Ready to look fab with the blowout that keeps on giving? Learn about the local blow dry bar that’s turning heads in the Tri-State.
BlownCity offers a range of beauty services in Mason.
Every once in awhile, two people will me at just the right time in their lives. Those two people will share a passion, and if the rest of the world is lucky enough, they’ll create something amazing.
That’s the story behind Amanda Fuller and Raisa Baysal’s journey to creating BlownCity, a blow dry bar. The two met in beauty school, and with pasts in education, they both decided to make their dreams a reality.
“Raisa saw how much passion I had for styling and knew that with both of our skills, we could create the perfect salon,” says Fuller. BlownCity officially opened its doors in Mason on May 2, 2016.
The vision behind BlownCity was to create a place that feels like home for its clients. “Where everyone can walk in the door and feel as if they have been here many times before,” says Fuller. “We are easy-going, everyday gals who just want to share our passion for hair and beauty.”
BlownCity is a blow dry bar that offers a shampoo followed by a stylish blowout of your choice. “A blowout is the gift that keeps on giving,” says Fuller. “You will look fabulous when you leave BlownCity, and professional blown out hair stays in place, so you’ll keep that look for longer than if you’d done it on your own at home. It’s just another perk of leaving it to the professionals.”
In addition to blowouts, every customer is offered a complimentary beverage with each service. Other services offered by BlownCity includes brow design, waxing, haircuts, tone restoring shampoos, and makeup to name a few.
Blowouts range for $25 to $75 depending on the style you’re looking for and your hair type. BlownCity also offers one-on-one classes for $60 to $75. Haircuts for men, women, and children range from $10 to $60, makeup from $14 to $75, and facial waxings from $10 to $12.
BlownCity also does bridal everything, and can be booked for your upcoming nuptials. “Hair, makeup, parties, updo, lashes – you name it, we can do it,” says Fuller.
Searching for a blowout membership? This unique idea is offered by BlownCity, as are blowout packages and even private parties. “We will come to you if you can’t come to us,” adds Fuller. The salon also offers personalized or group classes for braiding, curling, and round brushing, which is a free class if you purchase a hair tool at the salon.
Fuller says the team at BlownCity will go out of their way to make sure customers get what they need and want. “Need a product we don’t carry? We’ll get it for you,” she says. “Need your hair done during closed hours? We will make it happen. Whatever it takes to make our guests happy!”
Fuller says that the team at BlownCity will continue to grow and add services in 2017, adding that they will be offering hair extensions and color services in the coming months.
To learn more about BlownCity, visit www.blowncity.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram. BlownCity is located at 4764 Fields Ertel Road near the Kings Auto Mall.
Say “yes” to more of life’s unexpected opportunities in 2017 with this local child care facility that offers all-day drop-in care without advance reservations.
Skidaddles offers drop-in childcare without advance reservations.
Cincy Chic: Tell us more about Skidaddles! Tiffany Sams, Founder of Skidaddles: Skidaddles is Greater Cincinnati’s provider of convenient, top-quality drop-in childcare. The centers are open all day for drop-in care without advance reservations whether it is for one hour or all day. Pre-school, after school care and summer camp are also available. Skidaddles’ popular Friday and Saturday night Date Night allows parents a night out for dinner, parties or shopping. The Florence facility stays open until 11 p.m.; Mason closes at midnight.
Cincy Chic: What inspired a drop-in childcare facility like Skidaddles? Sams: Skidaddles was created by busy parents for busy parents. We struggled with finding flexible childcare options for our daughters, and knew other parents had the same needs. Skidaddles not only meets the flexible needs of parents, it is also educational, safe, and fun.
Cincy Chic:Who’s behind Skidaddles? Sams: Skidaddles has a creative and hands-on management team that is leading the company into a phase of growth through franchising. Holly Matteoli will lead the operations side of franchising and Stacey Alexander will focus on the marketing aspects of the franchises.
Cincy Chic: When did Skidaddles officially launch? Sams: Myself and my husband Michael founded Skidaddles in 2008. As parents, we recognized the need for top-quality, flexible, and reliable childcare. We talked to other parents with similar needs who sought care while they worked part-time, had a doctor’s appointment, needed childcare on a school snow day or wanted to shop without the kids in tow, especially during the holidays.
Cincy Chic: Where can readers find a Skidaddles location? Sams: Skidaddles has two locations: 8660 Bankers Street, Florence, KY (859) 647-PLAY and
5939 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, OH (behind Whole Foods) (513) 204-3482.
Cincy Chic: What are the rates for using services at Skidaddles? Sams: A one-time $50 registration fee per family is required along with immunization and medical records. After that, parents pay for the number of hours their children attend Skidaddles. Parents also have the option of flexible full-time care that can be paid on a weekly basis.
Cincy Chic: What makes Skidaddles unique? Sams: Skidaddles is much more than just a place that watches children. The trained teachers engage the children in age appropriate activities so they can learn and explore. Special theme days such as a Harry Potter Day or Circus Day encourage interest and creativity. Special guests make attending Skidaddles exciting.
