fox19 has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to help build a home on Lincoln Avenue in Walnut Hills. This is my third visit to the home. I pulled up the floor during the first visit. During my second visit I pulled the siding off the house. This past Saturday I put up siding. Not only was it tough work, it was important work. The siding will protect the home from weather damage. I wanted to be sure I was doing the work right. This house will belong to Nicole. She's a nurse at Christ Hospital with two sons. I think we did a great job. We finished siding about two-thirds of the home on one side. Katy Morgan was right there with me putting up siding with her fiance Tom. Dan Wells, Corey Stark and Jennifer Grove were all there as well helping Nicole build her house. In fact Nicole is half way to the 500 hours of "sweat equity" needed as a down payment.

It was hard work, but it was a lot of fun. We are hoping to get her in by the holidays. I hope that happens.

Not Ides, But Contagion

2011-10-10T01:47:00.001-07:00

Frank Here: All the talk this weekend here in Cincinnati was about Ides of March, and yes I saw it. It was good I liked it but the ending not so much so that left a bad taste in my mouth about the movie. I will leave it at that and will talk about the second movie I saw this weekend. Before I started to write my blog this morning I wiped down my keyboard with Lysol wipes, coated my hands in hand sanitizer, and I put on rubber gloves. Yep, I must keep all the germs away, and you would to if you saw the movie Contagion. We have seen movies about disease and outbreak before but this is the first one I have seen that really seems as if it could happen. It has a all star cast of Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lawrence Fishburn, Jude Law, and Kate Winslet. The production is simple and is almost like watching a documentary. The part of the movie that really hit home about how germs and a outbreak of disease could spread, is the way the movie is shot. You will see the infected person drink out of a cup, then the camera zooms into the waiter who will grab the cup, thus spreading the germs. The infected person will open a door then the camera zooms into the door knob as guy and his family touches that same door, spreading the disease. The movie shows how quickly something can spread and once a vaccine is created it takes months to test it before being able to distribute it. In fact in 26 days 2.5 billion people were killed by the disease. So if your very aware of germs this movie may scare ya, however if you are not this movie may make you more aware. I enjoyed it, however it is a bit nerve racking when watching this and then you hear people in the theater start coughing. Have a great day!

The Ides of March - Cincinnati Style

2011-10-07T00:58:00.000-07:00

Good Morning - Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well an in good spirit.

Metro Cincinnati is about to get its best national exposure as a film location for a pretty high-profile movie.

"The Ides of March," which opens today, is a presidential primary thriller starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling and set in Ohio. Cincinnati and the suburbs provided some exteriors and many interiors for a drama saturated in the intrigue of back-room politics. Scenes were shot at local landmarks such as Fountain Square in downtown Cincinnati and in the eclectic Northside neighborhood. Sites on the Miami University campus in Oxford also played a key role.

So will you see it? I want to, if only to see the Queen City at it finest.

In this latest movie from George Clooney - he co-stars, co-wrote and directed the picture. If you didn't know, the story is based on the play by Beau Willimon, who worked in political campaigns, it tells a story of politics as seen from the inside.

Here's a bit of the premise. The Ohio Democratic primary is a week away, and the nomination has come down to two candidates, one of whom is a liberal governor played by Clooney. He has two men leading his staff, - a midcareer war horse (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a young brainiac (Ryan Gosling).

Gosling is apparently at the center of the movie, a sleek, tailored, self-assured young man, clearly shrewd and capable enough to handle anything, from logistics to strategy to media relations.

Critics say "The Ides of March" has an effective opening, sags in the middle, then comes back strong in the last half hour. The shifts and turns of the film have all to do with the various political machinations of the characters - including Paul Giamatti at his feral best as the opposing candidate's manager.

Ok, there's no point in revealing any more of the movie or reviews here. I want to see it, so should you and what a perfect night to do it! Happy Friday!

