Gesegnete Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr Zinzinnati!

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!

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

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?

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?!

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!

“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!

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