MasonBuzz.com

The city of Mason will dress up its downtown business district and celebrate the holiday season during its annual Christmas in Mason event from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

Activities take place on Main Street and Reading Road between Mason-Montgomery Road and Second Avenue. This area will be closed to traffic from 4:30 p.m. until midnight.

• Photos: 2011 Christmas in Mason

A parade of canine escorts dressed up in holiday finery will lead Santa Claus into the festivities at 6 p.m. when the Santa Paws parade gets under way.  The parade kicks off this year at the corner of Main Street and Mason-Montgomery Road and proceeds down Main to the Plaza.

After the parade, a tree lighting ceremony takes place on the Plaza.  Santa will also be available for pictures for the rest of the evening.  A full line-up of live entertainment takes place on the Main Stage throughout the evening.

Other activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, story times at the Mason Public Library, caricature and balloon artists, strolling carrollers and ice and wood carvers. “Stocking Stops” scattered throughout the downtown area will welcome visitors.

Shuttle buses will run from St. Susanna Church at 616 Reading Road and Grace Baptist Church at 5595 Mason Road.

For more information, go to www.festivalsofmason.org or call 513-229-8534.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: christmas, christmas in mason, christmas tree, city of mason, demonstrations, downtown, entertainment, food, free, parade, santa claus, tree lighting

Carolyn Washburn is the editor and vice president of The Enquirer. 

Posted in: Business, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: cincinnati enquirer, dining, entertainment, events, john kiesewetter, online, polly campbell, restaurants, the enquirer, things to do, tv

From bridal shows and swap meets to the Vinoklet Art Festival and Wine Tasting and Yoga Aid World Challenge Cincinnati, there’s lots of fun and free events happening across the Greater Cincinnati region this weekend. 

Saturday

Alabama Game Watch Party, 3:30-6 p.m., Firehouse Grill, 4785 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash. Join other Alabama alumni, fans and parents to cheer on the Tide for 2012 football season. Bring non-perishable food items to benefit the Freestore Foodbank. Free. 513-733-3473; www.bamacincinnati.com.

Bird Walks, 8 a.m., Cincinnati Nature Center at Rowe Woods, 4949 Tealtown Road, Union Township. Look for resident birds. Dress for weather and meet leader in Rowe Woods parking lot. Nonmembers pay daily admission, free for members. 513-831-1711; www.cincynature.org.

Kentucky Dragon Boat Festival, 7 a.m., A.J. Jolly Park, 100 Lakeview Drive, Alexandria. Races begin 8:15 a.m. “Paddling for the Pink.” Boat-racing event. Top teams and individual fundraisers will receive great prizes. Food vendors available. Live music throughout event. Benefits breast centers of St. Elizabeth and the Kentucky Thorough-breasts. $5400 per team; free spectators. 859-391-7020; www.p4ca.org.

Open House Week: Free Dance Classes, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Third Floor Studios, Irish Heritage Center of Greater Cincinnati, 3905 Eastern Ave., Linwood. With Ballet Theatre Midwest. Prospective students try trial classes and learn about unique programs. Free. 513-520-2334; www.ballettheatremidwest.com.

Step Up Cincinnati, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Washington Park, 1225 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. Region’s largest student-planned, student-run day of service. Organized by UGIVE, non-profit organization on mission to catalyze, excite and empower next generation of volunteers. Free. Registration required. 513-791-0306, ext. 8023; www.stepupcincinnati.org.

Vinoklet Art Festival and Wine Tasting, noon-10 p.m. (1-7 p.m. Sunday), Vinoklet Winery and Restaurant, 11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township. Juried fine art and fine crafts for purchase, music, food, beer and award-winning wines. Tours available. Rain or shine. Grape-stomping contests Saturday. No coolers, food, drinks or tables. Ages 21 and up. Free. Through Sept. 9. 513-385-9309; www.vinokletwines.com.

Who Dey Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Meijer Hyde Park, 4825 Marburg Ave., Hyde Park. Tailgate party and entertainment. With Ben-Gal Cheerleaders and Who Dey!, Cincinnati Bengals mascot. Enter drawing to win tickets to a game. Free. 513-458-2400.