Cheers
Dan

Animal House

2011-10-06T02:29:00.000-07:00

Good morning, happy Thursday! Can you believe this weather? It’s awesome! As much as I’m ready for temperatures to cool down a bit, this warm stretch of weather is too nice to give up. With that said, I’m making a list of things to do between now and the end of the weekend. Have you made a list? How about a bike ride on the Little Miami Trail, or long walk around Lunkin airport? Or, an afternoon at the outlet mall? One thing I do plan on doing this weekend is heading out to the Cincinnati Zoo. Just yesterday on the Morning Xtra, we had a segment about “Hallzooween” at the Cincinnati Zoo. You can check out the video here http://www.fox19.com/video . The zoo brought in one of my favorite animals they have in the whole park, Caspian the Eurasian Eagle Owl! If you remember, back in the spring, Caspian was up for the cutest baby award! She’s gotten so big in just 7 months! The zoo handlers say she may gain a few pounds, but she’s full grown now. I’ll have to stop by her exhibit while I’m there.

Whatever you plan on doing, make sure it’s outdoors so you can enjoy this beautiful weather! Can’t beat sunny skies and 80 degrees in early to late October!

Fall At The Zoo

2011-10-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

Fall is perfect for a trip to the zoo, and this weekend the Cincinnati Zoo kicks off HallZOOween.

Hi, it's Sheila.
I took Monday off to spend some time with my little boy because I was out of town all weekend, and we headed out to the Cincinnati Zoo. It's one of his favorite places, and our day did not disappoint. He got to see a baby Bonobo (they look a lot like chimps), and the cute little guy put up his foot and waved to get our attention when we tried to leave his exhibit.

Eric fed a giraffe, and we had our first Cheetah encounter. He went crazy when he saw how fast Nia could go (up to 70mph)! We also saw Lana the Orangutan's trainer feed her at lunchtime. Lana holds out her hand for fruit and climbs her tree on command. Eric loved learning that Lana has a "blankey" just like he does. She drags her burlap sack around with her foot, uses it as a blanket when it's chilly, and even uses it as a shelter from the sun and the rain. How smart is that?!

The Zoo has all of its fall and Halloween decorations in place for the start of its HallZOOween weekends. Eric was a little scared of the big spider atop the entrance, but once he figured out it was just a huge stuffed animal, he wanted to climb up there and pet it. It seemed appropriate that we took our first walk inside the new Night Hunters exhibit, and during our day we saw tons of animals which are perfect for the scary holiday -- a vampire bat eating its lunch (looked like blood to us!), pythons and rattlesnakes, even a giant rat. It's all together at the Cincinnati Zoo!

HallZOOween features a pumpkin patch, magic shows, special animal encounters, trick or treating stations, and more every weekend through the end of the month. Don't forget to bring your own trick or treat bag to help the Zoo go green! You can find out more at this link: http://cincinnatizoo.org/events/hallzooween/

Back From Michigan

2011-10-04T00:36:00.001-07:00

Sheila and I are back from hosting the Miss Michigan USA pageant in Port Huron.
Good Tuesday morning.
We have been hosting that pageant for about 10 years now.
Believe it or not, it is a lot of fun. Sheila and I get to spend some quality time together hanging out. Those who produce and put the show together are all great at the jobs.
Port Huron is certainly one of the most picturesque sites in Michigan, it feels like a mini-vacation. Saturday afternoon Sheila and I worked as the judges decided who would become the next Miss Michigan USA and Miss Michigan Teen USA. I think they came up with some really great representatives. Kristen Danyal was chosen as Miss Michigan and Courtney Pizzimenti Miss Michigan Teen.
Also this year the show had live music, which really added a lot. The Eric Tepe Band performed. They were not only great musicians and performers. They were a great bunch of guys. They will perform at Miss Ohio USA, another pageant Sheila and I host. Looking forward to that. You can also catch them this Friday at Mainstay on 5th Street. You also sample their music at http://www.etbmusic.com/

