We are quickly getting into the holiday spirit. To kick off the season we headed down to the Museum Center to see the Holiday Junction featuring the Duke Energy Holiday Trains. We made it down twice to see the trains last year, so I’m sure we will go at least once more before the display is taken down January 5.

Choo Choo

The display is so detailed that I always discover something new with each visit. The little people are doing so many things in their village, and you could very easily lose track of time while taking it all in.

Train Station

In addition to the model train display, there is also a small indoor train ride and play areas for the kids. Admission is free to Museum Center Members and to Duke Energy customers with a special confirmation code.

Ronny Salerno of Queen City Discovery has some amazing photos of the display as well as the video below. Enjoy!

Holiday Trains at the Cincinnati Museum Center from Ronny Salerno on Vimeo.

A couple of weeks ago Kim and I took an overnight trip down to Louisville without the kids. The primary destination was to see O.A.R. play at the beautiful Palace Theatre.

Beautiful Palace

This was my first time in this historic venue and I was very impressed by it. Capacity is 2700, so right around the size of the Taft Theatre in Cincinnati. Comparing the two, I think I like the Palace quite a bit more, as the architecture is so much more interesting.

Cris Cab

Opening the show was 19-year-old Cris Cab and his band. This youngster mixes pop, reggae, and soul to create music that is appealing to both young and old, which is perfect for an O.A.R. crowd. There are the aging fans who first learned of the band while both were in college, like myself, and now there is an entirely new generation of fans with the bands recent radio successes.

O.A.R.

O.A.R. played a very solid two-hour set followed up with an encore in which all members of the opening band joined them on stage for a perfect cover of The Police’s “So Lonely.” Other highlights of the set for me included “Right On Time,” “Toy Store,” “Patiently,” and their always nice to hear cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain.”

So Lonely

We had a wonderful time at the show and I was even able to dust off my old recording gear. The full show can be listened to below. Enjoy!

Look out Bakersfield, I’ve found a new favorite taqueria in Cincinnati. Mazunte has been serving authentic Mexican food from their Madisonville location for just over three months, but they seem to have nearly perfected the concept. Their restaurant is located in a very small strip of stores on Madison Road near the intersection with Red Bank.

Outside

Once you step inside Mazunte you will be greeted by a larger menu hanging over the ordering counter. From there you can see inside the open air kitchen and the adjacent wooden bar also looks over the same space. There are short of a dozen wooden tables but the bar and parallel dining counter offer plenty of space for diners. I’m told that the tables and seating were all made of re-purposed wood that was nearly sent to the burn pile. It’s definitely a unique space.

Inside

After placing our order at the counter, we were handed a basket of freshly made chips as part of our salsa bar order ($1.50). This includes unlimited trips to the chip and salsa counter near the front door. Salsas include pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, salsa verde, and salsa picante. The chips were whole fried tortillas and the salsas were very fresh. I think the roasted tomato was my favorite, but the salsa verde was also quite good.

Chips & Salsa

For dinner I chose the chicken memelitas topped with black bean purée, queso fresco, salsa verde, and salsa rojo ($7.75). A memelita is a thick corn tortilla made with corn masa. My plate had two memelitas that were covered with so much goodness that it would be impossible to eat this like a taco. I used a fork to devour mine and were these ever delicious. The side of rice that comes with the dish may appear rather plain but it is actually full of flavor, much better than your typical southwestern style rice.

Memelitas

While the menu does not list any selections for the kids, we were happy to find that they will make small quesadillas with their tortillas filled with your choice of meat and/or Mexican cheese. These even come served with a side of rice. The blue corn tortilla kind of scared off our suddenly picky two-year-old, but I found the quesadilla to be delicious. The menu features an adult version of these quesadilla that I will consider ordering in the future.

