Attention wine lovers! A new wine bar opened in the Incline District with more than 80 wines and several food options. Read on for all the delicious details.
Somm Wine Bar in Cincinnati’s Incline District offers 80 different wines in a relax atmosphere.
Cincy Chic:What is Somm Wine Bar? Tony Cafeo, Co-Owner of Somm Wine Bar: Somme Wine Bar is a wine and food bar located in the Incline District of East Price Hill. We feature a selection of more than 80 wines as well as several food options.
Cincy Chic:What’s the inspiration behind Somm Wine Bar? Cafeo: We saw a need for a more entertainment-type venue in East Price Hill and wanted to give residents a place they could go to before or after dinner that would also keep them in the Incline District.
Cincy Chic:Who’s behind Somm Wine Bar? Cafeo: I own the bar alongside my brother Dominic. We also own Incline Public House and Jefferson Social, both of which are also in the Incline District.
Cincy Chic:What types of drink and food options do you offer at Somm? Cafeo: At Somm we serve 80 different bottles of wine as well as three wines on tap. Fifty of the bottles of wine at Somm are price under $50,18 different wines served by glass range from $7-$10, and all tap or glass wines are available as a half glass or full glass. As far as food, the menu includes four different salads, four sandwiches, appetizers, and cheese and charcuterie trays.
Cincy Chic:Where is Somm Wine Bar located? Cafeo: You can find us at 3105 Price Avenue. We’re in the same building as the Bloc Coffee Co. and less than half a mile from the Warsaw Federal Incline Theater and the Incline Public House.
Cincy Chic:What type of atmosphere can guests expect at Somm Wine Bar? Cafeo: The wine bar has a modern feel with a laid-back, relaxed atmosphere. We have a lot of Edison bulbs and a bar made out of old wine boxes.
After several inspiring encounters with some of Cincinnati’s most intriguing women, a group of local ladies banded together to systematically share these stories, one motivating morsel at a time. Read on to learn more.
The women behind Women of Cincy, an organization dedicated to opening minds and bringing together Cincinnati’s women.
“Women of Cincy is here to open both doors and minds, celebrating the inspiring women of this city and forging a community among them. We are storytellers, thinkers, and teammates who get things done.”
That’s the mission behind Women of Cincy, a group of women who want to lift up the ladies of the Queen City. “We tell the stories of inspiring women that we meet, and as an added, almost unexpected reward, we’re building a pretty powerful network of talented women around the city,” says Women of Cincy Editorial Director Kiersten Feuchter.
The first day of Women of Cincy was just a few women who showed up to the Women’s March with recorders and cameras.
“We wanted to find out why people were there and tell the rest of the city about it,” adds Feuchter. “But the idea quickly took on a life of its own; by Wednesday we had the beginnings of a mission statement. We quickly veered away from the political and toward the goal of uplifting and supporting each and every woman.”
The founders of Women of Cincy include Feuchter, Chelsie Walter who serves as the creative director, and Kelsey Johnson as the social media director. They also recently brought on Kali Robinson who serves as the events director.
Next to those who help lead Women of Cincy is a team of almost 20 members who help with a variety of things like social media, events, and fundraising, with more people reaching out each week.
Through Women of Cincy, the main goal is to open minds.
“Sometimes it’s tough to really see one another as individuals; we tend to pigeonhole people into boxes,” says Feuchter. “So, we all say ‘all men do this’ or ‘all women are like that.’ We might have trouble starting new relationships with someone who comes from a different socioeconomic background than us, or whose political ideals don’t quite mesh with our own. The problem is we forget to try to understand them as an individual, and that’s what this kind of storytelling can combat.”
The team also works to build a community of women who support one another. Although they have only been around for seven months, Women of Cincy is already seeing people find new jobs because they met one another through the organization.
“We’ve been able to use our platform to promote the various causes that our interviewees are a part of; we’ve found that simply getting coffee with a group of innovative ladies is refreshing and inspiring,” says Feuchter. “It’s easy to get bogged down in the ‘daily grind,’ and a lot of us have seen our own passions reignited simply because we have this platform where any idea is fair game.”
