September 16, 2009
Murder Mystery at the Historic Mariemont Inn!
Enjoy an evening of humor and fun. Our Murder Mystery Dinner Show is interactive and more entertaining than a serious investigation. Produced by Crime Time Theatre, one of Cincinnati's leading theatre companies for the past nine years, these events sell out very quickly!
Our dinner theatre events feature outrageous storylines, plenty of laughs, and audience participation as you try to guess "whodunit!". The murderer could be one of the actors, a dinner guests at the next table, or maybe even you! As the night progresses, interactions between guests and the actors will create unique entertainment that everyone will enjoy.
While optional, we encourage you to dress like a dead celebrity! It could be a recently deceased celebrity or one from back in the past. Be creative! There will be a prize for the Best Costume!
Night of 1000 Dead Celebrities:
Famous Hollywood Director, Freddie Flick, has arrived on the scene to cast a new movie. He is doing a Hollywood retrospective that will span all the glory years of the movie biz! Open auditions will be held at the Inn and some of Hollywood's "oldest" names have arrived to try and revive their failing careers. The only trouble is, Freddie has been receiving threatening notes. Someone is obviously out to get him. What a night to watch your back!
While optional, we encourage you to dress like a dead celebrity! It could be a recently deceased celebrity or one from back in the past. Be creative! There will be a prize for the Best Costume!
LIMITED SEATING. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.
CALL NOW BEFORE THIS MURDER SELLS OUT! (513) 271-2100
DISCOUNTED TICKETS available through overnight guestroom packages, click here for more information.
Friday, October 30, 2009 -reception starts at 6:30pm, murder TBD! Approximately 3-hour event, but can vary depending on improvisation and cast interaction with the audience.
$49 per person (includes gratuity, but not sales tax) and includes:
Mingling Reception -Professional actors infiltrate the audience. Can you tell who's who? Maybe you will end up being the murderer!
Murder Mystery Welcome Programs, Clues, and Solution Forms.
Highly Acclaimed Professional Concepts Interactive Murder Mystery Production with physical evidence and conversations. Surprises abound with red herrings and suspects both on stage and in the audience.
Dinner served by The National Exemplar Restaurant includes fresh Amish Chicken, tossed mixed green salad, fresh seasonal vegetables, potatoes, rolls, coffee, tea, soft drinks and chef’s selection of assorted decadent desserts. (vegetarian meals available upon request when making reservation)
Special drink discounts for Southerby's Pub (Located off the lobby) after the show.
Prizes for the best (& worst) solution to the Murder Mystery.
View this event on the Mariemont Inn's website.
Posted by webmaster at 11:06 AM
March 05, 2009
What's going on at the Top Drawer
The Top Drawer, a needlepoint shop located in Mariemont, is having a class called "December 25th" on March 28. Sound weird? Well, maybe, but the Christmas class helps get people started on their needlepoint projects early so that they will be completed by the holidays. The class will focus on a Christmas tree, decorations incorporating the date and various other holiday items.
The store is also hosting an Associated Talents Trunk Show from April 4 to April25. It will be a diverse trunk show with stockings, ornaments, pillows, and more..
There is also an ongoing class called "Stitching with Sandy" where people wanting to learn more about needlepoint will learn from The owner of The Top Drawer. There are 6 two-hour sessions for $90 and take place on Wednesdays from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 01:10 PM
January 31, 2009
Brunchtime
The National Exemplar is hosting Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and visitors will be treated to specials on Mimosas and Bloody Marys for only $3.95.
For more information and specials, call the restaurant at 271-2103.
Posted by johnston at 11:37 AM
January 24, 2009
Keep it in mind ...
Come to Southerby's Pub at the National Exemplar to mix and mingle with old friends and new faces from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. It is happy hour, so there are drink specials and complimentary appetizers.
Plus, lest we forget, Monday, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Family and Friends Nights, whre the restaurant has a $25 dinner special where you can choose from the following: Prime Ribe Au Jus, Veal Suzanne, Exemplar Chicken and Fettuccine Bravo. All entrees include a choice of soup or salad and fresh hot bread with every meal. Also, enjoy a complimentary glass of red or white wine, and a "World's Smallest Sundae" for dessert.
Posted by johnston at 11:11 PM
December 19, 2008
Happy Holidays from National Exemplar
The National Exemplar Will Be Serving Breakfast & Lunch From 7AM-2:30 PM. Patrons Will Now Have An
Extra Half Hour To Enjoy A Late Brunch Or Lunch.
We Look Forward To Seeing You Soon Enjoying The Holidays With Your
Family & Friends.
Remember To Pick Up A $75.00 Gift Card & Receive A Complimentary
$15.00 Gift Certificate For Yourself!
Posted by johnston at 12:10 AM
October 06, 2008
Old Friends and New Faces
The National Exemplar is still celebrating their 25th Anniversary, and keeping with the celebration the restaurant located in the Best Western Mariemont Inn is hosting Friday Nights: The After Work Social.
The desire is to have people "mix and mingle" at Southerby's Pub between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. to help unwind after the long work week. Contact the Pub at 271-2103 for the various drink specials and complimentary appetizers served.
Posted by johnston at 11:34 PM
September 17, 2008
New guestrooms at the Mariemont Inn receiving excellent reviews
The new rooms at the Best Western Mariemont Inn on the Madisonville-side of the hotel have been received with high praise.
"Occupancy has been excellent. Everyone has been very happy with the new renovations," General Manager Bill Spinnenweber said, adding the hotel has virtually received a new facelift from within.
"In fact, the retrofitting of the rooms on the (Wooster-side) of the hotel are being conducted quickly," and the renovations should be completed by the early part of of 2009.
Patrons have been introduced to more spacious rooms with state-of-the-art amenities.
The new, completed rooms have custom designed solid oak furniture, all fabrics are luxury linen, Tempurpedic beds, the bathrooms are fitted with large rain-shower heads and fogless mirrors, and there are glass-front refrigerators. The rooms are equipped with sound-minimizing materials. The drywall installed in the Inn has a strip of sound resistant fiberglass in the middle. Each room is also fitted with sound resistant windows and concrete sound abatement flooring. The result: a quieter stay at the Inn.
Throughout the halls and rooms, every pipe, wire and fixture has been removed and replaced with more modern equipment.
When completed, the rooms on the Wooster-side wing of the Inn will possess the same amenities.
"We are planning on implementing new packages to attract 'staycationers', which are people looking for one to two day get-aways," Spinnenweber said. “Most hotels do not possess half of the amenities that we have installed.”
Stepping outside the Inn, the most visible difference that people may have noticed is an upgraded parking lot at the rear of the building. The lot will be used as exclusive guest parking, where a covered rear entranceway will allow guests to enter the Inn without having to walk around to the front entrance. The rear entrance will immediately lead guests into one of the Inn’s new additions: a new lobby with fireplace.
The new lobby and main lobby are connected by one of the more intricate additions to the inn, a new inconspicuous hallway which was carved through the existing structure of the Inn. The hallway gives access to a service elevator, a new luggage room, a business center and an all-new fitness room.
“The new first floor hallway is the most dramatic change. Everything has been redesigned to mimic the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said. The owner is also looking for Mariemont memorabilia to display in the historical hall.
The Best Western Mariemont Inn is a registered national landmark and is considered one of the finest hotels in America. A cornerstone building since Mariemont’s inception in the 1920’s, the Inn has always been integral to the village’s history and maintaining the integrity and character that has made the village so charming to this day. For the past several months renovations to the interior of the Inn have been ongoing and the progress will indelibly make new history.
To see more pictures of the new guestrooms, click here.
Posted by webmaster at 06:03 PM
August 18, 2008
New look coming for National Exemplar
The National Exemplar Restaurant will be remodeling beginning Aug. 18 and will re-open for business on Monday, Aug. 25. However, Southerby's Pub (off the lobby of the hotel) will be open daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for cocktails and a limited menu, listed below. We will keep you up to date on the new plans when the National Exemplar re-opens.
Southerby's Menu Week Of August 18-August 24
~Nachos $8
~Marinated Olives & Bleu Cheese $5
~Wedge Salad $6
~Fruity Chicken Salad $9
~Exemplar Burger $9
~Mushroom & Spinach Quesadilla $9
~Deli Turkey Sandwich $10
~Penne Pasta $14
Posted by johnston at 11:01 PM
June 26, 2008
National Exemplar's anniversary celebrating 25 years
The National Exemplar Restaurant in Mariemont is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
As a means to say "Thank You" for the many years of patronage, the restaurant is offering "Friends and Family Nights" on Monday's, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
It is a dinner special that costs $25 and patrons will enjoy their choice of prime rib au jus, veal suzanne, exemplar chicken or fettuccine bravo.
All entrees inclcude a choice of soup or salad and fresh hot bread. Also included is a complimentary glass of red or white wine and a "World's Smallest Sundae" for dessert.
So, if looking for a great place to take the family or take your date, The National Exemplar may be the taste you are looking for. Call 271-2103 for more information.
Posted by johnston at 10:54 PM
May 05, 2008
First phase of Mariemont Inn's renovations complete
Phase I of current renovations being conducted on the Best Western Mariemont Inn is complete.
The renovations had been taking place on the Madisonville-side wing of the Inn; renovations will now begin on the Wooster-side wing.
The Madisonville-side wing is open and patrons have been introduced to more spacious and retrofitted rooms with state-of-the-art amenities.
Ownership of the Inn knows quality is more important than quantity, and when the renovations are completed the Mariemont Inn will have reduced the number of available rooms by a few; the result, though, is the remaining rooms will be larger.
The rooms have custom designed solid oak furniture, all fabrics are luxury linen, Tempurpedic beds, the bathrooms are fitted with large rain-shower heads and fogless mirrors, and there are glass-front refrigerators. The rooms are equipped with sound-minimizing materials. The drywall installed in the Inn has a strip of sound resistant fiberglass in the middle. Each room is also fitted with sound resistant windows and concrete sound abatement flooring. The result: a quieter stay at the Inn.
Throughout the halls and rooms, every pipe, wire and fixture has been removed and replaced with more modern equipment.
When completed, the rooms on the Wooster-side wing of the Inn will possess the same amenities.
“We have employed the best experts in the industry to conduct the renovation work and the comments we have received from them is that the Mariemont possesses the best rooms in Cincinnati,” General Manager Bill Spinnenweber said. “Most hotels do not possess half of the amenities that we have installed.”
Stepping outside the Inn, the most visible difference that people may have noticed is an upgraded parking lot at the rear of the building. The lot will be used as exclusive guest parking, where a covered rear entranceway will allow guests to enter the Inn without having to walk around to the front entrance. The rear entrance will immediately lead guests into one of the Inn’s new additions: a new lobby with fireplace.
The new lobby and main lobby will be connected by one of the more intricate additions to the inn, a new inconspicuous hallway which was carved through the existing structure of the Inn. The hallway will give access to a service elevator, a new luggage room, a business center and an all-new fitness room.
“The new first floor hallway is the most dramatic change. Everything has been redesigned to mimic the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said. The owner is also looking for Mariemont memorabilia to display in the historical hall. If there is any item that someone possesses that they wouldn’t mind having displayed, give owner’s representative Bonnie Malone a call at 271-2100.
In order to ensure the integrity of the interior décor throughout the added hallway and lobby, a craftsman was coerced out of retirement to bring his expertise to the design. “We brought in someone who was able to replicate the arches found in the main lobby and utilize the design throughout the hallway. He made a mold from one of the original archways and found the appropriate textures to match the main lobby,” Malone said.
The Best Western Mariemont Inn is a registered national landmark and is considered one of the finest hotels in America. A cornerstone building since Mariemont’s inception in the 1920’s, the Inn has always been integral to the village’s history and maintaining the integrity and character that has made the village so charming to this day. For the past several months renovations to the interior of the Inn have been ongoing and the progress will indelibly make new history.
To see more pictures of the new guestrooms, click here.
Posted by johnston at 07:58 PM
May 04, 2008
Trunk shows abound at the Top Drawer
The Top Drawer has some specials that all needlepointers might be interested in.
The first involves an Easter Basket. On July 19, one of the Top Drawer needleopint experts, Dolores, will be leading a class for $150 that will get people going on their Easter Basket designs. But isn't Easter already past, you ask?
"This is a big project. By the time you stitch the pattern and finish it, it will be Easter ... 2009," owner Sandy McKee said.
The shop is also having a 10 percent off finishing special for all those Halloween patterns that you are working on.
And here's a heads-up for what is upcoming:
There will be a "Needle Deeva" trunk show in July; dates to be announced. There will also be a "Kelly Clark" trunk show and class in August. McKee will teach a Christmas Noel class very soon, dates also to be announced, and there will be a "Mindy" trunk show in September.