Kid’s Quesadilla

My wife ordered the mixed tacos ($9) and choose one each of the beer battered fish, braised chicken, and shredded pork. The fish taco was topped with Mexican slaw, guacamole, and mango-habanero salsa. The tacos would offer our only taste of the guacamole on this visit but it was incredible and I will definitely order a bigger serving in the future. The mix of sweet and spicy flavor was not something I was used to experiencing in guacamole but it was excellent. The fish was very good as well, making this an outstanding taco. The chicken and pork tacos were very similar and both were topped with avocado salsa and salsa rojo, both were very good and I would not hesitate to order either again.

Mixed Tacos

We had an amazing first visit to Mazunte Taqueria and will absolutely be back again very soon. The food was outstanding and the service was quick and friendly.

We had a fun-filled weekend with the kids. First up, on Friday night I dusted off the old Wii Rock Band controllers, put the game in no fail mode, and had a good old time with Trey on drums on Paige clapping along.

Little Rockers

I spent many long nights playing Rock Band with friends in Denver, but I don’t think it has been out of the basement once since our move to Cincinnati. Fortunately most of my talent was retained and I picked up all instruments again with little difficulty.

Trey On Guitar

I know that Trey enjoyed playing along for a few songs, and I even caught him playing around with one of the guitar controllers the next morning. Though the controllers did find their way back to the basement shelves later that morning, I’m sure it won’t be long before we get them back out again.

Two nights ago I caught a show at a place I haven’t stepped foot inside for over eight years, the 20th Century Theater in Oakley. It seems that the venue has hosted more weddings than concerts over the years, but I think it is slowly trending back towards a live music venue. The floor does not have the best layout, with a rail divider running across it horizontally, but the multiple tiers actually provide decent sight-lines even when those in the back are sitting around tables rather than standing. Plus the sound was way better inside than I remembered it to be. I hope it doesn’t take me as long to make another appearance at the historic theater.

Marquee

The opening act for the night was Greg Holden,  a New York-based British singer-songwriter. He co-wrote Phillip Phillips’ debut single “Home” so he certainly has great song-writing ability. I walked in about fifteen minutes after he started his set with Jay Foote on bass along with The Lone Bellow touring drummer Brian Griffin. At times his music was a little too quiet and subdued for the rather loud audience but I think his quirky comedic banter between songs may have encouraged it. Either way he appeared to be having a great time and even said that it was his favorite show of the tour so far.

The Lone Bellow

This was my second time this year seeing The Lone Bellow, a folk rock band from Brooklyn, NY. The first time was a late night free show in May with very few people in attendance. This time around I think that word has spread very quickly about this band and the crowd was easily double or triple in size.

Completely Unplugged

Lead vocalist Zach Williams has an amazing command over the crowd, so much so that the core trio of musicians was able to perform a couple of songs completely unplugged from both sides of the stage. The crowd was amazingly silent during these performances, but very loud when the more upbeat songs called for it. The trio of musicians (Williams along with Kanene Donehey Pipkin on mandolin and Brian Elmquist on guitar) produce amazing vocal harmonies and are joined by touring musicians Jason Pipkin (Kanene’s husband) on bass and the previously mentioned Brian Griffin on drums.

Encore

I bet the next time they come to town it won’t be to play the 20th Century, though I wish that it would be. You are more likely to find them playing the Madison Theater or some other mid-sized venue. This band is definitely going places and is much on the rise. Check out their self titled and Kickstarter funded debut album that was released earlier this year. You will not be disappointed.

My wife and I spent last Saturday night in downtown Louisville. Sunday morning when it came time to find some grub to soak up all the bourbon from the night before, we actually had a little trouble doing so. The McDonald’s suggestion from the parking garage attendant was not what we were looking for, but I guess in her defense there doesn’t seem to be a ton of breakfast places around. Fortunately we eventually found Against The Grain Brewery and their Sunday brunch offerings.

Inside

Against The Grain is a brewer-owned brewery connected to Louisville Slugger Field, the home of the Louisville Bats, the triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. It is a little out-of-the-way from the main section of downtown Louisville, but still a very easy walk from most areas. The space is very tall and I liked being able to see two levels of brewing equipment up above the bar.

