a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 01
cincinnati
04 lists & letters A letter from the editor The a-list
Our favorite magical movie scenes involving booze and glitter
Tiny Bits
Pretty party pieces for you and your guests
06 Fashion & beauty Test kitchen
Our trio tries several Abby Girl Sweets cupcakes
Mirror, mirror
Safe tanning practices made safer sans sun
The good life
Green B.E.A.N. delivery brings organic green groceries straight to your door
Beauty alert
Another year older, another year wiser, another year of wrinkles
First look
Mild mints, retro prints, and sporty silhouettes
16 Arts & culture House Calls
Gallery Director Cate Yellig celebrates the Usonian period and her Cincinnati-centric art collection
Throwing a super Soiree
Party planning with a purpose by Ilene Ross
Let’s Hear it For the Girls
The Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years by Hannah McCartney
Music to our ears
Leyla loves The Shins, Garden & Villa, and The Boss
mixtape darlings
Annie Clark of St. Vincent gives us her current playlist
The Sandwich Generation
The art of caring for your parents, your children...and yourself by Jennifer Saltsman
28 Projects & recipes
811 Race St., Fifth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513-665-4700 Fax: 513-665-4368 a-linemagazine.com General inquiries: info@a-linemagazine.com Advertising opportunities: ads@a-linemagazine.com Editor in chief Maija Zummo CREATIVE Director Rebecca Sylvester editor at large Judith Turner-Yamamoto contributing editor Tamia Stinson DESIGNER Julie Hill Contributors Kristina Gerig, Hannah McCartney, Elle Morris, Paula Provenzano, Ilene Ross, Leyla Shokoohe, Hannah Smith, Kelly Tucker, Molly Wellmann photographers Janus Anatta, Cameron Knight, Emily Maxwell, Steven Siedentopf, Gina Weathersby, Shannon Williams Interns Sidney Hilley, Jordan Keller, Megan Turner, Jennifer Saltsman, Courtney Tynan director of sales and marketing Chuck Davis sales supervisor Tony Frank Advertising Account managers Brooke Barron, Lauren Faulkner, Katharine Harrow, Neil White, Jessica Wolcott Circulation Manager Steve Ferguson BUSINESS Manager Jeff Dorsey receivables Latha Mannava administrative assistant Brandi Ballou events Kenneth Wright Publisher Dan Bockrath
Make your own
On the cover Sweet sorbet, photo by Gina Weathersby
Cookbook
Entire contents are copyright 2012 SouthComm, Inc. and may not be reprinted in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publishers.
Tissue paper flower garlands make any space a party space Slow roasted strawberry sponge cake with hibiscus and honey whipped cream & white balsamic and rhubarb gastrique...need we say more?
happy hour
Molly takes us to the Tiki bar with a Lime in the Coconut cocktail
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 03
marie Antoinette (2006) Sofia Coppola’s artistic take on a masquerade party. Big outfits, big hair, and tiny dogs for days.
Life isn’t necessarily like the movies, but when it comes to epic parties, sometimes we wish it was. These mythical silver screen celebrations are some of our favorite party scenes—opulent, glittery, and well-costumed: Stealing Beauty (1996) A beautiful American girl (Liv Tyler) attends a very lush Italian party in a candle-lit Tuscan villa.
National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) One word: toga. The wild Delta Tau Chi party has a cameo by Otis Day and the Knights playing “Shout.”
Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) throws a booze-fueled jazzy soirée in her cigarette-smoke filled New York apartment. There’s dancing, falling, shoulder-riding, mirror-crying, and a police raid...all in fabulous ‘60s attire.
Gosford Park (2001) A scintillating, wellcostumed dinner party with an all-star cast— but we prefer ours sans murder.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) So it’s a parade, not a party. Same difference. Romeo and Juliet (1996) The duo have been reenacting the Capulets’ infamous masked costume party since Shakespeare put pen to paper. Did Romeo’s heart love til now? Who knows, but director Baz Luhrmann sure knows how to stage a wild party. In his version of the ill-fated love story, Mercutio and other revelers perform a drug-fueled, cross-dressed, disco dance number.
04 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Footloose (1984) Badboy teenager Kevin Bacon convinces a small town reverend to let the kids have prom in a town where dancing and rock music have been banned. As Bacon says, “I thought this was a party! Let’s Dance!”Glitter.
the
The Great Gatsby (1974) A decadent party at the Gatsby estate, Roaring Twenties style, with intricately beaded dresses, the Charleston, flowing champagne, and a sudden downpour.
La Dolce Vita (1960) Constant parties are part of the plot in this Federico Fellini film. Tabloid/celebrity journalist Marcello Rubini spends a week in Rome searching for meaningful love and happiness, all the while distracted by beautiful women and glitterati.
list
tiny bits
A collection of A-Line’s favorite odds and ends
letter from the editor Happy birthday to us! We’re celebrating our one-year anniversary this month and, boy, it’s been a great year. I don’t remember turning 1 myself, which is probably good because I didn’t do much besides babble nonsense words, pee in a diaper, and totter around while gnawing on teething rings. But to commemorate these past 365 days or so, I bought myself a cupcake—and champagne—which is how grown-ups honor milestones because we have all of our teeth to chew up cupcakes and IDs that say we can drink alcohol. (I’ve never met a baby with a believable fake ID.) So while we here at A-Line are consuming sugary sweets and cheesy potatoes (Creative Director Rebecca doesn’t eat cake) between keyboard strokes, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for reading, for coming to events, for liking the stupid things I post on Facebook, for letting us photograph your products, for everything. And thank you to our writers, advertisers, stylists, distributors, publishers, printers, and everyone else. We’ve had the staggeringly and unbelievably lucky opportunity to create this—an actual, physical print magazine in this day and age—and to meet and feature so many amazing people. I have relished every single second of this past year, even the sucky ones. It’s been a beautiful experience and we couldn’t have done it without you. Seriously. We make a great team, don’t we? And as I sit here reminiscing about my favorite A-Line things: the parties (our launch party with Fashion Week was crazy!), the Happy Hour cocktails (Molly Wellmann can do no wrong when it comes to alcohol), the fashion shoots (how fantastic did FOX19’s Sheila Gray look in the January spread?), the stories, and that giant cat on last month’s cover, I have to acknowledge that the one great thing that the passage of time brings us is change. You all are going to see some changes around here in the next couple months, but remember that without change there is no growth. And I think one of the most important things we can do in life is to continually grow, learn, and evolve. We all tramp a perpetual journey, and it’s the burden and joy of the trip that awakens us. So cheers to the past, cheers to the future, and cheers to all of us for being awesome.
