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Aponte’s Pizzeria in Mason. File photo

If you’re hoping to get a glimpse of celebrity chef Robert Irvine at Aponte’s Pizzeria in Mason next Thursday, you’re out of luck.

Reservations were booked in full within 10 minutes of MasonBuzz posting news yesterday that Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible” will be filming at the pizzeria next week with a grand re-opening set for 7 p.m. Thursday.

Restaurant owner and chef Tony Aponte said the restaurant’s phone has been “ringing off the hook” since yesterday.  The restaurant, which has a maximum seating capacity of 80 in its current 900 square-foot dining space, quickly booked the 130 reservations allowed for the show’s taping, he said.

Starting Wednesday, the brawny British restaurateur and his team of designers will be at Aponte’s to revamp the eatery in 48 hours with a $10,000 budget.  The popular show helps to turn around struggling restaurants by working with the owners to improve the menu, staff and decor.

Aponte said he learned to make pizza in his native New Jersey. The restaurant’s menu also features subs, salads and baked pastas.  He opened the Mason eatery in 2005 and moved into its current location at 312 Reading Road in 2011.

Cast, crew and restaurant employees are not allowed to discuss details of the episode until after it airs, which should be sometime in August, show producers say.

For those who still hope to appear on TV, volunteers are needed to assist with the two-day renovation. For more information or to sign up, email Nick Smalarz at nick@shootersinc.com with your name, email address, phone number and preferred shift(s).

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Aponte’s Pizzeria in Mason. File photo

A popular Food Network show is coming to Mason next week to help turn around a struggling pizzeria.

Robert Irvine, host of Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible.” (credit: Chris Potter)

“Restaurant: Impossible” — a show known for rescuing financially-troubled eateries — will be at Aponte’s Pizzeria, 312 Reading Road, June 12-13.

A grand re-opening is planned for 7 p.m. June 13. The public can make reservations by calling Aponte’s at 513-336-7400.

Hosted by British restaurateur Robert Irvine, the show’s team of designers and carpenters has two days and $10,000 to revamp an “impossible” restaurant and get it flourishing once again.

Restaurant owner and chef Tony Aponte said he learned to make pizza in his native New Jersey. The restaurant’s menu also features subs, salads and baked pastas.

Cast, crew and restaurant employees are not allowed to discuss details of the episode until after it airs sometime in August.

This is the second time in a year Irvine and his crew have filmed in Greater Cincinnati. The show filmed in August last year at Rohrer’s Tavern in North Bend.

Restaurant owner Lisa Kendall told the show’s producers the restaurant saw year-over-year growth of $20,000 for the month of September after the episode aired.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: aponte's pizzeria, business, food network, grand re-opening, mason, pizza, renovation, restaurant, restaurant impossible, robert irvine, tony aponte, volunteers

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Model railroaders of all ages will converge on Mason this week for the 29th National Garden Railway Convention.

The event, expected to draw crowds of more than 1,000, kicks off today and runs through Sunday at Great Wolf Lodge in Mason and other area sites.

The convention includes 30 garden railway tours throughout Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Dayton, and a variety of clinics, model contests, swap meets and model layouts at the convention’s headquarters at Great Wolf Lodge.

The public is invited to attend a dealers’ hall at Great Wolf Conference Center from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and see the latest equipment and supplies, track accessories and miniature plants.  Admission is $5.

Tours of garden railways at six private homes will be offered from 9 a.m. – noon Thursday.  The itinerary includes homes in Mason and West Chester.

“This is a great opportunity for hobbyists to see in one location so many vendors having to do with G-scale model railroading,” said Larry Koehl, convention chair.

The event is sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society and the Miami Valley Garden Railway Society.  Information and tickets:  NGRC2013.com; 513.385.6599.

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Tags: Tags: convention, great wolf lodge, mason, model railroad, national garden railway convention, tours, trains, vendors

Rachel Hutzel. File photo

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Want to have a shooting lesson with a United States Navy SEAL? Or get four tickets to an Ohio State University football game?

Those are just two of the items that will be included in a live auction at the Pave the Milky Way fundraiser Friday.

Proceeds from the event – which includes dinner at the Manor House in Mason, live, and silent auctions – will be used to help fund the Rachel A. Hutzel Observatory, now under construction at Camp Joy.

The observatory will house a telescope built by Jeff Blazey, the husband of former Warren County judge and prosecutor Rachel Hutzel, who died nearly two years ago after a battle with cancer.

The 12-foot-long, 13-inch refracting telescope will be installed in the main room of the 34-foot long, 22-foot wide building. It will have a retractable roof.

It was Hutzel’s dream before her death to construct an observatory and establish the Warren County Astronomical Society.

The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m., at the Manor House, 7440 Mason-Montgomery Road. Tickets are $75 per person or $125 per couple.

Star Gazers host Dean Regas will be the special guest at the fundraiser. He is also the assistant director of the Cincinnati Observatory.

Tickets/information: www.warrensky.org or 513-649-7167

Posted in: Community, Events, News, Warren County |

Tags: Tags: fundraiser, gala, judge, observatory, pave the milky way, rachel a. hutzel, warren county

John Kiesewetter reports:

Former “Saved by the Bell” actor Ed Alonzo brings his  ”Psycho Circus of Magic & Mayhem 2″ magic show to Kings Island Theater Saturday for a second straight summer.

Alonzo will perform through August 11 (except Wednesdays). His show is included with Kings Island park admission.