Bar & Equipment

Brunch is only served on Sunday and runs from 10 AM until 2:30 PM, at which time the normal menus takes over for the rest of the night. We arrived just after the 10 AM opening and were the first customers of the day. Even though it was before noon, our server gladly walked us through the beer offerings as well as pointing out the Bloody Mary bar. Against The Grain brews an always rotating mix of beers. There is one beer available in each of six loose styles: session, hop, whim, malt, dark, and smoke. They also have barrel aged and cask conditioned beers too.

Chorizo Biscuits & Gravy

One look at the brunch menu and I knew what I was getting, the Chorizo biscuits and gravy ($8). Two buttermilk biscuits are topped with a house made Chorizo gravy that had just the right amount of spiciness to it. I love biscuits and gravy, especially when the gravy has a nice kick to it. This was spot on and I wish I could eat it again right now.

Two Egg Omelet

My wife went with the two egg omelet, stuffed with cheddar and charred cherry tomato, topped with house pickled veggies and feta ($9). The presentation on this dish was lovely, and I’m told the taste was just as good. She added a buttermilk biscuit to the side for a complete meal ($1.50).

To wash it all down I enjoyed a Mac FannyBaw, a barrel aged Rauchbier, from the whim categorization ($5). This is a really complex beer, a lot of the character coming from the Angel’s Envy bourbon barrel treatment. We also shared a massive cinnamon roll ($3.50) on the car ride back to Cincinnati. We had a wonderful first experience at Against The Grain, and hope we can make it back soon for either another brunch or to sample the regular Smokehouse menu.

My crafty in-laws are always up to something. Yesterday they built three giant Jenga sets. Making one is really quite simple. You just have to cut 2×4’s into 10.5″ segments. Each game requires 72 pieces, so over 200 pieces when making three sets! Fortunately there were enough hands available to cut the pieces, sand each one, and then stack them up.

Playing A Game

Once the work was complete we played a team game and my team came out victorious! The rules are just the same as the smaller version, but playing it is a lot more exciting. When the tower finally decides to come crashing to the ground it does so very slowly and makes a ton of noise. Building your own set shouldn’t cost very much, provided you have the necessary tools.

Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. To celebrate we ventured out for a nice dinner without the kids, something that doesn’t happen often enough. After discussing our options throughout the day, we settled on Nectar in Mt. Lookout. Despite the restaurants close proximity to our house, neither of us had ever been before. Nectar serves contemporary French Mediterranean seasonal cuisine using quality local and organic products when ever possible. Julie Francis, the chef and owner, changes the small menu regularly to reflect the best of the seasons.

Inside

Originally we planned to walk to dinner, but the evening rain forced us into the car for the short drive. Parking can be a bit challenging in Mt. Lookout square in the evening, but we found a metered spot after a couple of laps around the central parking area. Inside, Nectar is warm and inviting. Just one other table was occupied upon our arrival. We were asked if we’d like to sit near the windows or in the rear by the kitchen. I expected a larger crowd but can’t complain when we get our choice of seating.

We were delighted to find out that bottles of wine are half priced on Wednesdays! The wine list is short but offers a good variety of choices. We were most intrigued by the Cabernet Franc from Kinkead Ridge, which is in Ripley, Ohio just an hour east up the Ohio River. This full-bodied wine was delicious!

Amuse-bouche

After placing our order, an amuse-bouche was delivered to our table compliments of the chef. I believe this was a fig chutney with duck confit and radish sprouts. Duck is not something that I eat often at all, so I just had a small bite of this. The base chutney was delicious and paired well with the saltiness of the somewhat dry duck. It gave an overall good impression of the flavor combinations that we would taste throughout our meal.

