CincyWhimsy

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

Mo' money, mo' problems...Motown. The famed lyrics sums up the rise of Detroit's grassroots music scene, retold in Broadway musical form as the story of one man's dream. Founder Berry Gordy's journey in the entertainment business started with a desire to write songs and grew into a recording label as he launched careers of some of most iconic African American performers of the time.

Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy

Motown The Musical captures every toe-tapping detail of Gordy's rise and inevitable fall as he competes with corporate record labels. The fast-paced timeline progresses with songs from the eras, such as early hits from Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye. We meet the Supremes during their high school days, croon with a young Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder; all who got their start in a Detroit studio known as Hitsville U.S.A.

Berry Gordy and Diana Ross
Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy

With success comes trials, as competitors inch in on Gordy's talent, and romantic relationships blossom within his close-knit collaborative.

The Supremes
Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy

As a fan of the Motown sound, the Broadway cast reenactments of musical legends were spot on -- from appearance to rafter-shaking vocal talent. I particularly enjoyed Reed Shannon, a teenager who owned the roles of young talent that Gordy shaped. While rockin' with the Jackson 5 hit "ABC," his song mastery shined during the audition scene where Shannon belted out a heartfelt "old soul" ballad as Michael Jackson.

Jackson 5
Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of Broadway in Cincy

Motown The Musical does a fantastic job of telling the whole story of how Gordy's Motown label pioneered African Americans into the popular music scene. If you're curious on learning about the backstory, a hardcore Motown fan, casual listener, or simply enjoy a musical with a solid story and all-around powerhouse cast -- this show is for you!

Motown The Musical runs through September 20, 2015 at The Aronoff.

MORE DOS & DON'TS OF LUMENOCITY

Recently, Lumenocity posted a cheeky Dos and Don'ts list with tips for attending the multi-day festivities. I have a few more to add:

DO remember that you're in a neighborhood. Conduct yourself as if you were on your home street, being considerate that residents may be asleep when you leave Lumenocity.

DON'T litter, pee in stairwells, walk through flowerbeds, or congregate in doorways when others are trying to enter/exit.

He's about to step on some plants...

DO use designated crosswalks as there will be extensive traffic and motorists unfamiliar with navigating city streets.

DO take the bus, as parking will be at capacity during the event. If attending Lumenocity on a weekday, Metro*Plus has a 30 minute journey from Nordstrom at Kenwood Mall to Downtown, dropping you off within walking distance of the event.

For both weekend and weekday, if you live near:
I-75 (between Downtown and Springdale): ride Route 78
Northside: ride Route 17 or 19
Westwood: ride Route 64 or 21
Mt. Lookout: ride Route 24
Each of the above also drop off/pick up within walking distance of Lumenocity. Roundtrip cost: $3.50 per person.

If you choose to drive, DO remember to use the pay-and-display machine if you don't see a parking meter. Street parking is enforced until 9:00pm.

If you park in a garage, DON'T take up multiple spaces. Check to make sure all four tires are inside the lines.

A crowd queues at a parking lot after Lumenocity.

DO visit a new or favorite local restaurant.

DON'T put your name on six restaurant waitlists, take the first available, and forget to cancel the rest.

DO wear practical walking shoes. Ladies, leave the stilettos at home.

DO keep track of your handbag. This is an urban area with an event attracting thousands of people. There will be pickpockets. I recommend a crossbody bag with zipper closure.

DON'T forget to pack some bug spray or lemongrass oil to ward off insect bites.

DO check out the historic Cincinnati LEGO displays at Music Hall.

DON'T bring your iPad to film Lumenocity. The people seated behind you bought tickets to watch the show, not to watch it through your glowing, 12" screen.

DO wear your salmon shorts, the OTR trend of the summer.

DO pick up after yourselves. Or you may become b-roll in an indie film:

I LOVE LUCY AT THE ARONOFF

I've got some 'splainin to do about this awesome Broadway rendition of I Love Lucy!

Enter the Aronoff. The audience was a mix of both young people and age-old fans -- proof that Lucy continues to be a timeless classic. Plenty of people were dressed in Lucy-similar fashion: bright dresses, pinned up hair, and ruby red lips. It was a fun touch to see people showing their excitment for the show in their fashion choice.