It’s also unique through its options that are more convenient for the parents than for the people behind the business. The centers are open 90 hours a week with no advance reservations necessary. They are open for before school, after school, pre-school and summer camp hours. Skidaddles is especially popular on school snow days when parents are faced with what to do with children when bosses expect them to show up at work.
Skidaddles is also open on Sundays to host birthday parties.
Cincy Chic: Is there anything new on the horizon for Skidaddles? Sams: Skidaddles is poised to enter a franchise phase at the beginning of 2017. Its management staff has perfected what it takes to run thriving drop in care through operating the centers on both sides of the river. They have worked for over a year to create a business plan that replicates all aspects of their success.
Cincy Chic: Where can readers go to learn more about Skidaddles? Sams: Information can be found at www.skidaddles.com. We’re also on Twitter and both our Mason and Florence locations have Facebook pages.
From skincare and beauty treatments to de-stressing and detoxifying through cutting edge treatments, learn about the local woman who offers it all at her new facility in Mason.
Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center uses a holistic approach to heal the body and mind.
Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center takes a holistic approach healing the body and mind, enabling clients to leave their stress at the door. From skincare to body therapy treatments this local clinic has all your bases covered.
Owner and founder, Julie Kline has a passion for beauty that runs much further than skin deep which is why she started this practice eleven years ago. According to Kline, Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center is all about personalized care and this is reflected in their unique and versatile treatment options.
The practice is split into three unique parts; the skin clinic, floatation therapy and infrared sauna detoxification, complimenting each other in order to maximize the benefits of each treatment.
The skincare clinic offers a large variety of services such facials, collagen induction therapy, acne treatments, LED light therapy, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and dermaplaning.
Julie Kline, Owner of Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center
A service that is unique to the Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center is floatation therapy. In their customized float room there is an extra-large, enclosed pod with over 1,000 pounds of medical grade epsom salt dissolved in filtered Kangen water that’s heated to 94 degrees. Kline describes the service as “feeling free from gravity and external stimulation that lets you relax in a meditative state as sensation from the outside world melts away. Floating offers a multitude of benefits for both mind and body. It is safe, all natural and therapeutic,” she says.
Mason Skin Clinic and Float Center’s Infrared sauna is a specialized detoxification treatment room that uses infrared light to turn up the heat which can help rid the body of built up toxins that lead to common illness. According to Kline, this service coupled with float therapy is incredibly helpful for chronic pain and sports injures. She also asserts that infrared sauna detoxification assists with weight loss, improved circulation and reduced blood pressure. New clients receive the first session half off.
For Kline, her entire practice is a dream come true. “I love getting to know our clients on a personal level. I love having a relaxing atmosphere where our clients feel like they are at home. We truly care about their whole health, wellness and skin, she says.
Mason Skin Care and Float Center has a variety of new client specials. They’re offering flotation therapy services at a reduced price, one float for $45 or two for $89, regularly priced at $89 per session. In addition the Skin Clinic is offering new clients a $59 facial service. Another skincare special, not limited to new clients is three facials for $200. You can choose from microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, chemical peels or a microcurrent facial.
Mason Skin Care and Float Center is located at 1066 Reading Road in Mason. To learn more about their services stop by their website. Booking an appointment is easy, just reach out to Julie directly at 513-913-7373.
Find out how this local spa for moms and moms-to-be can make your holidays (and body) feel brighter with new seasonal specials and services.
Becoming Mom is offering seasonal packages to get you feeling primped and primed for the holiday season.
For the past 12 years, Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound has offered 3D and 4D ultrasound as well as pregnancy-safe spa services for moms and moms-to-be. This year, they’re ringing in the holidays with new seasonal packages and services.
From now until the end of the year, they’re offering a wide variety of special seasonal-specific packages. Allyson Osborne, general manager of Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound, told us a holiday favorite is the Sugar Plum and Mistletoes holiday package. It includes their Peppermint Pedicure and EcoFin moisturizing treatment topped off with a Farmaesthetics’ exfoliating lip scrub and softener.
Another holiday favorite for clients, according to Osborne, is the Alone Time spa package, which includes time for a peaceful nap – surrounded by candle light and soothing music – after services. “Because what mom couldn’t use a little of that this holiday season,” she says. If you’re looking for some alone time with your sweetie, couples massages are on the menu as well.
“As we enter into the hustle and bustle of the holidays it’s important to remember to take care of yourself,” Osborne says. “Many moms never take the time to rest and recharge which makes taking care of everyone else even harder.”
Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound offers massages, body treatments, waxing, facials, pedicures and manicures. Some of which can be added to your ultrasound appointment. Their menu is designed around each stage of the pregnancy journey. And that includes post-pregnancy services like the Goodbye Stretchmarks massage enhancer. While you’re enjoying a spa service, be sure to also browse their pregnancy boutique, which carries a wide selection of products like pregnancy and postpartum support belts, designer diaper bags, skincare and breastfeeding supplies.
