Romance is in the Air in the BC

February is the month dedicated to love and coupledom. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, you’ve got just a few weeks left to plan your romantic get away. With hundreds of fine dinging and entertainment options, the BC is here to help you plan an amorous weekend for you and your sweetheart.

Wine and dine your honey. The BC is a mecca for fine dinning experiences. Jag’s Seafood and Steak in West Chester offers an eclectic menu of fresh sushi, Kobe beef and Certified Angus Beef filets, top-notch pastas, poultry, salads and decadent handcrafted desserts. If you’re looking for something a little bit less formal, try Paesano’s Pasta House in Oxford. Paesano’s offers Tuscan style custom-made pasta dishes and a warm and friendly atmosphere. For the history buff, The White House Inn in Hamilton, a restored farmhouse, sits on six acres of Ohio countryside and provides a taste of heartland cooking and fireside spirits.

How about a little alone time over a full-bodied glass of wine? Little Sonoma and The Wine List are fine wine and gourmet food shops where you are sure to find something to please both of your picky pallets. If you’re looking for that upscale bar atmosphere, The Wise Owl wine bar is a modern culinary boutique experience complete with over 275 wine selections and live music entertainment.

Complete your romantic night at one of the BC’s luxury hotels like the Hampton Inn in Fairfield or the Courtyard by Marriott in Hamilton, both are award-winning hotels where you and your sweetheart can relax in style. Sound too cookie-cutter for your unique relationship? Maybe you’re looking for something more intimate? Cascade Lakes Bed and Breakfast in Middletown is a charming colonial home tucked away on 47 wooded acres and offers a warm and cozy hometown feel.

Romance is always in the air in the BC, plan your romantic get away with us and make this year’s Valentine’s Day one that you won’t soon forget.

January E-News, A Fantastic February

With all the great activities happening and resolutions being conquered this January, the month is going to fly by. So, here is a glimpse into what February holds in The BC!

Head over to Hamilton to see the Hamilton Civic Theatre perform The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on February 9-12. Directed by Adam Drake, this performance will entertain the whole family!

Thomas the Train is everywhere at EnterTRAINment Junction this February! Everything Thomas, from February 1 through February 29, features a Thomas scavenger hunt, play tables, Thomas train layouts, discounts on Thomas the Train merchandise, and more!

Put a special twist on Valentine’s Day this year with the Daddy/Daughter Sweetheart Dance in Oxford on February 4. For Dads, Uncles, or special friends and their favorite little girls, this event is a formal affair complete with great music, snacks, and creating memories! The theatre is roaring with productions this February.

January E-News, Girlfriend Adventures

Make your New Year’s resolution to be spending time with your girlfriends! We’ve got the perfect activity for any group of friends. Budget-friendly, arts oriented, and even sporty all come into play with these activities.

Bottoms up and brushes up at Paint by the Glass in West Chester! At Paint by the Glass, a local, professional artist will teach you and your friends how to paint your own abstract work of art in less than 3 hours, all while sipping on wine and hors d'oeuvres. So, bring your girlfriends out to one of the fun and easy classes.

Enjoy outlet sale prices on designer products at the Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Monroe. With over 100 designer stores, this outlet shopping center is a fashionista’s delight! A food court, modernly designed outdoor space, and designer brands like Nike, Michael Kors, Coach, and more, all guarantee a good time.

Head over to IKEA in West Chester for great deals on unique home furnishings and the best Swedish meatballs around! With modernly designed room settings, walk-through model homes, a restaurant serving Swedish specialty meals, and more, IKEA is a must-visit for your girlfriend getaway.

January E-News, Exotic Eateries

Tast-test a new and exotic dish in honor of the New Year! The BC is full of exotic and ethnic restaurants just waiting to introduce you to a different cultural experience. With everything from Mexican, Chinese, Ottoman, Thai, and more, the choices are endless.

If sushi is your foodie scene, then head over to Sushi Nara in Oxford. Sushi Nara is a modern sushi restaurant within a beautiful 170-year old, historic building in downtown Oxford. With top-notch service and friendly staff, the restaurant features 40 different types of rolls, 60 types of sushi, appetizers, soup, salad, and more!

