Join the CincyBurb FB group and you could win a yummy prize

Hi All!

I'm trying to take CincyBurb to the next level by making local, independent businesses a partner, and introducing you to them first hand. So, starting yesterday until Sept. 24 any existing or new member of the CincyBurb Facebook Fan Page will be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Cafe Bella, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant in Mason.

The resturaunt has been opened almost two years now and I've been there a couple of times. Last night Jason (my dude) and I went there for dinner and met the owner Bella, herself.



That's Bella, from the website!

She sat down and talked with us for about 15 minutes and was a really nice lady. She moved here from Connecticut and has lived in several places including California, Philedelphia and New Jersey. J asked her what place she liked best and she said, so far Ohio because of her neighbors and family friendly atmosphere. Bella is married with children and is orginally from Ethiopia.

We asked how she got into Italian food being from Ethiopia and found out that Italy actually occupied the country in the past. She said there was a lot of Italian cultural influence there and that she speaks Italian.

We had the Tuesday special all-you can eat pasta last night and it was really good! Jason had a salad with his and I had a very hearty lentil soup. The resturaunt is open for lunch and dinner, and is closed on Sundays. You can find out more about it on the web site, which Bella said they were updating. The menu is somewhat different when you get there, but this will give you an idea.

So if you want to be elgible for the gift certificate join the CincyBurb Facebook Fan Page here. And while you're at it, join the Cafe Bella Fan Page, here.

You can also follow Cafe Bella on Twitter.

Pumpkin Chuck in Mt. Washington

Saturday afternoon I went to my first ever pumpkin chuck in Stanbery Park in Mt. Washington.

I mean, when I heard there was a pumpkin chuck, I thought, I have to check it out. And since it was a warm day, it was on!

As you might guess, this was mostly a family event, with several hundred kids waiting in line to chuck pumpkins. A lot of them were pumpkins that families' brought from home, they'd been carved. Some of them had certainly seen better days.



So there were two large catapults positioned at the top of the big hill at the entrance. It was really funny to watch them fling through the air, and pop when they hit the ground. There were a few misfires that didn't quite make it. And at least one flew backward.



I tried to make my own video of it, but that didn't work out. Here's one from a previous chuck I found on You Tube though.



It was all in good fun though. It cost $2 to chuck your own pumpkin and $5 to chuck a provided one. There were also a few booths there, pizza, baked goods, coffee, a jewelry maker and some musicians. Everything was reasonably priced, which I was glad about. The proceeds go back into the park. And I overheard someone say animals eat the pumpkins at night, then folks come back to clear whatever is left the next day.

While I was there, I had a pumpkin spice latte and a pumpkin cookie/muffin thingy. Oh and I scored by being the only bidder on a basket from St. Vincent de Paul in a silent auction. Wallet, purse, candle, and wilson leather gloves that still had to tag on them. $12 for that and more. WOO HOO. PUMPKIN CHUCK.

Have you seen Coyotes?

There have been several stories in the news about Coyotes showing up in residential areas of the 'burbs, and even killing pets. The last story I saw was in West Chester, which is a little too close for comfort for me.

I live on a very busy street, Fields Ertel Road, and figure my two kitties would be safe. But I do remember seeing deer in my semi-hard to get to backyard. So I guess anything is possible.

My two cats love going outside, so I'd hate to make them stay in all day. I guess I'll just be very careful and make sure they're in the house by the time it's dark. Has anyone had any coyote sightings lately?

Here's some advice from an City of Evendale email on coyotes:

Coyotes are very adaptable animals and look to find the three basic survival needs; food, water, and shelter. They can find these essentials in suburban areas which increases their encounters with humans.

People leaving pet food or garbage out at night will attract wild animals, including among others, coyotes. Coyotes generally feed on small mammals such as mice, squirrels, and rabbits, but they are opportunistic and will feed on a wide variety of sources. They are known to eat fruits, plants, insects and occasionally livestock or small pets when other food is scarce.

Coyotes are territorial, preferring to stay in one general area. When neighbors report coyote sightings, it is generally the same small group of coyote rather than a large number of coyotes.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources suggests that persons encountering coyotes be aggressive, challenging them, and making noise, so that the coyote perceives the person as a threat. If you see a coyote on your property and you are not capable of scaring it off, you may call the police department at 563-2249 and we will respond to the area and assess the situation. The ODNR does not routinely respond to reports of coyotes but will suggest the names of “nuisance” trappers to persons interested in that avenue.

Halloween Cuteness

There's nothing cuter than seeing the kiddies dressed up for Halloween. I shared these photos on the CincyBurb Facebook Group this weekend, but thought I'd put them on the blog too.

I went to Independence, KY to go trick or treating with my 2-year-old niece. She had a blast, she was running and had one of the highest pitched screams on record. Here she is!





I have some photos of my older niece, courtesy of my sister, who is currently living in Las Vegas. She decided she wanted to be Darth Vader. The force is strong with this one....

Looking for a locally owned, small coffee shop in West Chester?

Well I'm working from one right now. It's Metropole Coffee Company, 9675 Cincinnati-Columbus Road, not far from the Sharonville Kroger just off Fields Ertel.

I've only come here a few times, mainly because I just forgot about it. But it's small, conveniently located to my home and has free WiFi, of which I am partaking now.

Usually I go to Panera, which is fine too. But I like coming somewhere that's smaller and quieter when I want to spend some time writing. Panera can get really hectic. Metropole is a great place for small meetings to, because they have some private rooms were you can sit a spell. They also have an outdoor spot.

In addition to coffee, they have light lunch and pastries. So you should check it out. It's definitely a daytime place though because they close at 6 on weekdays and 4 on weekends.

'Burbs are getting hip to Twitter and FB

Some of the burbs are really trying to reach out to residents, and social networking sites are making it easier. There are several twitter and facebook sites up now, though it remains to be seen how well they'll actually keep them up.

Here are a few I know of now, feel free to add any in the comments section.

Blue Ash http://twitter.com/BlueAshOhio
Deer Park Police http://twitter.com/deerparkpolice
Silverton http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=100000236716083&ref=ts

What is Local?

I've been thinking about this when deciding what places and businesses to highlight in CincyBurb.

When it comes to a business what do you consider local? Is it local if it's morphed into something giant, like Kroger or P&G. What about a local concept that has franchised, or a place based in Dayton or Columbus that opens a Cincinnati area location?

Is something local if they have several locations, including in strip malls or traditional malls? If a business reaches a big level of financial success and growth outside of the area, is it still considered local?

What do you consider local? What do you not consider local?