According to Osborne, the Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound team is especially excited about the new tea line they’re carrying. “From morning sickness and heartburn to sleepless nights and breastfeeding challenges, we carry a blend of tea to help,” she adds.
If you know someone with a mom or mom-to-be on their holiday shopping list, Osborne says to send them her way. “We love helping people find gifts and services that are perfect for loved ones,” she explains.
Osborne adds that Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound recently upgraded their website to make it easier to buy gift certificates and services online. “You can buy specific services and packages, or by dollar amount,” she says. “These certificates can be sent to you or the recipient, and you also have the option to print them immediately or on a later date – like a birthday or anniversary – so you never miss a special occasion in the future.”
Becoming Mom is located at 5485 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, Oh 45040 in the Deerfield Towne Centre. To learn more, visit www.becomingmom.com.
A local paint-and-sip studio paints a different picture of the “art experience.” Read on to learn what makes them unique and watch a virtual tour video!
Painting with a Twist in Mason isn’t just a studio, says owner Cheree Gallant, but an “art experience.” Painting with a Twist is open to anyone, especially inexperienced painters who want to learn from passionate and qualified instructors. Set in a social environment, Painting with a Twist is a great place for groups of friends, dates, or business events.
The goal of Paint with a Twist is to “ensure our guests have a great experience,” says Gallant. “When we are young, we all believe we are great at everything, including art. Somewhere along the way we become convinced we cannot ‘draw stick people,’ and do not even try to express ourselves in a creative way. Our art and our classes are designed to help our guests be successful. Our instructors are incredible and with our step by step process, our guests leave with incredible art ready to hang! The biggest surprise after the class is over is how much fun it was, and our guests are hooked and cannot wait to return again!”
Painting with a Twist allows you to gather with friends and enjoy wine and paint a canvas project!
Many different classes are offered at Painting with a Twist. Gallant and her staff are most proud of the Painting with a Purpose class, a monthly fundraiser which donates 50 percent of its proceeds to local nonprofits and has donated over $40,000 to date. Specialty classes include mural painting, a collaboration where people paint one image over multiple canvases; Large Canvas art, for those seeking a challenge; Paint Your Pet, where guests bring in a photo of their pets and instructors help guests paint them; and Date Night, where the two dates each paint one side of a two-canvas set, working both independently and together.
Guests must make reservations prior to the class, and classes often fill up quickly so it’s recommended to register as soon as possible. Evening classes are reserved for ages 16 and up, and evening weekends are reserved for ages 18 and up, but there are also children’s classes. Prices depend on class length and age range.
Painting with a Twist was the first studio to begin Paint and Sip, and since it opened over 200 studios have adopted Paint and Sip. Guests bring their own drinks and light snacks, as Painting with a Twist “only serves paint water,” but the studio provides wine openers and cups. Painting with a Twist has been #1 in Entrepreneur Magazine for the past three years in the Paint and Sip category.
There are over 300 branches of Painting with a Twist worldwide. The first branch opened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. “The founders, Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney, got the idea to put a little color back into the devastated community by hosting a class in their home and charging their friends and giving the proceeds to a local nonprofit,” Gallant says. “The idea caught on and they opened a location, and within two years had four studios painting full time. They knew then it was a unique opportunity and began franchising in 2009. They maintained their give back with the Painting with a Purpose program, which to date has given over three million dollars back to local communities nationwide.”
Gallant and her husband Steve run two locations in the Cincinnati area, one in Mason on Tylersville Road, and one in Cincinnati on Harrison Avenue. Learn more at https://www.paintingwithatwist.com.
Becoming a mom just got a little easier thanks to some exciting changes at one local business. From an expanded new space to launching new franchises, learn about the local oasis that offers everything from pregnancy-safe spa services to 4D imaging in a setting that makes it fun for the whole family.
Photo: Kelly Ann Photography
Motherhood is an exciting journey, but it isn’t always easy. That’s where Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound aims to help.
To help you “enjoy the journey” as their slogan indicates, they offer spa services that are therapeutic, relaxing, and pregnancy-safe, as well as elective prenatal ultrasounds using the latest advancement in ultrasound imaging.
“Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound is the first spa and imaging center to provide a safe, comforting, and peaceful environment for women before, during, and after pregnancy,” says Kim Sheridan, a PR representative for Becoming Mom Spa + Ultrasound.
Becoming Mom is focused on mothers during this important time in their lives, and because of that, Sheridan says they’re in a unique position to make an impact on families.
Photo: Kelly Ann Photography
“We are passionate about supporting families with our staff, who are fully committed and educated on our clients’ needs,” says Sheridan. “We are dedicated to ensuring that the services and products we are using in our spa are best suited for our moms.”
While Becoming Mom is mainly focused on moms, there are also services available for other loved ones as well. “In addition to our spa services for mom, we also offer couples massages, which can include more than just dad,” says Sheridan. This can be grandma-to-be, aunt-to-be, and even mom’s best friend, she adds.
