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| may 2011 | the arrival
05 lists & letters a letter from the editor tiny bits
A mélange of warm weather goodies for the garden and beyond
the a-list
Epic on-screen arrivals from our favorite female film stars
08 fashion & beauty test kitchen
Three ladies test the Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask
mirror, mirror
Create the new smoky eye for spring with bright, fresh colors
first look
Spring’s organic trends: wood-soled shoes, painterly florals and honeysuckle pink
fashion spread
Arrive in style with classic feminine silhouettes in bold of-the-moment hues
20 arts & culture fashion forward
Cincinnati Fashion Week celebrates its sophomore year in style By Ann Lawson
music to our ears
Good things come in pairs: the top musical duos we’re listening to now
mixtape darlings
Local all-stars Fists of Love make a mixtape of their favorite tunes
the new bad girls club
Bad Girl Ventures funds woman-owned start-ups By Jac Kern
29 projects & recipes make your own cookbook
Sierra Laumer closes forkheartknife with its first dish: Fish Tacos and Mexican Street Corn
Lightborne Publishing Inc. 811 Race St., Fifth Floor Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: 513-665-4700 Editorial Fax: 513-665-4369 Business Fax: 513-665-4368 E-mail: info@a-linemagazine.com www.a-linemagazine.com Editor in chief Maija Zummo Art Director Rebecca Sylvester Contributors
Kristina Gerig, Tess Hammons, Kate Harrow, Megan Kelly, Jac Kern, Rosie Kovacs, Ann Lawson, Tamia Stinson, Taryn Tegarden, Garen Torchia, Lacey Voss, Tracy Walker, Molly Wellmann, Kristin D. Zeit photographers
Amy Deaton, Amy Elisabeth, Jesse Fox Brittany Justice, Cameron Knight, Tiffany Dawn Nicholson interns
Jessica Lincks, Christina Pfeffer, Amy Wray director of sales and marketing
Chuck Davis Advertising Account Specialist
Shannon Loeffler Advertising Account managers
Betsy Hodges, Tony Frank, Lauren Faulkner Circulation Manager Steve Ferguson Publishers Dan Bockrath, John Fox On the cover Amanda Ross, Nora Zaenglein Photographer Tiffany Dawn Nicholson Stylists Rosie Kovacs, Lacey Voss Hair Jessie Hoffman Make-up Rachel Lisa Entire contents are copyright 2011 Lightborne Publishing Inc. and may not be reprinted in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publishers.
happy hour
Drink to your health with A-Line’s signature cocktail Created by mixologist Molly Wellmann a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 3
4 | may 2011 | the arrival
tiny bits
A collection of A-Line’s favorite odds and ends 2 1
3
letter from the editor What you’re holding in your hands is the product of more than half a year’s worth of blood, sweat and multiple bottles of wine (there really haven’t been too many tears). And although I don’t know what giving birth feels like, this process took about as long, from conception to delivery, and was also painful, time-consuming and, ultimately, quite magical. The end result is our courier-fonted love letter to print, to positive energy, to the clicking sound of typewriters, to inherited Hermès scarves, to old books, to handed-down recipes, to taking time, to making time, to dreaming, to doing and to all the winding, tensile strings—regardless of age or background—that connect us to each other as women; the classic and the quirky that motivate us to seek, to create, to learn and, most of all, to be ourselves. This is our “Arrival” issue, and every inch of this magazine is designed with you in mind—from the portable size and perfect-bound spine to the colorful fashion and nourishing DIY projects. We want you to take time to enjoy reading, to create community with us online and through our events and to learn how to make something you never knew how to make before—whether it’s food, craft…or cocktail. Let’s grow things. Grow ourselves. Live slower. Live better. And create beauty in our everyday lives— even if that only means putting on a pair of bright pink shoes on a rainy Sunday. —Maija Zummo
1. david Nebert Succulent Necklace
4
Brush Factory
$90.00
2. Buzzy Grow Kits 5
Target
$1.00 each 3. areaware elephant mini cushion High Street
$36.00
4. farmers market notepad Anthropologie
$7.50
5. stoneware Egg Crate Anthropologie
$14.00
6. Yes to Carrots shampoo & conditioner
6
Walgreens
$8.99 each 7
7. visualingual seed bombs Park+Vine
$7.00
Tiny Bits stylist Garen Torchia works for Anthropologie as a Visual Sales Associate. She enjoys making jewelry, cooking and perusing local flea markets.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 5
6 | may 2011 | the arrival
Great On-Screen
Arrivals
the
list
Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra: Leave it to our dearly departed Liz to arrive in high style, literally, on a giant Sphinx-shaped litter pulled by throngs of buff, shirtless men. Rumor is this arrival scene was delayed for months so the light would hit Liz’s golden garb directly during her grand entrance as Cleopatra. Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday: Not only did the Best Actress Oscar for her first major role as Princess Ann announce Hepburn’s arrival as a star, but the signature pixie crop she adopts in the film solidified her arrival as a timeless style icon. The Italian barber he asks, “All off?” and Hepburn confidently replies, “All off.” The rest is hair history. Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz: Falling from the sky in your farmhouse is certainly one way to make a grand entrance. So is going from black-and-white to Technicolor with the opening of a door, only to find out you’re a murderer and suddenly surrounded by very small, singing humans. Moira Shearer in The Red Shoes: Long before Black Swan took home an Oscar, Shearer gained international attention for her first dancing role as a ballerina of a very different color. The fiery-haired, red-shoed dancer steals the show in this interpretation of a Hans Christian Andersen tale. Diane Keaton in Annie Hall: We’ll give Katharine Hepburn credit where credit’s due as the woman who revolutionized the pantsuit, but Charlie Chaplin-esque menswear never looked so good as interpreted by Keaton’s Annie. Her vests, ties and blazers made an indelible mark on female fashion. Scarlett Johansson in Lost in Translation: It takes a brave woman to have her rear end enlarged and shown across movie screens worldwide. Sofia Coppola’s film could have easily started with the Tokyo skyline, but instead we see Johansson’s pink underweared butt with the words “Lost in Translation” across her cheeks. A sexy, understated introduction if there ever was one. Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: An arrival in reverse. Jim Carrey erases Winslet from his mind after a nasty breakup in Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry’s sci-fi, neosurrealistic tale of love and memory.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 7
test kitchen
Product reviews from A-Line’s favorite friends
Bliss Spa bottles its famous oxygen facial. Will your complexion be cleaner, brighter, fresher and youngerlooking, instantly? Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask Sephora: $52
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
Jac: 23 Normal-to-oily skin
This lush mask has a pleasant scent and really froths up as you massage it onto your face. While it’s foaming, you can feel your pores open up and get a breath of fresh air. After rinsing, my skin was soft and fresh looking, but I didn’t notice any real difference from using my daily cleanser.
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
Kate: 31 Combination skin
Woo! Almost frothed off my face and it’s still tingling! A few minutes after rinsing, my face felt dry. This makes 31-year-olds panic, but it’s less drying than my normal wash. My skin does feel soft and smooth. A few days later my skin looks better! Hopefully due to Bliss. Who knows?
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
Tracy: 46 Normal-to-oily skin The mask immediately frothed up and stimulated my skin. My pores felt excited and alive. After rinsing, my skin looked and felt cleaner. The next morning my face seemed more balanced, less oily than my normal “wakeup face.” I would use it again. A bit of frothy fun without the calories of a latte. 8 | may 2011 | the arrival
{mirror, mirror}
Spring Smoky Eye Step 1: Sweep a neutral-colored eye shadow from lash to brow. This creates a smooth surface to help make blending a snap. Step 2: Take a soft brush and add a dot of shiny, light green and then blend out over the eyelid. Step 3: Take a medium-sized, fairly dense bristle brush and pat a darker green shadow along your lash line. You want to create a thick eyeliner look. Step 4: Grab a clean brush and blend upward toward your eyelid crease. Color should start to fade out as you work your way up.
Goodbye grey, hello color {instructions by megan kelly}
S
pring: the time of year when old trends give way to new. Sometimes it’s just plain impossible to keep up! But luckily there are classic looks that are timeless and every woman should know. The smoky eye is a tried-and-true eye look that works for any occasion...even work. Forget about boring blacks and greys and break out bright purples, blues and greens for spring.
tips Eyes first! Start with a naked face. Dark shadow can get messy. This way you can clean up any “fall-out” without ruining makeup you would have already applied. A small angled brush works great to line and blend for a subtle look or for smaller eyelids. Don’t have time? Use a cream shadow and blend all over the eyelid with your fingers. A little goes a long way; about the size of a pencil eraser will do.
Step 5: Take a clean, soft brush and apply a shimmery highlight color. Start below the eyebrow arch and simply follow the shape of brow. Once color is established, blend downward into existing color. Step 6: Finish with black kohl eyeliner applied to the inner rim of the eye, and a clean black liquid line along the lashes. Step 7: Add a few coats of black mascara, top and bottom. Visit a-linemagazine.com to watch a video tutorial of how to create this look yourself.
Megan Kelly studied Theatrical Design at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and cosmetology at Aveda Fredrick’s Institute and is a certified artist with M.A.C.