glasses necklace Little Hawk Jewelry, littlehawkjewelry.com $38.00
wooden balloons Cappel’s, Downtown $.10 each
Bacon and Martini Candles Tantrum, Northside $18.00 each
teak mushroom Toko Baru, Clifton $26.00
sliced Bread Card Tantrum, Northside $2.25
NYC greek coffee mug Shake It, Northside $12.99
Fox Bookend Mica 12/v, OTR $58.00
Musk perfume oil Toko Baru, Clifton $18.00
ceramic coasters Covington Clay Pottery, Fabricate, Northside $23.00
chocolats latour salted almond bar Coffee Emporium, OTR $7.00
Sofia Coppola sparkling wine The Party Source, Newport $15.99 for a 4-pack
—Maija Zummo
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 05
Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
Test kitchen Product reviews from A-Line’s staff
Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery, owned and operated by a husband-and-wife team, bakes all their cupcakes from scratch— with flavor approval from chief taste tester, daughter Abby. $2.75 per cupcake/$2.50 each if you buy more than six www.abbygirlsweets.com
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
Beautiful Hair
Repair
starts with
maija, Editor in Chief I ate the pink cupcake in the picture up there: strawberry cake with strawberry icing. Does that seem like it would be too much strawberry? Yes. Was it? No. Strawberry cupcakes are my favorite cupcakes because they taste like summer instead of tiny, heavy desserts. This cake in particular was delicately flavored, incredibly moist (it stuck to my fingers), and not too sweet. The icing tasted like real strawberries, not weird chemical flavoring, and added to the flavor of the cake instead of overwhelming it. Best cupcake I’ve had in a long time.
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ rebecca, Creative Director I dislike cupcakes. Most sweets in general. Fruit is gross too, but I digress. What do I want for dessert on my birthday? Mashed potatoes. However, if forced to choose a cupcake, I will always go for carrot cake. And the carrot cake cupcake from Abby Girl gets a thumbs up from me. Not too sweet with a really great spice...the only suggestion I have: mashed potato ‘icing.’ What? No good?
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
8740 Montgomery Rd. 5625 Deerfield Blvd. Cincinnati, OH 45236 Mason, OH 45040 513-794-0202 513-770-2120
06 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Julie, Designer I chose the vanilla cupcake because I’m a sucker for icing that looks like flowers. The cupcake was so moist that it was a little difficult to get out of the wrapper, but here my complaints end, if you even CAN complain about something like that. Holy moly, was this a great cupcake. It was super rich but not too sweet, not even with all that icing on it, which usually I’d scrape off but didn’t need to here because everything was so well-balanced. I recommend this cupcake to aesthetes with sweet-but-not-TOOsweet tooths. Add a cup of coffee and you have yourself the ideal breakfast.
{mirror, mirror}
beyond the pale
tips for the d.i.y. self-tanner For near goof-proof results, try sunless spray versions (which even spray upside down to get your back), or “tan towels.” Create your own “gradual tanning lotion” by blending a solution of one-part self-tanner to two-parts body lotion. This combination will produce a hint of color that you can layer on nightly until the desired shade is achieved. Always prepare your skin for tanner with a thorough body exfoliation to remove dead skin. (Shower off all traces of exfoliant and pat skin dry.) Apply a heavy cream lotion to areas such as elbows and knees that are likely to grab color. Use gloves if applying a cream or lotion with your hands, otherwise the color will stain your hands. Always massage product into skin—in multiple directions. Sprays are good at distributing color more evenly but most of them still need to be massaged. And just rubbing the product in circles or long stokes can create stripes on the skin.
B
Instructions BY Paula Provenzano
efore you plunk your pale fanny down in a tanning bed to get some simulated sun, know this: In the sun-tanning versus self-tanning contest, there is simply no comparison. Spray-on products have no known adverse effects, and UV exposure (including the kind one receives in a tanning bed) has been shown to cause cancer. In a study of more than 106,000 women (published in 2003 by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute), it was determined that use of artificial lamps as little as once a month increased the risk of malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer, by 55 percent. So, if you care about the future health and beauty of your skin, get your dose of “sunshine” in a self-tanning spray—or be pale and proud. Because even though self-tanning products are a huge segment of the beauty business, for me, as a skin care professional, having a “porcelain” complexion has long been the standard. My colleagues and I believe that it is our responsibility to educate the public about the dangers of UV exposure, and part of that responsibility is influencing what popular culture perceives as being beautiful and healthy. But if pale is not a good color on you, fear not: Self-tanning products just keep getting better.
Tanning product is best left on overnight, but if you apply it earlier in the day, do not shower or work-out for four hours. Moisturize regularly and liberally and apply additional self-tanner to maintain or darken skin color.
Still scared? Get an airbrush tan. A trained technician will use an airbrush gun to spray your body per your specifications, such as: “more on the legs, less on the face.” Once this pro has painted on the base coat, you can darken and/or maintain the look at home. Paula Provenzano is a Master Aesthetician with more than 15 years of experience. She has catered to everyone from celebrity clients in New York to luxury spas throughout the United States and Carribean. Provenzano appears monthly on FOX19 Morning News. www.provenskinandbody.com.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 07
Yo u r Aw a r d - Wi n n i n g Personal Baker
Mother’s Day is May 13th, Order Now
Cakes incl. Strawberry, Carrot, Cheesecakes & Cupcakes; Chocolates; Cookies; Brownies; More! a ll made from scratch with only the finest, fresh ingredients. special requests welcome
(513) 549-8623
CakeRackBakery.com visit us sat/sun at findlay market & select a delight!
