Eight Greats for ’08

Tea Time
Have afternoon tea at Churchill's downtown.
Tucked away in Tower Place Mall, you'll step into Churchill's and feel like you were whisked away to an authentic tea room in London. We recommend getting a spot by the windows so you can get in some quality people watching while you have a spot of tea.

Go to Market
Visit the oldest public market and one of Cincinnati's most cherished institutions by going to Findlay Market downtown. Yes it's in Over-the-Rhine (so go during the day), but this area is also a dense historic neighborhood, rich in 19th century architecture. Open Wednesday through Sunday, Findlay Market is home year-around to about two dozen indoor merchants selling meat, fish, poultry, produce, flowers, cheese, deli and ethnic foods. On Saturdays and Sundays from April to November, the Market also hosts a thriving farmers market, dozens of outdoor vendors, numerous street performers and lots of special events.

Take Dance Lessons

• Hip-hop, jazz and musical theater: Contemporary Dance Theater
• Salsa: Visit Havana Martini Club downtown on Wednesday nights for free salsa lessons.
• Belly Dancing: Nile Gallery or Habeeba's
• Ballroom/Swing: Carolyn & Company Dance Co. (carolyndanceco@aol.com)

In Vino Veritas
If you think flights are just for planes and brix are on the outside of your home, may we recommend a wine tasting class? The Wine C.A.R.T. (stands for Courses, Art, Retail and Tourism) in West Chester is a perfect place to do just that. Give them a call at 513.860.WINE to see when their next beginner wine courses are. Or, you can join the "Wine Divas" club at the Polo Grille in Mason. These popular 3-class sessions are held on three Mondays and cover Basic Whites, Basic Reds and Old World vs. New World. You can attend one or attend all three.

Work it Out
Gone are the days of the boring treadmill and useless crunches. Today, there are so many options for the woman looking to have fun while burning off a few calories. First thing's first. Define "fun" for yourself. If you enjoy attending structured classes with women you end up going to happy hour with afterwards, we recommend The Fusion Studio in Ft. Thomas. Fusion offers a small, intimate setting for those interested in Spin, Pilates, Yoga, strength training or personal training. If you're more of a Pilates fanatic, check out Pendleton Pilates, which has locations in Loveland, in West Chester, on Madison and downtown. If Spinning gets your wheels turning, take Revolution Fitness for a spin. While they offer an assortment of cardio equipment and classes, Revolutions is best known for its stellar Spinning classes and top-notch instructors. Its Spin room houses 40 Spinning® bikes, with a two-story garage door and a state-of-the-art sound system. If you like to get your exercise G.I. Jane style, Cincinnati Adventure Boot Camps are for you. Essentially, it's a four-week outdoor program of fitness instruction, nutritional counseling and motivational training. These sessions aren't an in-your-face-and-humiliate-you type of bootcamp, but they do get you outside and push you further than your Tony Little VHS workout tapes will.

Be a Museum Maven
When you go to another city or country, you usually hit up one of their famed museums. But when you come back to the Queen City, you leave its museums to a rainy day that never comes. This is the year to turn that trend around. Here's a list of must-see museums:

• Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
• Cincinnati Historical Society Library
• Museum of Natural History & Science
• Cincinnati Art Museum
• Taft Museum of Art
• Contemporary Arts Center
• Cincinnati Fire Museum
• Cincinnati Freedom Center
• Underground Railroad Museum
• Southern Ohio Museum
• Heritage Village Museum

Get an Extreme Makeover
Nothing puts a perk in your step like a new look. Whether you need to revamp your wardrobe, hair or makeup, we have the recommendations for you. For a wardrobe makeover, we suggest giving J. Lee Tyer with Doncaster Fashionistas a call at 513-543-5891. While she's an independent representative for the Doncaster clothing line, she'll also evaluate your wardrobe, colors and fit, then make suggestions on how to spice it up without a huge overhaul (or huge price tag!).

For a hairstyle makeover, we suggest Rosina Luca at Avalon Salon. She's at the top of her game, going to weekly training sessions, so you know you're going to get a cutting-edge style (yes, pun intended) when you see her!

For makeup, we recommend Jocelyn Sparks of Zoë Custom Cosmetics. In fact, she's the official Cincy Chic photoshoot makeup artist! She's worked as a makeup artist and esthetician in L.A., New York City, Hollywood, Chicago and Philadelphia, so we're lucky to have such a nation-wide talent here in Greater Cincinnati. To assess the right colors and styles for you, she has what's called a "Palette Party" where you learn techniques, tips and trends in a fun setting. For $50, you learn how to update your look in the comfort of your own home, with the personal attention you won't get at a department store and the skill you won't get from your Avon Lady.

Set a Goal
Resolutions-schmezolutions. While we agree that smoking is icky, chewing your nails isn't ladylike and chocolate shouldn't be consumed by the ton, setting a goal is much more fun and rewarding. Think of something you've always wanted to do – run the Flying Pig despite your spare tire, ride in a hot air balloon despite your fear of heights, volunteering your time despite your lack of free time, start your dream company despite your I'll-do-it-next-year mentality – and do it! Honestly, what are you waiting for? Whatever it is, it's probably not that great of an excuse. You're not getting any younger, so our ultimate recommendation for '08 is to pick that star in the sky and start reaching for it.