Posted by johnston at 08:00 PM
April 16, 2008
Celebrating 25 years
The National Exemplar is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. On Sunday, April 20, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the restaurant will be offering a $25 dinner special. Print a copy of this story, present it as a certificate and enjoy your choice of the following:
Prime Rib Au Jus ~Veal Suzanne or Exemplar Chicken ~Fettuccini Bravo
All entrees include soup or salad, glass of Red Rock Merlot or Copperridge Chardonnay & a World's Smallest Sundae
The National Exemplar is located in Mariemont, inside the Best Western Mariemont Inn.
Posted by johnston at 11:10 PM
January 27, 2008
A small note with a cherry on top
The National Exemplar has introduced the "World's Smallest Sundae." It is perfect for just a touch of sweetness at the end of your meal --and it's only $2.00!
And don't forget "Half Priced Wine Night" which is every Tuesday. The restaurant's new wine list will give you many varieties to choose from.
Posted by johnston at 11:08 PM
December 10, 2007
A gift for others and for yourself
For the holiday season the National Exemplar is giving a gift to those who are buying gifts for others. Maybe the language is a little confusing, but the sentiment is clear and festive.
For a short time, the restaurant is giving a free $15 gift certificate with the purchase of $75 worth of gift cards.
So, if looking for a good stocking stuffer, or you own a business and want to get your employees a little something for all their hard work, then keep in mind a National Exemplar gift card - a gift that can also become of gift to yourself.
Posted by johnston at 12:30 AM
November 16, 2007
Renovations coming along
The Best Western Mariemont Inn is a registered national landmark and is considered one of the finest hotels in America. A cornerstone building since Mariemont’s inception in the 1920’s, the Inn has always been integral to the village’s history and maintaining the integrity and character that has made the village so charming to this day. For the past several months renovations to the interior of the Inn have been ongoing and the progress will indelibly make new history.
The renovations have been taking place thus far on the Madisonville-side wing of the Inn; sometime after the new year renovations will begin on the Wooster-side wing. When completed, the rooms will be more spacious and retrofitted with state-of-the-art amenities.
Stepping outside the Inn, the most visible difference that people may have noticed is an upgraded parking lot at the rear of the building. The lot will be used as exclusive guest parking, where a covered rear entranceway will allow guests to enter the Inn without having to walk around to the front entrance. The rear entrance will immediately lead guests into one of the Inn’s new additions: a new lobby with fireplace.
The new lobby and main lobby will be connected by one of the more intricate additions to the inn, a new inconspicuous hallway which was carved through the existing structure of the Inn. The hallway will give access to a service elevator, a new luggage room, a business center and an all-new fitness room.
“The new first floor hallway is the most dramatic change. Everything has been redesigned to mimic the main lobby,” General Manager Bill Spinnenweber said. The owner is also looking for Mariemont memorabilia to display in the historical hall. If there is any item that someone possesses that they wouldn’t mind having displayed, give Bonnie Malone a call at 271-2100.
In order to ensure the integrity of the interior décor throughout the added hallway and lobby, a craftsman was coerced out of retirement to bring his expertise to the design.
“We brought in someone who was able to replicate the arches found in the main lobby and utilize the design throughout the hallway. He made a mold from one of the original archways and found the appropriate textures to match the main lobby,” owner’s representative Bonnie Malone said.
The main reason for all the renovations, though, is the rooms. Ownership of the Inn knows quality is more important than quantity, and when the renovations are completed the Mariemont Inn will have reduced the number of available rooms by a few; the result, though, is the remaining rooms will be larger.
Each room will have custom designed solid oak furniture, all fabrics will be luxury linen, the bathrooms will be fitted with large rain-shower heads and fogless mirrors, and there will be glass-front refrigerators.
While touring the interior construction in progress, the Madisonville-side wing looks like a jungle of metal struts with thick vines of cables, wiring and piping wrapped around and throughout the structure. Large sheets of drywall are leaning against struts and being escorted through a large second-floor window from a crane. What is significant about the skeleton work of the rooms is that the rooms will be equipped with sound-minimizing materials. The drywall being installed in the Inn has a strip of sound resistant fiberglass in the middle. Each room will be fitted with sound resistant windows and concrete sound abatement flooring has been poured. The end result will be a quieter stay at the Inn.
Throughout the halls and rooms, every pipe, wire and fixture has been removed and replaced with more modern equipment.
Posted by webmaster at 11:44 AM
November 03, 2007
A few notes on the National Exemplar
If you like football and nachos, then you might consider watching the Monday Night Football game Southerby's and the National Exemplar bar. On Monday nights for the game the restaurant and bar are offering their award winning nacho's for $7.95 with a $1 off Bass Ale Draft.
The Mariemont Inn is currently reconstructing the back parking lot. Alternative parking can be found on the Mariemont Square across from the Theatre, behind the MariElders building and in front of the Mariemont Strand.
And it appears the weather is starting to get a tad bit chillier, so be sure to take advantage of the Exemplar's new outdoor patio which, in case you haven't heard or seen, just recently opened. Breakfast and lunch is being served from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. with dinner beginning at 5 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 03:20 PM
October 07, 2007
New patio open for National Exemplar
The past few months have seen much work being conducted along the sidewalk of the left wing of the Mariemont Inn. The work has been completed, and the fruits of the labor come in the form of a new patio for The National Exemplar.
The new patio has five tables that seat four patrons each, and people are served outside during the same hours of operation for inside seating.
"We have had a lot of positive feedback from customers," Lisa Hopkins, spokesperson for the National Exemplar, said.
The patio opened Sept. 26, but not without Murphy's Law intervening: It rained.
The National Examplar is located 6800 Wooster Pike. For more information, call 271-2103.
Posted by johnston at 01:19 AM
July 08, 2007
It is a Belgium taste that is brewing
These are always fun and people always tend to have a good time: A Dilly Deli tasting event.
The Dilly Deli hosts a handful of unique wine and beer tastings each year, and the next one involves Belgian beer on Wednesday, July 25.
The beauty with this particular tasting is that there will be two, count 'em two, sessions so as to offer the opportunity to taste a brew or two to more people.
"This is something very unique. What we'll have are two single barrel lambics from Frank Boon, one of the most highly respected lambic blenders around," the owners said. "Each one of these two barrels is literally the only one in the world, an individual lot."
What Boon normally does is blend all those single lots together to produce one beer. Attendees will be served three glasses - two with distinct and separate lambics, and one empty glass.
"After you sip each separately, you can use your third empty glass as a lab beaker and create your own blend. Half and half? Two to one? You decide," the owners said.
There will also be four or five other Belgian brews to sip and contemplate.
Due to the nature of these servings, the Dilly Deli will only able to accommodate 40 people at a time, but, as we previously stated, there will be two sessions. Reservations for a specific session are a must. Cost is $25 per person. The $25 will get you a pack of tickets, each one good for a specific beer, including the single barrel lambics. Reserve by return e-mail, or by calling the wine and beer shop at 561-5233. The first session will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the second session will be from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 09:05 PM
June 25, 2007
A look ahead at The Top Drawer
If you are a needle-pointer and a bargain shopper then this announcement might prick your ears to attention.
The Top Drawer, Mariemont's own needle-point and canvass shop, will be hosting a sale from July 14-28, where many of the shop's canvasses will be marked down from 20 percent to 75 percent off their original cost.
And if you are an early holiday shopper -- you know, one of the proactive shoppers who prepare well in advance so that they do not have to participate in the last-minute rush to purchase Christmas gifts -- the shop will have a Christmas in July sale where all holiday themed finishings will be 10 percent off throughout the month.
The Top Drawer is located at 6880 Wooster Pike on the left wing of the Mariemont Inn. For more information, call the shop at 271-6691 or visit the shop from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
Posted by johnston at 06:41 PM
June 07, 2007
Meet the new shop, same as the old shop
Mariemont Barber Shop owner Ron Salzano knows all about going back to one's roots (and we are not speaking about the roots of one's hair).
Salzano and his barber shop has moved a couple doors down along the right wing of the Mariemont Inn, vacating the space he has occupied for the past several years. But the short move is one not unfamiliar to him: His new locale, just a couple doors to the right of his erstwhile shop, is the exact place where he first opened his barber shop.
"The new shop is where the old shop used to be. It's ironic," Salzano, who was one of the first tenants of Spinnenweber Builders, Inc., owners of the Mariemont Inn, said.
To commemorate the new move into the new location which used to be the original location, Salzano will be hosting an open house to show patrons and visitors the new look of the barber shop. The open house will be Saturday, June 16, and everyone is invited to come look at the new and improved shop.
Salzano will still be offering the staple treatments, from basic haircuts, shaves, hot towel treatments and facials.
For more information, visit the barber shop at 6880 Wooster Pike or call 271-7676 to make an appointment.
Salzano has been renovating his shop, adding a new look that includes hand-crafted counters and an updated interior design that is inviting to new patrons while still maintaining the ambiance regulars will appreciate.
Posted by johnston at 12:13 AM
May 29, 2007
Double the dining experience
Those who have been accumulating diner's points from the National Exemplar now have a more lucrative reason to eat large.
You know about this, right? You visit the National Exemplar, you earn points that result in reimbursable coupons to be used in the restaurant.
Well, maybe you don't. If not, it is not too late to get started; in fact, the steaks, err, stakes have just gotten higher.
The restaurant offers a Frequent Diner's card which anyone can join for a $10 enrollment. Upon activation the new member will be rewarded 200 points.
From that point on, members will be given one point for every dollar spent in the restaurant when they present the card to their server.
When the member reaches 500 points they will be able to take $25 off their bill whenever it is convenient for them.
But now the benefits have increased. The National Exemplar is now offering double points on Monday evenings
"This is a great avenue to reach your rewards goal quickly and enjoy complimentary appetizers, desserts, theater tickets and gift certificates," spokesperson Lisa Hopkins said.
The result: The more you dine, the more you save.
But that is not all. Southerby’s Pub, located off the lobby of the Mariemont Inn, has a new back bar with distinctive lighting and an LCD flat panel TV. Guiness on tap is now also offered for $4.25 a pint. These are the beginning phases of Southerby’s remodeling. Visitors will be seeing new amenities added in the upcoming weeks as well. Happy Hour is 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Friday with $1 off all drinks and reduced priced appetizers.
Posted by johnston at 10:50 PM
April 10, 2007
Furniture Liquidation Sale
The Mariemont Inn is completely restoring the hotel facilities and all furniture from the first phase is now available for sale. This sale will be held in the building between the theatre and Grateter's on the Mariemont Square.
Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22 from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
Items include: soft chairs, wingback chairs, table chairs, sofa beds, tables, televisions, television cabinets, nightstands, queen size headboards, queen mattresses and box-springs, mirrors, luggage racks, coffee makers, chandeliers, rug remnants, linens, drapes, and more. (sorry no antiques)
Posted by webmaster at 01:42 PM
March 21, 2007
Never a dark moment from now on
From now on, guests of the Best Western Mariemont Inn will not be left in the dark.
That is because the upscale hotel has installed a state-of-the-art natural gas generator that will ensure the lights will never dim, even if the rest of the villagers are lighting candles.
“The generator was definitely needed to provide the reliable service that we want to be known for,“ Bill Spinnenweber, General Manager, said. Losing electricity has never been a major problem for the Inn but there have been a few blackouts in past years, some lasting overnight.
The generator not only ensures the Inn will remain lit, but that the level of customer service that has helped define the historic landmark will not dwindle.
“The reassurance of always maintaining power is important to the guests and us. It is also part of the overall experience we want to provide our guests. The Inn is the flagship of the square and now will never be dark,” Spinnenweber said.
The generator will power the lobby, elevator, stairhalls, hallways and all of the guestrooms and bathrooms.
Guests will still enjoy all the amenities provided to them through the hotel and Duke Energy, including television, telephone, Internet access, hot water, heating/cooling, light and electrical outlets. Only a damaged telephone pole will cause lost service from either Cincinnati Bell, the local phone company, or Time Warner Cable.
The generator will not issue power to the surrounding shops, National Exemplar and Southerby's Pub.
“With the generator officially installed and online the hotel will never go dark again,“ Spinnenweber said.
The generator is powered by natural gas and is installed behind the hotel in a brick enclosure. It has also been outfitted with special sound damping material so there is minimal sound pollution.
In addition, the hotel owners installed new windows with the highest sound ratings on the market today -- making the rooms above the generator as quiet as the ones on the other side of the building.
“It's absolutely amazing,” Spinnenweber said, adding the generator is so sophisticated that it will automatically test itself every week and alert hotel staff of any problems via a remote panel.
Posted by johnston at 07:13 PM
February 08, 2007
Meet Carol, a Top Drawer expert
The Top Drawer has an entourage of artisans that possess profound precision and patience with needlepoint design.