{the good life} By kelly tucker
GREEN B.E.A.N. DELIVERY
I
photos provided by Dittoe PR
LE MONDE
ANCIEN
EST
NOUVEAU
A Boutique Consignment Shoppe
3071 Madison Rd Oakley, OH. 513-386-9885 Tues - Sat, 11am - 5pm Closed Sun & Mon 08 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
t’s easy to excuse shameless bouts of drivethru dining by the obvious convenience fast food chains provide. In our hectic culture that so deeply values instant gratification, dollar menu items too often take the place of healthy, natural sustenance we know we should be filling up on. Green B.E.A.N. Delivery is obliterating those excuses, however, by making nutrition even more convenient than a value meal. The company’s mission is to spread healthy eating habits to families everywhere, one doorstep at a time. Founded in Indianapolis in 2007 by husband-and-wife team Matt Ewer and Elizabeth Blessing, this family business is growing rapidly, serving local, organic produce and groceries to 10,000 households in the Tri-state area. “We just felt like if we could make it easy for people to do that, they would opt to make that positive choice,” Ewer says. “So online ordering, online customization, all those things came along with it, and how could you get any easier than home delivery?” That’s a tough point to argue because filling up on healthy groceries doesn’t get much easier than shopping through Green B.E.A.N. It’s free to sign up for membership at greenbeandelivery.com, where purchasing local produce is made as simple as possible for time-pressed shoppers. Members select their weekly produce bin size, which ranges from $35 small bins to $49 large bins. Customers can either stick with the standard produce arrangement that comes in the bin or browse through an array of organic, all-natural, and conventional produce and grocery items to swap out or add. After that, all it takes is opening your door and restocking the fridge to enjoy the benefits. Regardless of neighborhood or housing situation, Green B.E.A.N. is determined to make its way to hungry households everywhere. Customers aren’t the only folks benefiting from this convenient setup, however. Local
farmers and artisans are now able to reach a fresh crop of customers through Green B.E.A.N., and the effects are positive for everyone involved. “What we’re most proud of is that we’ve been able to see the companies that we’ve partnered with grow,” Ewer says. “Local farmers and artisans thrive from the direct support of the delivery service, and so it has a very positive impact; it allows them to reach a larger market and reach 10,000 customers if they want to.” “B.E.A.N.” represents the four cornerstones of the company: Biodynamic, Education, Agriculture, and Nutrition. Ewer and Blessing bring their own passions to the dinner table in order to create results that support each of these values. “My personal passion probably lies more on the agriculture side; try to support family farms and give them a support group,” Ewer explains. “And my wife, she has a master’s in nutrition, so she works more along the lines of people eating healthy, trying to build a company that provides healthy food for individuals and makes it a little bit more convenient to eat healthy.” Blessing’s blog, Healthy Times, is linked to the company’s website, featuring recipes, news, and nutrition articles. Meanwhile, Ewer’s agricultural aspirations have led Green B.E.A.N. to launch and manage two of its own farms: one near Indianapolis and a new one just outside of Cincinnati called Feel Good Farm. “We want people to support community-supported agriculture programs if that’s what’s right for them,” Ewer says. “Go to the farmer’s market if that’s what you’re into. Pick out the local foods or items out of your local grocery store. Support a co-op within your community, or support a company like ours.” Visit greenbeandelivery.com for more information.
{BEAUTY LERT} by elle morris
OLDER AND WISER
Another year has gone by and suddenly you’re seeing lines that weren’t there before. Crow’s feet have suddenly appeared, bearing witness to all your smiles in life. The creases in your forehead are now visible for the world to see how much you’ve furrowed your brow in deep thought. Some of us embrace these badges of maturity while others are determined to go down swinging in the fight with aging. If you are the woman who wants to fight aging without intrusive intervention, there are several treatments that, when used regularly, can provide the results you are looking for. Facials such as The Woodhouse Spa’s (513-891-4772) “Advanced AntiAging Facial” can help battle the ravages of time; and if you want to up the ante, go for their “Rejuvenating Microdermabrasion.” In order to ensure optimal results, both treatments should be done regularly (ask your facialist how often). For those of us who are willing to go “deeper,” injectables are a terrific option. For those pesky crow’s feet and brow creases, Botox is like real-life Photoshop: after 10-14 days they are either gone or diminished. For deeper lines (such as your nasolabial folds), fillers such as JUVÉDERM XC or Restylane can do the job beautifully. Injectables are not without risk though, so make sure you are aware of them. Also, I would strongly advise that you see a plastic surgeon such as Dr. Allison Holzapfel at Mangat-Kuy-Holzapfel (513-984-3223) for these procedures. She’s done a terrific job for me! Advice from the VP & General Manager of LPK Beauty The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of Libby, Perszyk, Kathman Inc. or any of its affiliates.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 09
mild mint A refreshing pastel palatte
Louise Labrie, MBA labriel1@nationwide.com
Support SPCA! Call today for a FREE quote and I will donate $20 to SPCA on your behalf.
Louise Labrie Agency (513) 245-4500
11006 Reading Road Sharonville, OH 45241
3240 W. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45239
10 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
first look clockwise from left jeans and silk cami Sara Benjamin’s, Mariemont $167.00; $200.00
mint green salsa bowl Atomic Number Ten, OTR $7.00 for 4
dress with gold buttons Atomic Number Ten, OTR $21.00
high-low hem skirt Sanctuary, Anthropologie $130.00
amf Voit shoes Atomic Number Ten, OTR $19.00
Mint ring Couture Couture, OTR $15.00
peppermint cream Park + Vine, OTR $14.00
styled by hannah smith Photos by shannon williams model photo by steven siedentopf styled by gina weable
Apple & Core A Nutritional lifestyle persoNAlized MeAl plANs
Chef serviCe & MeAl delivery persoNAl TrAiNiNg
BooT CAMp ClAsses�
your heAlThy lifesTyle sTArTs here
Contact rochelle
rochelle@appleandcore.com
FREE TWO WEEK TRIAL
Retro-spective Be bold in these bright geometrics
12 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
gina tab-waist short Shoshanna, Soho Boutique, Hyde Park $290.00
Hair Scarves Emily-Kitturah Westenhouser, Fabricate, Northside
first look
clockwise from left
$8.00 each
Harvey Faircloth geometric dress The Wardrobe, Madeira price upon request
custo barcelona dress Three French Hens, Hyde Park $238.00
club chair print Melissa Bryant, Fabricate, Northside $10.00
flower bag with bakelite handle Atomic Number Ten, OTR $12.00
skyline skinny chello print jeans Paige, Sloane Boutique, OTR $190.00
Vivianne henley Alicia Bell, Sara Benjamin’s, Mariemont $167.00
styled by hannah smith Photos by shannon williams model photo by steven siedentopf styled by gina weable
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 13
Voted #1 Clothing Store in Cincinnati by CityBeat Readers
Louise Labrie Agency
Louise Labrie, MBA labriel1@nationwide.com (513) 245-4500 11006 Reading Road Sharonville, OH 45241
3240 W. Galbraith Road Cincinnati, OH 45239
14 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
styled by hannah smith Photos by shannon williams model photo by steven siedentopf Styled by Gina Weable
first look
athlete aesthete Take sporty to the street, to work, to cocktails...
clockwise from left bright rain boots Steve Madden, Morrison & Me, Hyde Park $79.00
red stitch leggings LNA, Sloane Boutique, OTR $120.00
cropped yoga pant lululemon, Hyde Park $88.00
LOVE MOSCHINO jacket The Wardrobe, Madeira price upon request
Mesh top Soho Boutique, Hyde Park price upon request
white sheer vest Couture Couture, OTR $57.00
suki dress Sloane Boutique, OTR $350.00
striped top and rain jacket Sara Benjamin’s, Mariemont $118.00; $136.00
chicobag Park + Vine, OTR $17.00
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 15
house calls cate yellig Gallery Director at Phyllis Weston Gallery {profile By judith turner-yamamoto} photos by Janus Anatta
I
“
was primed for modernist living,” says gallery director Cate Yellig, whose parents live in a house inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s PopeLeighey house, designed by Cincinnati architect Benjamin Dombar, a Wright protégé. Yellig is Gallery Director of the Phyllis Weston Gallery, an avid art collector, and a creative entrepreneur who recently began Integrative Arts—a home-based healing practice that uses creative therapies for pain management. Looking for a home for her burgeoning Cincinnati-centric art collection and her practice, she trolled Cincinnati’s midcentury modern enclaves. She found the perfect venue in the 1954 Wildwood house in Kennedy Heights, which she discovered on cincinnatimodern.com. “The hilltop property and the historic neighborhood seduced me first,” says Yellig, “but the house bears all the important Usonian period markers—single story, garden terrace, connection between the interior and exterior space, judicious storage, a carport, and plenty of potential.”
