The Junior League hosted a bus tour for the Provisional class that was worth the while of waking up at 7:30am on a Saturday. We loaded onto a charter bus and toured the city with a fantastic tour guide and a group of bundled up gals on one of the first cold mornings of the season.
I loved learning more about my hometown and always enjoy tidbits of history and interesting facts about Cincinnati. I live tweeted from the event so some facts may be off due to noise from chatter, road bumps accentuated my big bus wheels and fast talking speakers, but here's what I picked up:
Parks and Parkways plan proposed in 1907 was recognized through the 1990s to make a city inside the parks.
There were 3 different Cincinnatis: 1. 1788-1880s walking city. Desire to be close to the center. Riverfront. 4th street flooded annually.
The entire first city was Over-the-Rhine. All multi-family housing. No greenery. Only park was Piot Park on Garfield Place.
1805-1935 Cincinnati was the fastest growing city in the country. 10x larger population in the 1950s than now.
First city all lived on same street mixed together. Second city fragmented and segmented into downtown and neighborhoods with ppl like them.
Second city was streetcars. Third city was expressways. Built tunnel for 71 and high rise apartment building to fund project.
Kentucky has smaller counties. Only Texas has more.
Kentucky sold land for IRS building in Covington for $1 in 1970.
The Banks is an incredibly difficult project. Two stories of parking garages must be built above flood planes. $2500 per parking space.
Land in city center and construction across 8 blocks make for expensive and complicated effort.
Newport, Kentucky was the test market for Las Vegas.
US has 8 times the square footage of retail that Europe does. Over-retailed. Think of Tricounty, Northgate.
Tyler Davidson Fountain based on water as Cincinnati is a water city Children with gifts of water - pearls, lobster. Man with roof on fire.
Government Square has been the main hub for transportation since the original streetcar was introduced in 1859.
Music Hall was built to house the May Festival in the late 1800s. There were no fixed seats or stage. It was the original convention center.
National Geographic special this fall - noting bones found in redevelopment of Washington Park. Used to be cemetery land.
The tour was led by Daniel Hurley of Discover Cincinnati. I highly recommend the trip for local learning and a fun way to spend a long, informative day of the Queen City.
Friday, October 21, 2011
René of the Day // 9.30.11 // Loveland "Mega" Reunion
Seven years after graduating from Loveland High School, I returned for the first time to a varsity football game on Friday night. The last time I was there, I was wearing a cheerleading uniform and flipping up and down the track. I didn't take on the request for alumni cheerleaders as the girls weren't all up for it and I was quite pleased with my decision when we had to leave by halftime because it was so cold and windy.
It was great to see Sidné, who's now living with her husband in Dayton and finishing law school, and Whitney who's a Ben-gal and did cheer during the game, and also T and Ashley and their husbands and baby boys who I do see regularly. I remember the games being so packed that you could hardly walk through the crowd and I expected the same but surprisingly, it wasn't horribly crowded. I was also surprised to see they no longer have a dance team but a pom squad, who wear knee-high socks with black stars on them and cheer half the game with the cheerleaders - I suppose I didn't grasp the point of that. Of course high schools don't serve beer at football games (just like the SEC) so we grabbed a 20 oz and airplane bottles to get through it more comfortably.
I wish more people had been there but, I'd only found out about the event two weeks prior. There was also a dinner at the Oasis on Saturday night but the people I talked to didn't find it to be worth $45/person. The person I contacted said they had trouble finding people from our class who were interested which is frustrating - we're all so easy to reach via Facebook and LinkedIn, I wish they'd asked more than just student council grads to get involved. Perhaps our 10 year reunion will be a great event, since we didn't have a fifth. And to be frank, I still stay in touch with so many people I don't think it will be a Romey and Michelle style event.
It was neat to go back to my alma mater and see what has and hasn't changed - just that week the Cincinnati news stations had announced that the school district had banned yoga pants. Times have changed. Our big battle was spaghetti straps - tank top had to be "two fingers wide" and skirts and shorts had to come to the bottom of your fists with your arms at your sides. Maybe next year I'll make it back for Homecoming - Go Tigers!