Sunday

Anderson Center Bridal Show, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 7850 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township. More than 30 wedding vendors to help plan your day. Register to win four-hour reception at center including dance floor and table linens. Free. 513-688-8400; www.andersoncenterevents.org.

Artworld, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park. Experience energy of creative, family-friendly space. Connects to Art Museum’s collections and special exhibitions through touchable objects, books, interactive displays and hands-on art making activities. Free. Through Aug. 31. 513-721-2787.

Commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of Cincinnati’s Black Brigade, 5:30 p.m., Schmidlapp Event Lawn, Smale Riverfront Park, Mehring Way and Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown. Information booths. 5th Independent Battery of Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery fires cannon during ceremony and concert. Costumed interpreters portray prominent leaders in Cincinnati and country during Civil War. Food concessions available for purchase. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and food basket. Concert by Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Free. 513-357-2604.

Cruise In/Car Show, 1-4 p.m., Atrium Family YMCA, 5750 Innovation Drive, Franklin. All antique, customs, street rods, vintage, classic and special interest vehicles regardless of year. Free registration, free food. Trophies awarded based on people’s choice. Includes music. Bring canned good for donation for local food pantry. Benefits LifeBridge Christian Church. Free. 513-505-2155.

GM Car Show and Swap Meet, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sharon Woods, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville. Open to Buicks, Cadillacs, Chevrolets, GMCs, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs: 30 classes with 70 awards. Rain or shine. Registration 9 a.m.-noon. $15 registration, $3 park entry; swap spaces: $10. 513-231-2797; www.eastgateclassicchevyclub.com.

Loveland Art Show, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Nisbet Park, 210 Railroad Ave., Loveland. More than 75 artists competing for awards totaling $2,000. Free. 513-683-1696; www.lovelandartscouncil.org.

Yoga Aid World Challenge Cincinnati, 2-3 p.m., Ault Park, 3600 Observatory Ave., Mount Lookout. Worldwide yoga relay. Some 20,000 people in 20 countries united to raise funds. Benefits Yoga Aid. Free, pledges encouraged. Registration required to participate. 513-807-0658; www.yogaaid.com/usa/registernow.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: alabama game watch party, anderson center bridal show, artworld, bird walk, cincinnati, cincinnati black brigade, cruise in car show, entertainment, events, free, free dance classes, fun, gm car show and swap meet, kentucky dragon boat festival, step up cincinnati, vinoklet art festival and wine tasting, who dey saturday, yoga aid world challenge cincinnati

It may be Labor Day weekend, but we’re not taking the holiday off here at the Enquirer. There’s way too much work to do.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment, News |

Tags: Tags: cincinnati enquirer, cincinnati.com, entertainment, metromix, tasha stewart, the enquirer

An expanded food court is one of the improvements fans will see in the latest phase of renovations at the Lindner Family Tennis Center for the Western & Southern Open. / The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II

Shannon Russell reports:

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: center court, cincinnati tennis llc, entertainment, expansion, food, food court, landscaping, lindner family tennis center, mason, music, stage, tennis for charity, vince cicero, w&s open, western & southern open

Cuisine from China, Ireland, Greece and Mexico make up just some of the offerings at the Taste of Mason this evening.

Now in its fifth year, the festival, sponsored by Mason Schools and its diversity council, takes place from 5-8 p.m. in the high school commons, 6100 Mason-Montgomery Road.

Geared towards families with children of all ages, local restaurants will sell samples of ethnic foods from around the world. Admission is free.

A sampling of vendors include: Aponte’s, bd’s Mongolian Grill, Brazenhead Irish Pub, Chan’s Asian Wok, Mason Grill, Cafe Bella, Cazadores Mexican, Banana Leaf Modern Thai, Oleg’s German Family Restaurant, Rotbart’s Deli and Soho Japanese Bistro.