Time For Fall Fun

2011-10-03T01:40:00.001-07:00

Good Morning Everyone, How was the weekend? Yes it was chilly but that Sunday sunshine was nice and we have more of it over the next 7-days which will be perfect to head out and grab that pumpkin for carving and some fall fun. Over the weekend I had a chance to visit a few fall traditions here in the Tri-State including the Niederman Family Farm in Liberty Twp. near West Chester. This is more than just a pumpkin patch its more like a fall amusement park. My favorite thing about Niederman is the HUGE corn maze. This years maze is 17 acres and from the air it honors September 11th. The maze is made to look like the two towers and then the maze for the little kids is made to look like the Pentagon. In addition to the corn maze the 210 acre farm also includes a hayride that allows guests to go pick there pumpkin out of the patch. They also have a area with some favorite farm animals and many bomb fire pits for hours of family fun. Children of all ages will not be disappointed. Then on Sunday it was time to start to decorate for the season. We headed out to Newtown and the Burger Farm and Garden Center. They by far have the largest corn stalks I have ever seen, and I was told they are a good 4 feet taller this year than last years crop. In fact they were so large I had to tie them to the top of the car. When you add a hay bail to my truck and 4 large pumpkins, I felt as if I was driving a tractor. Do yourself a favor and check it out, plus they have a pumpkin patch for the kids and hay maze fun. Tis The Season For Fall My Friends!

Could Pinterest join in the trend of social networking?

2011-09-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Dan Wells writing, I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits!

Today, my FOX 19 Morning News blog is targeted to all of you lovely ladies out there. The reason? My wife can't stop talking about this new website (well it's new to her) called Pinterest. SHE LOVES IT....so with that said I thought I'd share all the excitement and website background!

A fashionable outfit for fall? Pin it. A recipe for sweet potato cupcakes with toasted marshmallow frosting? Pin it. A tutorial on how to make decorative pillows? Pin it.

The virtual pin-board website, Pinterest, has grown exceedingly in popularity within the last few months.

Created by Palo Alto, Calif. residents Ben Silbermann, Paul Sciarra and Yashwanth Nelapati, the design of the website began in December 2009, and its introduction to the public was ignited in March 2010 as an invitation-only website.

With the sole purpose of finding and collecting pictures that interest individuals, Pinterest allows users to create boards associated with different categories, whether it's cooking recipes, fashion, photography, or interior design and provides pictures users can then "pin" into the different boards they have created.

Could Pinterest join in the trend of social networking? Yes, it can. Users are able to tag their Pinterest "friends" or "followers" in pictures that may interest them. But it is mainly used to find ideas that appeal to individual personalities.

Pinterest gives users a plethora of ideas. Whether you want to branch out and try a new ethnic-cuisine recipe or if you are feeling crafty and want to learn how to make a braided-scarf, Pinterest allows you to collect ideas you may want to try in the future.

So when you see something that peaks your interest, just "pin it". It is as simple as that.

Have a good weekend!
Dan Wells

The Evergreen State

2011-09-29T02:49:00.000-07:00

A wide open field, sailboats gliding on sparkling blue water, and mountains from every angle. Sounds like a postcard, but in fact… it was my backyard growing up!

Good morning , and happy Thursday!

Katy here, and today I’m blogging about one of my favorite places, western Washington!
Actually I grew up about two hours north of Seattle on an island in the Puget Sound called Whidbey Island. It’s the longest island in the contiguous United States. (School drilled that one in our heads in our Washington history lesson!) The only way off and on the island is by bridge, or ferry boat. You may have seen Deception Pass bridge before, Hollywood has used it a few times for films set in the Puget Sound. Our family was stationed at NAS Whidbey, in the town of Oak Harbor. It’s there that my dad flew EA-6B Prowlers.

To me, this was an awesome place to grow up. My brother and I loved to play on the beach (not the sandy kind, the rocky, drift wood kind). We’d make forts out of driftwood and rocks, and be down there from low tide to high tide. But one of our favorite things to do was to take ferry rides to Seattle. We’d usually see lions, fish, and sometimes whales swimming around in the Puget Sound. Weather I remember was always a little cool, and the clouds would hang around a lot.
Still, it was an awesome place to grow up, and it’s one of many places I’ll always call home!

My Hero

2011-09-28T01:10:00.000-07:00

The little girl looked to be about 8 or 9 years old, and she was choking. No one knew what to do, but then he appeared. The tall, blue eyed State Trooper walked with purpose through the crowd and put his arms around the girl, and the next thing we knew, out flew the piece of food. Startled, then embarrassed, the little girl ran and quickly disappeared into the throngs of fair goers. It was okay. She was okay.