16 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Graduation Mother’s day Birthday any day! Gifts • Wines • Accessories (513) 233-2445 6740 Clough Pike Cinti OH 45244 Left: Paper butterflies loft tiny computer parts heavenward in Kris Ebeling’s “Ascend,” 2007. The graffiti painting is by Brian Maier Jr. Posters, left and right, are limited editions from the Weston Art Gallery’s Publico show. Above: Cate fell in love with the front door’s oddly centered knob. The brick wall at left continues inside the foyer and living room.
www.urbanchickboutique.com
Meet the A-Line community...
A-line is a refreshing delight in the local market. They’re so good - you’d think they were a national magazine... —Leah Spurrier Co founder
HighStreet
1401 Reading Road 513.723.1901 BeHighStreet.Com
Above: The late 1940s era sofa by Milo Baughman and orange platform sofa are from ebth. com. Yellig found the 1960s teakwood coffee table at Mainly Art in Oakley.
Join the A-Line community. To advertise call 513.665.4700x114
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 17
throwing a • party planning with a purpose • By Ilene Ross {Photos by Gina Weathersby} Styled by Margot Madison
W
hatever happened to the days when a party meant everyone sitting around, eyes locked in conversation with other members of the crowd? Not zombie-like with their individual smart devices? We know we love them, but in a social setting smart phones are not so smart.
We long for decades of yore when attending a soirée meant an afternoon spent in giddy anticipation of an evening filled with scintillating conversation in the company of handsome ladies and gentlemen—not “Siri.” We want to get back to dressing up to spend the night surrounded by fabulous music, clinking crystal, delectable nibbles, and fabulous friends. With those thoughts in mind, we’ve put together some ideas for your next bash.
18 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
MAKE YOUR OWN SOCIAL NETWORK
Start by wrenching those tech devices from everyone’s hands—for just a few hours—and place them in a basket by the front door. Certainly your guests can survive one evening immersed in the social network you’ve thoughtfully put together for them. And here’s a catch—not every gathering needs to include your usual pack of compatriots. In fact, fall into that rut, and you’ll find your events are the Groundhog Day of the social scene. So, shake it up a bit. Ask each friend to bring along someone you’ve never met before, or someone who’s new to them.
Margot Madison, principal designer at Margot Madison Creative, suggests having a theme for your next get-together. It can really help you rein in all of the details. Here are some of her favorites:
• Pub Party • Think finger foods, chilled pints of ale, sports (the Olympics, perhaps), and rugby striped shirts.
• Cuban Party • Perfect for hot summer nights with colorful vintage details, and spicy, flavorful food. Don’t forget the cigars! Download The Buena Vista Social Club from iTunes and start sweating.
CREATE A THEME
From an ice-breaker to a take-home favor, Margot Madison, principal designer at Margot Madison Creative, knows that creating a particular theme and style for your event can squash that “overwhelmed” feeling by giving you specific ideas on which to focus. “I first put together a style guide and a board for the event,” says Madison of her approach to planning. “They’re wonderful tools for you to take to your florist, caterer, and other vendors.” For the do-it-yourselfer, Madison suggests using the super popular virtual pinboard Pinterest.com as a planning guide. “Designate a Pinterest board just for the event. Pin colors, textures, food, table setting—anything that gives you the feeling you would like your event to convey.”
SEND AN INVITE (A REAL, PAPER ONE)
Give your guests an idea of what to expect right from the start with your invitation. Sure, you could go the Facebook, email, or evite route, but we adore the feeling of discovering a good, old-fashioned paper summons in the mailbox—and they don’t always need to be the extravagant engraved variety. Even a seasoned event planner like Madison suggests using your home printer. With a little internet search for free downloadable “printables,” you’ve got the perfect way to set the tone and customize your project on a budget. Some of the most creative invites we’ve seen include an old map printed with the party info, rolled up, and sent in an soda bottle for a beach party. Or, try wrapping the invitation around a pair of knitting needles and tie it closed with yarn for a knitting party. You get the picture.
• Southern Charm • Speak with a southern drawl and wear some seersucker. Drink tea, have a bourbon tasting, entertain on your veranda. Can’t cook? Drive-thru fried chicken is perfectly fine.
• Garden PartY • Place a table in the middle of your yard with a colorful canopy. Set up the bocce ball and badminton. Let the tournament begin! Serve teeny, tiny tea sandwiches with the crusts cut off, lemonade, and chilled Prosecco.
• Neon • Yes, it’s back! Not quite ready to go full-on ‘80s? Pair that glow-in-the-dark pink or yellow with khaki to distinguish it from the days of Wham!
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 19
BREAK THE ICE
Once people arrive, start the conversation flowing with an icebreaker. Of course, the bar should be stocked with the best you can afford, but folks shouldn’t feel the need to get tanked-up to be chatty. Madison loves a party game. “It gives you permission to interact in a way that’s more relaxed and less enforced,” she says. Some of our favorites? Again, stick to your theme. This summer, at your luau pool party, hand your guests a lei as they arrive. The goal of the game is for each person to collect the most leis as possible by never answering “no” to a question from another guest. Answer no, and you lose your lei. For a baby shower, have everyone email you one of their own baby pictures in advance. Print them out, tape them up, and let the laughter ensue as your guests try to match the adult to the baby. For a Downton Abbey-themed dinner, Madison suggests setting aside a corner of the room as a “Gentlemen’s Parlor,” complete with bourbon and cigars toward the end of the evening to change the flow and keep the party going strong. The ladies can stick to gossip and cordials.
FINE DINING—REGARDLESS OF BUDGET
Food, glorious food. When it comes to party fare, it should always be the finest of its kind, and if a caterer is in the budget, it’s the ideal route to take so you can remain totally engaged with your guests. Jen Clawson of “Two Chicks Who Cater” advocates hiring a caterer as the perfect way to not only enjoy your party, but to bring along someone whose job it is to help you think of ways to make the event a bit more extraordinary. “I love suggesting menus and dishes to highlight a theme,” says Clawson. One great thing to keep in mind about creative caterers is that their services shouldn’t always be thought of as an all-or-nothing proposition. “Often times we’ll cater just the hors d’oeuvres for a party when the client wants to prepare the main dish for a dinner,” says Clawson. This is the perfect way to supplement a trim wallet, or to boost your menu if you’re a whiz in the kitchen with your mom’s lasagna recipe, but not much else. But don’t let the most meager financial status keep you from getting your friends together for a great night at your place. Flour, water, and yeast are super cheap, and you can find a recipe for homemade pizza crust at www.epicurious.com. Provide toppings for make-your-own pies, and you’ve got the dinner and entertainment. Most parties usually wind up in the kitchen at some point, right?