Take Cathy, for example, who works once a week and claims she wants to stitch everything she sees. She has been working over a year at The Top Drawer, located 6880 Wooster Pike, which specializes in exquisite hand-painted and needlepoint canvasses. The canvasses are then made into pillows, purses, ornaments and various other items.
Cathy has been working with needlepoint since she was a little girl, when a family friend approached her and ,"... saw a girl who needed a hobby.
"Needlepoint gives me a sense of pride when I complete a project because it is proof that I finished something good," Cathy said.
She said that anyone can learn how to needlepoint as long as you have the desire to sit down and give it an honest try.
"What you are essentially doing is stitching pieces of geometric squares in an elaborate formation on a canvass," she said, adding the canvass is like a little painting where you as the artist can add your own artistic flare ... or stitch.
What advice does Carol have for needlepoint novices and professionals?
"Pick the brains of people who have been doing this for years. It is these people from whom you will learn the most."
Top Drawer offers classes for anyone who wants to learn ... or learn more. And it doesn’t matter where you live or how long it takes for you to get to the store - the ladies will teach you.
The Top Drawer has clientele that comes from Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and other places that are miles and miles away.
“One thing about our art is needlepointers seek out needlepoint shops,” owner Sandy McKee said. “Ours is one of the few needlepoint shops in the country.”
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
The store is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Meet some more of The Top Drawer's employees from a story posted ealrier:
Two ladies walked into The Top Drawer with a few questions regarding the current needlepoint canvass project they were presently trying to complete. One of the ladies had made a fiber color and stitching error on her canvass and didn’t know how to remedy the mistake.
Within 10 minutes, Top Drawer employees Dolores Menze and Retta Spreen had pinpointed where the error had occurred and presented a drawn diagram the woman could rely on describing how the intricate stitching design can be followed in easy steps.
The ladies who work at The Top Drawer aren’t just good at needlepoint; they are really good. Not just at the craft of needlepoint but with the knowledge of the craft. Needlepoint is the process of taking selected colored fibers, and there are many, and using a hand-painted guide, pulling and pushing the needle and string through a cloth canvass to replicate the painted image.
There are a handful of employees Sandy McKee, owner of the needlepoint shop, has on hand.
For example, Dolores is McKee’s right-hand woman. Dolores has been working at the store for approximately five years and teaches beginner classes once a month and two or three other classes throughout the year.
“I have been doing needlepoint for about 30 years and used to shop at The Top Drawer all the time; Sandy just up and asked me one day if I would like to work here,” Dolores said.
Although to some people it may look like a daunting task, needlepoint is easy to learn, according to Dolores.
“And I can teach you, but you must be patient because it takes patience. I learned from my grandmother in the 1950s when I was 10. I would just watch her and she showed me how to do it. My sister also became interested and now works at a needlepoint store in Washington D.C. It has become a family affair,” she said.
It appears that “watching” someone meticulously thread fibers through a framed piece of cloth with a diminutive needle is enough to lure one’s desire to try it themselves.
Retta Spreen, also a five-year employee, started doing needlepoint nearly 30 years ago after seeing a friend doing it.
“I was intrigued, so I taught myself how to do it,” Retta said. She had been doing needlepoint for years when McKee also asked her if she wanted to work at the shop. “I now work one day a week.”
Retta didn’t enter the world of needlepoint totally void of any know-how; she had experience with embroidering and able to utilize some of those skills to promote faster improvement on the canvass.
“But I am still learning,” Retta said.
When anyone enters The Top Drawer, albeit novice or professional, they will be met with ladies who can answer questions, offer advice, suggest design ideas, or make orders for specialized needs.
And they are also teachers.
“Because I teach classes, I feel I am good with selecting colors and showing you how to get started. Needlepoint is fun because it is relaxing, it is something you can do while passing time or watching TV or whatever, and when you are done you have a finished product that can be framed, given as a gift, or passed down to your family for ages,” Dolores said.
There are artists all over the country that paint pictures, objects, people, animals, and just about anything you can think of and make it available for people to cross-stitch. It can be anything – from natures scenes to cartoon characters.
The Top Drawer has a group of ladies who come once a month, called Ladies Night Out, and they are a large group of mid-30 year olds who all cross-stitch. They come and socialize, discuss patterns and share techniques. It is much like a book club, and people do the same patterns.
Retta said the most compelling canvass she has ever completed was a scene of Riverfront Stadium. “The artist did the picture for me, which had lots of colors that were changing all the time. I took me a long time, it was very meticulous, but it turned out beautiful.”
She suggests that anyone wanting to plunge into needlepoint take a beginner’s class and get a good book. “And be sure to heed the advice of people in the shop, don’t be afraid to ask questions and as your skill improve take more advanced classes.
Posted by johnston at 04:57 PM
January 15, 2007
Frame by frame and never the same
It is always an interesting day for Pat Moores and Judy Runnels, owners of Framer’s Guild in Mariemont.
At the top of a the store's back wall is a framed authentic front page of a newspaper that reads “War Over”, dated 1945. I once saw a framed piece of art from an artist who studied under Pablo Picasso; I have also laid eyes on a mat with numerous minute hand-made models of WWII airplanes waiting to be framed.
“We are really happy with our jobs,” Runnels said.
“You never get bored.”
Nor would anybody with an interest in history, art, rare artifacts and the occasional odd - or outright bizarre - memorabilia.
For 25 years the two women have been partners of the village’s framing shop. The idea to open a framing business was developed when the two Anderson Township residents, who were neighbors and walking buddies, were discussing ways each would plan their future after their children graduated high school.
“We knew we wanted to do something. We didn’t want to develop empty-nester syndrom,” Moores said with a laugh. “I was working part-time at a frame shop and I really enjoyed it.”
Opportunity presented itself when a vacancy was available at the 6880 Wooster Pike location.
Moores and Runnels said their husbands warned them that they would soon grow tired of being business owners, but 25 years later the women are still framing their creative touch to people’s valuable possessions and heirlooms.
The majority of items the women frame are posters, photographs and artwork; but they are always amazed at what people own - or find - and want matted and framed.
They have framed signed photos of various presidents and first ladies, turkey tails, snake skins, an Olympic torch, sailors’ shirts, wedding dresses, Scrabble boards and a quilt that squeezed through the front door by less than an inch.
“The quilt was made from satin linings of coffins and needed to be carried out of the store by three men,” Moores said.
One client dropped off a box that contained four tiny bones she wanted framed.
“We looked at them and thought they were cute. They looked like they were made of ivory,” Runnels said, explaining that their client afterwards informed them that the contents in the box were actually human earbones. “She told us they were from her first autopsy.”
The women have also worked with numerous Civil War artifacts, ranging from backpacks to diaries. One of the most intriguing items they have framed were a pair of gold epaulettes worn on the shoulders of President Abraham Lincoln.
They have framed Roman coins dating back to 600 B.C., Cincinnati sports memorabilia, and even a creative cane with a wheel at the bottom for a man who once sprained his ankle.
“It always surprises me. And people come here from all over,” Runnels said.
The owners also work with the Mariemont School District, offering 10 percent off for students in the art department.
“We get a lot of pieces from students from the art department,” Runnels said. “Many of those students are really talented.”
During the week, you can find the two owners cutting, chiseling, fitting, measuring and painting an assortment of frames. What they are framing, though, could be just about anything.
For more information on how you can have a valuable possession framed, call the owners at 561-6003.
Posted by johnston at 08:46 PM
December 30, 2006
Top Drawer makes first offers of new year
The Top Drawer, Mariemont's needlepoint store, is hosting a sale on many of its canvasses. So, if you are a needlepointer, or someone who has been thinking about learning how to be a needlepoint artisan, stop on in the shop between now adn Jan. 6, 2007, to take advantage of the lowered prices.
Also, The Top Drawer is hosting a "Snowman Class" on Feb. 10. Participants will be given the materials and knowledge to create their own three-dimensional snowman. Cost for the class is $120 per person.
And it is not too late to sign up for the "Ornament of trhe Month" club, which only costs $65.
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
Posted by johnston at 04:31 PM
Winding '06 down, so, what's for dinner?
The year 2006 is winding down. Here is a look at what's cookin' for leading up to New Years. The following are the specials through Monday, Jan. 1, 2007.
For the National Exemplar:
* Lake Walleye~cornmeal crusted, mandarin-cranberry compote. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and mushrooms $18.99
* Bone-In Ribeye~aged choice ribeye, ancho-coffee rubbed, ancho mushroom sauce. aServed with pan roasted red skin potatoes and grilled asparagus $31.99
* Lamb Rack~spring lamb rack marinated in mint and garlic, grilled and served with basil and mint pesto. Served with garlic mashed potatoes, sautéed yellow squash and zucchini $25.99
And for the Dilly Deli:
Champagne, Champagne!
Your sparkling bubbles are covered. For an extra special celebration there's the Krug 1988, perhaps the world's best, at $190. They also have Dom Perignon in stock $150. If you'd rather get three or four bottles of fine French champagne for that price, the bar and eatery has a great selection. Peruse their stock of grower-champagnes, true estate-bottled champagnes from small producers that grow all their own grapes (as opposed to the big houses that purchase their grapes from literally hundreds of these same growers). Sometimes called "farmer fizz", these individual, increasingly highly sought-after offerings tempt you with their own uniqueness the same way, say, small Napa producers of cabernet might. There's three great bubblies from Duval-Leroy (the champagne John-Robert serves at Pigall's): the '96 Vintage Brut ($52), the non-vintage Brut ($37) and the festive Cuvée Paris ($44). There's also the familiar: Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label Brut and the ever popular Moet White Star ($53 and $45).
Still too high? There is also the Roederer Anderson Valley Estate from California for $23, the Baumard crémants from the French Loire for $18, and the Gruet from of all places New Mexico for $16.
Chef Eric Sending '06 Out With a Bang
The Dilly Deli figures that with New Year's resolutions just a few days away, this is the last weekend of the year to treat yourself to a special meal.
Entrées
Duo of Lamb
Lamb Tenderloin on a Mint Rissotto Cake and
Mini Rack of Lamb finished with a Chipotle Pepper Reduction
served with Mushroom Polenta and Haricots Verts $28
Surf & Turf
Bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon with Wild Mushroom Demi-glace and
Cold Water Lobster Tail with Lemon Compound Butter (each 4oz)
served with Mushroom Polenta and Asparagus $24
Veal Roulade
Thinly sliced veal wrapped around a Parmesan and Mushroom duxelles filling
sautéed and topped with a Pancetta cream sauce and served
with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Haricots Verts $22
Appetizer
Dungeoness Crab Salad
Dungeoness Crab meat tossed in a light Lime Aioli
and served with fresh Spinach and Basil $9
Posted by johnston at 04:14 PM
December 16, 2006
Who's who in Mariemont: Desiree Norman and Lucky
In the daily grind, we all meet and greet dozens, maybe hundreds of people. Many we may know well, many may be mere acquaintances, and many are complete strangers.
Still, many are people whose job it is to ensure great customer service. Although we as customers are not expected to remember their faces, these people are entrusted to remember ours.
Here is an opportunity to meet a few of the people whom you may have encountered at one point, or may encounter sometime in the future.
Desiree Norman is the assistant manager at Mariemont’s U.S. Bank, where she has been employed for four years.
Hometown: Anderson Township
Hobbies: Watching the Cincinnati Bengals, playing softball, reading James Patterson novels
Last good book read: Maximum Ride
Favorite music: Country
Favorite movie: Boondock Saints
Favorite TV shows: House, CSI, Grey’s Anatomy
Ambition in life: “I want to overcome my fear of heights.”
Extra! Extra!: Desiree just got married
Brian “Lucky” McMillan is the new barber in the Mariemont Barber Shop. Fresh out of barber school, Lucky provides all services, which include traditional razor outlines, straight razor shaves and facial/hot-towel treatments.
Why did you choose barber school: “It is the history and tradition that lured me. It is the only trade I have truly enjoyed. The social interaction is similar to that of a bartender.”
Where are you from: “I was living in Chicago for years, and the barber shop I went to was great … with a great atmosphere. I got married, and decided to move back to Cincinnati, where I was born and raised.”
Hobbies: Hot Rods and getting tattoos
Favorite music: Rockbilly, Blue Grass, Blues and Honky Tonk
Favorite movie: True Romance
Favorite TV show: The Office
Ambition: To just continue going in the direction I’m going, with a good career and raising a family.
Posted by johnston at 07:45 PM
December 01, 2006
A subtle shuffle along Madisonville
There is a small game of musical chairs being played on the the Madisonville Road wing of the Mariemont Inn.
The Mariemont Barber Shop, Framer's Guild and the Mariemont Beauty Salon are all bumping over one spot from their original location. The shuffle will eventually leave a vacancy where the barber shop is now located, which will be utilized to facilitate additional amenities with the renovation of the Mariemont Inn.
Renovation work will continue through summer and fall. When the Madisonville-side wing is completed, work will start on the Wooster Pike wing. All the work is expected to be completed by winter 2007.