It was great to see Sidné, who's now living with her husband in Dayton and finishing law school, and Whitney who's a Ben-gal and did cheer during the game, and also T and Ashley and their husbands and baby boys who I do see regularly. I remember the games being so packed that you could hardly walk through the crowd and I expected the same but surprisingly, it wasn't horribly crowded. I was also surprised to see they no longer have a dance team but a pom squad, who wear knee-high socks with black stars on them and cheer half the game with the cheerleaders - I suppose I didn't grasp the point of that. Of course high schools don't serve beer at football games (just like the SEC) so we grabbed a 20 oz and airplane bottles to get through it more comfortably.
I wish more people had been there but, I'd only found out about the event two weeks prior. There was also a dinner at the Oasis on Saturday night but the people I talked to didn't find it to be worth $45/person. The person I contacted said they had trouble finding people from our class who were interested which is frustrating - we're all so easy to reach via Facebook and LinkedIn, I wish they'd asked more than just student council grads to get involved. Perhaps our 10 year reunion will be a great event, since we didn't have a fifth. And to be frank, I still stay in touch with so many people I don't think it will be a Romey and Michelle style event.
It was neat to go back to my alma mater and see what has and hasn't changed - just that week the Cincinnati news stations had announced that the school district had banned yoga pants. Times have changed. Our big battle was spaghetti straps - tank top had to be "two fingers wide" and skirts and shorts had to come to the bottom of your fists with your arms at your sides. Maybe next year I'll make it back for Homecoming - Go Tigers!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
René of the Day // 9.29.11 // Toby Keith
When does his bar open at The Banks? From what I recall, this was not mentioned during his show at Riverbend in Cincinnati but it would have been prime time for marketing it to the local crowd. However, he did play looped footage of Ford commercials during his performance - we get it Toby, you're a truck-drivin' son of a gun who likes to have fun in the hillbilly sun (hey, maybe I could write some lyrics for the ole boy?)
We had a damn good time at the last show of the season at the hill on the river. We filled our lime LaCroix cans with Coronas and squeezed little lime wedges through the aluminum slots and hopped in Michelle's mom's car to head to the concert. The weather report had a pretty bad outlook but we weren't going anywhere. As soon as we got in I visited Julie at the B105 tent and the girls got scooped up by a City Beat photographer so I missed out on that opportunity. Then we ran into one of Mich's co-workers from the zoo - a short, beefy biker dude who was thrilled to buy our first beer and let us take cover under the side of the tent 15 minutes later when black clouds rolled in and a treacherous downpour began. Luckily, Mich's mom had a great golf umbrella - and Sid had a janky mini umbrella from a trip to Europe, so we squished together and stayed relatively dry (except my right arm, see photo below).
We huddled together for most of the show. The rain was on and off and the crowd was rowdy - they created a mudslide on the hill and we had front row action shots. Regardless of the weather, it was a hell of a good show and worth the sick feeling the next morning from standing out in the cold and rain. My favorite songs of the night were "Made in America" and "Shoulda Been a Cowboy" - it's one of MR's fav songs. Mich's mom was so fun and was a wonderful DD; we enjoyed buffalo wing Snyder's pretezel bites on the ride home (if you haven't had them, they're a fantastic snack.) My shit kickers (cowboy boots) are still sitting by my door mat, caked in dried mud. I think that's proof of a great country concert!
We had a damn good time at the last show of the season at the hill on the river. We filled our lime LaCroix cans with Coronas and squeezed little lime wedges through the aluminum slots and hopped in Michelle's mom's car to head to the concert. The weather report had a pretty bad outlook but we weren't going anywhere. As soon as we got in I visited Julie at the B105 tent and the girls got scooped up by a City Beat photographer so I missed out on that opportunity. Then we ran into one of Mich's co-workers from the zoo - a short, beefy biker dude who was thrilled to buy our first beer and let us take cover under the side of the tent 15 minutes later when black clouds rolled in and a treacherous downpour began. Luckily, Mich's mom had a great golf umbrella - and Sid had a janky mini umbrella from a trip to Europe, so we squished together and stayed relatively dry (except my right arm, see photo below).
We huddled together for most of the show. The rain was on and off and the crowd was rowdy - they created a mudslide on the hill and we had front row action shots. Regardless of the weather, it was a hell of a good show and worth the sick feeling the next morning from standing out in the cold and rain. My favorite songs of the night were "Made in America" and "Shoulda Been a Cowboy" - it's one of MR's fav songs. Mich's mom was so fun and was a wonderful DD; we enjoyed buffalo wing Snyder's pretezel bites on the ride home (if you haven't had them, they're a fantastic snack.) My shit kickers (cowboy boots) are still sitting by my door mat, caked in dried mud. I think that's proof of a great country concert!