Entertainment includes Indian dancing, global art and musical selections from across the world by band, orchestra and choral groups. Here’s the evening’s lineup:

Performance Times
5 p.m. Pianist—Vidita Kannikeswaran
5:15 p.m. MHS Choral Performance—Santos
5:30 p.m.  MHS Jazz Performance—Jackson
6 p.m.  Cincinnayi Baila! – Mexican Folkloric

Dance
6:15 p.m. MHS Percussion Ensemble and Drumline
6:45 p.m. I.K. Kim Ja Be Ruy Tae Kwon Do
6:55 p.m. Marathi Melody—Indian Dancing
7 p.m. Chinese School Performance—Feng
7:15 p.m. Nigerian Solo Drum Performance—Baoku Moses
7:30 p.m. Bollywood—Indian Dancing Prabhakar and Karanam
7:35 p.m. Chinese School—Dancing Ducklings
7:45 p.m. Colombia Viva

Information: 513-398-5025

Posted in: Community, Events, Events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: art, diversity council, entertainment, ethnic, food, free, mason high school, mason schools, restaurant, taste of mason

Powder Keg Harley-Davidson will rock in the holidays with its Very Merry Kissmas bash on Saturday.

The free event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at the Mason cyclery, 2383 Kings Center Court.

WEBN will broadcast live from the festivities, which include an air guitar contest, live music, KISS-themed contests, prizes and other activities.

The store is also offering the chance to win a $100 gift certificate.  Enter to win by texting the word “holiday” to 68683 on your mobile phone.  A winner will be randomly selected and Dec. 23.

For more information, call 513-204-6962 or go to www.powderkeghd.com.

Posted in: Community, Events |

Tags: Tags: christmas, contest, entertainment, free, kiss, live music, mason, music, powder keg harley-davidson, sweepstakes, very merry kissmas

The city of Mason will dress up its downtown business district and celebrate the holiday season during its annual Christmas in Mason event from 6-9 p.m. today.

Activities take place on Main Street and Reading Road between Mason-Montgomery Road and Second Avenue. This area will be closed to traffic from 4 p.m. until midnight.

A parade of canine escorts dressed up in holiday finery will lead Santa Claus into the festivities at 6:15 p.m. when the Santa Paws parade gets under way.  The parade kicks off this year at the corner of Main Street and Mason-Montgomery Road and proceeds down Main to the Plaza.

2011 Christmas in Mason Pageant Court

After the parade, a tree lighting ceremony takes place on the Plaza at 6:30 p.m.  Santa will also be available for pictures for the rest of the evening.  A full line-up of live entertainment takes place on the Main Stage throughout the evening.

The Mason Historical Society invites visitors to stop by the Alverta Green Museum at 207 E. Church S. to learn about the history of Mason.

Other activities include horse-drawn carriage rides, story times at the Mason Public Library, caricature and balloon artists, and ice and wood carvers. “Stocking Stops” scattered throughout the downtown area will welcome visitors.

Shuttle buses will run from St. Susanna Church at 616 Reading Road and Grace Baptist Church at 5595 Mason Road.

For more information, go to www.festivalsofmason.org or call 513-229-8534.

Posted in: Community, Events, News |

Tags: Tags: business district, carriage rides, christmas in mason, city of mason, detours, downtown, entertainment, festivals of mason, free, grace baptist church, holidays, mason, mason historical society, mason public library, pageant, santa claus, santa paws parade, st. susanna church, traffic

Parents, need to regain control of your household? Consider enlisting the help of the new “America’s Supernanny.”

The Enquirer’s John Kiesewetter reports that the new show — the Lifetime version of the British production on ABC –  is casting for families in Ohio.

Lifetime last month ordered eight one-hour shows starring a new “American homegrown nanny,” instead of Brit Jo Frost.

Producers are “sending casting teams around the country to find the next amazing families for the show, and for a few weeks we will be in Ohio,” they say. (No doubt because of our higher than average reality TV viewing habits here.) Producers want families from every type of background — from toddlers to teens — who need help from “America’s Supernanny.”

If you’re interested, check out the Lifetime show site where you can download an application or email or call the casting team.  Anonymous referrals are also accepted.

Posted in: Arts & Entertainment |

Tags: Tags: abc, america's supernanny, british, casting, children, entertainment, jo frost, john kiesewetter, lifetime, ohio, parents, supernanny, the cincinnati enquirer, the enquirer