Now, I'm a casual Lucy watcher. I wouldn't be savvy at trivia, but enjoy the plotlines and humor. My friend Allie accompanied me; she's a hard core fan. Both of us were heartily entertained by the non-traditional musical. Going in blind, I thought I Love Lucy would be one of those recreations of a star's career, similar to Million Dollar Quartet or Ring of Fire. Lucy is not one of those musicals.

Curtains up! The audience became a live studio audience as 1950s television cameras panned around the stage, makeup and wardrobe artists fluffed and primped the talent, painting a glimpse into what a real, live I Love Lucy production would look like. With more acting than singing, the cast "broadcasts" two episodes with all your favorite antics: trips to the doctor, Club Babalu, ukeleles, and your favorite supporting cast members: Ricky, Ethel, and Fred.

Leads Thea Brooks, Euriamis Losada, Kevin Remington and Lori Hammel do a smashing job of embracing their characters, including look, voice, and quirky mannerisms. With plenty of hilarity, an occasional tune, and (my favorite part of the show) the old-timey advertisement jingles for products such as Brylcreem, Alka-Seltzer, Mr. Clean, and "See the USA in your Chevolet!" everyone can find enjoyment in falling in love with Lucy all over again.

I Love Lucy runs at The Aronoff through June 14, 2015.

FAMOUS FOOTWEAR OPENS IN SOUTH LEBANON

A lady's closet has endless room for shoes. Imagine my excitement when Famous Footwear reached out to me to check out their new store in Cincinnati. I've been a long-time fan of the retailer, as they always have a good variety of stylish, practical shoes in addition to sneakers and stilettos. Plus, the selection rotates frequently and they make it easy to stock up with sales and fantastic clearance deals.

Converse are my go-to sneakers, comfortable and versatile enough to pair with a sundress or a Casual Friday office outfit. Famous Footwear offers exclusive colors for their store, such as these two eye-catchers:

The rest of the workweek, you'll find me in flats. As an urban dweller, my commute involves a lot of walking, making comfort just as important as style. Enter Dr. Scholl's. Traditionally known as a brand for older folks and orthopedic inserts, Dr. Scholl's has quickly become one of my go-to brands for fashionable shoes that allow me to pound the pavement. Check out these adorable colors in their Frankie Ballet Flat.

If you're on the hunt for athletic shoes, Famous Footwear has plenty of those too. Other stores tend to carry only pastel or neon colors for ladies' running shoes, so I was pleased to find several options in black with a hint of color, making it easier to pair with an assortment of fitness clothes.

Famous Footwear has several locations around Cincinnati, most located in the northern suburbs. If you live near the river, check out their Northern Kentucky shop near Newport Kroger.

MARCH BUYING GUIDE

In with a lion full of savings, March mixes it up with a new selection of sales from the usual department store apparel discounts. Spring is one of the best times to stock up, especially if you're looking for a good price on a long-term item, such as jewelry, luggage, electronics, or even a place to live.

Things to wait on:

Spring clothing (best deals are in April and May)
Lingerie (best deals are during the semi-annual sale in June)
Vacuums (best deals are in April and Black Friday)
Thrift shopping (wait until spring cleaning begins, then hit stores in April for the largest selection of the year)
Cookware and kitchen accessories (these go on sale during graduation season in May)

Things to buy in March:

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Electronics (MP3 players, DVD players, tablets, laptops, smartphones, digital cameras): With the new products unveiled at January's annual Consumer Electronics Show now reaching store shelves, look for steep discounts on last year's models and some introductory deals on new products. The Japanese fiscal year also ends in March, and since that's where most of our gadgets are made, you'll see markdowns similar to our end-of-year sales in January.

Luggage: It's in between vacation seasons, so expect to find luggage markdowns before spring break (early April) and summer travel begins.

Frozen Foods: March is unofficially known as National Frozen Foods Month in the industry, which champions some sleek deals for consumers. Look for specials pricing items 20-50% off. The best part, since they're frozen, you can stock up all month!

Houses: According to Bankrate, spring is a great time to buy a house (or search for a new apartment, if you're a renter.)

Jewelry: Get a head start on Mothers' Day shopping and snag some great post-Valentine's Day deals on marked down jewelry.