20 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Margot Madison’s go-to guide for planning your own “Affair to Remember”...
• Hostess with the Mostess • Chock full of adorable DIY crafts, this super snazzy site will have you in party planning gear in no time. www.hostessblog.com
SET THE TABLE
“Beg, borrow, or steal.” No, we’re not suggesting that you wind up in the clink for throwing a night to remember— this is Madison’s plan for setting an extraordinary table. Not everyone has matching sets of stunning china, crystal, and estate silver for 12, but if you do, use them! Don’t save those precious wedding presents for holidays and fancy dinners. A casual night with friends warrants the good stuff. But, change it up. Elegant doesn’t have to mean stuffy. Old and new work beautifully together; in fact, mixing patterns, textures, decades, even centuries, gives your table character and charm. Numbers shouldn’t be an issue either. Only have six forks but eight people coming over? Borrow. Need a couple of chairs for the night? Put it out there on Facebook. Someone will come through. Goodwill and thrift shops are perfect places for lovely mix-and-match dishes and glasses. Sources like “Oma’s Vintage Plates”(www.vintage-plates.com) will rent you what you need. Peruse the Sunday paper for estate sales and soon you’ll be entertaining on a dime with the pros.
ENDING THE NIGHT
Ending the evening on a sweet note is a guaranteed way to ensure your friends will be coming to you for entertaining tips and future invitations. This means a killer dessert. If you’re not a baker, melt some chocolate chips with a touch of heavy cream in the microwave for a decadent fondue. Serve with cut up fruit and pound cake for dipping. For that special birthday, naturally only the most beautiful cake will do, and Ileana Saldivia of Sugar Realm Fine Bakery and Cake Design bakes up some of the most ethereal we’ve seen in a long time. She even hand ‘paints’ cookies to match her delectable creations, and presents you with photo cards so that your guests have a sweet memory to take home. “The cakes are so beautiful and such a labor of love, I want people to have a way to remember the love that I put into them,” says Saldivia. “They [the cookies and cards] make beautiful favors for your guests.” Speaking of favors, they’re a lovely way to send your guests home with pleasant memories of the perfectly planned party. Everyone loves a gift, but Madison is quick to point out that these should be thoughtful. “Make sure it’s something that follows your theme, and that your friends will use, such as a beautiful tea cup with a flowering bulb for an afternoon tea party. Vintage stores are a great place to find mismatched cups for this. Book plates for a book club gathering are something you can easily print at home.”
• Cake • Big cakes, mini cakes, cupcakes, cakes on sticks, and parties. But mostly cake. Mmm, mmm, mmm. www.thecakeblog.com • A Subtle Revelry • Total outside-the-box entertaining ideas and themes here. Perfect for your jaded “been there, done that already, got the T-shirt” friends. www.asubtlerevelry.com • Kara’s Party Ideas • If Kara were our mom, we’d still be living at home. Best kids party site, ever. Ever. www.karaspartyideas.com • Living Locurto • This helpful site offers loads of free party printables. Perfect for a not-quite-so-crafty person. www.livinglocurto.com • The Finer Things • Colorful and light in tone, this official blog of Fine Stationery.com aims to be “a valuable resource for every life event.” www.blog.finestationery.com • The TomKat Studio • An adorable site filled with party ideas for every member of the family. www.thetomkatstudio.com • Creative Party Place • Convinced you’re the “Martha Stewart” of your social set? Submit your latest gathering to this site and show it off to the world! www.creativepartyplace.com • Design Dazzle • Crafty, crafty, crafty. If this is you, this is your site. www.designdazzle.blogspot.com • Love The DaY • Three words for this one. Attention. To. Detail. Everything the over-the-top party planner could want for that special day. www.love-the-day.com
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 21
Let’s hear it for the
GIRLS
The Girl Scouts celebrate 100 years of courage, confidence, and character By HannaH McCartney {photos provided by the girl scout national historic preservation center}
If apparitions of dancing, delicious Tagalong Cookies are all that pops into your head when you hear “Girl Scouts,” know you are sorely misguided. There is perhaps no cookie more ubiquitous than those doled out in colorful neon boxes each year by the Girl Scouts. A box-laden table in front of your local grocery store means more than just a pantry full of Thin Mints for the first time in a year; it means the arrival of spring. The act of baking and giving out cookies is historically feminine—a woman’s ubiquity in the kitchen has long been part of traditional ladylike behavior and a key component of a “happy” nuclear family.
1920s
22 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
“Ladylike” behavior is not what the Girl Scouts is about. In fact, it’s not what they’ve ever been about since their foundation 100 years ago. If Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Gordon Low were around right now, she’d wonder where that stereotype could have possibly come from. Low, who has often been described as feisty and zealously independent, wasn’t one of those little girls made of “sugar and spice and everything nice.” As a child, she had a penchant for climbing trees, taking imaginary hunting trips, writing stories, and standing on her head. Before women could even vote, Low founded the Girl Scouts movement
1940s
(originally dubbed American Girl Guides) to mobilize young girls into leading active lives outside the home and turn them into powerful, confident women with a defined sense of purpose—something Low didn’t discover herself until she founded Girl Scouts. Low passed away in 1927, but she left a healthy legacy that’s arguably the most widely celebrated youth movement ever created. Today, it continues to flourish. Chris Salley-Davis, program director for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, says that one of the things she values most about Girl Scouts is that, even over 100 years in a country awry with discordance and change, Girl Scouts has remained unsullied.