When it comes to helping other Cincinnati women, it’s about finding a chance for the community to get to know a woman – in her own words – and to experience the way she’s impacting the city.
We’re all different, whether we’re running a company as a CEO or are a stay-at-home mom, and Feuchter says it’s all something that should be celebrated.
“Nothing makes a city more alive than its residents recognizing its vitality,” she adds. “Our collective energy as a city is built on the individuals that live here. Basically, we’re your weekly reminder that this city and its women are stronger than ever.”
Feuchter says that every day brings something new to the team at Women of Cincy. They recently started hosting “Coffee & Conversation” at The 86 in Clifton every other Tuesday. She adds that anyone is welcome to stop by and get to know them, share an idea, or find out what it’s like to join the team. “Even the very first meeting brought 10 new ideas,” she adds.
Women of Cincy is currently looking for volunteers to share their time and expertise when it comes to fundraising, event planning, and social media. They also hope to find writers to start doing perspective pieces on whatever they are passionate about. They also want to be active in upcoming elections by encouraging women to register to vote, to inform themselves, and to ultimately help women’s voices be heard.
Feuchter says that the long-term possibilities are exciting for Women of Cincy. “My personal passion is setting up a mentorship program where we connect young women with a female leader in their field,” she says. “Someday soon, we hope to host a panel discussion on an issue that closely affects local women – perhaps healthcare or family advocacy. The idea is to get women from both sides of the spectrum to share their personal experiences and actually listen to one another.”
To learn more about Women of Cincy, visit www.womenofcincy.org, where you’ll find stories, a community calendar, and forms where you can join the team or nominate a woman for the team to interview. You can also follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
See why this Oakley-based men’s salon is the highest-rated in the city (not to mention how they keep the FC Cincinnati players so well-groomed!)
18|8 Fine Men’s Salon in Oakley is owned by Chris Brown and is the highest-rated men’s salon in Cincinnati.
It’s been 19 months since 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon opened its doors in Oakley. The salon’s owner, Chris Brown, wanted to give Cincinnati’s men a place where they could go to get high-quality, premium, and on-trend grooming and salon services when he brought the national franchise to the Queen City.
Today, 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon is the highest-rated men’s salon in the city based on reviews from Yelp and Facebook, and with 90 franchise locations throughout the country, the Cincinnati location is No. 2 in the nation.
According to Brown, in about a year and a half, 18|8 has seen more than 5,000 guests and completed more than 18,000 haircuts, 1,000 waxing services, 2,000 straight razor shaves or beard trims, 750 coloring services, 220 facials, 250 man-icures or pedicures, and 100 scalp treatments with its four barbers and eight stylists in-shop.
“When it comes to our stylists and barbers, they are the best,” says Brown. “Specifically trained and have had additional education in the art and craft of cutting men’s hair and grooming services. They will offer our guests personal consultation and on-trend suggestions.”
Although the salon continues to grow in popularity in the Queen City, 18|8’s core services will continue to be customized, handcrafted haircuts complete with a scalp and shoulder massage and hot towel facial in addition to a plethora of other men’s grooming services like straight razor shaves, scalp treatments, facials, waxing, and nail treatments.
A new service just launched at 18|8 as well, True Solutions for Thinning Hair. “It’s a portfolio of products and services such as low level light laser helmets to address the full spectrum of thinning hair concerns,” explains Brown.
Guests interested in this treatment can call the salon for a free consultation.
The numbers behind the services aren’t the only impressive thing happening at 18|8. The salon is also the official men’s grooming experts of FC Cincinnati Men’s Soccer Club.
“We are proud to be their partners and excited about their success and the small part we play in helping them get ready for game day,” says Brown. “Because, as we like to say at 18|8, when you look better, you feel better, and perform better.”
Brown will be helping even more men in the Greater Cincinnati area look, feel, and perform better as he continues to move forward with plans to open a second 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon location.
To learn more about 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon, click here. You can also follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
Motivated by her own struggle with weight and depression, one local woman opened a wellness club and bar to support healthier lifestyles.