Becoming Mom also offers elective, prenatal ultrasounds, which are performed by Medical Sonographers and include HD and HDlive technology. “We also offer gender determination ultrasounds starting at 16 weeks,” says Sheridan. A much sooner time slot than the typical 20 weeks offered at your OB’s office.
Families and friends are invited to join and participate in these ultrasound experiences. To help make it all the more comfortable for everyone, Becoming Mom offers home-like ultrasound rooms, complete with plenty of seating on couches and a big screen TV.
“It’s a heartwarming feeling to hear the cheers and laughter coming from the ultrasound room when our sonographer reveals if they need to buy pink or blue,” says Sheridan.
Photo: Kelly Ann Photography
Because of their steady growth since launching in 2004, Becoming Mom recently moved to a new, larger location (now located at 5485 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, Oh 45040). This new facility will also serve as the National Training Center for all future franchises of the Becoming Mom concept, as it’s now poised to be franchised into other markets.
“We took the steps to rebrand our business, move into a new, larger space, and launch Becoming Mom as a franchise opportunity with the purpose of offering these unique services to moms across the United States,” says Sheridan.
The new Becoming Mom headquarters in Mason offers more treatment rooms to accommodate Cincinnati clients while also helping to train franchise owners. A Vice President of Franchise Development was also brought in for Becoming Mom’s parent company, 4X Franchising, to focus on bringing this unique business idea to new markets.
All of the changes, Sheridan says, has everyone at Becoming Mom very excited about the future. “We are thrilled to be able to offer more available for services in our Mason location and we are really excited to bring these services to moms across the country,” she says. “We have been busy researching new products and services that are perfect for our moms and will help them enjoy the journey to motherhood even more.”
The new advancements don’t stop there, though. Sheridan says in the near future, they plan to also launch the ability to book spa services and ultrasounds online for added convenience.
A local fitness competitor turned author and fitness studio owner shares the inspiration behind opening her new Mason-based gym. Read on for all the inspiring details.
Linda Mitchell (purple) of The Chickfit Studio, which aims to help women build self-confidence and find their healthiest selves.
If you ask Linda Mitchell what the one thing is that women struggle with the most, she’ll say that it’s taking time for themselves.
She says that it’s about realizing that you, as a woman, are worth the time it takes to ensure that you are caring for yourself. “It isn’t selfish, it’s self-care,” says Mitchell. “If you don’t believe you’re worth it, you won’t take the time to invest in yourself. What I think it really boils down to is realizing that you are worth taking time for and that it is important to take time for yourself and make yourself a priority, and it’s OK to make yourself a priority.
To help women love themselves from the inside out, Mitchell launched The Chickfit Studio. “At Chickfit, our priority is building women’s self-confidence,” says Mitchell. “Our belief is that their newfound self-love will transfer into giving support and love to one another. Self improvement equals empowerment.”
And Mitchell is more than qualified to help women reach that point of empowerment. As an Institute of Integrative Nutrition graduate and an award-winning fitness competitor, Mitchell is also the author of The Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T. (Strong Women Empowering Achieving Together).
Mitchell was inspired to open The Chickfit Studio after she found that deep down in her heart she wanted to do something that was worthwhile and made real, lasting changes in people’s lives.
“I went in a new direction,” explains Mitchell. “My mission is women and I’m completely all about them and I really always have been. I think I just didn’t realize the magnitude of what I wanted to do. I opened The Chickfit Studio after working as a group fitness director and personal trainer for about 25 years. After being open for a while I decided to write a book and it really evolved and become The Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T. The book and the studio are all about helping women build confidence and self-esteem and learning to feel 100% great about themselves.”
Mitchell says that what makes her book the most unique is that it isn’t just another run of the mill gym book dictating people on what to eat. “It’s about how we really feel from the inside out and how we can support and love one another to all achieve rather than compete with each other,” she adds.
Her book became an outlet for Mitchell to bring women together and make it a community in which we can build each other up. “The focus of The Chickfit Studio is to be gentle, be kind, and love on one another. Chickfit is all about building each other up with encouragement and support,” she says.
Mitchell also wants to help women who want to get back into being fit and healthy.
“Women tend to be their own worst enemy sometimes, thinking it’s all or nothing. You need to give yourself a pass to suck until you don’t,” she says. “I see this time and time again. People come to class or start an exercise regimen while being so worried about what everyone else is doing and whether they are keeping up or not with the 25-year-old doing 100 reps at the speed of light. My advice to them is that slow and steady wins the race. Don’t blow yourself out. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing. You will get there on your own time. Focus only on what you can do today, then tomorrow it will be more, and, before you know it, the others will have trouble keeping up with you.”
Classes available at The Chickfit Studio include group classes like First S.W.E.A.T. Chickcamp Bootcamp, Chick-Boxing, TRX Suspension training, running coaching, hot yoga, and Kangaroo Kardio in Kangoo Jumps. They also offer one-on-one sessions or small group sessions. There are also health coaches available for your nutrition needs.