1950s
“The foundation hasn’t changed… girl scouting has always been based on the needs and interests of girls,” says Salley-Davis. But still, the struggle with public perception has been the greatest obstacle in the Scouts’ success. Girl Scouts suffers from long-standing history of misbranding. Salley-Davis describes the dilemma as a case of the “three Cs”—cookies, camping, and crafts. That’s not to say Girl Scouts never encounter those activities—they’re allowed to have fun, insists SalleyDavis, but Girl Scouts doesn’t feed off superficiality. Peel behind the stereotype and find another very different three Cs: “Our mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place,” reads the Girl Scouts’ mission statement. Besides, it’s surely not cookies, camping, and crafts that lead Girl Scout alumnae to earn an average of nearly $9,000 more than non-alumnae. Who is the average Girl Scout? Being a “girl” is just about the only requirement. “Any kind of girl can and should be a Girl Scout. Scouting really helps girls discover what they are capable of, and through doing, girls develop true confidence,” says Jamie Bryant, Girl Scouts volunteer and founder/ editor-in-chief of girl-centric Kiki Magazine. “If they do and succeed, they realize their possibilities and begin to reach further. If they do and fail, the community of Girl Scouts encourages them to push forward with determination and supports them as they try again.” At a time when segregation and discrimination was the norm, Low
1960s
was recruiting African-American, American Indian, and Hispanic girls, even before civil rights laws caught up with her. In 1956, the famed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described Girl Scouts as a “force for desegregation.” Today, promoting diversity is still an integral tenet of the organization; the Scouts make targeted efforts to increase their presence in underrepresented demographics and communities. “Like girls from 100 years ago, today’s girls still struggle against stereotypes about what they like to do and are able to do. And yet, with all that girls are actually doing today, I still sense they feel conflicts about what they like and what they feel they should like. That sense of ‘should’ is something that girls today are still trying to navigate,” says Bryant. Salley-Davis started off her career with Girl Scouts as a recruiter, and she recalls one incident that was particularly rewarding. A recruiting effort at an economically disadvantaged school in Cincinnati ended with SalleyDavis manning a number of 7th and 8th grade girls at a cookie stand in Findlay Market. “[Selling the cookies] was the longest two hours of my life. I realized, wait, they have no idea what customer service is…One person walked by, and they were like, ‘Do you want to buy some cookies?’ and they said no, and one girl was like, ‘You don’t need any anyways!’” she chuckles. “We had to stop, and pull them over and talk to them. That’s when I realized that there is a lot more to the cookie sale. At the end of the day, the girls were saying ‘thank you’ as people walked away.”
1970s
Salley-Davis ran into one of the girls from that same cookie sale two years later at the Girl Scouts’ Blue Ash office—she was helping her cousin, who was also a Girl Scout. “Even in that short time, we couldn’t figure out why they wanted to be with us,” says Salley-Davis. During middle school, Girl Scouts tends to struggle with recruitment; during puberty and the magical discovery of the opposite sex, somehow Girl Scouts is no longer “cool.” But still, these girls—many of whom came from broken or unsupervised homes—willingly followed Salley-Davis to Findlay Market, and showed up to meetings for the next eight weeks. It wasn’t overzealous parents forcing them to be extracurricular superstars— they showed up at their own will. Sometimes, she says, all it takes is a little extra love and attention to change a girl’s life; that’s the magic of Girl Scouts. “I don’t think that every girl has the same support system…it’s really important for girls to have positive role models in life beyond their family, and girls can get it through other outlets. Girl Scouts creates this sisterhood that I definitely feel like I’ve been a part of as an adult. There’s more of a support system for a girl that was in Girl Scouts.” There are 100 years worth of stories, and Salley-Davis’ tale is only one of a myriad. “Getting so involved in the history over the last year in preparation for the 100th anniversary celebration has made me realize I’m a little dot in this movement.”
2000s
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 23
music to our ears What we’re listening to now.
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ You know, I never really got into the movie Garden State. And so it seems I missed a turning point in pop culture for The Shins. But I’m glad I finally discovered them, and I’m glad James Mercer and crew have returned after a five-year absence with their fourth album, Port of Morrow. Landing firmly in the indie-rock realm, The Shins have honed their sound with tight production and more electronic effects on this latest outing. The aforementioned Mercer is the smooth, nonchalant lead vocalist of the five-piece, and his sometimes drowsy delivery dowses Port of Morrow with a laidback, almost Beach Boysesque vibe. Sunny instrumentation and heaping reverb slightly undercut the at-times simplistic lyrics, but this is an overall solid and muchanticipated return. Do you remember?: “September”
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ Once upon a time, I was standing on the street where I work when I heard strangely enticing music pouring out of an SUV. Luck was on my side, the driver’s window was down, and he told me the band was called Gardens & Villa. I haven’t stopped listening to this plucky and wistful California five-piece since. The skeleton of relatively simple instrumentation by way of synths and drum machines is rounded out by lead singer Chris Lynch’s smooth and easy delivery, with the whole shebang completed with a sprinkle of clever effects. Gardens and Villa could easily belong to the lonelier of lonely mid-80s New Wave pop bands, but tempo play and spotlighted vocal harmonies root this indie outfit firmly in this era. On repeat all summer: “Neon Dove”
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ The Boss is back, baby. Bruce Springsteen’s seventeenth (17th!) studio album, Wrecking Ball, is poised to keep him in the annals of good ole, all-American rock and roll forever. Not only that, but Wrecking Ball is Springsteen’s tenth (10th!) album to debut at number one. The Boss is a legend, and his legendary, sexy, working-man voice is in full force again here, if a bit more weatheredsounding. Crafting clap-and-stomp anthems left and right, Wrecking Ball is an Americana-infused call-to-action by politically-minded Springsteen, with commentary and observations on our society today put in perspective with days-gone-by nostalgia. Embrace the message or not; either way, Wrecking Ball is a steamroller of an album, and mostly a rollicking good time. The Boss really is: “Jack Of All Trades”
Leyla Shokoohe’s background in Communications at the University of Cincinnati and near-obsession with chord construction lends a hand in her reviews.
24 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Annie Clark is currently listening to: TRACK 1: Selda, “Yaylalar” - From the 1976 album Selda by Turkish singer and guitarist Selda Bagcan. ˘ Bagcan ˘ is known for her political songs demanding free speech and quality of human life. TRACK 2: Solex, “Snappy & Cocky” - Off the 1999 album Pick Up. Solex is the performing name of Amsterdam-based Elisabeth Esselink’s mix of pop, electronica, and sampling. TRACK 3: Syd Barrett, “Baby Lemonade” - From his second and final studio album, Barrett. This English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter was a founding member of Pink Floyd.
Interview by leyla shokoohe {photo provided}
{mixtape darlings}
st. vincent
Taking a moment away from an extensive world tour in support of her latest album release, Strange Mercy, Annie Clark, the woman behind indie-rock tour de force St. Vincent, answers a few of our questions. A-Line: Strange Mercy runs the whole emotional gamut. You don’t seem scared of delving into the darker stuff at all. Annie Clark: “I am very lucky that I get to safely explore every facet of humanity—from the altruistic parts to the angry, vile parts—in music. It’s [a] rare luxury, and I’m not sure how I’d process anything or survive if I didn’t have that place.” A-Line: You write all of your music and have been playing the guitar since you were 12. You have a unique style; how have you honed in on that? AC: “I think a lot of people who start off as songwriters use the guitar as a more strummed accompaniment to the voice. But I tend to think of the guitar as an autonomous being, jutting in and out of place, being a countermelody.” A-Line: Your last stop in Cincinnati was for 2010’s MusicNOW Festival. Your first commissioned chamber piece debuted there and was dedicated to the memory of Esme Kenney, who was murdered in 2009. How did her story impact you? AC: “Esme’s story is beyond heartbreaking. Music is very powerful, but every art and every one is dumbstruck in the face of such a tragedy.” A-Line: And now you’re returning to Cincinnati. You’ve been on tour since September. AC: ”There are times when [touring] is hard, but every job is hard sometimes, and anything worth doing is a struggle at some point. But when I step on stage, the travel woes go away.”