Do you need help developing a healthy eating lifestyle? “Legacy Nutrition is a nutrition club,” Ann Flanigan, owner of Legacy Nutrition Cincinnati. “It’s a bar that serves meal replacement shakes, energizing teas and a variety of other health products.”
The inspiration for the business started two years ago when Flanigan received an invitation to Epic Nutrition on Foley Road in Delhi. “At the time, I was struggling with depression and anxiety. Scott and Christina, the owners, welcomed me with a shake, tea and an understanding,” she says. “They didn’t pass judgment, just offered friendship and a few simple suggestions on some lifestyle changes, starting with my nutrition. Skip forward to the present and I’m much happier and 30 pounds lighter.”
The name of the company came from people sitting around a table. “Friends and I were sitting at Epic, talking about different names for a club,” Flanigan says. “One said it would be nice to find a name that would leave a legacy.” Legacy opened their door to their first customer on August 3, 2017. “Currently, I am the only employee, but I do have help from my mentors and friends at Epic Nutrition, along with my husband, Sean and two boys, Timmy (17) and Nick (13).”
Legacy Nutrition offers a variety of healthy meal replacement shakes. “It’s a club for people trying to make positive changes in their life,” Flanigan says. “It’s a support system, it’s a healthy, positive hangout.” Legacy Nutrition’s mindset about how they define success is, “leave happier and feel better than when you first walked in,” she says.
Legacy Nutrition serves meal replacement shakes and other nutritious foods.
“A healthy lifestyle includes good nutrition along with physical activity and stress management,” she says. “I personally feel being happy is the ultimate goal and a healthy lifestyle can look different to each individual.“
Flanigan feels like her business is important for the community of Cincinnati. “I feel Legacy offers people an alternative to fast food,” she says. “It’s a place to meet other people also looking for healthy alternatives.”
Flanigan loves what she does and loves seeing people smile and laugh. “I get a huge kick out of seeing neighbors, classmates, friends, etc. being surprised by each other, sometimes by people they have not seen for years,” she says. “It’s exciting, often like a family reunion.”
Legacy Nutrition is located at 6701 Ruwes Oak Drive, Suite 13, Cincinnati, Ohio 45238. To learn more, follow along on Facebook.
A local non-profit is bringing together Cincinnati’s residents through storytelling. Keep reading for the inspiring details!
Cincy Stories aims to bring the community together by telling and sharing the stories of those who live here.
Stories can connect people in a way that many other things can’t. When you can relate to another person’s story on an individual and personal level, it can create a bond you may not have otherwise felt possible with someone who comes from a different background than yourself.
But one local duo is ready to change Cincinnati through the stories of its residents.
When Shawn Braley and Chris Ashwell launched their non-profit Cincy Stories in February 2015, they wanted to create an organization that was dedicated to building community through story.
“We use storytelling as a tool for community building because we believe that stories are the bridge to empathy and understanding,” explains Braley.
Braley says the two were inspired to launch Cincy Stories because of how segregated Cincinnati remains despite being a diverse city.
“Cincinnati is the 5th most segregated city in our country,” he says. “We have incredible diversity, but many of those folks live in different neighborhoods, attend different schools, visit different restaurants, and don’t often know one another, even if they are neighbors.”
Even with all the differences, Cincy Stories wants to use storytelling at events and through media projects to build a community of listeners in Cincinnati who choose to listen first and speak second. They also want to build a community of people who feel empowered to know that they’re story is important and that others care to hear it.
Using stories to bring people together isn’t uncommon, by Cincy Stories’ plan is unique. “While all of our organizations care deeply about storytelling as a craft, we use storytelling as a tool,” says Braley. “Our primary role is building community. We work hand-in-hand with community leaders, CDC’s, and other non-profits to build bridges and empower community members with the craft of storytelling as a tool.”
Community building through Cincy Stories is done in a number of ways including live events, which are held bi-monthly on the first Tuesday every other month as MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine.
These nights bring together a group of storytellers who live in Cincinnati to tell a story from their lives. However, these aren’t professional storytellers, but everyday people who call Cincinnati home.
“The Cincy in Cincy Stories represents the people of a place more than it does a place, because a place is ultimately the people who call is home,” adds Braley.
