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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Greater Cincinnati area has so much to offer during the holiday season. I’ve created a list of fun events and attractions to add to your list.
Special Upcoming Events not to miss!
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.
I discovered Pyramid Sculpture Park a few years ago and it still remains as one of my favorite Cincinnati area gems. There are a few reasons why.
Do you love to watch dance?
You can see the creative skills by amazing choreographers this Sunday at the Cincinnati Aronoff. I’m excited to see all of this great talent in one performance.
BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS is pleased to announce that North America’s hottest new dance show — SHAPING SOUND — will perform one night only at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center, Sunday, November 8 at 4:00 PM.
Experience the exhilarating collaboration of North America’s newest dance visionaries as they mash-up music genres and dance styles in an explosive dance theater experience perfect for all ages.
The dance company SHAPING SOUND was established in Los Angeles in 2012 with a focus on contemporary dance and choreographic artistry. Created by the 2015 Emmy Award winner for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ ©- TRAVIS WALL, along with NICK LAZZARINI, TEDDY FORANCE and KYLE ROBINSON, the company is an evocative collaboration by diverse artists who describe themselves as ‘visual musicians,’ i.e. their dance gives shape and form to sound. The four dancers broke into public awareness in a big way with the debut of the reality television series “All The Right Moves” on the Oxygen channel. The popular series followed these lifelong friends and roommates in their quest to launch their own dance company – the company that is now the enormously successful SHAPING SOUND.
SHAPING SOUND’s movement style provides its audience access to, and a greater understanding of contemporary dance through a unique fusion of jazz, modern and hip-hop choreography. With a dynamic mix of energy, emotion and athleticism, the ensemble brings tremendous musicality of movement to each performance. Lauded by the commercial dance world and immensely popular with audiences of all ages, the company members have been showcased on all of America’s popular primetime dance, awards, entertainment and music shows including: “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing With The Stars,” “Glee,” “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “The 2013 Prime Time Emmy Awards” to name a few. They have toured internationally with an impressive array of the world’s top recording artists, and with award-winning dance companies.
Respected by both critics of dance and by the entertainment industry in general, SHAPING SOUND has quickly built an important critical resume and an impressively large fan base. BroadwayWorld.com described the show as: “Electrifying and stunning … Aficionados of contemporary dance should do everything in their power to attend SHAPING SOUND.” And The Advocate said: “Once in a generation there is a group of artists who changes the trajectory of a genre.” After a Dallas-area performance, Theatre Jones stated: “The choreography creates a visual effect that is mesmerizing.”
The principal dancers are joined by Chantel Aguirre, Channing Cooke, Rory Freeman, Daniel Gaymon, Jaimie Goodwin, Kate Harpootlian, Justine Lutz, , Briana Morrison, Chelsea Thedinga, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ All-Star Kathryn McCormick, and the 2014 Winner of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Ricky Ubeda.
The combined resumes of the founding members show an impressive foray into the top echelon of the American entertainment industry:
TRAVIS WALL was the runner-up for the Fox reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” and is currently a resident choreographer and judge for this highly-rated national dance competition show. He is the 2015 Emmy-Award winner for ‘Outstanding Choreography’ and a four time Emmy© nominee, for his work on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars,” along with fellow cast mates, Teddy Forance and Nick Lazzarini. He assisted with the choreography of the “The 82nd Academy Awards,” and with Drake for “The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards” and has worked with Florence and the Machine, Chelsea Handler, Eminem, and Rihanna. Travis also choreographed the contemporary numbers for the feature film, Step Up Revolution. Currently, he teaches on tour with NUVO Dance Convention.
NICK LAZZARINI is the season one winner of the Fox reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” and he has been featured in countless publications, including twice as the cover story of Dance Sprit Magazine. He recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards” and has danced with music sensations such as Adele, on “Dancing With the Stars,” Kelly Clarkson at this year’s “American Music Awards” and with Florence and the Machine at “The MTV Video Music Awards”. Currently he teaches on tour for JUMP Dance Convention.
TEDDY FORANCE is a fourth generation dancer with his family’s dance studio, the Hackworth School of Performing Arts in Massachusetts. He turned professional by the age of 17 travelling throughout Greece as a dancer for the international pop star Anna Vissi. He has partnered with many esteemed choreographers including Mia Michaels – where he assisted the “Celine Dion Taking Chances” tour and performed as a lead dancer in Cirque du Soleil’s Delirium. He is well-known for his work in seasons two and three of the Fox television reality show “So You Think You Can Dance” for which he received an honorary Emmy© Award nomination. He is a featured performer on “Dancing with the Stars” and works as a choreographer for Julianne Hough and Kenny Wormald. He has performed with an array of award-winning artists including Lady Gaga performing on “American Idol,” Usher at “The American Music Awards,” Florence and the Machine at “The MTV Video Music Awards” and choreographed for Kelly Clarkson on “The American Music Awards”. He recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards”. Currently, he teaches internationally for JUMP Dance Convention.
KYLE ROBINSON began dancing when he was eleven years old and quickly mastered all movements and forms of the art. By the age of eighteen, he was awarded the ‘Gold Award in Modern Dance’ from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA). It was during this time that he met legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov who has served as Kyle’s mentor since. He trained at the Julliard School, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Throughout college he worked as a freelance dancer with Aszure & Artists and the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. He played ‘Diesel’ in the recent, highly reviewed first national tour of West Side Story. Kyle recently performed on “The 2013 Emmy Awards,” “X Factor” and this past season in “Glee”.
SHAPING SOUND is produced by BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS, LLC, Executive Producer Gil Stroming and Producer Nikole Vallins, and is considered one of the world’s preeminent dance entertainment companies today. In addition to touring theatrical productions, they produce dance conventions in 75 cities throughout the year which encompass dance workshops, dance competitions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 250,000 dancers annually, BREAK THE FLOOR PRODUCTIONS is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment.
Shaping Sound will be at the Aronoff Center for the Arts
Sunday November 8 at 4pm
$ 73.25
$ 58.25
$ 48.25
$ 38.25
Tickets are on sale now at CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS or the Aronoff Center Ticket Office.
For more information visit www.SHAPINGSOUNDCO.COM
Disclosure: I received tickets for review and giveaway purposes. All opinions are my own.
The first time that I saw the LEGO artwork sculpture “Yellow” by Nathan Sawaya was at Art Prize a few years ago in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I’ve been a fan ever since.
So what makes the Art of the Brick Exhibit unique?
