THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS GALA

Image provided by YP Choral Collective

Fall freely into the rabbit hole with the second annual YP Choral Collective gala: Through The Looking Glass. Hosted in the glamorous venue, The Phoenix, this year's performances on Saturday, February 15, will feature the Queen of Hearts opera chorus and Mad Hatter jazz band, plus a special New Orleans-style funk performance.

Image provided by YP Choral Collective

With more than 200 volunteer singers who live and work in Greater Cincinnati, YP Choral Collective partners with local businesses and arts organizations creating unique concert collaborations.

Sample a ton of great, local food and sip on some champagne, or splurge on the VIP package which includes an all-night open bar. Dress in your most eccentric black and red attire and experience a Wonderland far from the wintery norm of Cincinnati.

Image provided by YP Choral Collective

YPCC: Through the Looking Glass Gala takes place on Saturday, February 15, 2014 from 7:30pm-11:30pm. Tickets start at $45.00

LUNCHTIME AT BLUE WISP

Cincinnati's leading evening jazz venue is turning up the heat in the kitchen. Founded as a jazz club in 1973 by Paul and Marjean Wisby, Blue Wisp has hosted a continuous stream of national and local jazz talent for nearly 40 years. Originating in O'Bryonville then moving Downtown, the current location at 7th and Race Streets in the heart of the Central Business District has visitors hungry for good food and good music.

Its prime location near many of the Downtown Fortune 500 companies make it a convenient stop for lunch. Combining quick service with hearty homecooking, Blue Wisp is the perfect spot for those looking for an affordable meal that's more than just a grab-n-go sandwich.

Open for lunch on Wednesday, Thursday, and Fridays from 11:00-2:00, Blue Wisp serves up ten meals for $10 or less. Some favorites include:

• Battered Tilapia Sandwich served on a bakery hoagie roll with Cajun remoulade and shredded lettuce
• Crab Cake Sandwich served on sourdough bread with lettuce and tomato
• Chef's Cuban Sandwich with smoked pork belly, ham, Swiss cheese with mustard, mayo, and pickles served on pressed sourdough bread
• Veggie Tacos on soft flour tortillas filled with roasted vegetables and black beans, topped with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and avocado salsa
• Blue Wisp Chicken and Waffles lightly breaded chicken served with bacon cheddar waffles
• Pulled Pork BBQ Sliders topped with coleslaw
• Hummus Trio Roasted Red Pepper, Black Bean, and Original hummus served with pita chips
• Build-Your-Own Burger with a choice of 14 gourmet toppings for only $7.00

LUMENOCITY

Over 35,000 people flocked to Washington Park during the weekend for a first-of-its-kind sensory experience. As part of One City, One Symphony, the community-wide LumenoCity combined a live orchestra concert with elaborate electronic visuals for a mind-blowing 40 minute performance.

Music Hall twinkles with delight for LumenoCity.

 
In honor of Louis Langrée, the new music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, all five of Cincinnati's fine arts groups took part in the event as well as the venue itself. Music Hall's facade served as the canvas for the light show. Visual elements were laid out on a grid and projected from two semi-trailers opposite Music Hall on Race Street. The aesthetics portrayed the building to be dancing along to the music by highlighting its curves and crevasses. A variety of vibrant patterns were also illuminated as well as a story about the seasons of life. Silhouetted dancers used the facade's balcony and horizontal peaks as a stage.

Louis Langrée conducts the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at LumenoCity.
Photo by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

VIDEO: Introducing LumenoCity

 

Saturday's turnout of over 15,000 people filled the event lawn to capacity over 2.5 hours before the show began. The enormous popularity led spectators for Sunday's show to begin staking out spots as early as nine hours before the show. Good thing too, as the final performance drew a crowd of 20,000, many of whom were repeat visitors from Saturday. To accommodate the masses, Cincinnati Police closed both Elm and 14th Street adjacent to Washington Park. Still, the overflow managed to exceed these boundaries, as the gathering pushed as far back to Republic Street on the east side of the park. Cincinnati is one of only 13 cities in the United States to offer all five fine arts including. Cincinnati Pops, Symphony, Opera, Ballet, and May Festival Chorus.

