During my first visit to Iowa, one of the things that stood out to me were the bridges. I loved the architecture and the diversity of the styles of bridges that we experienced during our stay.
5 Reasons to #LoveTheCov
Covington, Kentucky is a city that can often be overlooked in the shadow of Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s located directly across the Ohio River and offers a lot of reasons for travelers and locals to Lov the Cov.
Let a Visit to Fort Wayne Surprise You in a Good Way
I have to admit that my visit to Fort Wayne, Indiana really surprised me. I had no idea that the downtown had so much to offer. Growing up, we would visit my cousins who lived about 30 minutes from downtown Fort Wayne, but we typically only visited the mall which left me with an impression from 30+ years ago that there wasn’t much to do there. Well Fort Wayne, you got the last laugh and my apology.
The most underrated museum in Cincinnati that you need to visit
Cincinnati offers incredible museums throughout the city, but there is one museum in the city that tends to be known more by tourists than locals. That underrated museum is the American Sign Museum. The American Sign Museum provides education and celebrates the art of sign making. As a local, I was immediately mad at myself for not visiting the museum sooner! It truly is a unique gem that is very special to our city.
5 Reasons to Discover the New Curb’d Parklets in Covington
My son and I were happy to discover the new Curb’d parklets while on an adventure in Covington. These mini parks temporarily take up one parking space and redefine what could exist in the dimensions of a single parking space with an incredible range of creativity.
Canstruction – Art Made of Cans for a Great Cause
For the last few years, I’ve really enjoyed checking out the creativity on display for the annual Canstruction event. The incredible art that you see on display also benefits the Freestore Food Bank afterwards.
What is Canstruction?
Canstruction is an international community service project of the design and construction industry to benefit community food banks. With the support of local teams, thousands of hungry people are fed; a greater awareness of the issues surrounding hunger is brought to the public while spotlighting the local design and construction industry giving back to the community.
Architects, engineers, designers and contractors compete to design and build fantastic giant-sized structures made entirely out of canned foods. After the structures are built and the winners declared, the creations go on view to the general public as a giant art exhibit. At the close of the competition, all of the food used in the structures is donated to the local food bank for distribution to community emergency feeding programs. Through the generosity of volunteers, celebrity jurors and members of our local community, Cincinnati Canstruction has contributed 500,000 pounds of food to the Freestore Foodbank. ‘One Man Can’ be a catalyst for change.
You can find Cincinnati Canstruction entries located at these locations.
- Weston Art Gallery/Aronoff Center
- Center at 600 Vine
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Downtown Public Library
- Scripps Center
- Macy’s
- Hampton Inn & Suites
The Canstruction exhibit will be on display from March 8 – March 27, 2016
Scripps Center located at 312 Walnut St
Weston Art Gallery/Aronoff Center located at 650 Walnut St.
Center at 600 Vine located at 600 Vine St.
Hampton Inn & Suites located at 617 Vine St.
Macy’s located at 505 Vine St.
Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 151 W 5th St.
Cincinnati Public Library located at 800 Vine St.
You can find out more about Cincinnati Canstruction from their website.
Fun Things to Do When You Visit Columbus
Columbus, Ohio offers a lot for visitors to see and do. I’m sharing some of my favorite stops in Columbus that I would recommend checking out.
The exhibit that all Sneakerheads will want to see
You could say that my son is well on his way to becoming a Sneakerhead. He loves looking at shoes online and they are his number 1 request for birthdays and gifts. He also saves up his money to purchase additional shoes too. Good thing we’ve taught him the art of discount shopping.
During a trip to Toledo, I knew that he would love The Rise of Sneaker Culture at the Toledo Museum of Art. It was the perfect storm. I love art. He loves shoes. This exhibit displays shoes AS art for the WIN!
The exhibit takes you back to sneaker origins from the mid-1800 to current styles of today.
The Rise of Sneaker Culture features approximately 160 shoes that tell the fascinating story of how a casual fashion staple became the footwear of millions around the world. The exhibition draws from the collections of the Bata Shoe Museum, the Northampton Museums and Art Gallery; the archives of Adidas, Converse, Nike and PUMA; and private collectors such as Dee Wells of Obsessive Sneaker Disorder and legendary hip-hop group Run–DMC.
