Good Day Frank Here,

The question is not so much can you sing but can you carry a tune? I know there are a lot of shower and car singers here in the Tri-State but if you think you have something more than you may just want to take part in our FOX19 Glee Auditions. You heard me, if your a fan of FOX19's runaway hit Glee, well you could be the next big voice to possible join the cast. Auditions will be held on March 27th, but you can also submit videos online. Click here for all the rules and regulations http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=11520788

I personally enjoy watching the show it reminds me of many moons ago when yours truly for a short time was part of the choir in high school. I have no idea how I got involved, while it was fun I could not carry a tune to save my life. However, I always gave it my best and I did try but to do the moves and sing together, wow I give these kids a lot of credit. The worst part as I look back at my time in Changing Times, ( that was the name of the choir ) was the red vests that we had to wear. However, I did get to skip out on class from time to time, and we got to entertain a lot of senior living homes which always made us feel great to put a smile on other faces. Well I have to go and practice my jazz hands now for the Glee Auditions. Good Luck!

UK Fans No Doubt Headed to New Orleans

Hopefully UK fans will flood the streets of New Orleans like UC fans did in January.

Hey everyone. Rob here. I was among those UC fans, so today I'm blogging about my trip. The "Big Easy" has most thinking about bars and Bourbon Street, and they are fun. Hurricanes at Pat O'Brien are worth the stop and the crowds. Beniets at Cafe Du Monde are delicious carbohydrate clouds of heaven. Also, worth the crowds. Historic Jackson Square is a feast for the eyes.
We spent most of our time inside the quarter on Bourbon Street. However, when we traveled outside, we discovered all kinds interesting things about the city.

We traveled to the Treme neighborhood to check out Willie Mae's Scotch House. The fried chicken is supposed to be some of the best in the country and the line outside supported that claim. The restaurant has even won a James Beard Award. The chicken was good, but didn't live up to expectations. I don't think anything could after a more than 2 hour wait. The cornbread however was some of the best I've ever had.

Fellow Fox19'er Meghan Mongillo wanted to go on the cemetery tour. Didn't sound fun to us. I was the only one who agreed to go after much convincing. It was actually a great history lesson of the city.

You also visit the tomb of Marie Laveau, a voodoo priestess, and the cemetery where "Easy Rider" was filmed.

Probably the most fun came on our last night, when we walked to Frenchmen Street. This is where we met a lot of local folks who shared their stories of New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. We talked with CoCo Robicheaux who is in the Lousiana Hall of Fame. http://www.spiritland.com/ We had drinks and dinner at a restaurant called Aldofo's. I had the rack of lamb. Best rack of lamb ever.

When Friendship is Lifelong

I've been lucky in the friend department, and I'm the first to admit it.



Good Monday morning, Sara Celi here.



In my life, I've had the luck of knowing a select group of women almost as long as I've been alive. We have friendships that span decades and over the years have grown to mean more to me than I could ever express. I can count out their names on two hands, and after 28 years on earth, I can confidently say I think I'll know these women forever.

This past weekend, I visited one of them.

Tasia Cowan and I have been friends since I was 3 and she was 2. I know, it doesn't even sound possible, because at that age it's hard to know how to be a friend. We played together through our childhood, made it through adolescence, and shared the pitfalls of high school. We stayed friends even after her parents moved to Michigan, she left for Hanover, and I left for WKU.

Now, Tasia lives in Indianapolis.

I'd promised for months I would come visit her, so this weekend I made good on words. I drove north Saturday through the blinding rain, and got up to the city in the mid afternoon. She seemed so eager for me to have a good time, and I did.

Tasia took me all around her neighborhood, and to her favorite boutiques. Of course, I picked up a few key pieces for my wardrobe, but mostly I just enjoyed talking and reconnecting with her. We have the kind of friendship that picks up right where it left off.

For dinner, we met up with several friends at Zionsville hot spot Noah Grant's. If you're ever in Indy, no visit is complete without at stop at this chop house and sushi bar. The meal tasted delish, and meeting Tasia's Indy friends was such fun. Our night out with them was great! We also had a chance to meet up with Tasia's brother, Cage. I've known him as long as I've known her, so it felt great to see him too!

On Sunday T and I enjoyed brunch before I headed back to Cincinnati. I have to say I'm so proud of her. She's grown up with me, and been a part of my life since I can remember. Now, she's happy, successful, and amazing. I'm lucky she's been a good friend!

Weather 101

Hi, it's Sheila.