Fairfield is the exotic eatery hot spot of Butler County! With a huge variety of ethnic cuisine, ranging from all parts of the world, Fairfield features Peruvian dining at Sabor Peruano, a Mexican menu at Taqueria Mercado Mexican Restaurant, and more.

If you are looking to cook yourself an out of this world dish, stop at Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield. You’ll find more than 150,000 international food items from over 75 countries. This food lover’s paradise features imported groceries, exotic spices, olive oils, hot sauces, a bakery, fresh produce, exotic game, live seafood, and so much more.

December E-News, A Joyful January

Ring in the New Year with an abundant arts scene happening in The BC! January is a musical month, featuring performances by folk groups, symphony orchestras, and local bands.

Get lost in an indie-rock fairytale with the band, Ellery performing at the Fairfield Community Arts Center on January 27. Ellery is a husband-wife duo who went from friends to engaged in just four days! Their music is a blend of indie, rock, and acoustic, while having garnered awards and much acclaim since their debut in 2006. Their lush-pop sound will have you fine-tuning your emotional self and wanting more.

The Fitton Center for Creative Arts features the Cincinnati-based, award-winning folk music group Wild Carrot & the Roots Band on January 14. Rooted in traditional American music, this group performs a variety of musical styles with guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, concertina, banjo, bass, and vocals. This band has something for everyone and has been described as “honest, soothing, uplifting, and fun!”

Expand your musical range at the Middletown Symphony Orchestra Concert “From Russia With Love” at the Towne Boulevard Church of God on January 28. Under the direction of Maestro Carmon DeLeone, on his 30^th anniversary season, the concert will include Sergei Prokofiev, Overture on Hebrew Themes, Rodin Shchedrin, Carmen Suite, and Igor Stravinsky, Pulcinella Suite.

December E-News, Ice, Ice Baby

It’s time to lace up your ice skates and tie those scarves tight for a month full of ice skating in The BC! Skate with the family at Miami University, take a group of friends for shopping and skating, or catch an Ice Hockey game at the Goggin Ice Center.

Take the kids to the ice this December! The McDonald’s KidsSkate Holiday Party at the Goggin Ice Center in Oxford on December 10 will feature ice skating with Santa, music, door prizes, games, and more. And, bring a new, unwrapped toy to benefit Miami’s Holiday Project and receive a coupon for a FREE admission to a December Holiday Ice Skating session.

Cheer on your Miami University Men’s Ice Hockey team as they play Ohio State at the Goggin Ice Center on December 10. The 7:05 p.m. game will get your blood pumping and your hands clapping. Go Redhawks!

Take a spin on the ice at the NEW Bridgewater Falls Lifestyle Shopping Center's Ice Skating Rink. Open now through January 1, guests can skate with Santa every Saturday afternoon until December 17. After ice skating get some shopping done; when you purchase a $50 Bridgewater Falls gift card, you will receive a $10 Bridgewater gift card FREE now through December 23.

December E-News, Light Up The Night

Warm up in The BC with one of our many holiday events and seasonal light displays. Twinkling lights glittering among the trees, sprinkles of snow falling from the sky, and holiday music on the radio will all create memories for your family and friends.

Add sparkle to your holiday with Light Up Middletown running now until December 31 in Smith Park. Light up Middletown is a spectacular drive-through holiday fantasy display featuring a tunnel of lights, Santa’s workshop, and dozens of animated characters. And, be sure to catch the Annual Hot Air Balloon Glow lighting up the night sky on December 6.

See Fairfield transform into a winter wonderland at Light Up Fairfield on December 3. Help Santa welcome the holiday season and light up the big tree on the Village Green Amphitheater Stage. This event also includes a Holiday Market, Christmas ornament making, music, and more!

Take an enchanting journey through Holiday Lights on the Hill at Pyramid Hill in Hamilton. Running now through January 1, 2012 this holiday lights display transforms the rolling hills of the sculpture park into another worldly, holiday delight. Visitors can drive through the park, leaving their worries behind at this seasonal event.