The result of the renovations, which will have included a complete gutting of the Inn’s interior, will be a significant upgrade in the size of the rooms and quality of service.The Inn presently has 60 rooms, but the renovations will drop that number to approximately 44 larger, more luxurious rooms that will include four-fixture bathrooms and modern-day technological upgrades such as wireless Internet access throughout the facility.
“Renovations will also extend to the first floor and include a historic gallery, business center, fitness center and rear entrance connected to the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said.
The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations and the National Exemplar and pub will remain open.
Posted by johnston at 12:23 PM
November 18, 2006
Good news before Great Depression unveiled from Inn's walls
The Mariemont Inn has been undergoing major upgrades and interior renovations that, when completed, will reposition the mid-market hotel to an upscale boutique property. But while taking down old walls, even older items of some merit have been uncovered that have not seen the light of day since 1926 -- when the Inn was erected.
After getting inside one of the walls, workers discovered a page from the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune found crumbled and stuffed in a window frame on the third floor of the Madisonville Road wing of the Inn. It was found six days before the paper would be 80 years old.
"Apparently it was used for insulation to fill a hole behind the frame, most likely the only insulation in the building" Mariemont Inn Director of Operations Bill Spinnenweber said. "It is interesting to note that the stock market was at an all time high. Also, there must to have been some rumblings of a down market (bear market) developing. These were the boom days before the market collapsed in 1929."
The piece of historic newsprint, which had become yellowed with age but whose print is still perfectly legible, was flattened, mounted and framed behind glass for keepsake. What will be done with the paper -- if and where it will hang -- has not yet been determined.
Also found within the walls are colorful soda bottles, probably left by thirsty workers in the '20s who first erected the walls of the Inn.
The rennovation work, which is presently concentrated on the Madisonville Road wing of the Inn, will continue through this fall and winter. When this wing is completed, work will start on the Wooster Pike wing. All the work is expected to be completed by winter 2007.
The result of the renovations, which will have included a complete gutting of the Inn’s interior, will be a significant upgrade in the size of the rooms and quality of service.The Inn presently has 60 rooms, but the renovations will drop that number to approximately 44 larger, more luxurious rooms that will include four-fixture bathrooms and modern-day technological upgrades such as wireless Internet access throughout the facility.
“Renovations will also extend to the first floor and include a historic gallery, business center, fitness center and rear entrance connected to the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said.
The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations and the National Exemplar and pub will remain open.
Posted by johnston at 01:00 PM
November 17, 2006
Mariemont features in Ohio Magazine
The village of Mariemont is one of the featured "Best Home Towns" in this month's edition of Ohio Magazine.
"Charming. Quaint. Scenic. These are just some of the words Mariemont residents use to describe their hometown, a tiny village (pop. 3,000) 10 miles east of Cincinnati," is how the story begins (www.ohiomagazine.com) A profile shot of the Mariemont Inn and Wooster Pike headed towards the village square decorates the story, which gives a succinct history of one of the most unique communities in America.
Ohio Magazine, a publication out of Cleveland, "... publishes stories that celebrate Ohio— its people, its rich culture and heritage, and especially its travel spots. Our audience is educated, active, affluent and very loyal to Ohio," according to the Web site.
To read the story, just visit http://www.ohiomagazine.com/OhioLife/
Posted by johnston at 03:39 PM
November 09, 2006
Events at the Dilly Deli
Be sure to check out the Dilly Deli’s Saturday's tasting, Nov. 11, from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. with special Guest Andrea Elliot, Vintage Wine Dist.
The wines that will be on display include:
Albrecht Rose – a sparkling wine from Alsace under $20
Cloudline Pinot Noir – a yearly favorite, this wine suffered some from being released too early but now is an outrageously delicious, very "Oregon" Pinot Noir.
Seghesio 2005 Sonoma Zin – a delicious Zinfandel, it is on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 every year.
Bogle Phantom – Apparently Cost Plus or some place like that was supposed to sell through 100 cases of this great Petite Sirah and Zinfandel blend, but they only chewed through a fraction of that in the allotted time, so the wine is now available again.
Posted by johnston at 12:53 PM
November 03, 2006
Specials for 11/03 thru 11/05
Here are the specials for the upcoming weekend!
At the Dilly Deli:
* Pumpkin Seed Crusted Halibut sautéed and served with basmati rice and sweet glazed carrots $20
* Herb Stuffed Black Bass whole, rolled, sea salt crusted, and grilled; served with basmati rice and haricots verts $18
* Fresh Sautéed Sea Scallops served over Porcini Mushroom Risotto and drizzled with White Truffle Oil $21
* Mushroom Duxelle & Fontina Stuffed Pork Chop grilled and served with a horseradish demi-glace, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and haricots verts $17
... and at The National Exemplar
* Pompano~sauteed with a lemon butter sauce and fresh mango. Served with rice medley and grilled asparagus $20.95
* Pork Tenderloin~marinated in sage and white wine. Grilled with a mustard cognac sauce. Served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus $17.95
* Pasta~linguini tossed with black pepper crusted sea scallops, blue crabmeat, fennel, peppers, red onion in a roasted red pepper sauce $18.95
For all of those that are members of the Examplar's frequent diner's program, the restaurant will be offering double points on Monday’s in November.
Posted by johnston at 05:02 PM
October 09, 2006
Thanksgiving in 3-D
Thanksgiving is still not until November, but learning how to decorate for the holiday is coming near a close.
The Top Drawer is now accepting sign-ups for people who want to learn needlepoint and create their own 3-D canvass Thanksgiving Pilgrim house that can be displayed anywhere. The class Oct. 21 and only costs $160.
And the good news, according to instructor Dolores Menze, anyone can take the class and succeed.
Dolores has been working at the store for approximately five years and teaches beginner classes once a month and two or three other classes throughout the year. She has been doing needlepoint for about 30 years.
Although to some people it may look like a daunting task, needlepoint is easy to learn, according to Dolores.
“And I can teach you, but you must be patient because it takes patience. I learned from my grandmother in the 1950s when I was 10. I would just watch her and she showed me how to do it. My sister also became interested and now works at a needlepoint store in Washington D.C. It has become a family affair,” she said.
“Because I teach classes, I feel I am good with selecting colors and showing you how to get started. Needlepoint is fun because it is relaxing, it is something you can do while passing time or watching TV or whatever, and when you are done you have a finished product that can be framed, given as a gift, or passed down to your family for ages,” Dolores said.
There are artists all over the country that paint pictures, objects, people, animals, and just about anything you can think of and make it available for people to cross-stitch. It can be anything – from natures scenes to cartoon characters.
She suggests that anyone wanting to plunge into needlepoint take a beginner’s class and get a good book. “And be sure to heed the advice of people in the shop, don’t be afraid to ask questions and as your skill improve take more advanced classes.
The Top Drawer, located 6880 Wooster Pike, specializes in exquisite hand-painted and needlepoint canvasses. The canvasses are then made into pillows, purses, ornaments and various other items.
Whether a novice or a maestro in the craft of needlepoint work, The Top Drawer offers classes for anyone who wants to learn ... or learn more. And it doesn’t matter where you live or how long it takes for you to get to the store - the ladies will teach you.
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
Posted by johnston at 03:35 PM
September 11, 2006
Diner's club program may be appetizing
Many people have been taking advantage of the offer, but for those who may not know, here is an nice piece of information: The National Exemplar has a Frequent Diner's program that makes it real easy to save money.
Anyone who visits the restaurant can join the program for a $10 enrollment fee and receive a diner's card (which will be similar to a credit card). Upon activation the new member will be rewarded 200 points.
From that point on, members will be given one point for every dollar spent in the restaurant when they present the card to their server.
When the member reaches 500 points they will be able to take $25 off their bill whenever it is convenient for them.
And as a bonus, the National Exemplar also holds various different promotions via e-mail such as "double points" on Monday evenings and special coupons.
Sound good?
So, if you are a regular National Exemplar patron or have never been to the restaurant but have been thinking about making a visit, be sure inquire more about the diner's program.
The National Exemplar is located in the village of Mariemont inside the Mariemont Inn on Wooster Pike.
Posted by johnston at 03:30 PM
August 29, 2006
Bank branch no longer local
For those who may not have heard, National city Bank is no longer located in the village of Mariemont.
The banks's branch was located on the west wing of the Mariemont Inn and neighboring The Top Drawer, but now members will have to find another branch to conduct their banking.
A new tenant has not yet been identified; for information regarding leasing a space in the village click on "Leasing" on the mariemontbuzz.com menu bar.
Posted by johnston at 02:55 PM
August 25, 2006
Free Internet access for Village Square, Strand
By mid-September Mariemont residents and visitors will be able to access the Internet for free within the village square and Mariemont Inn areas.
Lily Pad is part of a “Give Back Cincinnati” program where growing areas within the Tri-State area will be receiving the free service.
“We were approached for inclusion in the project are very excited for the village,” Mariemont Councilwoman Kim Sullivan said.
Project Lily Pad, in conjunction with Time Warner Cable, will install two access points – small devices the size of a pizza box with rabbit ear antennas – on top of Graters and the Mariemont Inn. The business owners expressed interest in having the free service, which would serve all village citizens, businesses and Internet users in the area.
The service is free of cost because it will be paid for by corporate sponsors solicited and retained by Lily Pad. Also, Lily Pad will be responsible for all devices, project and sponsorship maintenance. The service is maintained by volunteers, too.
“The goal is to provide hot spots throughout the Cincinnati,” so that eventually free Internet access will be provided almost everywhere, according to Lily Pad volunteer Dan Barford.
“Using a PC or a PDA, users can access information while sitting on a bench in the park, walking down the street or while dining at a local restaurant. All for free … no strings attached,” according to the Lily Pad Web site, http://lilypadusa.org/index.html
Lily Pad Web sites and signage will promote the area as a free wireless zone and recognize sponsors, enabling them to promote their products to users and inquirers. The tax-deductible sponsorship will cover costs of installation, data access, maintenance, and marketing of the Lily Pad.
Posted by johnston at 12:10 AM
August 18, 2006
What's cookin' for Aug. 18 - Aug. 20
This Weekend's Menu Features for:
Dilly Deli
Hand Cut Filet Mignon, grilled to order and topped
with a Wild Mushroon Demi-glace and served
with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Mini Veg Trio
$25
Cornmeal Crusted Grouper, sautéed and served
with basmati rice and Mini Veg Trio
$18
Sautéed Soft Shell Crabs
topped with a fresh melon pureé,
served over rice with Broccoli
$20
Soft Shell Crab Appetizer
One fresh crab sautéed and served
with Remoulade sauce
$10
National Exemplar
Alaskan Halibut that is pecan crusted
with cherry burre blanc, garlic mashed potatoes
and green beans and mushrooms
$20.95
Bacon-wrapped Filets, encrusted with maytag blue cheese
and asparagus
$14.95
Chicken Oscar, which is a boneless Amish breast
sauteed and topped with blue crab, asparagus and bernais
with rice medley and zucchini and squash
$18.95
Posted by johnston at 01:12 PM
June 09, 2006
Dinner specials for the weekend of June 9 thru June 11
Be sure to check out this weekend’s lunch and dinner specials at Mariemont’s eateries.
At the National Exemplar, located within the Mariemont Inn:
Thai chili grilled shrimp~sweet and spicy chili sauce, brunoise of peppers and fried capellini $9.95
Alaskan Halibut~pecan crusted, topped with cherry beurre blanc. Served with green beans and mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes $20.95
Veal piccata~milk fed medallions sautéed in garlic, white wine, capers, lemon and a veal demi. Served with rice medley and grilled asparagus $18.95
Be sure to try one of the Dilly Deli’s main courses from their new menu. Here are a few of their many specials available:
Grilled Ribeye Steak
Hand-cut fifteen ounce ribeye topped
with Worcestershire reduction, bacon &
onions served with roasted garlic mashed
potatoes and vegetable $19
Pork Scaloppini
Three sautéed boneless loin chops
served with cream caper sauce, roasted garlic
mashed potatoes and vegetable $13
Grilled Chicken Breast
A juicy boneless, skinless, six ounce
breast, roasted garlic mashed potatoes
and vegetable with choice of sauce:
• Pesto Cream Sauce $13
• Pommery-style mustard, and orange
marmalade and beer glaze $11
• Portabella Mushrooms & goat cheese $14
• Pancetta & Fontina cheese $14
* Items are available for lunch with side dish substitutions
Posted by johnston at 12:21 AM
Dinner specials for the weekend of June 9 thru June 11
Be sure to check out this weekend’s lunch and dinner specials at Mariemont’s eateries.