Shoes on display include an 1860s spiked running shoe, an original 1917 Converse All Star/Non Skid, a pair of 1936 track shoes like the ones Jesse Owens wore at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, the original Air Force 1, and an early Adidas Superstar, as well as contemporary sneaker collaborations with prominent figures such as Damien Hirst, Jeremy Scott, Jeff Staple, Kanye West and many others.
From its historical origins in the recreational pastimes of the elite and the increasing importance of physical fitness to its role today at the vanguard of athletic performance and urban style, the sneaker has been a pivotal component of dress for more than 150 years. The shoe’s ever-evolving design and cultural impact offers insights into the world in which we live, work and play.
When my husband and I were first married, I had him get rid of his old pair of Jordans. He’s regretted that decision every since and reminds me of it all the time. Now the only way he can see them is on display.
This exhibit really takes you through a journey of fashion and art.
Early sneaker designs
Fashion over the years
Creative concepts
My boys loved the interactive element at the end of the exhibit. We spent over an hour in that area.
We played a variation of Chutes and Ladders called Grafitti and Ladders that used tiny sneakers as the place markers and sneaker themed Dominios.
Kids and adults can dream up their own shoe designs by bringing color to the blank sneaker templates.
Exhibit guests can also take a shoe selfie on different flooring samples that can be added to the wall.
Holiday Charm in Bardstown, Kentucky
If you are looking for a destination with charm and history, Bardstown, Kentucky has you covered. There is a lot to discover in this small town with a big heart.
Things to Do in Bloomington, Indiana
So what does Bloomington, Indiana have to offer?
I discovered that Bloomington offers more than I expected. Of course there is a lot of activity surrounded around the University of Indiana, but I think that only enhances your experience.
During my visit to Bloomington, I visited Oliver Winery the first evening. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous! I can see why this is a popular location for special events. The wine selection is also wonderful which gives plenty of options for every pallet. What started as a hobby for a former Indiana law professor in the 1960’s has grown into one of the largest wineries in the eastern United States.
The following day our group discovered downtown.
We started our downtown tour with lunch at Uptown Cafe. Uptown Cafe has been local favorite since it opened in 1976. The owner, Michael Cassidy fell in love with Louisiana style cooking and the menu and atmosphere reflect his love of New Orleans.
I opted for the Cajun Meatloaf that’s an Uptown Classic. (Char-grilled and served on a toasted brioche bun with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise.)
After lunch we walked to the Monroe County Courthouse, Pictura Gallery, and Bloomington Antique Mall. There are lots of unique shops on Morton Street that are worth checking out. If you love vintage items, you might want to allow more time to spend inside the Antique Mall. If you love architecture, you will really enjoy the detail of the courthouse.
After our walking tour I wandered solo for hours downtown discovering the Indiana University at my own pace. I didn’t use a map so I relied on random strangers to point me in the direction of interesting things. The campus of Indiana University is really beautiful. The free art museum on campus was definitely an additional SCORE!
I also loved this sculpture.
For dinner, we ate at a farm to table restaurant downtown called FARMbloomington. This restaurant has a very eclectic atmosphere and takes pride in creating “crowd pleasing recipes for every budget and taste using local foods with global flavors.”
After our meal we watched the performing arts group “Hudsucker Posse” outside in the back parking lot.
FARMbloomington also had another eclectic gem in the lower level called The Root Cellar Lounge. This speakeasy style bar has little seating nooks that create a cozy atmosphere for enjoying a drink.
The “Root Cellar” bar beneath Farm Bloomington is an eclectic speakeasy with several unique seating areas. #visitbtown #tmsbloomington A video posted by adventuremom (@adventuremom) on
The following day I had to try a Pineapple Dole Whip from the Chocolate Moose which is a beloved local favorite place to get a sweet treat.
All of the locations that I mentioned above were walkable from our stay at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Bloomington. The hotel is also right next to the Monroe County Convention Center.
I really enjoyed discovering Bloomington for the 1st time during my visit. You can find even more things to do in Bloomington from their website.
Thanks to Visit Bloomington and TMS for hosting my visit.