Finish the look off with a soft, sheer blush color on the cheeks. Use a peach or pink. a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 9
10 | may 2011 | the arrival
first look
1 2
Against the grain 5
Defy fashion convention with these chunky, wood-soled shoes for spring
1. cleo wedge sandal by mrkt. 3
DSW $69.95
2. studded platform by steve madden Macy’s $79.00
3. eddiea Peep-toe bootie Aldo $69.95
4. steph sandal by levity DSW $69.95
5. giselle wedge pump by franco sarto DSW $69.95
4
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| may 2011 | the arrival
2 4
first look
Tickle Me{Pantone}Pink 3
1
Honeysuckle, to be exact…the season’s newest Pantone is popping up all over 5
1. strappy heeled sandal H&M $34.95
2. oxford short J.Crew $45.00
3. circle rim sunglasses Urban Outfitters $10.00
4. sofia coppola rosé Market Wines
6
$14.99
5. padlock bag Banana Republic $59.99
6. essie nail polish J.Crew
8
$8.00
7. capri blue candle Anthropologie $28.00
7
8. alfani hooded anorak Macy’s $99.00
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 13
| may 2011 | the arrival
2
first look
7 1
3
4
6 1. alicia silk printed patio dress Banana Republic
Painterly Ambition Channel Monet’s garden with these refreshing watercolor florals
$140.00
2. sea flower scarf The Limited $26.90
3. Liz Claiborne johnnie print pump DSW $49.95
4. Tuileries floral skirt Talbots $99.00
5. Flower knobs Anthropologie $6.00-$8.00
6. Anne Klein silk shell Macy’s $69.00
5
7. Rachel roy button-up dress Macy’s $119.00
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 15
Bright colors and overtly feminine details give these timeless silhouettes playful wearability for work or, well, play
16 | may 2011 | the arrival
PHOTOS BY TIFFANY DAWN NICHOLSON | STYLED BY ROSIE KOVACS AND LACEY VOSS
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 17
| may 2011 | the arrival
Outfits, from left to right On Nora: sunglasses, Charming CHARLIE; sequin shrug, Forever 21; necklaces, Target; Kimchi Blue jacket, Urban Outfitters; belt and short, J.Crew; tights; Urban Outfitters. On Amanda: sunglasses, Pins and Needles blouse and Kimchi Blue short, Urban Outfitters; cardigan, J.Crew; belts, The Mustard Seed Boutique; bracelet, Target. On Amanda: scarf, stylist’s own; necklaces, Target; cardigan, The Limited; bracelets, The Brush Factory; skirt, J.Crew; Steve Madden platform, Macy’s. On Nora: hat, stylist’s own; necklaces, Target; cardigan, H&M; mesh shirt, The Limited; suitcase, stylist’s own; belt, The Mustard Seed Boutique; skirt, J.Crew; socks, Urban Outfitters; Material Girl shoes, Macy’s. On Nora: vintage shirt, Chicken Lays an Egg; bracelet and ring, The Brush Factory; pant, J.Crew; flats, Urban Outfitters. On Amanda: blazer, H&M; shirt, The Brush Factory; pant, J.Crew; tights, Urban Outfitters; vintage shoes, The Mustard Seed Boutique. On Nora: cardigan, H&M; button-up, The Brush Factory; belt, The Mustard Seed Boutique; sandals, H&M. On Amanda: sunglasses, H&M; jacket, Talbots; Lark & Wolff dress, Urban Outfitters; Fossil shoes, Macy’s.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 19
Nathan Hurst searches for models
20 | may 2011 | issue name
Cincinnati Fashion Week celebrates its second year in high style {by ann lawson} photos by tiffany dawn nicholson
N
athan Hurst, founder and CEO of Cincinnati Fashion Week, sits perched on a high-back stool at the end of a makeshift runway. He is discerning and confident as he watches models and amateurs audition for a spot in Cincinnati Fashion Week’s finale event, building piles of applications: No, Maybe, Yes, Absolutely. The first model call for the 2011 Cincinnati Fashion Week at Mitchell’s Salon and Day Spa has attracted about 100 women, girls, men and boys. Hurst sits next to David Lang, owner of Cincinnatibased Wings Model Management, as they meet every model together. Lang opines on each model-hopeful as they walk the runway. He is there partly to support Hurst and partly to scout for new talent. His expertise is appreciated by Hurst, who often works in tandem with sponsors and friends from the fashion industry, whether for a Fashion Week event or otherwise. Hurst believes collaboration is key to taking Cincinnati Fashion Week (and the Cincinnati fashion community) to “the next level.” “I have a personal relationship with a lot of our sponsors,” Hurst says. “I maintain a relationship with them and help them out as much as I can. They give me advice, and if there is anything I ever need, they help me.” Hurst would like to see CFW burst its banks and start a cultural movement in Cincinnati—one where designers, buyers and customers converge and boutiques spring up in empty storefronts. And Cincinnati’s fashion culture has indeed made movements, particularly in support of Hurst and Fashion Week. As Vivian Moore, Vice President of Mitchell’s Salon and Day Spa, put it, “Nathan was like the boy with the idea that made it happen.” Cincinnati Fashion Week has become something of a lightning rod for talent, with industry professionals adding their expertise to his vision. Moore has been a part of Cincinnati Fashion Week from the very beginning. She recently traveled to Milan and Paris for their respective fashion weeks to work on Armani’s team. And photographer Annette Navarro, who has shot CFW’s promotional material for both years, has three decades of experience in the fashion world under her belt, shooting fashion spreads and ad campaigns around the world. CONTINUES ON PAGE 23