At the National Exemplar, located within the Mariemont Inn:
Thai chili grilled shrimp~sweet and spicy chili sauce, brunoise of peppers and fried capellini $9.95
Alaskan Halibut~pecan crusted, topped with cherry beurre blanc. Served with green beans and mushrooms and garlic mashed potatoes $20.95
Veal piccata~milk fed medallions sautéed in garlic, white wine, capers, lemon and a veal demi. Served with rice medley and grilled asparagus $18.95
Be sure to try one of the Dilly Deli’s main courses from their new menu. Here are a few of their many specials available:
Grilled Ribeye Steak
Hand-cut fifteen ounce ribeye topped
with Worcestershire reduction, bacon &
onions served with roasted garlic mashed
potatoes and vegetable $19
Pork Scaloppini
Three sautéed boneless loin chops
served with cream caper sauce, roasted garlic
mashed potatoes and vegetable $13
Grilled Chicken Breast
A juicy boneless, skinless, six ounce
breast, roasted garlic mashed potatoes
and vegetable with choice of sauce:
• Pesto Cream Sauce $13
• Pommery-style mustard, and orange
marmalade and beer glaze $11
• Portabella Mushrooms & goat cheese $14
• Pancetta & Fontina cheese $14
* Items are available for lunch with side dish substitutions
Posted by johnston at 12:21 AM
June 06, 2006
Chief Hines named Policeman of the Year
Police Chief Rick Hines has been named Mariemont’s Policeman of the Year for 2006.
Each year, a special dinner is held in the Elizabethan Room of the Mariemont Inn to commemorate the work and achievements of the officers who make sure the village remains safe and secure. The officers and their families are treated to dinner catered by The National Exemplar.
This marks the second time Hines has been bestowed the honor and distinction, which comes from a vote from the officers within the department. Hines was named policeman of the year in 2001 when he was lieutenant.
“The evening was really nice, there was a great turnout. I said I wish someone else would have won the award, but (the officers) said, ‘No, chief, we wanted you to have it because this is your first year as chief of the department and we have made a lot of progress’,” Hines said.
“That makes me feel real good. It is a real honor to win the award as chief. I take this job very seriously,” he said, adding, “I feel like the luckiest man alive.”
But that was not the only news of the evening. Hines announced that the new Cincinnati Police Museum will be opening June 21. The Mariemont Police Department was asked if they would like to have one of their uniforms put on display. The department said yes and chose the uniform of former police chief Don Shanks.
“Don is the most deserving person to have his uniform put in the museum,” Hines said. Shanks spent 38 years on the MPD, 33 of which he acted as chief. “I don’t know any other man more respected statewide than Don Shanks.
The museum will located on 8th Street in the Cincinnati Police Federal Credit Union.
Posted by johnston at 02:27 PM
June 04, 2006
Renovations started at Mariemont Inn
You may have taken notice to the construction taking place on the back end of the Mariemont Inn. The work being conducted commenced May 1 and is the beginning of the interior renovations that, when completed, will reposition the mid-market hotel to an upscale boutique property.
The Inn recently celebrated its 80th anniversary on April 13, 2006. The historic, English Tudor-style hotel was built in 1926 and was designed to house offices, retail and a private guesthouse for village founder Mary Emery’s guests.
“Now, 80 years later, the Inn is getting a new identity,” Director of Operations Bill Spinnenweber said.
The work, which is presently concentrated on the Madisonville Road wing of the Inn, will continue through summer and fall. When this wing is completed, work will start on the Wooster Pike wing. All the work is expected to be completed by summer 2007.
The result of the renovations, which will have included a complete gutting of the Inn’s interior, will be a significant upgrade in the size of the rooms and quality of service.The Inn presently has 60 rooms, but the renovations will drop that number to approximately 42 larger, more luxurious rooms that will include four-fixture bathrooms and modern-day technological upgrades such as wireless Internet access throughout the facility.
“Renovations will also extend to the first floor and include a historic gallery, business center, fitness center and rear entrance connected to the main lobby,” Spinnenweber said.
The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations and the National Exemplar and pub will remain open.
Keep updated on the progress by visiting the Mariemont Buzz Photo Gallery.
Posted by johnston at 10:42 AM
May 10, 2006
The joy of the haircut
I remember as a child, particularly between the ages of four to approximately 10, how excited I would be when the family would make the two-hour drive to visit the grandparents.
I loved seeing my grandmother and grandfather. I loved the “no limit” rule on how much ice cream could be devoured. Grandma and grandpa’s house was similar to a refuge for the me because the parents were a bit more lax in their disciplinary methods and I could get away with more mischief than would normally be allotted at home.
But there was one drawback, one sacrifice that must be completed before any ice cream, any fun, could be had: upon arrival to grandma’s and grandpa’s house and after all the hugs and kisses were administered, it was a long, grueling walk to grandpa’s car where he would drive me to the barbershop to get my hair cut.
Why was getting my hair cut paramount to my grandfather as soon as I arrived? To this day I am not sure. But for some reason he firmly believed that hair that was longer than your thumb was hair that needed to be clipped. And thus for years a tortuous procedure ensued which branded in my mind like a cattle brand to the forehead the buzzing of shears, the sound of smooth music issuing from some old black radio on the counter, and nervously sitting in a pleather chair waiting for my name to be called by the barber who, simultaneously, shook that ugly green apron that soon would be tied around my neck.
I hated getting my hair cut. But now, I find it a treat.
Ron Salzano, owner of Ron’s Barber Shop in Mariemont, says he still sees the same routine I just explained.
“Yeah, we still get a lot of grandpas bringing in their grandchildren to get their hair cut. That is why we try to be as sympathetic to the kids as we can,” Salzano said. “We know they don’t want to be here.”
So, there must be three truths regarding the barber business: Grandpas love taking their grandkids to get their hair cut, kids really hate getting their hair cut, and as you get older you realize that getting your hair cut is more of a luxury than it is torture.
And making it a luxury is what Ron, who’s business possesses the most longevity of any of the business owners around the village square (he’s been located in Mariemont for 31 years), wants to accomplish.
He runs a full-service barbershop, not only offering hair cuts but also shaves, facials, good conversation, sports TV for the fan and cartoons for the child.
"The main thing in getting a shave, facial and scalp massage is that it's relaxing. It's a good way to spoil yourself.
"I have one customer who comes in for a shave because he wants to sit down and zone out," Salzano said. "He sits down, lays back and he is in another world."
The art behind a good shave is knowing how to work the angles.
A man's numerous facial contours means being able to apply the straight-edge razor at various degrees.
Everything is an angle, according to Salzano, so he must hold the razor differently according to the location on the face.
"And, everyone's beard is different, so you must have fine-tuned skills," Salzano said.
Men can receive the Business Man's Special, which is the shave, facial and scalp massage for $16. Customers may also buy gift certificates for friends.
"This is a good idea if you want to get a present for someone ... or even if you want to treat yourself," he said, adding the a shave and facial generally take between 45 minutes and one-hour to complete.
Besides being seen cutting hair in his barbershop, Salzano can also be seen in many a family’s photo album and home movies.
“Yeah, I have been in a lot of photographs, a lot of movies. Parents like to shoot photos or film their child getting their first haircut.
“We like to do first-time haircuts for people’s children,” he says, “and we are pretty good.
“We have a way of making fans out of the kids. We kind of become like their grandpa or uncle,” he laughs.
Alongside Salzano is Brian Peters, who has worked at the shop for eight years.
The most bizarre haircut Salzano has given was to a young woman who had long blond hair. She requested he shave half her head, leaving the hair on the other half of her head at length.
“The youngest person I have ever given a haircut was three-week old baby” he says.
Haircuts and shaves cost $13.50 each. There is the “businessman’s special”, which includes a wash, haircut and scalp massage for $16. The cleansing facial package is also $13.50.
To make an appointment, call 271-7676.
Posted by johnston at 02:41 PM
May 05, 2006
Specials for May 5 to May7
Be sure to check out what’s special this weekend, May 5 to May 7.
At the National Exemplar:
Alaskan Halibut poached with saffron blood orange aioli. Served with rice medley and fresh green beans and mushrooms $20.95
Artichoke Chicken – boneless Amish breast encrusted with artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese. Served with rice medley and grilled asparagus $17.95
Pasta – fettuccine tossed with chicken, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, garlic, basil and brie cheese $18.95
There are some new wines to be tasted at the Dilly Deli, including:
Colonia las Liebres 2005 Bonarda Mendoza
Argentina is hot real estate for wines these days, and California native Paul Hobbs has crafted a delicious, sappy red from Bonarda, a grape that is of unknown provenance. However, when a grape produces a fleshy, refreshing wine such as this, its pedigree doesn't matter. Especially because it's $8.99.
De Meye 2004 Little River Stellenbosch
This Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz blend from South Africa has bright red fruit flavors and regal, velvety texture. It provides such pleasure because it only costs $15.
Colonial Estate 2004 Shiraz "Explorateur” and Colonial Estate 2004 GSM "Envoy"
Aussie winery Colonial Estate is a Barossa Valley producer. The Barossa produces a glut of wines already. If you haven't tried a top-class OZ wine before, now you can do it without breaking the bank, for the wine is on sale for $35 a piece. For those interested in great white wine, there is also the Colonial Estate Semillon "Expatrie” – an excellent rendition of this classic white Bordeaux grape.
Here’s a heads-up! From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, there will be a Fife Winery Tasting with Rick Dearworth for $30 per person. You can make reservations by e-mail or by calling 561-5233. Fife Winery is a Mendocino County producer specializing in rich and complex red wines from zin and syrah as well as bordeaux varietals. Joining us will be prodigal/native son Rick Dearworth, Midwest Manager for Fife, returning home from his current digs in Chicago. Chef Eric Vice is working on a BBQ themed hors d'oeuvres menu which will pair up nicely with the big flavors of the Fife wines.
Posted by johnston at 12:58 PM
Specials for May 5 to May7
Be sure to check out what’s special this weekend, May 5 to May 7.
At the National Exemplar:
Alaskan Halibut poached with saffron blood orange aioli. Served with rice medley and fresh green beans and mushrooms $20.95
Artichoke Chicken – boneless Amish breast encrusted with artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese. Served with rice medley and grilled asparagus $17.95
Pasta – fettuccine tossed with chicken, mushrooms, Roma tomatoes, garlic, basil and brie cheese $18.95
There are some new wines to be tasted at the Dilly Deli, including:
Colonia las Liebres 2005 Bonarda Mendoza
Argentina is hot real estate for wines these days, and California native Paul Hobbs has crafted a delicious, sappy red from Bonarda, a grape that is of unknown provenance. However, when a grape produces a fleshy, refreshing wine such as this, its pedigree doesn't matter. Especially because it's $8.99.
De Meye 2004 Little River Stellenbosch
This Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz blend from South Africa has bright red fruit flavors and regal, velvety texture. It provides such pleasure because it only costs $15.
Colonial Estate 2004 Shiraz "Explorateur” and Colonial Estate 2004 GSM "Envoy"
Aussie winery Colonial Estate is a Barossa Valley producer. The Barossa produces a glut of wines already. If you haven't tried a top-class OZ wine before, now you can do it without breaking the bank, for the wine is on sale for $35 a piece. For those interested in great white wine, there is also the Colonial Estate Semillon "Expatrie” – an excellent rendition of this classic white Bordeaux grape.
Here’s a heads-up! From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11, there will be a Fife Winery Tasting with Rick Dearworth for $30 per person. You can make reservations by e-mail or by calling 561-5233. Fife Winery is a Mendocino County producer specializing in rich and complex red wines from zin and syrah as well as bordeaux varietals. Joining us will be prodigal/native son Rick Dearworth, Midwest Manager for Fife, returning home from his current digs in Chicago. Chef Eric Vice is working on a BBQ themed hors d'oeuvres menu which will pair up nicely with the big flavors of the Fife wines.
Posted by johnston at 12:58 PM
April 26, 2006
Historic Inn upgrading image with renovations
Best Western Mariemont Inn will become upscale boutique property
April 25, 2006 Mariemont – The owners of the Mariemont Inn are happy to announce that renovations to the historic, English Tudor-style hotel will commence May 1, 2006, and when completed will reposition the mid-market hotel to an upscale boutique property. The Inn will undergo a complete gutting of its interior; the results will be a significant upgrade in the size of the rooms and the quality of services. It has always been the owners’ intent to initially build an addition to the Inn and then make interior renovations, but due to further development problems that have delayed the project, the owners have decided to switch the development phases.
“These renovations will bring more prestige to the Village by having a showcase product. We are hoping to set a standard for the Greater Cincinnati area with an upscale property within the shell of an historic building,” Director of Hospitality Bill Spinnenweber said. The Inn presently has 60 rooms, but the renovations will drop that number to approximately 42 larger, more luxurious rooms that will include four-fixture bathrooms and modern-day technological upgrades such as wireless Internet access throughout the facility.
