Category Archives: Tourist in my City

Cincinnati Flower Show at Yeatman’s Cove

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The Cincinnati Flower Show, hosted by the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, kicked off its 26th year with a profusion of breathtaking floral beauty!  According to the Society, it “dedicates itself to promoting the environmental, aesthetic, and educational benefits for parks and green spaces, and to providing opportunities for the enjoyment and appreciation of nature and horticulture.”  The show has evolved into five days of garden-inspired shopping, international exhibitors and judges, guest speakers, nature inspired art, and gardening activities.

This year’s exhibition is set up along the Ohio River at Yeatman’s Cove and you’ll find tents filled with floral displays, dramatic table settings, and creative and unique container gardens.  So many ideas for transforming your own gardens into a spectacular space!

The tents provided a nice backdrop for my favorite flower…the tulip!

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Cincinnati’s infamous Findlay Market (farmer’s market) was used as inspiration in this display…

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Hiking at Buzzardroost Rock & don’t forget the Wine

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Buzzardroost Rock is a moderately difficult 3.5 – 4.4 mile round trip trail (depending on where you begin) in the Edge of Appalachia Preserve system of Adams County, Ohio.  Far above the waters of Ohio Brush Creek, the panoramic scene from this hilltop has been called Ohio’s most spectacular view.  I organized the hike through Tri-State Hiking Club, one of my meetup.com organizations and guided approximately 20 people.  Most of us met at a carpool location because the trail is almost an hour and one-half from Cincinnati.

The view is outstanding!

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Here I am looking quite triumphant having reached the top.

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All of the colorful jackets and accessories added some pizzazz to the dreary scenery!

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Unwind and uncork a bottle at these 3 Local Wineries

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Meranda-Nixon Winery

If you’re lucky, like I was, when you arrive at the Meranda-Nixon Winery, you’ll be greeted by one of the proprietors’ friendly dogs.  You may even see one of their beautiful horses as you gaze at the lush vineyards.

Vineyards at Meranda-Nixon Winery

Horse at Meranda-Nixon Winery

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Lumenocity

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Lumenocity is an annual event held here in Over the Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio at Cincinnati Music Hall.  I was invited to the dress rehearsal by a friend and met her and two other girlfriends to have a bite to eat beforehand at a restaurant called Abigail Street right around the corner from Music Hall.  The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Ballet perform under the white tent shown below while you’re treated to an elaborate and flamboyant light show on the exterior of Music Hall…

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Earlier in the evening at Abigail Street Restaurant, I captured a selfie in the mirror of the lovely shabby chic ladies’ restroom…

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Summer Fun

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Bouncing on the water, holding on tight, our friend had tons of fun tubing behind our boat this past weekend!  Everyone looks forward to summer because there’s so much to do…Bicycling, concerts in the park, picnics, having a frosty cold drink on the deck, and of course fun in the water!  You know it’s summer when you smell freshly cut grass, blooming flowers, and the aroma of grilled food.

I enjoyed honing my photography skills snapping pics from a boat skimming the water at high speeds jostling my camera and I…

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Guinness Book of World Record for the Most People Salsa Dancing

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Thursday evening, July 24, 2014 is a day to go down in the record books, specifically the Guinness World Records book, for the City of Cincinnati to beat Mexico’s past record of the largest Salsa dance, with over 2,000 people moving to the rhythm!  I was there to capture the excitement and energy for iSPYCINCY taking photographs of the event.  Green “Gain” shirts were given out to the attendees, as you can see in the photo…

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My husband accompanied me, as usual, and since it was a perfect evening for motorcycle riding, we arrived on our Harley.  He dropped me off so I could get started while he parked the bike.  My first shot was of this performer on the sidewalk next to Fountain Square…

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Cinco de Mayo in Cincinnati

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Cinco de Mayo is a holiday made for partying and Cincinnati loves to party!  A group of us met at Nada Restaurant in downtown Cincinnati and of course I brought my camera.  I ran into people I’ve photographed for iSPYCiNCY at other events and took their photograph.  I stopped this girl for a photograph and love her expression!

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I even ran into my hairdresser…Jocelyn (on the right), who I’ll be seeing before I go on my trip next week!

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Tunes & Blooms at the Cincinnati Zoo

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Going to the Zoo, no matter where you live, is a rather inexpensive way to get some exercise and have fun!  Especially if you have a band to listen to and beautiful flowers surrounding you.  The Cincinnati Zoo has a cool free event (except for parking) in the Spring called “Tunes & Blooms” where you can do exactly that!  I was there a couple of days ago with my friend Dee and was so delighted to happen upon this beautiful Peacock strutting his tail feathers…

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The reggae music was fun to dance to provided by “The Cliftones” band.  There were tons of children there enjoying the tunes!