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22 | may 2011 | the arrival
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21
Micah Paldino, Artist Director for Cincinnati Fashion Week, has planned many of the events during the week. He lists off the speakers and hosts for each event, all with impressive resumes. There will be a launch party at the old Contemporary Arts Center, a Men’s Fashion Refinery, a Graphic Fashion exhibit at Landor and more. “Tea with Mary Baskett” features Baskett’s personal collection of haute couture as well as Cynthia Amneus, director for the Cincinnati Art Museum’s recent Wedded Perfection exhibit, who, in Paldino’s opinion, will be integral to the Cincinnati fashion community even though she’s not yet a household name. This year’s Fashion Week is not just one week of celebration and exploration, but also a jumping off point to showcase the city’s hidden or perhaps underutilized talent. Last year’s Thursday night Up-and-Coming Fashion Show included Lindsey Lusignolo, couture wedding, evening and cocktail dress designer, who will be opening up her own boutique downtown at the end of May. Lusignolo has gotten calls for her services as a direct result of Fashion Week, according to Paldino. The same is true for Amy Kirchen, who showed in the finale event last year. She has plans to open a boutique of her ready-to-wear sportswear and assorted couture collection. Neither of these women considered Cincinnati a viable market until Fashion Week, Paldino says, and now they’re staying to pursue their craft. The same can be said for other professionals involved throughout the week. Moore says, “Honestly, since doing Cincinnati Fashion Week, my schedule pretty much exploded.” “For Fashion Week specifically, the opportunity that it provides is probably the same for everybody—the models, the makeup artists, the hair stylists, the people who write about it, the people who attend it that are seen there—and it’s exposure.” Exposure and experience are key, Moore says, to getting more work because everyone is looking for the next best thing. A professional, successful event is a positive representation for all involved and can lead to other opportunities. “That’s my goal,” Moore says, “to share the opportunity, learn from it, get more people involved and definitely get Cincinnati on the map as...getting credit for the talent we have here.” Moore will use her experience she gained to improve upon last year’s event. This year, according to Moore, will feel much more high fashion. Her experiences in Milan and Paris have refined her ability to create a cohesive look for each designer. Similarly, Hurst has a higher aim for the week on the whole. Whereas the 2010 event was launched after four months of planning, Hurst and his team have been diligently working for a year to prepare for 2011. The Edge, the downtown event space for the finale, can hold twice as many people as last year, and he hopes to top last year’s attendance of 2,500 people for the entire week. Whereas the major fashion weeks in Paris and New York are run by event planning companies, the 2011 Cincinnati Fashion Week is being put together by Hurst, Producer Andrew Salzbrun of Ionic Collective and Paldino. They are not only managing but also doing
most of the legwork to get the event off the ground. With Hurst at the helm, planning a week’s worth of events is a great deal of responsibility for someone who had never produced a fashion week before the 2010 event. He has a very specific vision of what he wants and focuses until it’s achieved. Hurst says he spends much of his time seeped in the fashion culture. He is constantly challenged and evolving. The network he has built since he started Cincinnati Fashion Week has helped him hone his skills. “I learn a lot just by watching other people do their job. It’s like someone speaking another language around you all the time. Eventually you’re going to learn it,” Hurst says. Hurst seems to have his hands in most every aspect of Fashion Week: casting models, styling photography shoots, managing the budget, reaching out to sponsors, and updating the Web site. “Physically, it is draining. My dedication to Fashion Week does screw up a couple of things, whether it’s ruining my social life or getting bags under my eyes. But I always think things have kind of happened for a reason,” Hurst says. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do.” At 24, Hurst is nowhere near stopping. There was no rest for the weary after the 2010 fashion week and there will be no break this year. “No one goes for what they want like this,” Hurst says. “When I’m older, I want to have something tangible to show for my life.” Indeed. Cincinnati Fashion Week 2011 runs May 9-15. Learn more at www.cincinnatifashionweek.com.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 23
music to our ears What we’re listening to now.