The Mariemont Inn has two wings, one on Madisonville Road and the other on Wooster Pike. The renovations will begin May 1 on the Madisonville wing and are expected to be completed by Christmas. In the interim, the Wooster wing will be fully functional and open for business. When the Madisonville wing portion is completed, the Wooster wing renovations will begin.
“The changes will provide the comforts of today while still preserving the charm and integrity of the historic building,” Director of Real Estate Dan Spinnenweber, Jr., said. After the upgrades are completed, the owners expect to build an addition on to the Mariemont Inn.
Follow the renovation project online at http://www.mariemontbuzz.com.
For more information, contact:
Bonnie Malone –General Manager
(513) 271-2100
bonnie@mariemontinn.com
Posted by webmaster at 04:32 PM
April 25, 2006
A closer look: Needlepointers Dolores and Retta at The Top Drawer
Two ladies walked into The Top Drawer with a few questions regarding the current needlepoint canvass project they were presently trying to complete. One of the ladies had made a fiber color and stitching error on her canvass and didn’t know how to remedy the mistake.
Within 10 minutes, Top Drawer employees Dolores Menze and Retta Spreen had pinpointed where the error had occurred and presented a drawn diagram the woman could rely on describing how the intricate stitching design can be followed in easy steps.
The ladies who work at The Top Drawer aren’t just good at needlepoint; they are really good. Not just at the craft of needlepoint but with the knowledge of the craft. Needlepoint is the process of taking selected colored fibers, and there are many, and using a hand-painted guide, pulling and pushing the needle and string through a cloth canvass to replicate the painted image.
There are a handful of employees Sandy McKee, owner of the needlepoint shop, has on hand.
For example, Dolores is McKee’s right-hand woman. Dolores has been working at the store for approximately five years and teaches beginner classes once a month and two or three other classes throughout the year.
“I have been doing needlepoint for about 30 years and used to shop at The Top Drawer all the time; Sandy just up and asked me one day if I would like to work here,” Dolores said.
Although to some people it may look like a daunting task, needlepoint is easy to learn, according to Dolores.
“And I can teach you, but you must be patient because it takes patience. I learned from my grandmother in the 1950s when I was 10. I would just watch her and she showed me how to do it. My sister also became interested and now works at a needlepoint store in Washington D.C. It has become a family affair,” she said.
It appears that “watching” someone meticulously thread fibers through a framed piece of cloth with a diminutive needle is enough to lure one’s desire to try it themselves.
Retta Spreen, also a five-year employee, started doing needlepoint nearly 30 years ago after seeing a friend doing it.
“I was intrigued, so I taught myself how to do it,” Retta said. She had been doing needlepoint for years when McKee also asked her if she wanted to work at the shop. “I now work one day a week.”
Retta didn’t enter the world of needlepoint totally void of any know-how; she had experience with embroidering and able to utilize some of those skills to promote faster improvement on the canvass.
“But I am still learning,” Retta said.
When anyone enters The Top Drawer, albeit novice or professional, they will be met with ladies who can answer questions, offer advice, suggest design ideas, or make orders for specialized needs.
And they are also teachers.
“Because I teach classes, I feel I am good with selecting colors and showing you how to get started. Needlepoint is fun because it is relaxing, it is something you can do while passing time or watching TV or whatever, and when you are done you have a finished product that can be framed, given as a gift, or passed down to your family for ages,” Dolores said.
There are artists all over the country that paint pictures, objects, people, animals, and just about anything you can think of and make it available for people to cross-stitch. It can be anything – from natures scenes to cartoon characters.
The Top Drawer has a group of ladies who come once a month, called Ladies Night Out, and they are a large group of mid-30 year olds who all cross-stitch. They come and socialize, discuss patterns and share techniques. It is much like a book club, and people do the same patterns.
Retta said the most compelling canvass she has ever completed was a scene of Riverfront Stadium. “The artist did the picture for me, which had lots of colors that were changing all the time. I took me a long time, it was very meticulous, but it turned out beautiful.”
She suggests that anyone wanting to plunge into needlepoint take a beginner’s class and get a good book. “And be sure to heed the advice of people in the shop, don’t be afraid to ask questions and as your skill improve take more advanced classes.
The Top Drawer, located 6880 Wooster Pike, specializes in exquisite hand-painted and needlepoint canvasses. The canvasses are then made into pillows, purses, ornaments and various other items.
Whether a novice or a maestro in the craft of needlepoint work, The Top Drawer offers classes for anyone who wants to learn ... or learn more. And it doesn’t matter where you live or how long it takes for you to get to the store - the ladies will teach you.
The Top Drawer has clientele that comes from Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and other places that are miles and miles away.
“One thing about our art is needlepointers seek out needlepoint shops,” McKee said. “Ours is one of the few needlepoint shops in the country.”
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
The store is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Posted by johnston at 12:09 PM
April 13, 2006
Easter specials!!!
HAPPY EASTER
Come in to the National Exemplar and taste what is cooking this holiday weekend!
The specials include:
Alaskan Halibut
Creole style topped with tomatoes and sour
cream, garlic mashed potatoes, green
beans and mushrooms for only $19.95
Veal Piccata
Milk fed medallions sautéed in garlic, white
wine, capers, lemon and a veal demi, rice
medley, grilled asparagus for only $18.95
Pasta
Fettuccine tossed with wild Mexican shrimp,
fresh sea scallops, blue crab, asparagus,
roma tomatoes, parmesan peppercorn cream for only $21.95
Posted by johnston at 05:32 PM
April 07, 2006
What's for dinner?
Tonight’s Specials at the National Exemplar
Alaskan Halibut
with pecan crusted, cherry beurre blanc, garlic
mashed potatoes, green beans and mushrooms
$20.95
Japanese Style Pork Medallions
encrusted in panko bread crumbs, mirin soy sauce,
rice medley and grilled asparagus
$18.95
Pasta
Linguini tossed with shrimp, crimini mushrooms,
Roma tomatoes, spinach, garlic basil and
lemon cream
$19.95
Posted by johnston at 10:51 AM
March 31, 2006
National Exemplar weekend specials March 31-April 2
The National Exemplar has a few specials on the dinner menu for the final weekend of March. They include:
Alaskan Halibut
Creole style topped with tasso cream and
Tomatoes. Andouille, red beans and rice,
Green beans and mushrooms
$20.95
Chicken Saltimbocca
Boneless Gerber Farm amish breast sautéed
With prosciutto, sage and asiago cheese,
White wine sage butter sauce. Rice medley
Grilled asparagus
$18.95
Pasta
Capellini tossed with chicken, prosciutto,
Asparagus, sundried tomatoes, garlic, basil,
Chicken stock, toasted pine nuts and maytag
Blue cheese
$17.95
Posted by johnston at 09:30 PM
February 21, 2006
No smoking at village pub
Southerby’s Pub at The National Exemplar Restaurant is now completely non-smoking.
The small, cozy pub -- located off of the lobby of the Mariemont Inn -- is a popular spot to drink cocktails or have a casual dining experience by a roaring fire.
"We made the decision (for no smoking) to provide a healthier atmosphere for our employees and guests," restaurant spokeswoman Lisa Hopkins said.
Southerby's has been open for approximately 15 years. It is open everyday at 5 p.m. and closes typically at 11 p.m. with exception to Sunday, when it closes at 9 p.m.
Posted by johnston at 01:19 PM
January 26, 2006
Try a cut at Alexanders
Loretta Riley stands behind the hairdresser’s chair putting some finishing touches on a customer’s hair.
“Just have a seat; I will be done here in a couple minutes,” she says to me, as I sit down in a lobby chair and begin leafing through the first magazine in a pile of fashion magazines available atop an end table.
After the customer leaves, it is closing time and Riley, owner of Alexander’s Hair Design at the Mariemont Inn, replaces the void in the hairdresser’s chair left by the departing patron.
“The lady you just saw me with working on her hair ... she was my first standing client in 1969 when I began cutting hair,” Riley said. “There are about 22 clients who have been with me since the beginning.”
Riley didn’t start out in Mariemont, though; her career started in the late 60s with Charles Alexander, her teacher in hair design.
She worked at the Village Beauty Shop for 12 years when it was located in the Old Towne Center. After the owner of the shop retired, Riley moved her career to Red Bank Road.
When the spot at the present 6880 Wooster Pike location Riley decided it was the appropriate time to open her own shop.
“I worked here alone for almost four years; then Alexander’s Hair Design closed and we decided to combine,” she said.
“I was located at the Old Towne Center for 12 years and it was nice, but this present location is more exciting. There are the restaurants, more activity and the customers are very colorful,” Riley said.
She enjoys hair design because she enjoys working with people.
“Some of the people have been here so long they have become like family,” she said.
Riley is also addicted to fast cars. She is a member of the Ft. Thomas Corvette Club and owns a 1988 Corvette.
“I also love the Cincinnati Reds. I go to opening day every year,” she said.
To set an appointment with Riley, Charles or Alex, call 561-2022 or 561-1100.
Posted by johnston at 07:53 PM
November 16, 2005
Thanksgiving dinner at the National Exemplar
Maybe you don't like to cook the huge meal associated with Thanksgiving. Or maybe you just don't have the time. Perhaps you are hosting a large party of family and friends and just don't have room to accommodate everyone.
Worst case scenario: On Thanksgiving Day a disaster occurs and the turkey is overcooked or a team of hungry dogs (like the Bumpesses) tear through the house and devour the bird.
Whatever the reason or cause, the National Exemplar wants to treat you and your family to a wonderful holiday meal.
On Thanksgiving Day, the restaurant will be serving the traditional turkey meal with all the fixings between noon and 6:30 p.m. So if you want to be served this year instead of being the server, just stop on in or call the restaurant for reservations.
The National Exemplar will be the only village eatery open on Thanksgiving.
Posted by johnston at 05:29 PM
October 07, 2005
Christmas shopping doesn't have to be hairy
Treating yourself to a haircut and professional shave is a good gift to oneself.
But it can also be a gift from you to another person.
The holidays are fast approaching and Mariemont Barber Shop owner Ron Salzano has gift certificates available for every man.
All one has to do is walk into the barber shop and tell Ron how much they want to spend on the gift certificate.
"I have people who come in here all the time to buy gift certificates for their family or friends. But I think the gift of giving a man a shampoo, haircut and a shave would be treat for any man, not to mention a good gift," Salzano said.
For example, haircuts and shaves $13.50 each. The haircut also includes getting your hair washed. There is the “businessman’s special”, which includes a wash, haircut and scalp massage for $16. The cleansing facial package is also $13.50. So, a person may come in, get a gift certificate for one haircut, or five haircuts and five shaves, or anything else they want to include with the certificate.
"The certificates are popular with people who are expecting out-of-town guests and would like to treat their visitors to a relaxing hour," Ron said. “Men come in here and feel relaxed. A lot of men don’t go to salons because they feel intimidated,” he says.
The village locale is a full-service barbershop, not only offering haircuts, shaves and facials but also good conversation, sports TV for the fan and cartoons for the child.
To learn more, stop in at 6880 Wooster Pike or call 271-7676.
Posted by johnston at 11:11 AM
October 05, 2005
The magic of elves and a future vision
The vision of seeing Santa and his elves hard at work is one of the most cherished and potent memories of Bill Spinnenweber’s life.
Shillito’s Department Store, located in downtown Cincinnati, handcrafted a holiday display in 1955 as a Christmas attraction for the city. The display, comprised of approximately 75 animated stuffed elves, was designed for its original store windows on Race Street, with each window featuring a scene of the moving elves on the North Pole.
In some scenes the elves would be playing with each other, in other scenes the elves would be working feverishly with Santa Claus reading letters and building toys.
Each scene, whether it was in a mail room or the toy shop, was made brilliant by the seemingly lively robotic little people dressed in reds and greens and fluffy, blizzardly beards.
“These window displays have been part of Cincinnati’s past generations. Both children and adults were fascinated by the displays,” Spinnenweber, the Director of Operations for the Mariemont Inn, said, adding he was one of the many people that found the elves intriguing. “I talk to people today and many of them still remember the displays and the festive Christmas decorations.”
The elves display, which for so long was a permanent setup in the downtown store and only opened to the public around the holidays, was discontinued in the 1980s when Shillito merged with Federated Department Stores – which ultimately renamed themselves Lazarus.
As a result, the last toy was built, the last letter from a child to Santa was read, and the enjoyment of the elvish display was over.
Years went by. The echos of children’s laughter and of the elves’ hammerstrokes became nothing more than a faded memory. And the elvish display nearly forgotten.
But, in 1997, when Lazarus moved to Fountain Square, two Boy Scout Troops found and purchased the entire exhibit.
The elves were old and their electric motors were not as fine-tuned and oiled as they used to be. So the scout troops went to work on the elves, fixing gears and replacing wires.