Sheila here.
That State Trooper was my husband. At the time, he was my boyfriend, and that happened at the West Virginia State Fair. It floored me to see him save that little girl's life. It's Ric's birthday today, so I am blogging about him.

It wasn't the first brave thing I ever saw Ric do. One time we were driving through rural Pennsylvania and stopped at a diner to get something to drink. When we got out of the car, a runaway pickup truck came barreling through the parking lot, and went right into the road. Ric ran for it, jumped into the truck, and steered it safely back into the lot before someone got hurt. It was a little like watching a super hero!

Another time, we were at a cookout with friends, and our hosts had placed some lighted tiki torches around the yard. One of them wasn't anchored very well in the ground, and it fell, spewing the fluid inside all over several people's legs. While most of us stood there gaping, Ric and an EMT who was there sprang into action, rolling the victims on the ground and putting out the fire. One woman's legs were completely in flames, and her husband was waving a rug over her, which only fanned the fire. Ric was able to get the fire out, and a short time later she was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital. It was one of the scariest things I've ever seen, but my husband didn't give a second thought to responding and helping while the rest of us were simply in shock at what we were seeing.

Ric has been the target of gunfire by criminals and after we were married, someone, the State Police never found out who, rigged his cruiser to explode. Lucky for me and my kids, the person did a shoddy job of it. Some angel must have also made it necessary for Ric to take the car in for maintenance, and the mechanics found the device. We had surveillance video on our house for months after that, but the person was never caught.

Ric also helped save the life of a woman in the county where he led a State Police detachment when he convinced her to leave her abusive husband. I remember how much he talked about that woman when the Troopers kept getting calls to their home for domestic issues, how concerned he was about that woman. I don't know exactly what he said which gave her the courage to leave, but I am so proud that he made a difference in her life because he simply took the time and cared.

But here are even bigger reasons why my husband is my hero. He's my hero because of the type of husband and father he is. I don't know anyone who loves his kids more. I've seen his sadness the first time he spotted Kasey kissing a boy and when Katie was "too big" to hold his hand. And I've watched him light up with pride at Kari's nursing school graduation and the first time Eric hit a baseball.

People in love like to say their significant others "saved" their lives. Not me. Instead, Ric really has MADE my life. When we started dating, it was pretty early in my broadcasting career, and he taught me a lot, having been in broadcasting and public speaking for a lot of years himself. He indulged me on one of our first dates by going to an opera (he fell asleep)! And he still does things I know wouldn't be at the top of his priority list. He supports my career, he gave me these four fantastic kids, and he makes me laugh. He's not a guy who writes lovey-dovey poems or brings home flowers, but he does laundry, makes sure our home is in good repair, and he sends me emails when I'm at work, telling me I'm hot. I'll take that guy any day over the hopeless romantic. I'd take him for my life again and again, and the best thing of all is knowing that he'd take me again too. Happy Birthday, Ric!

Grocery Store Downtown?

2011-09-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

I was walking downtown last week and stepped into Mayberry Foodstuffs.

It is downtown's newest grocery store.

I know most people hate grocery shopping. I don't. I enjoy shopping for food. In fact, I'm at the grocery store everyday. It is crazy I know.

Those living or working downtown have a new grocery option. Mayberry Foodstuffs was started by Josh Campbell who also has Mayberry's restaurant downtown. He calls it an urban grocery store and it is located on 7th Street near Main.

I loved it in the store. There's fresh baked bread and handmade deli sandwiches.

For a very small store, there's a large selection. Even fresh produce. It seems like the perfect place to visit before you head home from a busy day at the office. Whether you need a sandwich for lunch or be inspired for dinner, Mayberry foodstuffs may have to be on your radar.

The Countdown Is On...