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ The Classic Kosher Bagel Shop Serving Cincinnati Since 1969! Vaad Hoier Approved 9701 Kenwood Road Blue Ash, OH 45242 (513) 891-5548 Mon-Fri 6am – 9pm Sat & Sun 6am – 8pm
Thao Nguyen (of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down) and Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn (of Mirah) have joined forces to create the aptly named Thao & Mirah. And thank god they did. A collaborative effort from two distinctly different songwriters. Thao’s been wooing us for years with her infectious pop songs and certain knack for cynical storytelling. Mirah’s been doing the same. She has five solo albums under her belt that have married her voice to a plucking ukulele as well as chirping crickets. Thao & Mirah’s joint effort is proof again that sometimes two is better than one. If this is what their new friendship sounds like, we all need to get out and mingle more. Perfect blend of each member: “Eleven”
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳
British/American duo The Kills have recently released their fourth album, Blood Pressures. Think Black Keys or White Stripes but scarier or sexier depending on your reaction to Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince’s combative and raw pounding sound. Blood Pressures has the perfect mix of songs that make you want to break something (in a good way) and those that calm you down afterwards. Get up and dance moment: “Nail in My Coffin”
✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ ✳ Another much needed mention in a list of recent releases built from twos is The Civil Wars and their debut CD Barton Hollow. John Paul White and Joy Williams lend their voices as the strongest instrument on the album. Their chamber-folk, mostly acoustic album has welcome guest appearances by piano and violin, but these guest stars never get in the way or at all outshine the star quality of the entwined vocals. Reminiscent of The Swell Season (from the movie Once) or Alison Krauss and Robert Plant’s duet releases. The first single “Poison & Wine” played in full on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy during one of those segments that makes you wish you were as in love as everyone on TV (minus the sad-they’re-in-a-hospital part). Drink an entire bottle and cry: “Poison & Wine” Taryn Tegarden started listening to Fugazi at age 8. She currently resides inside of Shake It Records.
24 | may 2011 | the arrival
track 1: Joni Mitchell, “Hejira” – “Perfection in words and imagery. I love this lady so much; her artistry has been an inspiration to me long before I ever thought I’d end up songwriting.” (Donna Jay Rubin)
photos: Stephen Metz
track 2: Led Zeppelin, “Ten Years Gone” – “A showcase for the brilliant songwriting, performance and production skills of guitarist Jimmy Page.” (John Curley)
Love to Love the Fists of Love {interview by tess hammons}
{mixtape darlings}
fists of love S
everal alumni from Cincinnati’s music scene have united for the super group Fists of Love, and from the looks of the lineup they’re planning an audio takeover. Donna Jay Rubin, Chris Schadler, John Curley and Cedric Rose proffer a collective resume that includes local favorites Snake Punching Contest, Fairmount Girls, Afghan Whigs and Jake Speed and the Freddies, respectively. Their layered sound is a vehicle for elements of indie, psychedelic and garage rock. The band released its self-titled EP in March 2010 on Cincinnati’s The All Night Party label, a service company that assists musicians on many levels, from recording/production and mastering to distribution and promotion. Currently, the musicians are devoting large parts of already busy schedules to finish a full-length album at Ultrasuede Studios. Meanwhile, you can check out our darlings as they pop up individually, with a side project or as a whole, for shows around town (including Maifest 2011 in Covington’s MainStrasse). Now let’s get to the aural brain-picking: a musical mixtape of favorite songs, as created by the band, in no particular order.