Mediterranean Meze

We ordered the Mediterranean Meze for a starter ($11.50) after hearing suggestions from our server. The sampler plate featured baba ganoush, black bean hummus, house falafel, pickled vegetables, salad, feta, harissa, and olive oil cracker bread. I started with the salad and really enjoyed it. The baba ganoush was perfect, especially with a little of the pickled flavor sneaking in from the vegetables that were served on top. The falafel was the best I’ve had in a long time, but was just a touch overcooked. The hummus was interesting with the black bean combination, but when topped with the somewhat spicy harissa and feta it was great. The olive oil cracker bread may not have looked like much but it too was excellent. An outstanding start to our meal.

Hill Farm Roast Chicken

For dinner I went with the Hill Farm roast chicken ($23) that is served over fingerling potatoes, bell pepper, garlic, red onion, and Andouille sausage. The chicken was perfectly cooked and flavored quite nicely. Potatoes dominated the mostly vegetable based bed and I wished that there was more of the sausage, which added a nice spice to the dish. With all of that said, I would definitely order this again, though next time I might try the gnocchi.

Achiote Rubbed Fish

My wife had the achiote rubbed fish served with black bean quinoa salad and butternut squash purée ($24). Let me start by saying that both the black bean quinoa salad and butternut squash purée were awesome. The fish definitely took a back seat and I believe my wife agreed, as the only thing left on her plate at the end was a little bit of the fish. According to the menu for the night, the fish is typically corvina, but it was a different fish for our visit. I believe it to be sea bass or something similar.

We had a very pleasant first visit to Nectar and I think we will return sometime in the future. As the prices are a little higher than what we typically like to spend, we will most likely save it for special occasions.

A couple of weeks ago I finally had a chance to check out the Eastgate location of Jungle Jim’s International Market, which has been open for just over a year.

Outside

Those readers from Cincinnati most likely already are familiar with the supermarket giant. If you are not familiar, words cannot describe the size and variety of foods contained in this store.

Bathrooms

Walking through the sections of aisles for the various departments can often feel like you are taking on a never-ending maze. Though the aisles of this newer location do seem wider than the original in Fairfield.

Hippies

You will still find many of the things that make the original so popular and unique. The bathrooms are still disguised as porta potties. The selection of hot sauce is immense and actually appears to be larger in this new store.

Hot Sauce

The seafood department alone is larger than many grocery stores.

Seafood Department

Not only is the selection large, many of the fish and crustaceans are still alive.

Live Fish

The produce section is massive. Here you will not only find your standard grocery store items, but you will also find a wide variety of much harder to find ethnic produce.

Produce

Last but certainly not least is their very large selection of beer. This was the primary goal of my visit, and of course one of the last departments of the store. They have everything from American craft beer to many of the imports that you will find in other stores. With that said I didn’t see a whole lot that I couldn’t pick up from one of my neighborhood liquor stores. Though if beer and liquor is your goal for visiting the store, I’m told there is a separate entrance around back.

Beer

You can easily spend the better part of an afternoon wandering the endless aisles of Jungle Jim’s, but that is part of the experience. Be sure to wear your walking shoes.

I hope everyone had a nice Halloween. The weather forecast for this year was not very good and some areas postponed trick-or-treat. It went on as scheduled in Cincinnati and it actually was pretty nice for the first hour. The second hour the winds picked up and the rain was definitely falling.

Family Shot

Fortunately Trey only has the attention span for a few houses anyway. We made it to maybe half of the houses on our street, a dozen at best. My mom brought a variety of costumes for Trey to wear, but he refused to wear any of them. Luckily he was still able to choose from skeleton shirts, superman, batman, etc. Paige dressed as a ladybug for her first Halloween.

Paige’s First Halloween

Our neighbors joined us for trick-or-treating as well as for a short time at house. Trey and their 18 month old daughter, Emeline, are quickly learning to be friends. Trey really enjoyed giving candy to her as well as passing it out to some of the other kids. We didn’t get very many kids at our house, so we have plenty of candy leftover.

Passing Out Candy

Maybe next year we will finally get some decent weather so we can sit outside for the entire night.