2011-09-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

Ahh!! One month to go until the wedding! That’s 4 weeks, 30 days! Good morning, happy Thursday! Katy here, and It’s crunch time! I’m starting to feel the pressure of bringing everything together. Thank goodness I planned ahead for most of it, so it shouldn’t be too bad, but now’s the time to bring everything that I’ve planned over the past several months. Figuring out the timing of the day will be tricky, but I’m confident that everything that will work out. It’s been nice having a great group at the station to talk about wedding stuff. Especially Tracey and Sheila. They’ve been great to go to for advice, or to talk to about my latest wedding planning adventure. I’ve been so focused on the wedding, that now I more excited for the honeymoon in Key West, FL! It’ll be nice to relax for a few days after the wedding on the sunny island. Can’t believe the time is almost here! But most of all, I can’t wait to get married to my best friend.

Alone With The Help

2011-09-21T01:18:00.000-07:00

I spent some time this week alone with The Help.

Sheila here.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett is one of my favorite books of all time. (My number one is To Kill A Mockingbird, in case you're wondering.) So I had been looking forward to the movie adaption of the best seller. I was a little worried that it might not be as good as the book, but it was. There were a few elements which the movie left out, but producers didn't change the storyline or the message, so I still give it an A.

IMDB'S description of the plot: "Set in Mississippi during the 1960's, Skeeter is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent, white southern families." It's heart wrenching, funny, thought provoking, and deeply moving. I hope Viola Davis, who plays Abilene, is nominated for an Oscar.

Here's another thing that gets an A in my book. Spending some time alone. Don't get me wrong -- I love being with my kids and my husband more than anything. And fun time with girlfriends is not to be missed. I like my time at work too-- lots of friends there. But being alone is a gift.

It's funny to see my daughter Katie being so much like me when it comes to alone time. She could do without it. When I was a teenager, I could too. If I wasn't running to a play practice, going to a football game, or having a girlfriend over to spend the night, I wasn't happy. It was no fun being alone.

In college and early in my adult life, I was much the same. It was all about my gang of friends, most of whom were in radio and TV, then my boyfriend-fiance-husband, Ric, then my baby girl.

Now that I've been a mother and wife for awhile, I realize how important it is to have alone time. And I find that I am pretty good company. Before I started working with Rob I never would've gone to a movie by myself. Now I relish it. I've only done it a few times! Last winter, I couldn't get anyone to go with me to see The King's Speech, so I finally went by myself. It was a total escape! My girlfriend Jessica asked me to go with a group to see The Help awhile back, but then Ric caught a bug, and I got busy......you get the picture. So I found a window Sunday afternoon, and I went by myself. I laughed at the funny scenes, and I cried at the end, and you know what? I felt recharged! And I even read all of the credits because I didn't want to walk out of the movie theater all teary eyed by myself! Perhaps I also wanted to enjoy those last few moments alone.

Finally! BOSTON

2011-09-19T07:33:00.001-07:00

I had something exciting happen to me last week.

Hey everyone. Rob here, and I got into the Boston Marathon.

Could not be more excited. I've been trying to get into Boston for years now.

I qualified twice before thinking, it would be no big deal qualifying again. It was. I did qualify for Boston last fall during the Columbus Marathon. However, registration closed in one day and I was shut out. Usually it takes a few months. Disappointed again.

However, next year on April 16th I will join the more than 20,000 other runners for 26.2 miles.

Boston is the Super Bowl of marathons. It is the only U.s. marathon with qualifying time standards.

The course is also tough. Runners dread "Heartbreak Hill" which begins at mile 16. The crowd support will help. Depending on the weather as many as 500,000 people turn out to cheer on the runners. The marathon runs on Patriot's Day a holiday in Boston. The Red Sox play and Wellesley College located at mile 13 cancels classes for the day, so students can cheer on runners.

I think it is going to be a once in a lifetime experience, and will start training soon.

Now, I need to find a hotel room that won't break the bank. The Westin closes to the finish line is charging $799 a night. "Uh No!"

My Brothers Art Gallery

2011-09-19T02:03:00.000-07:00

How was your weekend? Frank here...I was in Chicago for a wedding and has the chance to stop by and visit my brother, it was also my first time to see his art gallery, Pawn Works. My family and I stopped in here is my dad and brother Nick and I checking things out. If you have a love for art, especially street art and contempory you have to stop in and check his space out and maybe even buy something! Why not, right? My brother opened the gallery to give artisit a venue to be creative in the space to showcase there work and he is getting great pubilicty in Chicago and the country for turning his space quickly for each artisit. Currently on display is Brent Houzenga :: Remixed Remains. It is awesome show, the bright colors and street art feel works perfectly in the space. His work is centered in the middle of old window frames but the art jumps off from the piece onto the walls making the entire space a piece of art. If you would like to check it out when your in Chicago give my brother Nick, some love he is on Damen near Division street. His website is pawnworkschicago.com.