track 3: Wilson Pickett, “Help the Needy” – “Pickett is a force the likes of whom the world will never see again, and this number seems to encapsulate the history of blues and soul.” (Cedric Rose) track 4: The Kinks, “Powerman (Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One)” – “Hmmmmm. My guitar is as old as this song.” (Rubin) track 5: Voivod, “Astronomy Domine” – “Their ability to take one of Pink Floyd’s best songs and make it fit seamlessly into one of the best metal records ever is a testament to the genius of both the band and the song.” (Chris Schadler) track 6: Freddie King, “Freeway 75” – “An instrumental tribute to I-75 released in 1965 on King Records. ” (Curley) track 7: Peaches, “I Don’t Give A…” – “Simplicity: Take a sample from Joan Jett’s ‘Bad Reputation’ then scream ‘I DON’T GIVE A F---!’ Peaches once again makes us want to f--- s--- up.” (Schadler) track 8: Stereolab, “Jenny Ondioline” – “A world without Stereolab would be unlivable.” (Rose) track 9: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “More News from Nowhere” – “Is it possible to write a perfect pop song that lasts over 7 minutes? Yes; apparently the sexiest man alive/storytelling guru has no problem with this task.” (Rubin) track 10: Deerhunter, “Nothing Ever Happened” – “The culmination of Deerhunter’s enviously cohesive record ‘Microcastles.’ My favorite thing about this is the twisting and winding direction of the song as melodies pile to the highest point they can find.” (Schadler) a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 25
THE NEW BAD GIRLS CLUB Bad Girl Ventures’ micro-lending program helps female-owned start-ups {story by jac kern} photo by amy elisabeth
“N
ot every woman can be a Bad Girl, and not every woman can start her own business,” Bad Girl Ventures founder Candace Klein
explains. Klein selects 10 area female entrepreneurs seasonally to participate in Bad Girl Ventures’ six-week course, where women who own start-up level businesses are coached on everything from accounting to marketing. BGV culminates with graduation and the awarding of a business loan—worth up to $150,000. Winners include Findlay Market's urban pet goods store, Pet Wants, and most recently Just Great Foods feeding tube formulas. With professional business courses and a hefty loan that might otherwise be impossible to receive, Bad Girl Ventures gives women the brains and brawn to take their businesses to the next level. But what exactly makes a girl, well, Bad? “A Bad Girl is very specific woman," Klein
26 | may 2011 |the arrival
explains. "She is a woman who is bold, brave, willing to think outside of the box; to do things in new, creative and innovative ways and to take a risk for what she believes in.” Fitting this description to a T, Klein has accomplished more at age 30 than most people can cram into a lifetime. Though you’d never know it by looking at the impeccably-styled, charismatic and well-connected young woman, she came from humble beginnings as the daughter of a teenager living near the poverty level. An inspirational story in itself, Klein’s mother worked her way up the economic ladder at Procter & Gamble without a college education. The inspiration from her mother helped Klein become the first in her family to go to college, obtaining five degrees from Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and her Juris Doctor from Chase College of Law. After working her butt off at NKU, Klein was ready to trade in Cincinnati winters for sunny beaches with plans to attend law school at the University of San Diego. “I packed up my Geo Metro to drive across the country and in April 2003 I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.” Klein was forced to put off law school and move in with her parents during treatment. All the money she saved up for tuition was used to pay her medical bills. “At 23 I was dealing with the potential of death,” she recalls. “It was a bad year.” Instead of just giving up, Klein took on a new motto: “Every day I’m alive, I need to live it to its fullest.” While focusing on her health and working at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Klein ended up connecting with NKU’s first woman appointed to the Board of Regents, Alice Sparks, who listened to her story. Impressed by Klein’s bold life goal (“I’m going to be governor in 2027,” Klein told her), Sparks offered to pay Klein’s law school tuition in full. “I asked, ‘How can I repay you for this amazing gift?’” Klein recalls. “She said, ‘Find a way to invest in women.’ So I did.” Helping women has been Klein’s passion ever since. In fact, as an attorney at Graydon Head & Ritchey LLP, she has 100 percent female clientele. “I care deeply for every woman in my world,” Klein explains. So, naturally, when the economy crashed in 2008 and Klein’s clients stopped paying their legal bills, she wanted
to know why the market affected her clients so profoundly. Klein interviewed several major banks and venture capitalist companies about why they don’t invest in women. They revealed that female business owners were either not coming forward, had ill-conceived business plans or their growth strategies just weren’t aggressive enough. Another reason bankers cited for not investing in women, and one reason why Bad Girl Ventures is so important, Klein says, is because across the board bankers agreed that women just don’t know how to make money. Sure, we’ve graduated from the Mad Men era where a woman’s job consisted of keeping her boss’ ice box stocked. There are more female entrepreneurs now than ever before, but as Klein explains, “They want to change the world and do something for mankind, which is great. But when women walk into a bank and discuss their business, they never say ‘I’m doing this to make money.’” Once Klein understood the problems women had finding loans, she discovered how she was going to repay Sparks. Klein launched BGV in March 2010, thinking of it as a micro-lending fund where anyone can lend small amounts of money bunched together to create a significant loan. With an explosion of interest, she realized this was something bigger. “I created a monster!” Klein exclaims. Within six months, she sifted through more than 100 women who applied to the classes for their chance at $25,000. Just stepping into the classroom that Klein describes as “magical,” you can feel the electricity. Since Klein makes sure none of the women are in competing industries, they’re comfortable sharing their business models and asking questions. And judging by the diversity in age, race and economic background, the classroom provides women with the opportunity to cross paths with like-minded ladies they might not otherwise meet. The straightforward BGV application consists of four short questions about the proposed business, but it’ll take a lot more than a few paragraphs to catch Klein’s eye. “They have to have that extra something, that fire in their belly,” she explains. Application enrollment is currently open at www.badgirlventures.com.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 27
28 | May 2011 | the arrival
{make your own}
Provençal Stacked
Herb Garden Simple spring charm for your kitchen or patio {steps By Kristina Gerig}
Start your search for bowls, candlesticks and vases in your grandmother’s cupboard or at a thrift store. Use vintage or salvaged goods in varying styles to give your garden a whimsical bohemian look. step 1: Stack your vessels to visualize the arrangement. step 2: Sand the surfaces where the pieces will attach to help the epoxy adhere. Clean the dust off before continuing. step 3: Mix the two-part epoxy on a clean, disposable surface.