Spectators began arriving at noon to secure a spot for the 8:30pm LumenoCity show.
Photo by OTR Matters

By 6:30pm, not a blade of grass was seen on the Washington Park lawn.

One hour before showtime, the crowds overflow Washington Park as far back as Republic Street.
Photo by John Yung, UrbanCincy

Over 20,000 people in attendance at Washington Park for LumenoCity on Sunday.

Photo by Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

Prior to the light show, John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Pops warmed up the crowd with Broadway hits from Hairspray, Oklahoma, and selections from one of my favorites, Les Miserables.

VIDEO: "Do You Hear The People Sing?"  - Les Miserables

VIDEO: "At The End Of The Day" - Les Miserables

LumenoCity's glistening finale included audience participation as gigantic glowing balls were volleyed across the crowd. After the performance, I met a little girl who caught one of the balls. "I'll sell it to you for $5.00," she smirked. Prosperity is alive and well in Over The Rhine.

VIDEO:  LumenoCity Finale

The little girl with the glowing ball, amongst the exiting crowd on 14th and Elm.

NEW MENU AT BLUE WISP

Recent changes in management isn't the only fresh arrival on Blue Wisp's plate. The 40-year-old Jazz Club located at Seventh and Race Streets just launched their new menu, featuring soulfood, seafood, sandwiches, and giant salads, plus lighter fare for lunchtime portions.

Chef Marciel asks our group our thoughts on the meals.

Chef Marciel Herring creates seasonal dishes for the restaurant, with menu items changing out every four to eight weeks. His goal with the rotating fare is to keep selections both exciting and consistent. The bar also includes handmade craft cocktails and some Blue Wisp signature drinks. Out of the several dishes we sampled, the Stuffed Chicken Breast with balsamic reduction was a fantastically uncommon flavor that I would order again and again. The Crab Cakes tasted right out of the ocean, with just the right breading and were neither dry nor greasy. Blending mashed potatoes with cream cheese and chives gave this staple dish an added touch of flare. And of course, Blue Wisp's award-winning dessert from the Taste of Cincinnati, their Vanilla Bourbon Bread Pudding, remains on the menu and is still as delicious as ever.

Crab Cakes with a lemon garlic aioli sauce

Stuffed chicken breast with prosciutto, topped with cherry tomatoes and a balsamic reduction sauce

Cream cheese chive mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus

Beef tenderloin medallions with red wine demi-glacé and roasted creamy bleu cheese crumbles

Pan-seared salmon with sweet onion apple cider

Best of Cincinnati Award-winning Dessert:
Vanilla Bourbon Bread Pudding

 

Blue Wisp's new manager, Ken Moore, has big plans to include late night dining options. The Rosemary Clooney Room will cater to the after-hours crowd from 10:00PM-2:00AM offering sandwiches, coneys, nachos, wings, and other comfort food. This is a much-welcomed idea to the Downtown evening scene, which is home to dozens of bars but lacks a good sit-down diner. Currently, only a few walk-up window eateries are open for late night food, which serve only pizza and sandwiches for take away.

Manager Ken Moore tells our group about the changes at Blue Wisp.

Interested in trying out Blue Wisp's new cuisine? Check them out during the Downtown Restaurant Week special: two dinners for $35.00 from August 5-11. Or stop by any time for lunch, dinner, or a late night bite.

SHADES OF ELVIS

January 8th marks the 78th birthday of Elvis Presley. While The King of Rock n' Roll has been gone for decades, his songs and over-the-top performances live on in the world's society of Elvis Tribute Artists. Locally, Cincinnati is home to Bob Lovelace, who has been recreating Presley since 1994.

I met Elvis. He gave me his scarf.

In addition to memorizing hundreds of songs, Lovelace began takin' care of business by learning the moves, charm, and looks of Elvis. With wispy black hair, sideburns, and a wardrobe of signature bedazzled jumpsuits, Lovelace takes to the stage of weddings, social clubs, fairs, and even personal engagements.