You can find The Chickfit Studio at 115 B Reading Road in Mason. Learn more at www.chickfit.me or purchase a copy of The Sisterhood of S.W.E.A.T. here.
Shop local, support small businesses, and eat healthy - you can do it all with farmer’s markets! That’s why we unearthed this ultimate guide for where to find them - big and small - across the Tri-State, what’s new this year, and all the fun activities they have planned throughout the summer! Keep reading for all the farm-fresh details!
Like farmer’s markets? You’ll love this in-depth guide of farmer’s markets across the Tri-State!
Warm weather is here to stay and that means there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to be eaten! To help you find the best of the best, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the Tri-State’s Farmer’s Markets, including where and when you can find them and even some of the new events they’re bringing to the Greater Cincinnati area this year!
Northside Farmers Market
Open every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. in rain or shine, the Northside Farmers Market is open year-round. According to the market’s Manager, Ana Bird, there are 8 new vendors at this year’s market, bringing the total number of vendors to 35. “13 vendors will be selling produce and plant starts, 5 vendors will be selling eggs and meat, 6 vendors will be selling baked goods, and the rest will be selling all kinds of prepared foods and other items including soap,” she adds.
Additionally, there are new items such as fresh, cold pressed juices, vegetarian and vegan soups, pastries, vegan pastries, pet food, tamales, potato chips, jams and jellies, and much more.
“This summer we’re also partnering with Apple Street Market Cooperative, a worker-owned grocery store scheduled to open in Northside next year, to offer a selection of non-local pantry items like beans, rice, nuts, and flour,” Bird explains.
She says that because Northside is a food desert and it’s difficult for residents to easily get to the grocery store, the partnership with Apple Street will allow the neighborhood to become a better source for groceries for the community.
Bird says that for this year’s market they’ve partnered with EcoConsciously to offer weekly donation-based yoga classes at the market in the park from 6-7 p.m., which is sponsored by Interact for Health, Join The Fun. “Each week will be a sampler of different types of yoga classes they offer,” explains Bird.
They’re also holding 4-week sessions of the Children’s Cooking Classes in June, July, and August. The classes, which run from 5-6:15 p.m. for ages 7-11, will teach kids basic kitchen skills and how to cook with local foods.
Craft Day is held on the third Wednesday of each month and invites local artists to set up in a corner of the market. There are also fun events like Taste-A-Thon on July 13.
“Every week we have music, free kids’ crafts, and every other week we conduct cooking demonstrations,” adds Bird. “Starting in June and running through August, thanks to a grant from the Good Food Fund, we’ll be offering a free shuttle service around the 45223 zip code to help shoppers get to the market more easily.”
The route for the shuttle service can be found on the Northside Farmers Market website.
You can find the Northside Farmers Market at different places throughout the year. From May 11 to October 12, they’re located in Hoffner Park on Hamilton Avenue, and between October and May, the market is located in North Church on Hamilton Avenue.
You can learn more about the Northside Farmer’s Market at www.northsidefm.org. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Bird adds that on the website you can learn more about how the market accepts credit/debit cards, SNAP, and provides a match for SNAP customers, up to $10 a week, called Produce Perks.
Madeira Farmers’ Market
If you want to venture through the Madeira area, you can check out the Madeira Farmers’ Market on Thursdays year-round. “According to the market’s manager Leah Berger, the market is located on Dawson Road and Miami Avenue from May through September and at the Madeira Silverwood Presbyterian Church at 8000 Miami Avenue from October through April.
Vendors at the Madeira Farmers’ Market sell items including farm fresh produce, meat, eggs, bread, honey, and specialty items. And with a changing list of produce, you’ll always find something new. The market also features at total of about 35 vendors from week-to-week. Berger says that the only non-local vendor is Alaska Direct Wild Caught Salmon, which comes to the market courtesy of former Cincinnati Cyclones player Dax Lauwers, who brings in smoked and regular Sockeye Salmon filets from tide to table.
There are several events being held at the Madeira Farmers’ Market this year including Girls Night Out, Kids Taste-A-Thon, The Great Tomato Taste, Honor Your Elders Day, Madeira 4th Graders Visit the Market, and the Fall Festival.
Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market
With 17 vendors at this year’s Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market, Founder and General Manager Penny Shore is looking forward to the upcoming market season. Open Tuesdays from 3-7 p.m. from May through October, the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market features 6 farmers who cover everything from produce to eggs, meat, and fruit.
Also at the market are two food trucks that offer ready-to-eat meals and the cottage producers bring in coffee, soaps, cheese, jams and jellies, bread, cookies, ice pops, and specially-made pet food.
According to Shore, the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market will host monthly cooking demonstrations with local chefs as well as activities for kids. “Each month we also offer a local charity the opportunity to talk with our shoppers,” she adds.
The market is located in downtown Wyoming on Wyoming Avenue and Oak Street on the Village Green. Shore says if the weather turns bad the market moves down to 800 Oak Street and sets up in the gym of the city’s Municipal Building.