materials
step 4: Apply the epoxy to all of the surfaces that will contact each other using a cotton swab. Center and stack the vessels.
Two-part epoxy adhesive (I like to use J-B Weld’s) and a clean, disposable surface—like cardboard or a cream cheese container lid—for mixing
step 5: Allow the epoxy to dry according to the instructions.
Two vases or candlesticks (metal, glass or ceramic)
step 7: Cover the gravel with 2-3 inches of potting soil.
• One 3-4 inches tall • One 6-8 inches tall Two bowls (metal, glass or ceramic) • One 11-13 inches in diameter and 4-5 inches deep
step 6: Pour pea gravel into the two bowls until the bottom has been filled ¼-½ inch.
step 8: Arrange and set the plants into place. Fill in around the plants with more soil.
To maintain an herb garden, place container in indirect sunlight and water when surface of soil feels dry.
• One 8-9 inches in diameter and 4-5 inches deep One sheet of 150-grit sandpaper Potting soil 2 cups pea gravel Five compatible herb plants (shown: mint, thyme, chives, basil and rosemary) Three cotton swabs
Kristina Gerig has worked as a professional product and surface designer around the world. Her work has been featured in media publications such as Frame Magazine, PBS’ “Art21” and Design*Sponge.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 29
about the chef
I
f you blinked, you probably missed it. Sierra Laumer’s restaurant, forkheartknife, opened its doors on May 5, 2010, with a tiny menu to match its tiny footprint (just four tables) on Main Street. Laumer’s goal—which she pursued with the help of her best friend-turned-business partner Leah Heisel—was equally modest: to work as a caterer while occasionally providing a few low-priced, artfully cooked dishes to her Over-the-Rhine Sierra Laumer neighbors. The occasional dinners turned into every Wednesday and Thursday, plus brunch on the weekends. It was a huge hit and a true labor of love, born out of Laumer’s desire to honor her sister, Jenna, who’d died just five months earlier after a devastatingly brief battle with cancer. That first night of business, Laumer and Heisel were surrounded by friends and family to christen the space. It was Cinco de Mayo. The menu: guacamole, salsa, chips and fish tacos. “We spent $150 on food and I thought, ‘I hope we make that $150 back so we can go and buy more food for the next meal’,” Laumer says. Exactly one year later, forkheartknife will close its doors for good. A few glowing mentions in the press and positive word-of-mouth brought bigger, more demanding crowds—much to Laumer and Heisel’s surprise—and the space simply couldn’t handle it. Friends urged them to raise their prices; the pair said no. “We didn’t want to become this exclusive, reservations-only type of place,” Laumer says. For its last day of service, forkheartknife plans to return to its young roots, as Laumer and Heisel whip up as many fish tacos as they can for the diners who are so sorry to see them go. But don’t think you’ve seen the last of Laumer on the Cincinnati food scene. She’s spending the summer learning more about her craft and planning her next move. “I have the type of personality where I climb a mountain… and then I need to climb another mountain.” 30 | May 2011 | the arrival
ingredients
profile by kristin d. zeit {Recipe by Sierra Laumer} photos by cameron knight
{cookbook}
Fish Tacos &
Mexican Street Corn
fish tacos STEP 1: Preheat oven to 375° F. Lightly salt and pepper the non-skin side of each fillet. STEP 2: Blend all the chimichurri ingredients in a blender until thoroughly combined. Spoon sauce over each fillet to cover, saving some to drizzle over finished tacos. Bake fish on a lightly oiled, foilcovered baking sheet for about 15 minutes or until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. STEP 3: While fish is baking, make the slaw by tossing all ingredients together in a large bowl. STEP 4: For shells, place 8 tortillas on a baking sheet and top each with 2 Tbsp. of shredded pepper-jack
cheese. Top each with another tortilla and heat in oven until cheese is just melted. STEP 5: Top each shell with half of a fish fillet, skin removed. Top with avocado, queso fresco, a generous handful of slaw and a drizzle of chimichurri sauce. Mexican Street Corn This dish is best with freshly grilled corn on the cob, rolled in the ingredients after cooking. But until fresh corn is in season, frozen corn is a great substitute. Toss all ingredients together. Serve alongside fish tacos with a wedge of fresh lime.