Once cleaned and tuned-up, the scouts put the elves back to work at the Old Dent School House. All the elves resumed sorting the mail in the mail room, checking lists and working with Santa on the toys in approximately 14 different holiday scenes.
The scouts called their event “Everything Christmas” and it grew in popularity every year. In addition to the numerous display scenes, the exhibit also featured the opportunity for children to have their picture taken with Old Saint Nick.
“A lot of us had gone through the department store’s Santa’s Workshop as kids, so it was really neat as adults to create this,” said a volunteer of the scout troop. “We can relive our childhood a little bit.”
But, to Bill Spinnenweber, it just wasn’t about reliving his childhood; he also wanted to create a new generation of childhood memories for today’s Greater Cincinnati children.
In January 2005, he purchased the display ... every elf, every prop, every last item associated with the original Shillito Department Store elvish holiday exhibit.
“The display was in danger of being sold to another individual who planned on moving it to Louisville.
“I hated to see the exhibit moved out of Cincinnati and I thought it would be a good opportunity to be a part of the few true holiday experiences,” he said.
Bill has been ardently working throughout the summer to convert each scene to be semi-portable.
He hopes to display the exhibit soon so that everyone in the village, and the Cincinnati area, can live (and re-live) the magic of Santa’s elves. He has the exhibit, now all he needs is a place to let the elves make their Christmas cheer.
In fact, Bill is presently working on creating a village Christmas tradition. It is his vision to bring to Mariemont the “Christmas Experience”.
“No other area in Cincinnati has as much potential to execute a Christmas-themed experience than Mariemont,” he said.
The holiday experience would include the current luminiaria event, old towne square tree lighting, and horse-drawn carriage rides, in addition to the elf display, Santa visits and pictures, a Christmas market for local artists, live reindeer visits, an outdoor Christmas light display, live music and carolers, ice sculpture contests, holiday food contests and more.
Posted by johnston at 11:36 PM
August 12, 2005
A sift through The Top Drawer
Events like this only happen once in a blue moon.
Well, that is not entirely true, but this particular event is called, “Once in a Blue Moon”.
It is the upcoming trunk show hosted by The Top Drawer, Mariemont’s needlepoint art store, located 6880 Wooster Pike. The show will feature Sandra Gilmore’s artwork and canvasses. Gilmore is widely-popular for her detailed needlepoint work.
The trunk show will be Sept. 12 thru Oct. 3. Gilmore will be sending a plethora of her canvasses to The Top Drawer for display and for purchase.
But that is not all The Top Drawer has planned. Starting Saturday, Aug. 13 and running thru Aug. 20, the store will be having its summer sale.
All the canvasses throughout the shop – Christmas ornaments, belts, flannels, purses, stockings, rugs, brick covers, and an eclectic myriad of other styles – will be 20 percent to 75 percent off.
And, it is never too late to start thinking about Christmas.
Owner Sandy McKee is promoting the “2006 Ornament of the Month” project.
When complete, all participants will have completed the Nativity scene through canvass-work.
Interested people my purchase the six-month package, which includes the canvass, stitching, instructions and threads for Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the three wise men.
For people who purchase the 12-month package, they will also get (along with the prior six canvasses) an angel, elephant, drummer boy, cow, shepherd and camel.
For more information on any of these events, visit The Top Drawer or call 271-6691.
Posted by johnston at 11:54 AM
August 03, 2005
Visit the National Exemplar, a true dining experience
The National Exemplar Restaurant, located in the historic Mariemont Inn, recently celebrated 22 years of great dining.
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, the motto remains the same from day one - to serve good food with good service in a clean atmosphere.
Breakfast and lunch is offered daily from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. According to Lisa Hopkins, the Exemplar goes to great strides to provide the freshest and highest quality foods available. A variety of omelettes, pancakes, breakfast skillets, sandwiches and salads in abundant portions are always a favorite. Dinner selections include steaks, fresh seafood, pastas, chicken, liver and veal dishes. Sandwiches and salads are also offered at dinner. Soups, dressings, sauces and many desserts are made in house.
“There are many fond memories for couples holding their wedding receptions at Mariemont Inn from the late twenties to the present,” Hopkins said, adding the intimate Elizabethan Room features two fireplaces with English Tudor surroundings.
Whether you want a casual or a special night out, a carry out when there is no time to cook or a private function, the Exemplar is more than happy to accommodate your needs with a personal touch.
The National Examplar is located 6800 Wooster Pike. For more information, call 271-2103.
Posted by johnston at 11:41 PM
June 05, 2005
"Inn" and around the village square in full bloom
Flowers have a tendency to make everything more appealing, regardless if the environment is bland or already brimming with beauty.
That is why Spinnenweber Builders, Inc., have been perennial in their efforts to plant annual flowers around the Best Western Mariemont Inn, The Strand and neighboring properties for 30 years.
“When we bought the Inn in 1962 there wasn’t any ‘green’ around the building,” SBI owner Dan Spinnenweber said. “Over the years, we have continually been adding more greenery around the structures.”
General Manager Bonnie Malone said it is the goal of SBI to increase the number of plants every year.
“Since 1992 when the mayor allowed the usage of pots within the village square we have been adding to them,” Malone said.
Thus, every year just prior to Mother’s Day, passers-by will see Mr. Spinnenweber and Malone busy planting with adorning their gardening clothes wielding their gardening tools.
“We call it ‘Our Right of Spring’,” Malone said. “We just want to make Mariemont a more colorful place.”
The plants are not purchased by the village; SBI pays for the flowers and sees it as a means to give back to the community.
Posted by johnston at 09:18 PM
The Buffalo is back to yaking
The Buffalo, which is recognizable by its location in the Mariemont Inn just above the lobby’s entrance door, is back to his loquacious and garrulous demeanor.
If the most scrutinized attention is paid by Inn visitors, they may witness the Buffalo running his mouth, winking at the guests and signaling with a wiggle of his ears to the menagerie of other animals the ingress and egress of each patron.
He has only recently regained his communication faculties, though; he had previously been rendered mute and statuesque for approximately a year after losing a bet to the Moose and Elk, also located in the lobby.
“About 12 months ago I noticed the Buffalo wasn’t being his extroverted self when he refused to recognize my routine ‘good morning’ to him,” the Inn's Director of Operations Bill Spinnenweber said, adding it was a first in the Buffalo’s long residence at the hotel he had not acknowledged a salutation. “I figured he was probably under the weather.”
After a week of not acknowledging anyone’s presence, Bill began to wonder if maybe the Buffalo was harboring any ill feelings towards somebody or something.
“I inquired what was the meaning of his silence; then I urged him to confide in me if anything was the matter. I further attempted to placate his feelings so as to understand why his incipient reticence ... all to no avail,” Bill said. “So, I threw up my arms, declared that if he were going to be so obdurate as to not even answer my queries then he could take it up with the cooks at the National Exemplar.”
Bill has always placed the Buffalo’s lunch order at restaurant’s kitchen: A lavishly decorated and seasoned Caesar Salad with a side of brussel sprouts. And a spritzer water. Then a post-meal hot cup of Darjeeling Highlands Indian black tea with a slice of lemon. The Buffalo is a vegan, by the way.
The announcement of the Buffalo being cut off from the kitchen aroused a few muffled snickers from the Elk and the Moose.
Bill immediately called an impromptu meeting in his office, where the two antlered-quadrupeds revealed the facts concerning “the Bet.”
Apparently - according to the two animals - the Buffalo exclaimed a year ago he could coerce the piano-crooning old man sitting at his piano in the lobby to perform “The Imperial March”, the theme performed in each Star Wars movie whenever Darth Vader was present on screen, every time the Inn's general manager Bonnie Malone walked through the hotel.
The Moose and Elk - fully cognizant that the man seated at the piano was a diligent virtuoso attempting to write the greatest concerto of his day and would 'tune out' any outside disturbances - played on the Buffalo’s ego. They bet him not only would he fail to get the piano man play the song but that he wouldn’t even succeed in getting the piano man to acknowledge any attempts to engage in conversation.
The Moose and Elk said if the Buffalo failed to convince the piano player to comply with the request, then he - the Buffalo - must remain perfectly still and not utter one sound for exactly one year. If he made even the slightest peep or movement, then they would be forced to tell a secret the Buffalo had previously asked them to keep: He had a crush on Peggy, one of the Inn's front desk staff. The Buffalo confidently agreed to the bet.
“So, as you can extrapolate from the details, the Buffalo lost the bet,” Bill said, in between laughs. “The piano player, well, he ... is busy composing and doesn't partake in games of frivolty. That is all I can say about that matter.”
Well, the year has elapsed and now the Buffalo is back to his talkative self.
Although, he refused comment when asked how hard it was to keep silent for the past year and how embarrassed he was when he found out he had been duped by a Moose, an Elk and a musician.
Posted by johnston at 07:38 PM
May 27, 2005
Be a gentleman, get a shave
There is a lot more to shaving than lathering the face with cream and then manipulating a razor in an up and down motion.
In fact, if done properly, the act of shaving can be an artform.
"You have two movements: you have the forehand, and you have the backhand -- which is by far the most difficult. In the end, it is really all in the wrist," Ron Salzano, owner of Mariemont Barber Shop, said.
Salzano has been cutting hair for 30 years. When he started, it was custom for men to come in and get a shave. Nowadays, with the hustle and bustle of society and everyone always in a hurry, very few men go to barber shops around the country and get shaved.
He wants to re-invent the now old-fashioned ritual. Salzano is offering shaves, facials and scalp massages to men who want to experience the treatment.
"The main thing in getting a shave, facial and scalp massage is that it's relaxing. It's a good way to spoil yourself.
"I have one customer who comes in for a shave because he wants to sit down and zone out," Salzano said. "He sits down, lays back and he is in another world."
The art behind a good shave is knowing how to work the angles.
A man's numerous facial contours means being able to apply the straight-edge razor at various degrees.
Everything is an angle, according to Salzano, so he must hold the razor differently according to the location on the face.
"And, everyone's beard is different, so you must have fine-tuned skills," Salzano said.
Men can receive the Business Man's Special, which is the shave, facial and scalp massage for $16. Customers may also buy gift certificates for friends.
"This is a good idea if you want to get a present for someone ... or even if you want to treat yourself," he said, adding the a shave and facial generally take between 45 minutes and one-hour to complete.
For more information, visit the barber shop at 6880 Wooster Pike or call 271-7676 to make an appointment.
Posted by johnston at 10:34 AM
May 24, 2005
The rise and fall of the Inn's elevator
Although it may not a big deal to villagers and visitors to the Mariemont Inn, the news carries a lot of weight.
Literally.
After nine weeks of hard labor, the Inn now has a brand new elevator, replacing the old elevator that seemed as old as the hotel itself.
"The old elevator was an original piece of equipment, a pull-from-below version," Mariemont Inn Director of Operations, Bill Spinnenweber said.
The only finishing touches remaining to do in the elevator is add oak paneling to its interior and place an antique arrow dial (which indicates which floor the elevator is located) on the first floor.
The Inn has always had an elevator and it has never been out of commission for so long a time. SBI owners and management were worried that the shut-down of the elevator for so many weeks would incite numerous complaints.
The first week the elevator was taken out of commission a birthday party was being thrown in the Elizabethan Room below the Inn for a 90-year old woman. Needless to say, there were many elderly people present who needed to shuffle between floors.
But no one complained, and for nine weeks people learned what it was like many many years ago when elevators were non-existant and stairs were the only means of ascending and descending floors.
Posted by johnston at 05:33 PM
History made as lightning visits the Mariemont Inn
By looking at the front of the Mariemont Inn, people wouldn't know that lightning had struck the roof.
But that was the case May 19, when at 1:30 p.m. an electric jolt raced through the interior and extremeties of the village square.
Lightning hit the top of the Mariemont Inn, which punched a hole in a portion of the roof, knocked out the security system and resulted in diminuitive damages in room 327.
"The lightning lifted the slate on the roof in a six-foot area and dropped it back down. It cast pieces of the roof the size of hatchet-heads clear over to the fountain and into the street," Spinnenweber Builders, Inc. owner Dan Spinnenweber said. The hole left in the roof by the lightning was the size of a man-hole cover.
But fortunately no one was hurt and no other property was damaged; that is, except for a couple neighboring business owners' TV sets, which were color but now display television shows in a flourescent hue of green.
The lightning managed to splinter some of the wood in room 327 and fragmented some plaster on the walls into thousands of pieces.
But by 5 p.m. on Friday, passers-by would not even know the Inn was hit. The roof was repaired, the security system was up and running and room 327 received a make-over.
"Lightning has never struck here before," Mariemont Inn General Manager Bonnie Malone said, adding when it occurred there was a large "boom" just overhead.
Since the roof needed to be inspected and repaired a ladder truck was needed. The Mariemont Fire Department responded to the strike but the department's ladder truck was being prepped for service work. Therefore, a neighboing fire department offered the service of their ladder truck.