That was a mighty storm which rolled through my neighborhood Friday evening. It was a great opportunity to allay the fears of my two-year old and teach him a little about the weather.

Eric got nervous when the thunder and lightening picked up after dinner. My daughter Katie told him it was just the angels bowling, but then a lightbulb went off in my head, and I said, "I'm pretty sure Eric doesn't know what bowling is!" So she told him it was God playing the drums. He seemed to the like that.

Then the hail started. We watched in the family room as torrents of hail piled up on the deck, and I explained it was caused from the temperature being so much colder in the clouds. Eric wasn't so interested in the reason, but he was fascinated by the pea-sized hail.

When it let up a bit, I scooped up a bowl full and brought it inside. Even Katie was surprised to see that many of the pellets were perfectly round, but Eric liked how cold it was. He told everyone he saw this weekend about the "biiiiiiig storm" at his house.

New Restaurant in Eden Park

Happy Friday it's Meghan;)

Have you ever been to Bella Luna in the East End? The owner Harry Stephens just opened a new restaurant called View and it's at the bottom of the Edgecliff Condos at 2200 Victory Parkway. The menu is an inspired twist on American Cuisine. Like mac and cheese with crab meat.

The Enquirer just gave it 4 stars in it's review. I really enjoyed it and in the warm weather it'll be a great spot. There's a large patio with an amazing view of Northern Kentucky.

Can't wait for those warmer temperatures to get here and stay!

Thanks for helping us feed the hungry

Hi, it's Sheila. I enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones when I worked the Cincy TV Together food drive telethon at the WCET studios. It was great to see all of the Cincinnati broadcast stations putting aside competition to work toward a common goal: feeding people who need help, especially children and seniors.

Bear Clifton of the Brighton Center told me the agency is seeing a 100 fold increase in the number of requests for food assistance, and about 65 percent of those in need are faces they haven't seen before. It's a tough year for a lot of people.

Cincy TV together benefits the Brighton Center, Shared Harvest, and the Freestore Foodbank. When you make a pledge, you are asked for your zip code, so your donations stays right in your neighborhood.

I sincerely thank everyone who's helping, and I especially want to thank Mary Carrington and Linda Kohlhepp for personally directing their donations through me.

Even though the telethon is over, it's not to late to help. Barrels are up in Remke, Biggs, and Kroger stores, and you can find out more at www.cincytvtogether.com

Vacation Is Over...

Good Morning Frank Here!

Hope everyone is well? While vacations are great, spending time with family and friends, it is nice to get back in the swing of things, especially when you return and the temperature is 68 degrees. What a nice treat the past several days for our hometown after our very very long winter. We do see some cooler air and rain in the forecast, which you can get right here: http://www.fox19.com/Global/category.asp?C=4217&nav=menu63_3

We are not the only ones who have had a long winter, I know it's Florida and we say they are lucky, but the first part of my trip temperatures were in the upper 50's and the breeze was awful! I could hardly work on my weatherman tan. However, it did warm up into the 70's with vibrant sunshine before I left so that was a positive.

It was great trip, is it not great to see old friends? While I got to bond with my mom and dad for a while, they are down in the sunshine for over a month (LUCKY), I also was able to catch up with my old friend Jen and her family. Jen and I have been friends since my first job in Parkersburg, West Virginia back in 2000. She is now a news anchor in Fort Meyers, and on Saturday our families went out on the boat and cruised the waters near Cape Coral, Florida. We took a cruise near Sally Field's house which was kinda of cool. (Picture to the right)

What is it about boating?? LOVE IT! The nice thing spending all day in the sunshine you get sleepy early, so I was in bed early most nights and sleeping in past 3am which was a nice treat.

Then I spent Monday afternoon on Sanibel Island, I love that place! My parents and I had a great breakfast on the Island and I worked on the weatherman tan! Have you ever been to Old Naples? It's a great area I spent Monday evening catching up with my buddy Chris who is a TV guy in Cleveland, you see the trend here? Like any profession we all flock together. We chatted about the business like two old retired anchor people having a beverage in Florida, all we needed were blazers, pocket squares, and loafers!

It was great trip especially seeing both of my aunts. My aunt Judy came to town to visit my parents so I got to see her and my uncle Bill. Plus, I spent time with my aunt Marianne who calls Southwest Florida home, she is a riot and always fun!

So all and all a restful yet fun and exciting trip, now it's time to get back to hanging with Mr. Benson and of course forecasting some Spring weather!!