The Candy Bar - now in Covington

I get the weekly Soapbox email, with info on things going on in the downtown area, including Covington and Newport. When i read the article below, i was so excited. I had heard that candy stores are doing very well in the recession, and hope this place also has the same luck.

The Candy Bar has brought the old neighborhood style candy shop back to Nky
Soapbox, 9/22/2009

Joe Barta has always had a dream to open up a candy store like the old neighborhood style he remembers as a child. On Labor Day weekend Barta's dream came true when he opened The Candy Bar in Covington's Mainstrasse Village.While the business has always been a dream of Barta's, he had always thought it might be a retirement venture until the struggling job market fast-tracked his plans earlier this year. After tossing the idea around with his family, Barta then took his general business plan to Northern Kentucky University's Small Business Development Center where they refined his plan and determined that his business venture was indeed a good one.

The Small Business Development Center was a "tremendous help" according to Barta who was unsure whether it was the right time to open such an establishment. "Fortunately we were able to get the traffic from the UK/Miami football game, Riverfest, and Oktoberfest celebrations on Mainstrasse," said Barta.The 300 square-foot store located between the fountain and clocktower on Mainstrasse is in a spot that Barta loves. "It's family friendly, there is a park immediately across the street, and has access to lots of festivals," he says. "I would love to buy the building and move my family upstairs while running the store out of the retail space on the first level," said Barta.The Candy Bar currently offers around 250 different types of candy; some of which date back more than 100 years. The types of available candy is still growing - as a unique feature the store offers a board at the front of the shop where customers can request a particular candy that they may remember from their childhood.Barta notes that candy bars sell for around $1, and several candies are sold as two or three for a quarter. "Candy is a treat and you don't need the supersize me mentality when it comes to buying candy."

The Candy Bar does not sell a lot of bulk sizes. The store is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9pm, Sunday from 1pm to 8pm and is closed on Mondays.

Great classes through Cincy parks!

I signed up the other day for an art class for adults through Cincinnati Parks, and in looking through their fall program schedule I noticed that they have a lot of wonderful offerings for adults, kids and families. The class i signed up for three Saturdays, with art supplies included and was only 40$, which is a fraction of what other classes would cost, not counting the cost of supplies for the classes. Since all of the programs are very reasonable, I thought I'd share the info with others in the hopes that they too sign up!

Honeybees: California’s Gold Rush
Sat., Sept., 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. – California Woods Nature Preserve
Who knew there was California Gold right here in our area? Our “gold” is sweet, golden honey. We will have open hive demonstrations with live bees, beekeeping tools and close up pictures in our Nature Center, games, and tasting. Naturalist-led hikes to the meadow for open hive demonstrations will be at 2 and 3 pm. Meet at the Nature Center. Call 231-8678 for information.

Magic Forest Walks
Fri. & Sat., Oct. 23 - 24 – Caldwell Nature Preserve
Walk through a pumpkin-lit trail meeting costumed characters from nature and history. This is a non-scary holiday walk best suited to children ages 3-10 years. Hikes start at 7:00 p.m., and leave every 15 minutes until 8:30 p.m. Each hike lasts about 1 hour.
Cost: $4 per person.
Reservations required; call 321-6070.

Fall Foliage Walks
Sat., Oct. 31, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. – Burnet Woods
Take a walk through beautiful Burnet Woods to discover the secrets behind the annual fall color change, learn how to identify trees by their fall color and discover how the local wildlife is preparing for the coming winter. Meet in front of Trailside Nature Center. Call 751-3679 for more information.

College Hill Pumpkin Patch Festival
Sat., Oct. 10, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. – College Hill Park
The annual festival returns with food, entertainment, children’s activities, craft sales, plant sales, the finale of the Farm Market, and the ever-popular Scarecrow Contest. No fee for most events, Free parking at Aiken High School.

Fourth Annual Pumpkin Chuck
Sat., Nov. 7, – Stanbery Park
Bring your own pumpkin or watch as others launch them up to 500 feet into the air using a trebuchet. There is a launching fee per pumpkin. Other activities include face painting, kids crafts and hot air balloons, weather permitting. For more details, check out the Mt. Washington Community Council website: www.mwcc.org

Vermicomposting Workshop
Fri., Nov. 20, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. – LaBoiteaux Woods
An indoor worm bin can be a fascinating way to recycle your kitchen waste into rich compost for your favorite plants. Thanks to the support of the Solid Waste Management District, Hamilton County residents can start vermi-composting for a fraction of the usual cost. You get everything you need, including instruction, the bin with worms and a helpful book for a $20 fee. Just add kitchen waste and save landfill space! Email Pat.agnew@cincinnati-oh.gov for details. Prepaid registration is required by November 13.

Amazing Race Family Challenge
Sun., Nov. 8, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. – Ault Park
Join the fun with other families as you go through the trails of Ault Park competing in nature version of the amazing race. We will have different challenges along the way along with roadblocks. Small prizes will be awarded to our contestants. Geared for families with children ages 5-12. Reservations are required. Meet at the pavilion. Call 761-4313 for more information and to reserve a spot for your family.