In addition to Cincy Stories, there’s also Street Stories, another project that builds community in all 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods with events, documentaries, and website promotion. “This project is used to actively build community in the neighborhood while we’re working there, but also to give the rest of the city a picture into what that neighborhood is like through the people who live there,” he says.
In its short lifetime, Cincy Stories has already won an Emmy Award for their work in Walnut Hills as well as Best Local Film at the Reel Abilities Film Festival.
Braley says Cincy Stories will continue its work to bridge together Cincinnati’s residents through stories. They’re currently working on finishing work in the three neighborhoods of Price Hill this fall and will be heading into more neighborhoods as the new year approaches.
A locally-owned, woman-owned business is making waves in the content community. Read on for more on their team of women writers and thought-provoking insights.
Untold Content focuses on creating well-written, thought-provoking content to help businesses reach their audiences.
Katie Trauth Taylor earned her PhD in rhetoric and composition from Purdue University. The former English professor then made the decision to step away from university teaching and launch her own business, Untold Content.
“Untold Content is a national writing consultancy that helps innovative organizations share their insights and establish their thought leadership through clear, thought-provoking content,” explains Taylor. “We are expert writers who serve government agencies, healthcare systems, scientific and technical companies, academic and research institutions, and other innovative organizations.”
Taylor adds that Untold Content’s team is comprised of women writers who work together with clients in order to help them think more strategically and creatively about the content they put out.
Taylor, a Cincinnati native, says that she was inspired to launch her business in order to help promote public intellectualism. Untold Content wants to help all voices be heard, share insights, and ensure that people have access to information.
“Practically speaking, we translate research insights and clearly communicate what is oftentimes quite complicated: How do you work with an engineer to help them articulate what they’re trying to say to an everyday consumer through well-written user guides? How do you work with a healthcare organization to help them give patients diagnosis information in a way that they can understand? How do you help a nonprofit inform the community about an unknown problem? These are some of the problems we tackle as a company, and serve as examples for how we work to make sure insights are shared and people understand one another,” says Taylor.
Taylor’s team is dedicated to bringing organizations’ stories to life as a proudly women-owned and women-run business.
At Untold Content, you’ll find white papers, research reports, website content, and manuscripts to name a few. However, because the team has high-caliber writing capabilities, they’re able to reach several disciplines and industries with their content.
“We like to say that we serve ‘thought-generating organizations,’ which means innovative organizations who intelligently work to solve complex problems or develop creative solutions that deserve spreading,” she says. “Our speciality is working with organizations who differentiate themselves through their deep knowledge and technical know-how. As specialists in technical writing and marketing, we help thought-generating organizations translate their insights for non-expert audiences.”
Untold Content was incorporated in 2016 and launched with its company name in 2017. Despite only being in business for about a year, the company has gone from one woman with a major client to a team of five female writers that support more than 20 clients not only in Cincinnati but outside the area as well.
What helps Untold Content stand out among other design firms, branding agencies, and marketing consultancies is that they take their knowledge of human perception, qualitative research, technical communication, document design, and more and share it with several industries.
“By immersing ourselves in the organizations we work with, we engage in a creative act of building understanding and learning how to communicate knowledge with nuance and authenticity,” says Taylor.
Currently, Untold Content is a finalist for the 2017 ArtWorks Big Pitch. The team is up against eight other finalists and will compete to share their brand story and win $20,000 to help the company grow.
The Big Pitch event will be held at Memorial Hall on September 28. Taylor says you can support Untold Content by purchasing tickets.
To learn more about Untold Content, visit www.untoldcontent.com. You can also like them on Facebook and follow along on Twitter and Instagram. “We are always sharing insights into our creative process and projects, and would love for you to join the Untold community,” adds Taylor.
A local woman wanted to be a part of something bigger, so she launched her own female-led small business that makes home life easier for her clients. Keep reading for more!
Practice:hospitality513 helps to make home life easier though services like cleaning, cooking, and care.