TRACK 4: Kate Bush, “Watching You Without Me” - From the English singer’s 1985 Hounds of Love. Bush is known for her idiosyncratic vocal style. TRACK 5: Neil Young, “A Man Needs A Maid” From 1972’s classic album, Harvest. TRACK 6: Gonzales, “Basmati” - This Grammynominated Canadian musician regularly collaborates with Feist, Peaches, and Mocky. From the 2009 album Solo Piano. TRACK 7: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Cannibal’s Hymn” - From the 2004 double disc, the bands 13th studio album, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus. TRACK 8: The Pointer Sisters, “Automatic” - The first of four top ten singles for the Pointer Sisters off their 1983 album Break Out. TRACK 9: Dolly Parton, “Jolene” - Written by Parton for her 1974 album Jolene, and ranks 217 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of Greatest Songs of All Time. TRACK 10: Loretta Lynn, “Wine, Women and Song” - From Lynn’s second album, Before I’m Over You. TRACK 11: Pink Floyd, “Us and Them” - From 1973’s The Dark Side of The Moon. TRACK 12: Bob Dylan, “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues” - Released on 1961’s Highway 61 Revisited. St. Vincent makes a stop at Bogart’s on May 9.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 25
The art of caring for your parents, your children...and yourself {By Jennifer Saltsman} illustration by julie hill “I get up around 6 a.m. and make sure the kids get up. I make their lunches the night before. At 8 or 8:30 a.m. I call and check on my mom to make sure she gets up, to make sure nothing has happened since I last talked to her,” says Elisabeth Burg, a registered nurse. “Then I go visit my patients, and I stop by my mom’s in the afternoon. Then I start planning my next day. I might
26 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
exercise, if I have time, and then sleep.” Burg’s schedule is as full as her patients’ seven-compartment pillboxes. She not only provides inhome care for disabled and elderly patients, but also supports both her aging mother and her husband, who suffered a heart attack last July. “Mom” is on her list of titles, too; right now she’s preparing one of her
18-year-old twins for the Navy and taking the other on college tours. Burg is part of a subset of caregivers who provide care for aging parents and children at the same time, known as the “Sandwich Generation.” The American Association for Retired Persons says family and friends provide care for 70 percent of the growing aging population. Supporting a parent
without professional help can be difficult, especially if they suffer from a debilitating disease like Parkinson’s or cancer. On top of that, the added demands of childcare and work can be overwhelming. Janet Walsh, Director of Public Affairs for Cincinnati Public Schools, provides care for her mother and father, who have early stages of dementia. Her parents recently relocated from out of state (the house they’d been living in for 40 years) to an assisted care unit in Cincinnati, closer to Walsh. She says the uncertain nature of the situation has been tough on everyone in her family. “The nature of aging is that things don’t get better,” says Walsh. “You don’t know how long you can forestall the inevitable.” Modern medical advances now allow people to live into their eighties, nineties, and beyond. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 85 and up is the fastest growing age group in the United States. But a longer life does not necessarily mean a richer life. Many people suffer from agerelated degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s in their later years— diseases that involve long-term decline, thus the need for long-term care. For Walsh, the process of getting her parents the help they needed wasn’t easy. But, through extensive open conversations with her parents and collaborations with her brother (who lives out of state), Walsh’s parents eventually agreed to move into an assisted care unit. Her brother manages their parent’s finances, which reduces some responsibilities and stress. Walsh
suggests divvying up duties between family members if possible to reduce the strain. “If you can divide the labor with siblings it really helps,” she says. Walsh adds that the demands of caregiving make it easy for caregivers to forget about themselves. “It can be very easy to spend all your spare time with your parents,” she says. “So remember, take time for yourself.” Burg and Walsh’s situations are unique, yet they’re not altogether uncommon. Caregiving in general has long been deemed primarily a woman’s job: In 2000, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging found that the average American woman can expect to spend 17 years caring for a child and 16 years caring for an elderly parent. Burg agrees with Walsh and says one of the hardest parts of caretaking is remembering to take time for herself. When finding alone time between doctors’ appointments, working, and cooking sometimes seems impossible, Burg looks to friends and family for support. “It’s not failure to ask for help,” she says. “But it’s hard for me to let up that control and say, ‘Hey, can you help me do this?’” Resources are available in Cincinnati that provide education and assistance to caregivers, but for some people, asking for professional help is a matter of putting away pride. Valerie Landell, executive vice president of the Cincinnati Visiting Nurse Association, says struggling caregivers often come to the VNA for assistance when they’re already overwhelmed. “Most people come to us once they’re in crisis,” Landell says. “One of our greatest concerns is so many women and caregivers want to do everything themselves and then they get overwhelmed. Most don’t ask for help until it’s at a critical point.” The VNA is a national non-profit association that “supports, promotes and advocates for community-based,
nonprofit home health and hospice providers that care for all individuals regardless of complexity of condition or ability to pay.” Based on the idea that communities are healthier through quality care provided in a way and place people choose, nurses, educators, and physical therapists from the VNA provide in-home care and education for the elderly, the disabled, and caregivers. They’ve been around since before Medicaid and recently celebrated 103 years of service. Currently, the nurses and physical therapists from the Cincinnati branch visit hundreds of patients a day, serve 55,000 people per year, and provide care to 12 patients over age 100. Landell says one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is being able to see people live as comfortably and independently as possible. “We teach families how to provide at-home care effectively,” said Landell. “That’s a good feeling.” With her background in nursing, Burg is well acquainted with the healthcare needs of the elderly, along with the needs of caregivers and children. With the support of family and friends, she is able to balance the needs of her family, her job and herself all while maintaining a sense of optimism. “I like watching my kids grow up and be really productive,” she says. “And being able to see my mom stay inhome and independent is rewarding.”
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 27
Instructions AND PHOTOS by KRISTINA GERIG
PARTY {make your own}
with a decorative paper flower garland!
Bring an air of fanciful festivity to any occasion, indoors or out. Greater than the sum of its parts, this project is so satisfyingly simple and cost effective, you’ll find any excuse to throw a party.
28 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
Materials
tissue paper in different colors (each flower requires +/- 8 square sheets) scissors kitchen/baking twine
instructions STEP 1: Cut tissue paper into squares by folding the desired width on the diagonal. Cut off the excess and keep it around for the smaller flowers. We used 15-inch by 15-inch squares for the large flowers and 10-inch by 10-inch squares for the small flowers (this is open for creative interpretation or efficient use of tissue paper). STEP 2: Stack eight sheets of paper on top of each other and square the corners up nicely. Begin accordion folding the stack of sheets in one inch increments. STEP 3: Once the entire stack has been accordion folded, fold to find the center. Securely tie a 12-inch cut of twine at the center point. STEP 4: Halfway between the top of the center and top of the paper begin cutting the “petal tips� into rounded or arched shapes. Add variety to your garland by cutting the tips per color differently. STEP 5: Begin gently peeling apart the layers of tissue paper until you create a rounded flower. STEP 6: Repeat these steps until your house is full of tissue paper flowers. STEP 7: Determine how much distance you want between flowers and knot the loose ends of twine accordingly. Trim the twine or let it hang. STEP 8: Locate a sad, dark, soul-less corner and hang your garland!