Annual Holiday Craft Workshop
Fri., Dec. 4, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. – LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Preserve OR Sat., Dec. 5, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. – LaBoiteaux Woods Nature Preserve
Bring the family to enjoy crafts with natural materials or a nature theme. Choose what you want to make from selections suited to all ages. Staff will instruct and advise, but the personal touches are up to you. Go home with several completed projects to brighten your home for the holidays. Fee: $5 per person or $12 per family. Paid reservations are required for this popular event. Use the registration form on page 14 and note the number of people and children’s ages.
Call 542-2909 for more information.

Winter in the Woodlands
Sat., Dec. 12, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. OR 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. – California Woods
Families and adults can follow a luminaria-lit trail on a leisurely self-guided walk, make crafts and enjoy lively music by a crackling fire. Paid reservations required by Dec. 10. $5 per person. Use the registration form on page 14. Call 231-8678 for information.

Maple in Mt. Airy
Sat., March 6, 2010 – Oak Ridge Lodge, Mt. Airy Forest
Come enjoy the magic of turning maple sap into sugar. After treating your taste buds to a delicious pancake breakfast, travel by haywagon to another site within the park to interact with costumed characters from the past and learn the history of maple sugaring. All ages are welcome to enjoy this event. Fee: $7.00 per person. Paid reservations required; call 321-6070.

Streetcar "Open House" Opportunity for Q&A

SEPT 22 - NOV 18
The City of Cincinnati is hosting a series of 10 open houses throughout the city to provide information on the proposed modern streetcar system. City staff will be on hand to answer questions from the public and to present information about topics such as what the modern streetcars look like, the economic benefits, the costs, how they operate, and the route. Additionally, the public will be asked to provide comments on the system and particularly the "connector route" to Uptown. This is the path the streetcar will take from its downtown route to Uptown, which includes the area around the University of Cincinnati, the hospitals, and the zoo. The first open houses will be held Tuesday, September 22 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street in downtown Cincinnati.
Click here for more information and scheduling.

Local 127 opens

So they opened the restaurant that will be where the former Pigalls was - it sounds cool, but there's really not been any mention of when the new bar Toxic Union will open (terrible name by the way). I heard the servers wear Chuck Taylors as part of their uniforms. I like it a lot! Hopefully the chef helming the restaurant will get along well with the Wades....

Local 127, the restaurant concept succeeding the former Pigall’s downtown with a focus on “farm-to-table” cuisine, opened Tuesday.Twist Lounge, the popular cocktail club located beside the former Pigall’s restaurant, will reopen as Tonic Union.
The restaurant, first announced in August, will be operated by the Relish Restaurant Group, headed by Martin and Marilyn Wade. The chef will be Steven Geddes, also a master sommelier, whose experience includes Aureole at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria del Lupo and his own restaurants, Alchemy Kitchen and Asia in Las Vegas. Geddes is joined by fellow chef Kyle Johnson.
In a press release, Geddes described Local 127 is a new American eatery with an emphasis on farm-to-table dining, relying on local sources.
The former Pigall’s had been operated by French chef Jean-Robert de Cavel and the Wades, his backers. But the partnership broke up in February and the restaurant closed soon after. The Wades’ other restaurants include JeanRo Bistro, Lavomatic, Greenup Café and Chalk.

New Tower Place Watch Party tonight!

There is an event being put together tonight to allow people to meet up and discuss the Presidential address that will be aired tonight. Be sure to RSVP if you are attending - it should be an interesting night - i'm definitely glad there's no booze being served!

THE NEW TOWER PLACE WATCH PARTY - SEPT 9
Explore issues of race, equality and social justice with members of the Cincinnati community at the After Obama: Race & Politics in Cincinnati Watch Party at The New Tower Place tonight from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. Watch the discussion, ask questions, share opinions and interact live with panelists through email and Twitter. The discussion will feature WCPO-TV News Anchor Clyde Gray as host, along with former congressman and UN Ambassador Andrew Young and more. This event is presented by Lincoln Legacy: A Cincinnati Celebration of Freedom and the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The Watch Party is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is required - click here. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the live broadcast runs from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. Enjoy free appetizers and soft drinks provided by Funky's Catering at 7:30 p.m. The New Tower Place is located at 28 W. Fourth Street. (Parking is available at Tower Place Parking Garage off Fourth Street, Race Street and Elm Street).

Christian Moerlein to open Biergarten on the banks

As much as i enjoy sitting out @ Hofbrauhaus' Beirgarten with a beer in hand on a nice night, i'm super excited to hear there will be an alternative on the OH side of the river!
Moerlein to open riverfront park beer garden

From the Business Courier of Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Park Board has announced an agreement with Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. to develop a restaurant and beer garden at Cincinnati’s new Central Riverfront Park.
Parks Director Willie Carden said the project will involve a lager house, restaurant and microbrewery of up to 15,000 square feet to be constructed on a development pad across from Great American Ball Park. The restaurant, to be called the Moerlein Lager House, will seat 500 inside and 600 in the beer garden.