During the winter months, the market also offers a pre-order pick-up market so you can still get your local fix! You can learn more about the Wyoming Avenue Farmers’ Market, visit www.wyomingavefarmersmarket.com. They’re also on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market
The mission behind Lettuce Eat Well Farmers’ Market is to provide great food to those who are dedicated to eating well and living well.
“Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market is a collaborative specialty market where all produce is grown using no synthetic chemicals, beef is 100% grass-fed, pork is pastured and fed no GMO products, and chicken and eggs are pastured from chickens fed no GMO and no soy,” according to the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market website. Additionally, the vendors who participate in the farmer’s market collaborate with one another instead of competing. This means that there are fewer vendors but more food options for customers.
The year-round market is located at the Cheviot United Methodist Church at 3820 Westwood Northern Boulevard. Held indoors, the market runs from 3-7 p.m. every Friday.
There are a plethora of vendors who participate in the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market, including Angela’s Homemade Pies & Lots More, Canal Junction Cheeses, Charles Purdue, Mahlon Schlabach, Honey Tree Acres Farms & Gardens, Learning to Live Sustainably, Lola’s Botanicals, Skinny Piggy Kombucha, Small Acres Family Farm, and The Pickled Pig.
The market also has more room for vendors. To participate, send an email to lewfmlocal@gmail.com. You can learn more about the Lettuce Eat Well Farmers Market at http://www.lewfm.org/.
Findlay Market Farmer’s Market
There’s a lot of new things coming to the Findlay Market’s Farmer’s Market this year. According to Karen Kahle, Communications and Program Director at the market, there are 21 new weekend vendors, which includes several new farmers, a handful of food artisans, plant sellers, prepared food vendors, and a few new art and craft vendors.
“We’re super excited that 3 of the food entrepreneurs in our new Findlay Kitchen are making food in the kitchen that they are then selling on weekends at the market,” she says. “In addition, beginning later this month, we’ll have a special Findlay Kitchen booth where a rotating cast of kitchen members will be selling their deliciousness.”
The weekend farmers market is open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kahle adds that they’re also working on getting some farmers to set up their booths on Fridays.
In addition to the location at the Findlay Market, Kahle says that they’ve also got the Findlay Market Farmstands<http://findlaymarket.org/news/findlay-market-farmstands> on weekdays in 3 Cincinnati neighborhoods: Price Hill on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m., Evanston on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m., and in Walnut Hills on Thursdays from 4-7 p.m.
There’s also a lot coming up for the Findlay Market Farmer’s Market. Their big summer event, the annual Smokin’ Hot BBQ, will take place on Sunday, August 7. “The event will features lots of live music, craft beers, and a boatload of BBQ, including a few guest BBQ vendors,” says Kahle.
Then, on June 25 from 9-11 a.m., the market is partnering with local trainers and gyms to host the third annual Findlay Fit event. “We will start with a health/detox discussion given by The Weekly Juicery,” says Kahle. “Jam Entertainment will emcee the event.” Groups of 10-12 participants will have 12-15 minute workouts at 6 workout stations.
The market will also have several weekend cooking demonstrations and seasonal food sampling at the Findlay Market on Race Street. The ORT Biergarten runs Tuesdays through Fridays from 4-8 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
To learn more about the Findlay Market Farmer’s Market, visit www.findlaymarket.org. There you can see all the information about the farmers, merchants, and a calendar of upcoming events. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Hyde Park Farmers’ Market
There are several new vendors to look forward to at the Hyde Park Farmers’ Market, according to Mary Ida. This weekly market, open on Sundays, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the Hyde Park Square, will feature breakfast tacos and lunch tacos from Calle Restaurant in Mt. Adams, Baudry’s French pastries, and Tree Hugger Soap as part of its new lineup for 2016.
With at least 40 vendors who will participate in this year’s market, all of them are local, and include 5 Oaks Organics, Boone Creek Creamery, Carriage House Farm, Grassroots Farm and Foods, and streetpops, to name a few.
There also also many special events in the pipeline for the market, including a monthly knife sharpening and topical books from The Bookshelf Independent Bookstore. Hamilton County will also provide recycling information for market attendees.
Newtown Farm Market
The Newtown Farm Market is open year-round and is bringing a lot of new things for customers this year. According to Newtown Farm Market Operator Frank Catanzaro, the market is open for the summer season on Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There are several local vendors who participate in the Newtown Farm Market including: Honey from MArion and Marge Ackman in Loveland, Seasonal Selection Salsa from Waynesville, Chuck Evan’s Montezuma Salas from Columbus, a large variety of Amish products from Walnut Creek, Carabello Coffee from Newport, Artisan Goat Milk Soap from Goshen, Amish Angel Food Cake from Boone’s Bakery in Tipp City, and many more.
Catazano says that the market is excited to welcome Holly the market Parrot back from her winter vacation and encourages customers to stop down and talk to her.