Monday, October 10, 2011
René of the Day // 9.28.11 // Shellac
A super shiny, smooth and chip-free manicure that lasts 2-3 weeks - wow! I haven't had acryllic nails since high school - IMO, they're trashy, expensive, high-maintence and horrible for your natural nails. Luckily, I do have fast growing natural nails so I just swipe on OPI polish to wear for a week, take a bare naked nail week, and then do it again. And gel nail polish, also known as shellac, is a perfect marriage between long-lasting pretty polish and reasonable up-keep.
My mom received all the "tools" for gel nails for her birthday and we've had a great time doing DYI manicures - and even a few pedicures. I've had numerous people ask about buying everything so I have to share information on purchasing a shellac nail "set."
The mandatory needs and process are base coat (one thin coat and "bake" under UV nail light for 10 seconds); one coat of polish and bake for 2 minutes (note: the polish is heavier so it can gravitate to globs around the cuticles which is hard to avoid).; second coat of polish and bake for another 2 minutes; top coat, 2 minutes. To finish, rub a cotton pad of rubbing alcohol to clean away the tackiness - at first I worried this would take the polish off but it actually makes it very smooth & shiny! Ultimately, they don't chip and they keep your nails feeling strong but after a few weeks they do grow out at the base so to remove the polish, you soak a cotton ball or paper towel in nail polish remover and wrap foil around your finger - very cute extraterrestrial look, if you will. After a few moments it should come of easily. My preferred method is to peel it - probably not the best for the nail but once a little lift starts in the corner, it all peels off in one piece. Sort of addicting once you start and afterwards, buff them and they look shiny and natural again.
I have friends who spend $38+ every couple weeks to have gel nails done at a salon. The lamp my mom bought works great and was only $53 and around $11 tax. Check it out here. There are a few different brands of polish that she's bought, some we've liked more than others. They can be purchased on Amazon.com and range from $7-15, since you have to have a professional license to buy them in beauty stores. I also have a group of girlfriends who bought everything together which is another cost-effective way to do it. But it's definitely worth the time and savings for the investment - 30 minutes at home is far nicer than an hour to an hour and a half at the salon - oh and at home, you don't have to tip! ;)
Update: I shellaced my toes and although they looked shiny and cute, it may not have been the best choice. The next night I wore heels out for dinner and dancing downtown and the next morning, I woke up without polish on my little toe on each foot. I looked down and thought, "What happened!" The shoe rubbed against them and popped the polish right off. The same thing happened on my second to last toe when I wore heels that rubbed a different part of my foot days later. It's nice, like I said above, how it just peels off in one chunk but it's not like using regular polish with which you can just slap on a fresh coat. I tried to match it and it worked but it's not the same - I'll stick to the fingernails!
My mom received all the "tools" for gel nails for her birthday and we've had a great time doing DYI manicures - and even a few pedicures. I've had numerous people ask about buying everything so I have to share information on purchasing a shellac nail "set."
The mandatory needs and process are base coat (one thin coat and "bake" under UV nail light for 10 seconds); one coat of polish and bake for 2 minutes (note: the polish is heavier so it can gravitate to globs around the cuticles which is hard to avoid).; second coat of polish and bake for another 2 minutes; top coat, 2 minutes. To finish, rub a cotton pad of rubbing alcohol to clean away the tackiness - at first I worried this would take the polish off but it actually makes it very smooth & shiny! Ultimately, they don't chip and they keep your nails feeling strong but after a few weeks they do grow out at the base so to remove the polish, you soak a cotton ball or paper towel in nail polish remover and wrap foil around your finger - very cute extraterrestrial look, if you will. After a few moments it should come of easily. My preferred method is to peel it - probably not the best for the nail but once a little lift starts in the corner, it all peels off in one piece. Sort of addicting once you start and afterwards, buff them and they look shiny and natural again.