One thing is certain, though: The Inn never has to worry about lightning striking again since lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Posted by johnston at 05:08 PM
April 24, 2005
Sign up today for Top Drawer opportunities
It will be a busy spring and summer at The Top Drawer, Mariemont’s needlepoint and canvassing store. For more information on each of the following needlepoint opportunities, visit the shop at 6880 Wooster Pike or call 271-1037. The store is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
June 6-30: A trunk show from The Artist Collection featuring designs by Heart Strings, Mile High Princess and Shear Creations. All the pieces have holiday themes, including witches, angels and Santas.
Heart Strings Curly Top Santa Class: National author and teachers SuZy Murphy will be at the shop to teach the class from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15. It will provide a great opportunity to use some of Murphy’s stitches that are featured in here books (“SuZy Small Stitches,” “SuZy Darn Stitches,” “SuZy’s SupriZe Stitches” and “SuZy’s Light Stitches”). Cost for the event is $120.
July 2-23: Painted Pony Designs Trunk Show will feature angels with charms, nativity and other holiday canvases.
Saturday, July 16: The Snowman Class. Learn how to use various stitches and threads to bring Santa to life on a canvas. Class size is limited. Cost for the class is $115.
Posted by johnston at 03:13 PM
April 16, 2005
The key to artistry is in your Top Drawer
The ladies of The Top Drawer recently completed the needlepoint design work on four custom stools and two armchairs that now reside within the Governor’s house.
Hope Taft, wife of Gov. Bob Taft, brought the six pieces of furniture to the needlepoint store and wanted the ladies to pinpoint their creativity and artistic ability into the cushions. The Tafts are natives of Cincinnati and Hope wanted her friends at The Top Drawer to be the ones to tackle the arduous and meticulous work.
“We put a lot of Ohio symbolism into the furniture - lots of Ohio wildflowers and birds,” Top Drawer owner Sandy McKee said. “Hope Taft even came down and helped stitch the items.”
The project took several months to complete; one of the chair-back cushions required eight months of work.
The furniture is one of the most intriguing projects McKee said she and her employees have ever done.
“We even signed our names on the bottoms of the chairs, along with the date and year,” employee Denny Grawe said.
The Top Drawer, located 6880 Wooster Pike, specializes in exquisite hand-painted and needlepoint canvasses. The canvasses are then made into pillows, purses, ornaments and various other items.
Whether a novice or a maestro in the craft of needlepoint work, The Top Drawer offers classes for anyone who wants to learn ... or learn more. And it doesn’t matter where you live or how long it takes for you to get to the store - the ladies will teach you.
The Top Drawer has clientele that comes from Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and other places that are miles and miles away.
Just last week a lady from Atlanta called the store to make sure it would be open this week because she was coming to Mariemont to purchase some needlepoint materials.
“One thing about our art is needlepointers seek out needlepoint shops,” McKee said. “Ours is one of the few needlepoint shops in the country.”
For more information regarding the store or when classes begin, call 271-6691 or visit www.topdrawer-needlepoint.com
The store is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Posted by johnston at 04:43 PM
April 12, 2005
A trim and a shave, the old way
Here’s a variation of a common opening dialogue Ron Salzano hears standing behind the barber’s chair:
“Take a little off the top, and a little on the sides; give it a short trim, but not too short, though. Actually, I got it cut short about a month ago and I liked how it looked, so something like that.”
“Being a barber, I know how to explain what I want,” Salzano admits, “but many people have a hard time explaining how they want their hair cut. So, I have to create a picture from the customer’s words.”
And he has mastered the art of getting the picture close to perfect.
Salzano has owned the Mariemont Barber Shop, located at 6880 Wooster Pike, since 1980.
Understanding the nostalgic milieu of the American “barbershop” has been on a decline, particularly with the intervention and widespread acceptance of the beauty salon - not just by women but by men also - Salzano has catered to the changing of the times while maintaining the old-fashioned integrity of the trade.
“Men come in here and feel relaxed. A lot of men don’t go to salons because they feel intimidated,” he says.
The village locale is a full-service barbershop, not only offering hair cuts but also shaves, facials, good conversation, sports TV for the fan and cartoons for the child.
Salzano graduated high school in 1966 and he harbored absolutely no notion of cutting hair for a living. He and three buddies had decided they were going to join the navy.
His brother was a barber, though, and introduced Salzano to a teacher at Cincinnati Barber College.
“My brother talked me into talking to Mr. Green (the teacher) because more importantly I needed to get a job,” he said.
The two went out to lunch and discussed the possibilities of enrolling in school and learning the trade.
“I was not sure about going to barber school, but he told me I would be my own boss, be independent and make a lot of money,” he said. “Well, that sounded good to me.”
Since then Salzano has seen a multitudinous of hair styles come and go - and many come back into style - over the years.
He says the village has also undergone much change, too.
“When I first started working here, I would flip the closing sign, lock the door and there would be nothing to do. Now, the village has a lot of energy, a lot of vitality."
Besides being seen cutting hair in his barbershop, Salzano can also be seen in many a family’s photo album and home movies.
“Yeah, I have been in a lot of photographs, a lot of movies. Parents like to shoot photos or film their child getting their first haircut.
“We like to do first-time haircuts for people’s children,” he says, “and we are pretty good.
“We have a way of making fans out of the kids. We kind of become like their grandpa or uncle,” he laughs.
Alongside Salzano is Brian Peters, who has worked at the shop for eight years.
The most bizarre haircut Salzano has given was to a young woman who had long blond hair. She requested he shave half her head, leaving the hair on the other half of her head at length.
“The youngest person I have ever given a haircut was three-week old baby” he says.
Haircuts and shaves cost $13.50 each. There is the “businessman’s special”, which includes a wash, haircut and scalp massage for $16. The cleansing facial package is also $13.50.
To make an appointment, call 271-7676.
Posted by johnston at 02:47 AM
March 28, 2005
Visit Le Mistral for a final time
Le Mistral is saying “Bon Voyage.”
The French culture store, located at 6800 Wooster Pike, will be closing its doors Tuesday, April 19. The owners are presently hosting a liquidation sale. For more information, call the owners at 271-5600. The store will continue to be open for business online at www.le-mistral.com
Posted by johnston at 02:19 PM
March 25, 2005
Double-decker bus Retiring in Florida
Remember the old robust-red double-decker English bus?
The historical vehicle that had been in Mariemont since 1983 has changed homes; it now resides in Pensacola, Fla., and performing its designed duties: running routes and carrying passengers.
The bus was recently purchased by a Florida-native couple who visited Mariemont last year. They saw the bus, fell in love with its intrinsic beauty and wanted to take it home.
Owned by Spinnenweber Builders, Inc., the two parties agreed on the sale and the bus headed south to warmer weather. SBI bought the bus in England in 1983, had it delivered to the east coast, drove it a quarter of the length of the United States to the village and parked it in the parking lot between The Strand and the Mariemont Inn. The idea was use the vehicle’s intrigue, size and color as a bulletin board, or as an instrument to promote area business and stir interest.
That type of advertisement, though, is not allowed within the village.
Once in Florida, the bus needed to undergo some surgery. It needed new batteries; the fuel pump and brakes needed upgrades and much electrical work was necessary.
The bus’ top deck lost the windshield during transport and there were numerous exterior leaks that were patched.
Now that the bus is running like a well-oiled machine, the new owners believe there is still a couple years of touring left in the engine. The bus has already been heavily used during holidays giving Pensacola residents and visitors rides throughout the city and beach-side. It has even made the trip to Louisiana for Mardi Gras and traveled in parades.
When the new owners feel the bus can no longer be useful for transportation, they said they might gut the inside and renovate the vehicle into a food service or restaurant on wheels.
Posted by johnston at 11:13 AM
March 21, 2005
Frame by frame and never the same
It is always an interesting day for Pat Moores and Judy Runnels, owners of Framer’s Guild in Mariemont.
At the top of a the store's back wall is a framed authentic front page of a newspaper that reads “War Over”, dated 1945. In the corner is a framed piece of art from an artist who studied under Pablo Picasso. On a shelf beneath a framing table is a mat with numerous minute hand-made models of WWII airplanes - they too are fixing to be framed.
“We are really happy with our jobs,” Runnels said.
“You never get bored.”
Nor would anybody with an interest in history, art, rare artifacts and the occasional odd - or outright bizarre - memorabilia.
For 25 years the two women have been partners of the village’s framing shop. The idea to open a framing business was developed when the two Anderson Township residents, who were neighbors and walking buddies, were discussing ways each would plan their future after their children graduated high school.
“We knew we wanted to do something. We didn’t want to develop empty-nester syndrom,” Moores said with a laugh. “I was working part-time at a frame shop and I really enjoyed it.”
Opportunity presented itself when a vacancy was available at the 6880 Wooster Pike location.
Moores and Runnels said their husbands warned them that they would soon grow tired of being business owners, but 25 years later the women are still framing their creative touch to people’s valuable possessions and heirlooms.
The majority of items the women frame are posters, photographs and artwork; but they are always amazed at what people own - or find - and want matted and framed.
They have framed signed photos of various presidents and first ladies, turkey tails, snake skins, an Olympic torch, sailors’ shirts, wedding dresses, Scrabble boards and a quilt that squeezed through the front door by less than an inch.
“The quilt was made from satin linings of coffins and needed to be carried out of the store by three men,” Moores said.
One client dropped off a box that contained four tiny bones she wanted framed.
“We looked at them and thought they were cute. They looked like they were made of ivory,” Runnels said, explaining that their client afterwards informed them that the contents in the box were actually human earbones. “She told us they were from her first autopsy.”
The women have also worked with numerous Civil War artifacts, ranging from backpacks to diaries. One of the most intriguing items they have framed were a pair of gold epaulettes worn on the shoulders of President Abraham Lincoln.
They have framed Roman coins dating back to 600 B.C., Cincinnati sports memorabilia, and even a creative cane with a wheel at the bottom for a man who once sprained his ankle.
“It always surprises me. And people come here from all over,” Runnels said.
The owners also work with the Mariemont School District, offering 10 percent off for students in the art department.
“We get a lot of pieces from students from the art department,” Runnels said. “Many of those students are really talented.”
During the week, you can find the two owners cutting, chiseling, fitting, measuring and painting an assortment of frames. What they are framing, though, could be just about anything.
For more information on how you can have a valuable possession framed, call the owners at 561-6003.
Posted by johnston at 07:32 PM
November 12, 2004
A Mariemont Institution Retires to Florida
Joining thousands of other snowbirds before her, the Mariemont Inn’s last London double-decker bus has left Cincinnati for sunny Florida.
The big red Omnibus, a fixture at the Inn for more than three decades, was purchased last month by a couple in Pensacola, Florida, that plans to turn it into a rolling restaurant.
The bus, imported directly from London in 1983, is joining her sister vehicles across the pond, which are being phased out after more than a half-century of service in Great Britain’s capital city.
The idea for bringing an authentic London double-decker bus to the Village of Mariemont came to Dan Spinnenweber in 1968 as a way to promote the English-themed Mariemont Inn. A bus seemed like the perfect rolling billboard.
After an early reconnaissance trip to St. Louis to view a bus owned by the Cheshire Inn, Spinnenweber went to London, where he found London Pride, a tour bus company that was willing to sell him a reconditioned double-decker bus, which was then the staple of London’s municipal bus system.
The first bus rolled onto the pier in Baltimore in 1968 and, despite having to be jump-started, ran like a dream. Spinnenweber drove it to Cincinnati on the Pennsylvania turnpike at the blistering speed of 40 m.p.h.
The bus became an instant success and was used throughout the 1970s for trips to Reds games, Moon Light gardens, pops concerts at Music Hall, and even a local wedding or two.
A few years later another bus was purchased and the two made promotional appearances throughout the Midwest at department stores, shopping centers and civic events. Their longest trip was a two-week jaunt to Houston for a shopping center opening.
The bus sold last month was the fifth bus that the Inn has owned since 1968. It was purchased in 1983 but never licensed. Concerns about liability and high insurance premiums confined it to the Inn’s parking lot, where it was used as a standing billboard and as a novelty for guests. In the early 1990s, due to revisions to the village’s sign ordinance, the bus could not longer be used as a billboard and reduced its role to a place of semi-retirement on the back lot of the Inn.
The Routemaster buses were first put into use by London Transport (the company that runs London’s public transportation system) in the 1950s. Over the years, their distinctive red styling has made them a symbol of the old city, beloved by tourists and locals alike.
In a push for more efficient service, London Transport has decided to phase out the 250 remaining Routemasters by the end of next year. They will continue to run a few buses on tourist routes through the central part of the city.
And so for Mariemont, and London, it is the end of an era.
To view pictures of the bus, click here.
Posted by gioielli at 12:00 PM