“It is that time of year that we are serving our famous Soft Serve Custard,” says Catazano. “We have brought in a wider selection of Amish products from Walnut Creek, and we offer local home grown produce from the Amish in Ohio as it becomes available. Our wonderful Peaches and Cream corn will be available again around July 4.”
If you find something you want to try, the Newtown Farm Market also offers a sampling of produce and different products for you to check out before you buy!
The Newtown Farm Market is located at 3950 Roundbottom Road in Newtown. To learn more, visit www.newtownmarket.com or like them on Facebook.
Boone County Farmers Market
Open from May through October 7 days a week, the Boone County Farmer’s Market features over 40 local vendors. Coy Wilson from the Boone County Farmers Market says there are plenty of new things to come to the market.
“New this year we will have locally made skin care products, soy candles, and 5 different meat vendors with beef, pork, chicken, and now including quail and quail eggs,” he says. According to Wilson, the local vendors at the Boone County Farmers Market grow or produce the items that they sell at the market.
The Boone County Farmers Market also hosts several special events throughout the year. On May 21 they’ll have the Ask a Master Gardener event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then in June they’ve got the Music in the Market with John Redell and the Boone County Farm Tour. July will feature Taste of the Market and Music in the Market with Taste of the Market, Chef Maggie Green, and Music in the Market in August.
The Boone County Farmers Market is open from May through October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find the Boone County Farmers Market at the corner of Route 18 and Camp Ernst Road in Burlington, Kentucky, adjacent to the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service.
Loveland Farmers’ Market
Promoting the promotion of buying locally, healthy eating, education for adults and children, and weekly entertainment for kids in the Kids’ Patch, the Loveland Farmers’ Market is open year-round.
According to the market’s website, you can check out the Loveland Farmers’ Market from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesdays at 897 Loveland Madeira Road in Loveland.
Vendors at the 2016 Loveland Farmers’ Market include Can-du Farm, Ed Kluba Farm, Farm Beach Bethel, Goodlife Farm, Grailville Farm/Earthshares CSA, Irons Fruit Farm, and Jaybird Farm in addition to Honey Sweetie Acres, Ohio Farm Direct, Peaceful Acres, and Sacred Mountain and Alpaca Paradise.
Deerfield Farmers Market
Guy Ashmore, who runs the Deerfield Farmers Market with his wife Sandy, says that after 14 years the duo is continually surprised by what new crops and products farmers and cottage producers bring in. “Not just yearly, but weekly,” he says. “Eating seasonally is fun and delicious.”
Open every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until noon, the Deerfield Farmers Market continues through the last Saturday in October. “We also hold a winter market once a month on the third Saturday of each month from November through April,” Ashmore adds.
There are between 20 and 25 vendors who attend the market each week. “They offer a wide selection of products,” he says. “Everything from local, fresh produce, cut flowers, baked goods, grass raised meats, delicious broths, maple syrup, hot sauces, honey, and much more.”
This year, market manager Andy Gorman is busy scheduling tons of activities for market customers. Ashmore says they’ll be hosting Customer Appreciate Day, Children’s Day, cooking demonstrations, and a tomato parade to name a few. They’ll also be inviting musicians to come and make the mornings special.
The Deerfield Farmers Market is located at Kingswood Park on Irwin Simpson Road in Mason. You can learn more about the market at www.deerfieldfarmersmarket.com and like them on Facebook.
Covington Farmers Market
Open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October, the Covington Farmers Market is featuring plenty of new things this year. According to Janet Tobler, there will be bagels, nitro brew coffee from Cincy Smooth, handmade pottery, kitchen items, organic pet treats, a line of shampoo products for pets, pre-made organic soup, books, fresh bread from the Bean Haus Bakery, and a few more farmers.
“We’ll be hosting Running of the Goats and will also be hosting chef demonstrations,” says Tobler. “We have a guest tent set up and thus far we’ve confirmed to have people from the Baker Hunt Foundation, The Carnegie, The League for Animal Welfare, voter registration, and Cincy Sharp, who will be at the market sharpening knives one weekend as well as many more guests.”
You can find the Covington Farmers Market on the corner of 3rd and Court streets in Covington, Kentucky. You can also find more on the website and on Facebook.
A local eatery is making the concept of eating at grandma’s house a reality with its farm-to-table food, a friendly gathering spot and an exciting expansion on the horizon! Read on for more.
The Wildflower Cafe in Mason wants you to feel like you’re dining at grandma’s with farm-to-table freshness.
The goal behind The Wildflower Cafe in downtown Mason is to make you feel like you’re eating at owner Todd Husdon’s grandmother’s home with the family. Hudson, who in addition to being the owner of The Wildflower, is also the chef who cooks your meal.
Opened in 2008, The Wildflower is a gathering place for people who want to join in on great farm-to-table cuisine, lively companionship and wonderful wine.
“I want people to connect on a deep level, and food and wine are a great avenue to achieve that goal,” says Hudson. “I’m constantly trying to recreate my grandma’s kitchen table, where food came straight out of her garden, and her friends and neighbors would rally at the table for great conversation.”