The Lager House will be built on Main Street as part of the 45-acre park now under construction next to the Banks riverfront development, according to a news release. Preliminary designs for the two-story building include a green roof, balconies and terraces with views of the river, Roebling Suspension Bridge and the ballpark.

"We were looking for a restaurant concept for the new park that would be completely unique to Cincinnati and inspire feelings of 'Wow!'" Carden said in the release.

Plans call for construction of the Lager House to begin in the first quarter of 2010, with the opening scheduled for spring, 2011. The financial terms of the deal have not yet been finalized.
The restaurant will be on a portion of the new city park that sits atop a parking garage, overlooking the Ohio River. The park board secured Cincinnati City Council authorization Wednesday afternoon to negotiate a preferred development agreement for the restaurant.

Nuvo has closed!

I was checking my email while out of town and found the following note in my inbox. Sadly, i was never able to get there, though i did have a gift cert i had hoped to use. Their tapas menu sounded awesome, and i'm sorry that i wasn't able to get there sooner. :(

To All Our Friends,

It is with great regret that I must tell you that NuVo will be closing their doors for the last time under current ownership on Saturday, August 29.

The slow down in the economy and some unfortunate decisions made earlier have finally caught up with us and
has made it difficult for us to continue. We truly thought that based on our small size we would be able to withstand this slow
period and hold out until the economy turned around but unfortunately that has not happened.

I felt it necessary to step outside this industry's standard and not simply close the door without telling those of you who have
supported us this past year how instrumental you have been in allowing us to fulfill some of our dreams.
It has been a pleasure meeting so many amazing people and sharing stories and laughing about our passions for food and wine.

I hope you continue to support your local farmers as they are the ones who truly make this world go around.

And I ask that you continue to support your local restaurants as well.
This area has so many great places to dine and many of them are locally owned.

On behalve of Chefs Michael, Meagan, and Mark and our other staff, Megan, Alyce, Kristina, Stephanie, and Darryl,
Thank You!

Eddie Carter
Owner
NuVo
527 York St
Newport, KY 41071
859-261-1222

Microbrew in Ft Thomas

Having spent some time in the pacific northwest recently, I really got to enjoy the benefits of having so many good microbrews. As glad as i am that Christian Morelin (sp) and Burger beers are back, I'm craving more beers for us to enjoy that are locally produced (and no, HBH does not count). Just as I'm starting to get nostalgic for the great microbeers i had in WA and OR, an email came in and gave me hope - there's another microbrew that's in town and its attached to what sounds like a great restaurant! Read on below:

Red Ear Brewing Co. starting microbrewery at Vito's Cafe
Soapbox, 9/1/2009
Vito's Cafe has historically been known for its singing servers that always entertain the guests, but now the restaurant is home to Cincinnati's newest microbrewery offering seasonal beers with a personal touch.The microbrewery will be run by Matt Wehmeyer, son of Vito's owners Mary and Vito Ciepiel. Wehmeyer's new business venture is named Red Ear Brewing Company after a familiar fish he used to catch called the "Red Ear Sunfish.""I remember seeing a hundred different beers on the shelf and not knowing anything about them," says Wehmeyer. A recent trip to Asheville, NC is what really sparked him to move forward with starting his own brewing company."I took a trip to Asheville where they have like seven microbreweries, and I thought to myself that we needed more microbrews here in Cincinnati," says Wehmeyer. Red Ear is one of the first microbreweries in Northern Kentucky and one of the few in the Cincinnati region.Wehmeyer took a class on how to do home brews at Thomas More College, where he learned the basics of brewing. The first two batches of beer produced at Vito's were five and ten gallons respectively, and the restaurant sold their first Endless Summer Ale on August 9th just after they got their license.Currently Red Ear is producing about 20 gallons a week of their Endless Summer Ale which will be sold through the end of September. The plan, Wehmeyer says, is to start very small and continually grow and learn to brew bigger and better batches of beer. The next seasonal beer will be a bolder brew more often found during the winter season.The next step for Red Ear is to obtain a retail license so they can start selling their beer at stores and festivals around town, but for now Wehmeyer is content with turning out a high-quality product in small batches each week.As for Wehmeyer, he says that he loves fellow Cincinnati microbrews like Mt. Carmel and Barrelhouse, but he also really enjoys Kalamazoo microbrewing giant, Bell's Oberon.Vito's Cafe is located at 654 Highland Avenue, Suite 29 in Ft. Thomas (map), and is open Wednesday through Thursday from 5pm to 10pm, Friday and Saturday from 5pm to 11pm, and Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. The Endless Summer Ale is sold in pints for $4.50.

side note - they offer brewing classes @ Thomas More?!