I Want My Mummy

2011-09-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

Good morning and happy Friday, Brad here….Bon fires, apple cider, candy corn and football. Just a few things that I enjoy about fall, but it also signals the end of one my favorite times of the year….concert season. Just when you think you’ve seen your last show of the season, HERE COME THE MUMMIES!
If you have never seen or heard of these guys you are missing out, big time!
Many of you know what a concert super freak I am, but this group is as crazy as it is good. Check that, phenomenal. There are over a dozen of them, wrapped in full mummy attire. I guess would describe them as a funk/rock/R&B group. Five horn players, two drummers, three guitars and a few front men.

So why do they dress up?
There are numerous rumors as to why they are “under wraps” and even that there are several Grammy awards among the members. It’s hard to say because you never, I mean never see them. Its believed the members of the band are under record label contracts and are hiding their identities to prevent contract disputes. They are from Nashville but tour world wide all year round. Whatever the case, I don’t care, the music is amazing and you won’t stop moving the entire night. If the costumes get to you, close your eyes and just listen. Honestly some of the greatest musicians I’ve ever heard.

Tonight the Mummies are playing at Bogarts in Clifton at 8pm, come check them out!.
http://www.herecomethemummies.com/

Feelings Of Fall

2011-09-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning, happy Thursday! Katy here… I don’t know about you but I’m loving this cooler weather that we’ve been experiencing! The 70s and low 80s are just about perfect weather in my book. With that said, the cooler weather is also a sign of the changing season. Before we know it, it’ll be below freezing! (and I don’t think I’m quite ready for that!) Fall officially begins next Friday, September 23rd, but we’ve already experienced a few “fall-like” weeks with temperatures well below average in the 60s and 70s. In fact, the showers that we are dealing with this morning will clear out and make way for a cool afternoon today, and a chilly overnight! (I think that’s the first time since spring that I’m officially using the term “chilly” in a forecast!) Get ready for the mid 40s overnight tonight and Friday night. Yikes! I have a feeling the jeans, long-sleeve shirts and extra blankets won’t be too far behind! I think it’s about time to bring up the fall and winter wardrobe from the basement.

World of Golf

2011-09-14T01:06:00.000-07:00

I've always been a sucker for some good miniature golf.

Sheila here. We always called it putt-putt in my family, and the game created some great childhood memories for me and my brother. Some elaborate mini golf course was always one of the activities on vacation in Myrtle Beach. There's just something so much fun for a kid about picking out a brightly colored golf ball, grabbing a club that's just your size, and hitting a course marked with mountains, fountains, tunnels, and yes, a windmill.

World of Golf in Florence is the home of a really fun mini golf course. It was recently renovated with a design by Harris Miniature Golf Courses, Inc. The World of Golf website says, "Harris has designed and built miniature golf courses for over 50 years and is seen as the expert in mini golf construction across the United States and the world. Courses built by Harris are designed to be beautiful and to provide a fun-filled family experience."

I can attest to that. My friend Amy and I spent a beautiful Saturday morning with our kids breathing fresh air and putt-putting. Well, Amy and I caught up while the kids golfed. It was my son Eric's first time at a mini golf course. He and Amy's son Ryan (they're 4 and 3, respectively) actually raked or swept their golf balls into the holes more than golfing, but they had a great time, and they got so excited when their balls went in. Ryan's big brother Colin got a bit frustrated at times with the younger guys and his sister Katherine COMPLETELY ignoring the rules (that's a big brother for you), but he had fun too. He was pretty good at it, and of course, he won. The mini golf course is a little like a mini tour of the Bluegrass State. The Florence Y'all water tower is on the final hole, Derby horses with jockeys on board ride around another hole, and you can hit your ball through Big Bone Lick mammoth tusks and Kentucky bourbon barrels.