Cincy Chic:What is practice:hospitality513? Paige Klein, Founder of practice:hospitality513: practice:hospitality513 is a female-led small business. Our goal is to help make the home life easier through services like cleaning, cooking, and care. Our mission is to equip and strengthen our community through hospitality services. Ultimately we want to support people and families that may need an easy button in a busy schedule, want to grow in their personal care skills, or alleviate stress of tedious to-dos.
Cincy Chic: What’s the inspiration behind the business? Klein: When meeting with a couple mentors over the years, I did an exercise of “what 50 things would I want to accomplish in the next 50 years”… essentially, what does my legacy shape up to be when I look back? We are all wired for relationships and to be a part of a bigger story. Dissecting the themes of that list highlighted that my story is rooted in s love for hospitality through cooking, caring for those around me, and creating safe spaces. It evolved from a children’s culinary school to supporting and equipping families, “framilies”, and individuals in life skills. The name comes from Romans 12:13 which is “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” And of course there was a mommy blogger who took Practice Hospitality (I’m sure she’s very nice) so I decided to represent the 513 region.
Cincy Chic:Who’s behind practice:hospitality513? Klein: I am the chief grunt/founder! There are also freelance, independent contractors who pick up jobs when I am already at capacity and most definitely there’s an amazing group of support, cheerleaders, and promoters who have been alongside the journey, keeping the dream moving forward.
Cincy Chic:When did you launch practice:hospitality513? Klein: Formally, October 2016 as I was finishing the “Explore” class through Aviatra Accelerator (formerly known as Bad Girl Ventures) and had attended the Unpolished Entrepreneur Conference. Informally, I can trace it back to the peanut butter brownies and coffee stand I did on Saturday mornings in Milford and the neighborhood pet-sitting that started when I was about 8 or 9.
Cincy Chic:What makes practice:hospitality513 unique? Klein: We aren’t a pet-boarder/babysitting/”Blue Apron”/housekeeping service rolled into one. We truly believe that being in relationships with our customers is crucial to anticipating needs, curating services to alleviate stress, and giving more freedom to either eliminate tasks off busy schedules or to train you on how to do life skills more effectively.
Cincy Chic: Is there anything new on the horizon for your business? Klein: We are constantly evaluating needs and then offering new classes. Classes are called “teach me:________.” For instance, we are doing one called: “teach me: How To Aldi” and “teach me: Making the Cut” (knife skills class). After the holidays we will offer “teach me: Deep Freeze” (freezer meal preparation) that can be hosted by you in your home for a small group of friends.
Cincy Chic: Where can readers go to learn more? Klein: We have a website under construction, but currently folks can find services and pricing on Facebook or follow us on Instagram.
A local entrepreneur is helping Cincinnati’s women develop personal branding skills through her innovative workshops.
Morgan Angelique Owens of the Morgan A Owens Brand was on a mission when she launched Brown Girls That Brand, a platform that teaches local women personal branding and the accompanying skills that are necessary to define and differentiate their specific core values.
“The inspiration and mission is to continue sassy and chic workshops that support predominately minority women with a mission to climb the corporate ladder as efficiently as their counterparts, gain corporate appeal in their own business, start their own business, or a mission to increase their bottom line while embracing their feminine, authentic selves,” explains Angelique.
Highlighting and recognizing women of all colors and helping them excel while serving as trailblazers in their career fields is important to Angelique.
Through Brown Girls That Brand, which launched June 29, Angelique uses workshops to show participants how branding is the cornerstone of function and development of an individual’s market and personal reputation. She addresses these topics through personal branding, business branding, career branding, event branding, and social media branding.
“Based on the knowledge, skill set and purpose of registered participants, each individual should depart with the tools to build an effective business or personal brand with corporate appeal,” says Angelique.
Current workshops feature a lineup of speakers including:
Sonia Jackson Myles (Founder & CEO, The Sister Accord LLC)
Sherry Sims (Founder, Black Career Women’s Network)
Regina Carswell Russo (Brand Storyteller/Media Messenger)
Pamela Williams-Dyle (Engineering Digital Systems Leader; Procter & Gamble)
Jan Michele Lemon Kearney- (Owner/Publisher, The Cincinnati Herald)
Adrienne Ruff (Founder, She is Visionary)
Brown Girls That Brand was created under the umbrella of Angelique’s other business the Morgan A Owens brand, which offers tools and resources that reshape small businesses through marketing, graphic assistance, one-on-one coaching, and branding.