Here’s a link to my blog last summer after interviewing him. The KI release:

Ed Alonzo’s ‘Psycho Circus of Magic & Mayhem 2’ opens June 1

The magic and laughs continue this summer at Kings Island as Ed Alonzo returns with an all-new follow-up to last year’s popular ‘Psycho Circus of Magic & Mayhem’ show.

Located in the Kings Island Theater, Ed Alonzo’s Psycho Circus of Magic & Mayhem 2 will engage guests with thrilling vanishing acts and incredible stunts sure to leave the crowd in awe.

Alonzo, the self-proclaimed “Misfit of Magic”, is a two-time recipient of the “Stage Magician of the Year” and “Comedy Magician of the Year” awards from the internationally recognized Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) and is known for his role on the hit television sitcom ‘Saved by the Bell” (1989 to 1990) as Max, the proprietor/magician of the local restaurant hangout ‘The Max.’

(more…)

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: ed alonzo, kings island, magic, magician, mason, psycho circus of magic & mayhem, saved by the bell

Do you have what it takes to sing the National Anthem at one of the world’s premier tennis tournaments?

The Western & Southern open is accepting video auditions from youngsters ages 7-17 through June 14 on its Casting Call Facebook page. Videos can be of any song, but must be at least 30 seconds long and sung in an a cappella format.

A limited number of performers will be selected to sing live on Fountain Square between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, June 28 in front of a panel of celebrity judges.   Tennis courts will be set up on the square, with other activities and giveaways offered.

“This is always one of the highlights of the summer as we get ready for the Western & Southern Open,” said Will Sikes, the tournament’s director of marketing and communications.  “The talent we have in Cincinnati is amazing, and we are thrilled to be able to give kids and young adults the chance to perform at one of the top tennis events in the world.”

The tournament, set for Aug. 10-18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, boasts an international television audience of more than 60 million fans and is broadcast domestically on Tennis Channel, ESPN2 and CBS

Official rules are available online at www.cincytennis.com/sing.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: auditions, casting call, fountain square, mason, national anthem, tennis, tournament, w&s open, western & southern open, youth

Military veterans enjoy free admission to Kings Island Memorial Day Weekend. Photo provided

Kings Island is offering special perks to veterans this Memorial Day weekend.

Military veterans receive free admission to the 364-acre Mason amusement park Friday through Monday.

The offer extends to active and retired military, National Guard, veterans with honorable or medical discharge and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps with government-issued ID.

Military personnel can also purchase admission tickets for members of their immediate family (up to six) for a discounted price of $29.99 each.

Military vets will also receive free admission and membership discounts of up to 20 percent at the Mason Community Center Saturday through Monday.

The center offers fitness machines, an indoor pool, gym and field house, game room, fitness activities and child care center.

Veterans who are already members can receive 10 free guest passes.

Valid military IDs are required for both offers and must be presented.  Present IDs to the ticket counter at Kings Island or to the member services desk at the Mason Community Center.

For Kings Island information, call 513-754-5700.  For Mason Community Center information, call 513-229-8555.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events, Health & Fitness, Mason Community Center, The Beach Waterpark |

Tags: Tags: free admission, kings island, mason community center, memorial day, memorial day weekend, military, veterans, vets

John Kiesewetter reports:

So what does Barry Williams remember about filming the “Brady Bunch” at Kings Island 40 years ago?

“That bear suit was very hot!” says Williams, 58, who flies in from Branson, Mo., to reunite with co-stars Christopher Knight and Susan Olsen (Peter and Cindy Brady) at Kings Island Sunday.

Williams, the teen hearthrob who played Greg Brady, shot a scene wearing the Hair Bear character suit in “The Cincinnati Kids” episode to impress a Coney Mall worker named Marge, and took his first ride in a hot-air balloon while shooting at Kings Island Aug. 20-24, 1973.

• Photos: The Brady Bunch at Kings Island
• Videos: Watch the Kings Island episode and more
• List: Can you remember the long gone rides at Kings Island?

He also remembers huge crowds watching the Brady kids, Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis looking for dad Mike Brady’s (Robert Reed) lost park expansion architectural drawings. The show aired during the fifth and final season (1969-74).

The Brady trio will share stories, show video clips, answer questions, sing and sign autographs in the Kings Island Theater on Sunday at noon, 2:30, 5 and 7:30 p.m. It’s free with park admission.

Williams headlines the “70s Music Celebration” show at Branson’s RFD TV Theatre. Here’s a link to his 70musiccelebration website.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Events, Kings Island |

Tags: Tags: barry williams, brady bunch, christopher knight, kings island, susan olsen

Warren County Community Services will offer a free seminar on estate-planning and elder law 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Michael Millonig, an elder law attorney, will lead the seminar, which addresses wills and trusts, avoiding probate estate tax, powers of attorney and living wills.

The event will be held at the 741 Center at 570 North S.R. 741, Lebanon.  For more information or to register, call WCCS at 513-695-2239 or email Michelle Carpenter at michellec@wccsinc.org.

Posted in: Events |

Tags: Tags: estate planning, seminar, seniors, warren county community services, wccs

Warren County Community Services’ 741 Center will hold an art show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at 570 North S.R. 741, Lebanon.

Artwork and paintings created by local artists and members of the organization’s 741 Center will be featured. The nonprofit center, which is open to Warren County residents ages 55 and older, offers weekly art classes.

The event coincides with Older Americans Month, observed in May, said coordinator Michelle Carpenter.

“Showcasing the artistic talents of seniors is in keeping with the national theme to ‘Unleash the Power of Age,’” she said.

The event is free and open to the community. For more information, call Carpenter at 513-695-2239 or go to www.wccsi.org.

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