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 29
about the chef The most innovative chefs plan their menus, savory or sweet, with much more than a passing thought to the changing seasons, and Chef Mindy Ware of Jean Robert’s Table is no exception. Although being charged with the challenging task of pairing sinful desserts to the menu of one of the country’s pre-eminent Master Chefs, Jean Robert de Cavel, is no small feat, Chef Ware, although ostensibly young, seems to take it all in stride. As a young child, both of Chef Ware’s parents cooked (her favorite thing to eat is her mother’s lasagna), and she always knew that she wanted to as well—although she pursued a degree in Psychology in college. However, she returned to her first love and began her career in the culinary field. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. I love it,” says Ware. Self-taught, she read a lot of cookbooks and did tons of experimentation. She found herself working in some of Cincinnati’s finest kitchens: first a stint in desserts at Nicola’s and then a turn on the hot line at The Palace. She credits her time at Nicola’s for imparting on her some valuable knowledge. Cooking is an art, but pastry is a science, so it’s somewhat unusual to see a pastry chef without formal training, as well as to see a chef span both sweet and savory sides of the kitchen, but Chef Ware does both with aplomb. Ware joined the staff at Table last October, and from the very beginning she has brought her modest yet well thought out and elegant approach to the plate. The delicately designed dishes are centered on one or two seasonal and market-fresh ingredients, around which the whole idea flows. Last fall, butternut squash was highlighted; in the winter it was dried fruits, nuts, and citrus; and for the spring, of course, fresh berries are a favorite. Everything is done with precision, the colors are vibrant, and textures are rich. And there is, naturally, always a chocolate dish on the menu. Ware enjoys a vast amount of freedom with her planning the dessert menus at Table. All of her recipes are original, and well worth the effort, including the “Slow Roasted Strawberry Shortcake with Hibiscus and Honey Whipped Cream & White Balsamic and Rhubarb Gastric” she’s sharing with us. Sublime!
30 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
{cookbook}
Profile by Ilene ross photos by gina weathersby
ingredients
Slow Roasted
Strawberry Sponge cake with Hibiscus and Honey Whipped Cream & White Balsamic and Rhubarb Gastrique
Madeleine Sponge 7 egg yolks 1 1/3 cup sugar 5 egg whites 1 cup almond flour 1/3 cup All Purpose flour 1/3 cup honey zest of 2 lemons 8 Tbsp. butter, melted 1 vanilla bean, seeded
Slow Roasted Strawberries 1 quart strawberries, hulled 1/3 cup white wine
Hibiscus Whipped Cream ½ oz. dried hibiscus flowers (found at Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices) 2 cups heavy cream honey, to taste Rhubarb White Balsamic Gastrique 8 oz. white balsamic vinegar 1 cup sugar 2 stalks rhubarb, cut into 1-inch pieces
Madeleine Sponge: Whip the egg whites with half of the sugar until soft peaks form and set aside. Blend the rest of the sugar with the yolks. Add lemon zest and vanilla to the yolks, stir in the almond flour and All Purpose flour. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture, then mix in the honey and melted butter. Pour onto a sheet tray lined with parchment or a Silpat sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until set and golden. Set aside. Slow Roasted Strawberries: Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees. Place strawberries cut side down in a baking pan. Pour in the wine and bake for 2 hours. Set aside. Hibiscus Whipped Cream: In a small bowl, steep hibiscus flowers in the cream for about a half hour. Strain out the flowers and chill. Whip cream to firm peaks, add in honey to sweeten to taste. Rhubarb White Balsamic Gastrique: Combine all of the ingredients. Cook on medium-high heat until the syrup is thickened. Allow the syrup to cool to room temperature, and blend until smooth. Strain through a fine mesh strainer and set aside. To assemble: Using a cookie cutter or a knife, cut a rectangle of sponge cake and place it on a plate. Arrange 3 roasted strawberries along the top. Drizzle gastrique over the top and around the sponge. Using two spoons form a quenelle of Hibiscus cream and place next to the sponge. Garnish with pieces of candied rhubarb and hibiscus flowers, fresh strawberries and lemon balm. Serve immediately.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 31
You’re already a part of the A-Line community Join us at our monthly events to meet new friends, see new trends, and support charities focused on issues central to our lives. We celebrated April’s “Pet Issue” at the Red Dog Pet Resort & Spa with our furry friends—old, new, and adoptable!
Find details for future events at a-linemagazine.com PHOTOS BY SHANNON WILLIAMS
32 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
{happy hour}
Shoot location: Japp’s, Over-the-Rhine
{RECIPE BY MOLLY WELLMANN} PHOTO By emily maxwell
INGREDIENTS
2 oz. 1800 Coconut Tequila ½ oz. lime ½ oz. simple syrup small bunch of cilantro soda water
Instructions Build in a high ball glass. Place cilantro, lime, and simple syrup in glass. Lightly muddle. Add tequila and ice. Give it a stir. Top with soda water
Molly Wellmann is an award-winning mixologist and an owner of Japp’s in Over-the-Rhine.
A
“Tiki” drink is actually a retro term. They weren’t invented in the tropics, but in the U.S.A.! The first Tiki bar appeared in California in 1934. Donn Beach created the Tiki bar and the “Tiki drink” when he opened Don the Beachcomber in Hollywood. Beach’s real name was Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt. He had it legally changed to Donn Beach for short. A former bootlegger during Prohibition, Beach moved to Hollywood in the 1930s after traveling the Caribbean and South Pacific. Don the Beachcomber quickly gained popularity as an escape from the everyday: The bar featured tropical decorations, exotic cuisine, and a plethora of rumbased cocktails. In 1946, Beach moved to Hawaii where he opened several restaurants as well as a shopping and entertainment complex called The International Marketplace. A genuine beachcomber, he retired to Tahiti, where he lived on a Tikified houseboat before succumbing to liver cancer at the age of 81 after a return to Hawaii. Most of Beach’s Tiki drinks are rum-based, simply because back when the tropical drink craze started after Prohibition, rum was the cheapest liquor available. If you were a bar owner, in order to get a bottle of whiskey, you had to order a case of rum! The “Lime in the Coconut” is a cocktail inspired by Tiki drinks in their heyday—the 1940s and 1950s. I usually make my own coconut syrup when making this at Japp’s, but to make things easier, the 1800 Coconut Tequila cut down on the work!
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 33
34 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue
a-linemagazine.com | may 2012 | 35
36 | may 2012 | the anniversary issue