cincinnati

some of you are still wondering...why ohio?  in december? well, here's why.

over the rhine is unique in that they've been around for 20+ years and aren't hugely famous, but they do have a fiercely loyal fan base.  once a fan, always a fan.  i first heard them in my freshman year of high school when we lived in wheaton, illinois and never turned back.  that was 17 years ago (ouch.  just seriously aged myself).  

case in point: when they were looking to put out a record and hoping to release it independently, they went to their fans asking for help.  and people responded like crazy.  and they weren't only asking for cash up front, they were offering gifts in return.  ours happened to be tickets to their three shows in cincinnati.

friday morning:  arrive.  wasted.  we had left vancouver 18 hours earlier.  hit the shower and go for a walk to find me a winter coat.  pathetic attempt at a self portrait.

friday night.  exclusive show for donors (that's us!).  small theatre playing new, unreleased album (the long surrender), start to finish.  so good.  this was my favorite show musically because i hadn't heard the album yet and everything was so new and fresh and beautiful.  moving.  to say the least.  

saturday day. trip across the border into kentucky to see newport and mainstrasse village in covington. check out my facebook album to see the amazing mural we found!

laughed our way through an amazing lunch at fatty patty's reading all their far side comics.

saturday night.  15th(?) annual homecoming show.  taft theatre.  hundreds of people.  more of their new album (this video is from that night...we were in the fifth row) and a few christmas songs.  there was a buzz in the air.  and we made some new friends!

sunday morning: headed into the district of "over-the-rhine" from whence the band name came. cool buildings and a sweet consignment store.

sunday afternoon: "soiree". the closing of over the rhine's year. belgian waffles (like nothing i've ever tasted before), freshly made vanilla lattes, wine, cheese, pitas and hummus, old cathedral, relaxed atmosphere, more oldies, chatting, dancing...so warm and unique.

did i mention we spent a lot of time in airports? four airports on the way there and three on the way back - including a missed flight, a canceled flight and lost baggage. and so i implore you...never fly delta airlines!!

in spite of all this, it was such a lovely weekend. the "once in a lifetime" kind of lovely. one i won't soon forget. got three dates out with my husband, had three reasons to dress up nice, read a great book from cover to cover, slept through an entire night for the first time in over a year...merry christmas to me! and to you. but don't worry, i'm not signing off for this year quite yet. i've still got a coupe doozey family pictures waiting for you faithful readers!