I have friends who spend $38+ every couple weeks to have gel nails done at a salon. The lamp my mom bought works great and was only $53 and around $11 tax. Check it out here. There are a few different brands of polish that she's bought, some we've liked more than others. They can be purchased on Amazon.com and range from $7-15, since you have to have a professional license to buy them in beauty stores. I also have a group of girlfriends who bought everything together which is another cost-effective way to do it. But it's definitely worth the time and savings for the investment - 30 minutes at home is far nicer than an hour to an hour and a half at the salon - oh and at home, you don't have to tip! ;)
Update: I shellaced my toes and although they looked shiny and cute, it may not have been the best choice. The next night I wore heels out for dinner and dancing downtown and the next morning, I woke up without polish on my little toe on each foot. I looked down and thought, "What happened!" The shoe rubbed against them and popped the polish right off. The same thing happened on my second to last toe when I wore heels that rubbed a different part of my foot days later. It's nice, like I said above, how it just peels off in one chunk but it's not like using regular polish with which you can just slap on a fresh coat. I tried to match it and it worked but it's not the same - I'll stick to the fingernails!
René of the Day // 9.27.11 // Spicy Ginger Chicken Noodle Soup
I've vowed myself to a "Soup Challenge." Forget du jour. I'm hoping that each week through the chilly season (perhaps just autumn, we'll see if I make it through winter), to make a different soup recipe. I love the idea because they're generally inexpensive to make, healthy, fun to cook, taste great as leftovers and last for the week - plus they can be frozen for thawing and enjoying later if I get sick of it after a few days. Plus, I love using my big red Le Creuset stock pot! My other goal with is to share the websites from which I collect a lot of my favorite recipes. I'm often asked for them after posting on Facebook or Twitter and I'd love to share my resources.
My first soup of the season came from the Serious Eats weekly e-newsletter. I've been in a habit of unsubscribing from a lot of emails lately but this is one that I never delete. Each week it features around 10 delicious recipes - from unique (Dr. Pepper ribs) to classic, usually gourmet and never overly difficult or expensive ingredients. When I saw the recipe for Spicy Ginger Chicken Noodle soup it caught my eye because I love making Asain-inspired dishes at home. I keep soy sauce, sriracha, mirin, honey, ginger, sesame seeds and other staples on hand so it's usually a quick trip for produce and I'm good to go. One thing I've started to do for certain recipes like soups is buy the little bags of Tyson cooked chicken chunks - I know my mother would scold me for wasting money and being too lazy to cook and diced the chicken, but it saves at least 30 minutes.
This soup turned out to be so delicious and lasted Saturday through Thursday - a winner! The only thing I'll omit next time are the sugar snap peas - whenever I cook with them, I get annoyed. You have to peel them or the stringy thingy on the back of the bean shreds and the little knob on the end is hard and it makes them a pain to chew. So I picked them all out.
Get the recipe here. And check back for another soup each week!
My first soup of the season came from the Serious Eats weekly e-newsletter. I've been in a habit of unsubscribing from a lot of emails lately but this is one that I never delete. Each week it features around 10 delicious recipes - from unique (Dr. Pepper ribs) to classic, usually gourmet and never overly difficult or expensive ingredients. When I saw the recipe for Spicy Ginger Chicken Noodle soup it caught my eye because I love making Asain-inspired dishes at home. I keep soy sauce, sriracha, mirin, honey, ginger, sesame seeds and other staples on hand so it's usually a quick trip for produce and I'm good to go. One thing I've started to do for certain recipes like soups is buy the little bags of Tyson cooked chicken chunks - I know my mother would scold me for wasting money and being too lazy to cook and diced the chicken, but it saves at least 30 minutes.
This soup turned out to be so delicious and lasted Saturday through Thursday - a winner! The only thing I'll omit next time are the sugar snap peas - whenever I cook with them, I get annoyed. You have to peel them or the stringy thingy on the back of the bean shreds and the little knob on the end is hard and it makes them a pain to chew. So I picked them all out.
Get the recipe here. And check back for another soup each week!
René of the Day // 9.26.11 // Goodbye, Housewives
There is the only one hour of television I watch every week: Desperate Housewives. It's not phenomenal programming but let's be honest, most people watch garage like Jersey Shore or Teen Mom which may be fun to watch, but I refuse to spend any of my pay check on cable for mindless entertainment. So this show is my free vice. I've watched since college - my mom liked it and I decided to rent the DVDs from Blockbuster and catch up to the current season. Then Becca and I would watch it together every Sunday at her apartment in Clifton, and the tradition continued when she and Lori moved into my apartment building in Hyde Park the year after we graduated.