One of the most popular time of year for Lovelace's business, Shades of Elvis, is Valentine's Day. Spouses request appearances at their wives' workplaces, who are surprised by a serenading Elvis with portable sound system and a bouquet of flowers.

Prior to becoming all shook up as The King, Lovelace worked as a truck driver, adding to the similarities he has shared with the real Elvis. Want to see more? Check out my documentary on the big hunk o' love.

GIVEAWAY: TICKETS TO CHRISTMAS SAENGERFEST

As a special holiday treat, CincyWhimsy is giving away a pair of tickets to
Christmas Saengerfest on Saturday, December 15!

To enter, leave a comment on this Facebook post answering the following question:
What is your favorite holiday song?

Contest ends December 14, 2012 at 5:00PM.

Presented by American Legacy Tours, Christmas Saengerfest relives the German tradition as 14 choirs perform in five historical venues throughout Over The Rhine. In addition to hearing performances from award-winning choirs of the World Choir Games, guests may tour the impressive architecture of venues: Memorial Hall, Christian Moerlein Brewery, St. Francis Seraph, Nast Trinity Church, and First Lutheran Church.With a variety of shows to choose from, Christmas Saengerfest is like the Midpoint Music Festival of holiday music.

Christmas Saengerfest runs Friday, December 14 from 6:00-10:00PM and Saturday, December 15 from 5:00-10:00PM.

Giveaway tickets valid for Saturday only.

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: BEETHOVEN 9

One of the best known works of Beethoven welcomed the newest member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Music Director Louis Langrée. If you enjoy the animated enthusiasm of Cincinnati Pops Conductor John Morris Russell, you will definitely love Langrée. With the passion of his work spouting from his fingertips, watching Langrée conduct brings a refreshing new livelihood to the tunes of classical symphony.

The show, Beethoven 9, took place at Music Hall and was the first symphony composed using voices in a performance. Bass soloist Morris Robinson shook the walls with his stunning, powerful voice. 

Morris Robinson

 
I was also thrilled to listen to the Cincinnati May Festival Chorus as they belted out a mesmerizing "Ode To Joy."

 
The concert of a lifetime, Beethoven 9 runs November 15, 17, and 18, and is a must-see performance to kick off your holiday season.  

Check out Tweets and pictures from the concert, which was part of One City, One Symphony at: #ocos2012

MPMF MIDWAY

Accompanied by my photographer-in-crime, 5chw4r7z, we took to the Midpoint Music Festival Midway to explore the free bands, Box Truck Carnival, and plethora of food vendors. This year's MPMF coincided with Final Friday and Night Owl Market, which added an additional day of feasting on Saturday. Whether you had a pass to MPMF or not, there was something for everyone in OTR this weekend.

Midway feeding area

Erin Marie and Maureen received some free advice on these phones.
(Maureen is also an awesome phone multi-tasker.)

Erin Marie receives some randomly selected free advice.

My free advice slip: "Don't waste your time being somebody other than you want to be."
Photo by 5chw4r7z.

My favorite kind of laugh.

Enjoying some comedy at the OTR Improv box truck. Here, the actors portray the genre "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Erin Marie, Maureen, and I annihilated the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle arcade game provided by Arcade Legacy.

5chw4r7z got the high score on Galaga!

5chw4r7z takes off on his bike at 12th and Vine.

WORLD CHOIR GAMES: WEDNESDAY

The World Choir Games have taken Cincinnati by storm! From free concerts at local parks to the intense competitions of champions, we have sincerely earned the moniker, "The City That Sings."

Choral festivities began Wednesday with a free Friendship Concert at Smale Riverfront Park featuring performers from Turkey, China, and Nigeria.

A lawn full of spectators.

The entire Zhuhai, China choir sat by me during the show.

Boğaziçi Jazz Choir from Turkey

Be sure to watch this performance for the surprise at the end!

Zhuhai High School Choir from China

Lagos City Chorale from Nigeria

En route home, I strolled passed a group competing from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who were belting out The Beatles in the Blue Wisp Jazz Club.

Gold Company from Kalamazoo, Michigan

Four choirs, four different countries, four different continents. And that was just Wednesday.