I was so impressed with everything about the World of Golf facility. The staff there is so nice, the indoor training facility looks top notch, and the food at the snack bar is really good! We got sandwiches and pizza, and it was all delicious. They make fresh when you order, the hot dogs and slices of pizza the kids got were huge, and my chicken sandwich came with what appeared to be a fresh baked bun. Yummy! You can also find a regulation golf course and a driving range for older duffers, and you can take lessons there. My friend Amy told me it has a really nice pro shop too.

It was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning, and Eric wants to go back soon! You can learn more about World of Golf at http://www.landrumgolf.com/fw/main/

Signs Of Fall

2011-09-12T01:38:00.000-07:00

Tastes of fall continue to tease our taste buds as temperatures were cooler this weekend and NFL football got underway. Good Day, Marzullo Here! While we may warm up into the 80's the next few days, fall is pretty much here and ready to go. Watching the Bengals take the field yesterday afternoon and NFL highlights from across the league you know the seasons are changing. The smells of chili or a big pot of soup cooking in the kitchen while the game is on in the background all signs of fall. Plus, with Oktoberfest Zinzinnati this weekend the smell of food and the sounds of the chicken dance will continue to drive home that fall is here. The sun shines brightly on local pumpkin patches during the day, drying out the towering corn stalks that line our fields, before the clear crisp night sky allows for perfect sleeping weather. It is hard to believe that flowering baskets at the local nursery are now being replaced with mums and pumpkins ready to carve and glow on Halloween night. So sit back the next few weeks and take in the smells and sights of fall because before you know it the cold air will be blowing and the snow will be falling!

A Great Year, Then It All Changed

2011-09-09T01:48:00.001-07:00

Good Morning, Marzullo Here! The start of 2001 was a huge year for me I had just made the move to Youngstown, Ohio where my television weather career kicked into high gear. I was hired as the weekday morning and noon meteorologist at the NBC station and I actually was not done with college at that point. So not only was I working a full time job in television news but I still had a year and half of college left so I was attending classes in the afternoon and evening. I was able to not only cover the weather but also co-host with two of my dear friends, we had a lot of fun. In television news it is all about the ratings and by the start of the summer my co-workers and I had moved the ratings for our morning news to the number one spot in the city. I was on top of the world enjoying life with family and friends who lived close by in Cleveland. I remember in June that year I bought my first brand new car, I also was kinda of a odd ball, I got personalized plates.... ( 4CASTER ) Please make fun of me later! I took a road trip to Philadelphia, my co-anchor got married in July, and in late August my co-anchors and I were preparing to leave for Orlando where we were going to broadcast LIVE from the a new Disney Cruise Ship. Everything I had dreamed and hope for was coming true and then September 11th happened, and life was put in perspective.

I remember it like it was yesterday I was standing in our control room placing our morning crews breakfast order to the cafe down the street. This was our morning ritual before our last news cut-in of the morning we would place our breakfast call at about 8:50am. I remember hearing Matt Lauer on the Today Show, say " we have some breaking news we will get to after the break. " The crew in the control room kinda of laughed because who says we have breaking news but first these commercials, of course none of us knew what was about to happen. When they came back from break and the first shot we saw was the first tower on fire we still did not realize the magnitude of what had happened, in fact I remember I actually started walking down the stairs to get everyone breakfast. I was a few steps away from the newsroom door when I stopped to check the coverage on the television at the assignment desk, it was that moment when the second plane hit and life was changed forever. The entire day and weeks to come you watched and prayed for those lives lost and the people they left behind. Your heart broke and eyes teared up as the buildings came down and you were on edge as phone lines were down trying to get in touch with love ones, just to hear a soothing voice on the other line. I remember a few days later I was doing the weather from a local fire house when the cheif shouted out the window " They found another survivor " I was on the air live at the time and as I said those words to our viewers we knew there was hope to find more. September 11th was a day that changed all of our lives and the way we walk through life. The symbolic meaning of that day and memory I have is that breakfast was never picked up, a sign of how time froze and we as Americans stopped to comprehend what was happening to the greatest country in the world. However, you choose to remember this weekend, just never forget.