Hudson, who gets help running The Wildflower from family, friends and a few others he considers family, calls the cuisine he cooks Eclectic American Dining, or more accurately, Eclectic Ohio Dining.
Food is fresh, local, properly raised and prepared and tastes better than what you’ll find at other eateries. “We believe that care and respect should be given to the ingredients that we incorporate into our menus,” he says. “Quality local ingredients, minimal environmental impact and sustainable local economies provide the cornerstone upon which The Wildflower was built.”
The Wildflower has multiple aspects that make it unique. For one, the menu changes monthly in order to help keep the highest quality local and organic ingredients at the heart. “We serve local grass-fed burgers from Grassland Graze, to salads that come from our own farm, to fresh fish we bring in directly from the fisherman within 24 hours,” says Hudson.
Additionally, Hudson says, the staff and clientele at The Wildflower is unlike something you’ll find anywhere else. According to Hudson, the people at The Wildflower are incredible, on both sides of the plate.
“When you eat here, you support a number of people and farmers,” he says. “You will likely meet some of the farmers, a CEO, a foodie or two and know the whole staff before too long. It’s quite an eclectic group of really nice people who like to eat well.”
When it comes to the future of The Wildflower, Hudson says that they’ve been diligently scouting potential spots for a second concept of the eatery. He also adds that they’re always trying to expand the farm and are perpetually on a mission to make the dining experience even more powerful for their guests.
The Wildflower is located in Old Mason on route 42, just east of Mason-Montgomery Road, not far from Kings Island, at 207 East Main Street.
You can learn more about The Wildflower at www.wildflowerourmetcafe.com. Hudson says you can also stop in and say hello!
A volunteer-based organization, High Hopes Auxiliary, is helping the Lindner Center of HOPE raise funds in unique and creative ways. See how you and friends can support this important cause, enjoy a fun night out, and maybe even score a designer handbag in the process!
A group of volunteers for the High Hopes Auxiliary
Imagine a world without a stigma attached to mental health issues, and where people who are dealing with them have a place to go to seek treatment and find hope in the future. That’s what The Lindner Center of HOPE aims to achieve, with assistance from its fundraising organization High Hopes Auxiliary.
Founded in 2008, High Hopes Auxiliary was established for be a voice that raises funds, awareness and provides support for The Lindner Center of HOPE, a local nonprofit, mental health center based in Mason. The Lindner Center offers the diagnosis and treatment of several mental health issues including mood disorders, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, addictive disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders. The center also provides residential services, hospitalization, office-based and outpatient services and research to children, adolescents, adults and seniors.
A Tory Burch bag is one of the items available in the online auction supporting High Hopes Auxiliary and The Lindner Center of HOPE.
The Lindner Center of HOPE is dedicated to working together to offer the best hope for people who are living with a mental illness. “The patient and family are the center of our treatment, education and research,” according to the center’s website.
High Hopes Auxiliary President Ruthie Keefe says there are approximately 175 members of this volunteer-run organization that was started by Nancy Nyhart. “The inspiration for High Hopes Auxiliary was to provide financial support to various programs and needs at the Lindner Center of HOPE,” says Keefe.
Currently, High Hopes Auxiliary is dedicating its efforts to raising funds for bipolar research. All of the funds the organization raises goes to the Lindner Center of HOPE, which is done through various events.
For one, Keefe says High Hopes Auxiliary partnered with Second Story Auction for a unique fundraising opportunity. Second Story Auctions is an online auction company that helps individuals and organizations sell furniture, art, jewelry, collectibles and more.
From March 15 through March 22, High Hopes Auxiliary is hosting an online auction through Second Story Auction to benefit the Lindner Center of HOPE. Anyone can donate to the auction and drop-off items — such as fine jewelry, antiques, designer purses (new or gently used), sterling silver, quilts, leather or wooden furniture or crystal — to Second Story Auction at 11277 Williamson Road in Cincinnati on February 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and February 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register to bid on items in the online auction, click here. Those who win items in the online bidding can pick up their item on Friday, March 25.
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Sneak peeks of items that have been donated — such as designer handbags, original artwork, China and jewelry — are being posted frequently leading up to the online auction on the High Hopes Auxiliary Facebook page.
Another event Keefe is looking forward to is the High Hopes Luncheon, which has historically been the biggest fundraising event for the Lindner Center of HOPE. “Last year, we raised over $100,000,” she says. “That event has been moved to the event and will take place on Thursday, April 14 at the Manor House.”
Also coming up is A Night of High Hopes at Manor House in Mason, presented by CHEMED Foundation and TQL Foundation, which will feature a cocktail reception, silent auction, meet and greet with Mark A. Frye, MD, from Mayo Clinic (VIP sponsors) and a dinner and program featuring American journalist Pete Earley.
You can learn more about High Hopes Auxiliary by clicking here or by following along on Facebook.