“I also launched my authored, ‘WerkBook,’ a guide to setting goals and slaying them,” adds Angelique. “I felt it was very important to create this book to further empower and lay the groundwork of becoming successful.”
Angelique says to keep an eye out for “Professional Pretty” workshops as well as future Brown Girls That Brand workshops under the Morgan A Owens brand.
To learn more about the workshops, the Morgan A Owens brand, and more, visit www.morganaowens.com. You can also follow along on Instagram.
Hospice of Cincinnati launched a touching program that helps the community come together and discuss advance care planning with each other and experts. Read on for more.
Conversations of a Lifetime brings patients, healthcare providers, and physicians together to talk about advance care planning.
When it comes to preparing for advance care, Hospice of Cincinnati wants to help. In order to create awareness and participation when it comes to advance care planning, the group started Conversations of a Lifetime, a multi-faceted community program made up of community members, physicians, and health care workers.
According to Conversations of a Lifetime Project Administrator Barbara Rose MPH, RN, Hospice of Cincinnati was inspired to launch this program after seeing a need for people of all ages to choose a health care surrogate, or someone who could speak for them when they can’t speak for themselves when it comes to making health care decisions.
“By starting conversations with those you love before a healthcare crisis or emergency arises, we’re helping people know how to direct individual wishes,” says Rose.
Throughout the summer, there were Conversations of a Lifetime events, including an event called “Things You Shouldn’t Wait To Do.”
“We sponsor grassroots community awareness events, communication skill coaching, advance care planning training, and education for health care providers,” adds Rose.
The events often include activities such as taking a headshot, writing on a speech bubble of something you can’t wait to do, and gluing it to a community collage, which Rose says will be on display in the coming months.
Although the events are completed for the summer, Rose says you can continue to follow along with Conversations of a Lifetime on their website, Facebook, and Instagram for future event information.
Learn about the local tie-dye aficionados bringing their unique, handmade products and family-friendly lessons to Cincinnati.
Funky Sunshine is a one-stop tie dye shop located in Anderson Township.
Cincy Chic:What is Funky Sunshine? Stephanie Zier, Co-Founder of Funky Sunshine: Funky Sunshine is your local one-stop tie dye shop that is anything but ordinary and nothing but extraordinary!
Cincy Chic:What inspired Funky Sunshine? Zier: We draw inspiration from many things: Our surroundings, friends, and music. We have a happy abstract sense of style. Many of our crafts are centered around recycling an item we have a surplus of. As far as tie dye goes, we enjoy creating animals, nature scenes, and colorful takes on realistic items.
Cincy Chic:Who’s behind the shop? Zier: Funky Sunshine is a team of three, myself, my other half Casey Short, and his sister Holly Short.
Find unique, handmade products at Funky Sunshine.
Cincy Chic:When did you launch Funky Sunshine? Zier: We opened our online store in 2013, and started vending locally. We received our LTD. in September 2014, and opened our storefront in October 2014.
Cincy Chic:What types of items can customers find in your store? Zier: Our main focus is making one-of-a-kind, unique, handmade tie dyes, as well as hosting tie dye parties for all ages. We sell everything from baby onesies to full bed sets and tapestries. We craft performance quality hula hoops and offer a free hoop lesson with each purchase. We also carry a variety of other handmade items from talented local artists around Cincinnati.
Cincy Chic:What makes Funky Sunshine unique? Zier: Simply put, our level of tie dye. We don’t strive to create your everyday tie dye, we strive to make tie dye art! Plus we love custom orders, and the challenge of making someone else’s idea a reality.
Cincy Chic: Is there anything new on the horizon for Funky Sunshine? Zier: We will be celebrating our 3rd birthday with an annual “artwalk” October 22, an evening featuring some of our in-house consignors and additional vendors, as well as live DJs from Basspushers Productions, a food truck, and even some local fire-spinners!