Thank God she still follows the show with me - there are so many Monday mornings when I have to text her to remind me of the background and plot holes from seasons past. It's hard to believe this is the final season. I'm heartbroken that Tom and Lynette have split, as they've always been the most functional couple on Wisteria Lane. And shocked that Susan and Carlos told Mike that they killed Gabby's step-father... on pins and needles to see how we reacts in the next episode, since he just stormed off... cliff hanger!!! But quite frankly, it's not as riveting and the characters have changed so much, I don't get as excited to watch or bummed if I miss an episode anymore. Although I will publicly confess, I strive to be Bree VanDekamp some day. Her mannerisms, home, style and her culinary talent is all so admirable. Did you see the blue Le Creuset dutch oven on her stove last night? *swoon*
I've received recommendations to watch Grey's Anatomy, Dexter and a few other shows on DVD after this season ends since I also completed the Mad Men series through season 4. I think that will be my new show and since I don't have cable, Julie invited me to watch at her place. The great thing about finishing a series is it forces me to spend more time in the evenings reading books - of which there is an ever-growing stack of my mirrored night table. I have a few I'd like to plow through by the end of the year so although I'm sad to see the girls say goodbye after seven years, it's time.
Thank God she still follows the show with me - there are so many Monday mornings when I have to text her to remind me of the background and plot holes from seasons past. It's hard to believe this is the final season. I'm heartbroken that Tom and Lynette have split, as they've always been the most functional couple on Wisteria Lane. And shocked that Susan and Carlos told Mike that they killed Gabby's step-father... on pins and needles to see how we reacts in the next episode, since he just stormed off... cliff hanger!!! But quite frankly, it's not as riveting and the characters have changed so much, I don't get as excited to watch or bummed if I miss an episode anymore. Although I will publicly confess, I strive to be Bree VanDekamp some day. Her mannerisms, home, style and her culinary talent is all so admirable. Did you see the blue Le Creuset dutch oven on her stove last night? *swoon*
I've received recommendations to watch Grey's Anatomy, Dexter and a few other shows on DVD after this season ends since I also completed the Mad Men series through season 4. I think that will be my new show and since I don't have cable, Julie invited me to watch at her place. The great thing about finishing a series is it forces me to spend more time in the evenings reading books - of which there is an ever-growing stack of my mirrored night table. I have a few I'd like to plow through by the end of the year so although I'm sad to see the girls say goodbye after seven years, it's time.
René of the Day // 9.25.11 // $2 sammies @ Starbucks!
Pleasant surprise at SBux - their breakfast sandwiches are now $2 with the purchase of a beverage! w00t! Whenever I receive Starbucks gift cards, I tend to use them on their delicious sammies, since we have a Keurig machine at the office for warm AM drinks and I have a horrible habit of keep breakfast foods on hand at home.
I went for a little Friday morning salted caramel latté (I've had one pumpkin spice latté this season and it just didn't hit the spot like I remembered - Panera and Coffee Emporium do it better) I was thrilled to see a note about the sandwich special. I mean, that's less than I'd pay for a breakfast sandwich at McDonald's (which I wouldn't do anyhow - I only eat McGriddles when I'm severely hung over.) What a steal! Their hot breakfast options beat "fast food" any morning.
My favorites are the spinach & feta breakfast wrap with cage-free egg whites, feta, roasted tomatoes and spinach in a wheat wrap and the reduced-fat turkey bacon and white cheddar on ciabatta.
Read more about the deal here.
I went for a little Friday morning salted caramel latté (I've had one pumpkin spice latté this season and it just didn't hit the spot like I remembered - Panera and Coffee Emporium do it better) I was thrilled to see a note about the sandwich special. I mean, that's less than I'd pay for a breakfast sandwich at McDonald's (which I wouldn't do anyhow - I only eat McGriddles when I'm severely hung over.) What a steal! Their hot breakfast options beat "fast food" any morning.
My favorites are the spinach & feta breakfast wrap with cage-free egg whites, feta, roasted tomatoes and spinach in a wheat wrap and the reduced-fat turkey bacon and white cheddar on ciabatta.
Read more about the deal here.
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