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Dee and I saw quite a few people we knew, so while she talked with them, I went in search of some cool photos…

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Cincy Winter Blues Fest…we’re singin’ the Blues

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Saturday evening’s Cincy Winter Blues Fest in Downtown Cincinnati, was held at The Phoenix Hotel, and it was the perfect place!  Built in 1893, the majestic Italian Renaissance architecture, high ceilings and wonderful acoustic qualities, and the soulful music, made it a memorable evening.  Two ballrooms and two smaller rooms featured 16 bands over the course of the evening and as you can see the lighting was superb!

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We wandered from room to room, usually standing, to hear the variety of blues bands singin’ the winter blues.  This artist, Janiva Magness, was billed as one of the headliners.  Her “tell it like it is” lyrics and seductive performance, made for an entertaining show.

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21c Museum Hotel and Gilpin’s Steamed Sandwiches

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Walking through the 21c Museum Hotel is an experience not to be missed in Cincinnati!  Friday night, my friend and I began our evening attending the Art after Dark event at the Cincinnati Art Museum, followed by Final Friday at the Pendleton Art Center in Over the Rhine, and finished the evening with a walk through the trendy 21c Museum Hotel, and a yummy steamed sandwich at Gilpin’s Steamed Sandwiches next door!  By the time I got home, it was almost 2:00am!  But it was worth it…we had fun.

The next few images are pieces of art you will discover at this boutique hotel…

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Final Friday at Pendleton Art Center

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Final Friday at Pendleton Art Center is always a fun and interesting event in Cincinnati.  If you read yesterday’s post, you’ll remember I started my evening by attending Art after Dark at the Cincinnati Art Museum with my new friend, Jena.  It was a night filled with art and fun!  After that I drove to Over the Rhine, where the Pendleton Art Center is located and began looking for a parking spot.  I told Jena I felt lucky and drove up a side road next to the Center.  Up ahead was a vehicle with its brake lights on, so I pulled alongside, opened Jena’s window and asked the guy behind the wheel if he was leaving.  He said he was trying to, but couldn’t get his SUV out of the parking spot.  Jena offered to help and stood outside trying to guide him.  I could tell we may be there a while, so I put my car in park, jumped out and offered to do it for him.  He said, “Sure”.  Within 20 seconds I had his vehicle on the road and he thanked us.  I then parallel parked in the spot and we were on our way!  I know what you’re thinking.  That may not have been the safest thing to do, especially in that area of town, but I had a gut feeling that it was OK.

Jena had never been to the Pendleton Art Center and was a bit overwhelmed with how much there was to see on eight levels of the old building!  Here are a few my favorites…

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Oh…and here’s the beautiful and stylish Jena.  She’s my height, 5′ 10″ tall, so it was nice to hang out with another tall lady!

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A Few Iconic Landmarks in Cincinnati

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Cincinnati’s Music Hall has quite the history!  Completed in 1878, its reputation as one of America’s most haunted buildings comes as no surprise to many, given that it was built on top of a pauper’s cemetery.  I’m intrigued now and would love to take a tour in the middle of the night!

When I took the photograph on Saturday, it was quite cold and I’m sure I appeared a little crazy lying on the ground trying to capture the look I wanted…

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Cincinnati Music Hall is located in an area of Cincinnati called Over the Rhine and across the street you’ll find these beautiful Italianate Architecture style homes…

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Revitalization of Over the Rhine and Ohio’s Oldest Farmer’s Market, Findlay Market

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I’ve posted photographs of an area in Cincinnati called Over-the-Rhine in the past, but I was in the area on Saturday again (before the snow hit yesterday) for a pole dancing class that you can read about here, and wanted to go to a wonderful farmer’s market called Findlay Market before my class.  Here’s a photo of a small portion of the outside area…

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Krohn Conservatory Christmas Display

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The Krohn Conservatory Christmas Display in Cincinnati, Ohio is simply beautiful!  As I watched small children running from display to display, I felt like one of them, excited every time I took a photograph.  I almost tripped a few of them as I was running from spot to spot!  Poinsettias were everywhere!

Here’s the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge that spans the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Covington, Kentucky.  Mr. Roebling also designed the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City!

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The colorful and intoxicating display of flowers and plants was almost overwhelming!

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The cute trains chugging along, high and low, brought back memories of a Christmas long ago…

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Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill

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Last night my husband and I drove an hour North to see the Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill in Clifton, Ohio.  I was excited to test out my new photography skills, since I’ve taken a few classes, and am now shooting only in Manual mode and RAW format.  And because I now have a remote shutter release for night-time shots.  The 50 degree temperatures and weekday night made it the perfect time to go.  We didn’t freeze and weren’t squeezed by too many people!  We arrived at 5:30pm and there were already a few photographers set up even though the lights don’t come on until 6:00pm.  As we munched on some popcorn, since we didn’t have dinner, I talked with the other photographers a bit.  An announcer came on a loud-speaker two minutes before the lights came on to notify us and once they did, I heard a collective “Ahh”.  As you can see, they’re spectacular!

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While we were waiting, one of the other photographers took our photograph for us…

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