Fish Tacos (yield: 8 tacos) 4 fillets of mahi mahi, about 1/3 lb. each, 1½ in. thick Kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper 16 6-inch soft flour tortillas 1 cup shredded pepper-jack cheese Chimichurri Sauce ½ bunch cilantro (leaves only, chopped) 1 or 2 jalapeños (seeded and chopped) Juice of one lime ¼ cup canola oil 2 pinches crushed red pepper Fresh-ground pepper, to taste Slaw ½ head green cabbage, shredded ¼ head red cabbage, shredded 1/3 cup diced red onion 2-3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro Juice of 2 limes 1 generous pinch of kosher salt Additions 3-4 avocados, sliced 1 cup queso fresco, crumbled Mexican Street Corn 1 lb. bag frozen corn, cooked 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise 2 rounded Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, grated Pinch of smoked paprika Juice of ½ lime Lime wedges for garnish
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 31
meet our mixologist
I
love making classic cocktails. I love the stories that go with them, the air of mystery and romance they conjure up. I love the creativity I have when I come up with a new craft cocktail. It occurs to me, however, that some may enjoy the end result of a mixologist’s work without realizing what a cocktail really is. Let’s investigate… The classic definition of a cocktail is an alcoholic drink made up of two or more ingredients, one being the spirit. Molly Wellman One of the first times we see the word “cocktail” in print is 1806. The Balance, and Columbian Repository, a Hudson, N.Y. publication, describes a cocktail as stimulating liquor composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters. Due to the much higher alcohol level in spirits of past centuries, people used fruit, sugar, herbs and spices to mask the harsh taste. In some cases, the alcohol would be 135 proof. It’s unclear who invented the cocktail. We do know, however, it’s a very American thing. Drinking a cocktail has always been seen as a genteel and somewhat romantic custom. Before prohibition it wasn’t appropriate for women to drink in bars or saloons. The city of New Orleans remedied that problem by serving cocktails in coffee houses, where it was perfectly proper for a lady to enjoy a drink. The golden age of cocktails was from 1860 to the 1920s and into Prohibition. After the repeal of the 18th amendment in 1933, cocktails were still popular and were made even more glamorous through Hollywood movies. However, between the late 1960s and through the 1980s, classic cocktails took a back seat to sweet drinks mixed with sugary flavored liqueurs. Flavored vodkas became the rage in the 1990s. I like to make my own flavors from fresh herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables. I have more control over what flavors I highlight or downplay. It’s like painting a picture! So, if you know anything about me, you know I’m not the biggest fan of flavored vodkas. But, if you know anything about me, you also know I’m always eager to broaden my horizons. For this cocktail I’m using Absolut Wild Tea vodka. It’s infused with black tea, white elderflower, red apple and citrus. Molly Wellmann is an award-winning mixologist and craft cocktail diva; a true classic with a quirk.
32 | May 2011 | the arrival
{happy hour}
cocktail Signature
{Recipe by Molly wellmann} photos by jesse fox
ingredients 1½ oz. Absolut Wild Tea Vodka ½ oz. St-Germaine 3 segments grapefruit or grapefruit juice 3 sprigs mint Soda water
step 1: Place 2 mint sprigs in cocktail shaker along with grapefruit. step 2: Use a muddler or spoon to smash the fruit and mint together until combined. step 3: Add St-Germaine and vodka to shaker. step 4: Fill with ice and shake. I like to shake the cocktail at least 10-20 shakes until nicely chilled. step 5: Strain into highball glass filled with crushed ice. step 6: Top off with a splash of soda and garnish with remaining sprig of mint.
a-linemagazine.com | may 2011 | 33
street style Caitlin Malone, Fountain Square Take a cue from Caitlin and add extra life to a denim dress with a vibrant scarf and brightly colored jacket. Flat boots and a colorful bag complete the art-y casual look. halogen dotted challis scarf Nordstrom, Kenwood Towne Centre $28.00
他 sleeve open crew cardigan Nordstrom, Kenwood Towne Centre $44.00
key-per utility tote Fossil, Kenwood Towne Centre
LE MONDE
ANCIEN
EST
NOUVEAU
A Boutique Consignment Shoppe
3071 Madison Rd Oakley, OH. 513-386-9885 HOURS Tues.-Sat. 10-6 34 | May 2011 | the arrival
$98.00
rise & shine dress Anthropologie, Kenwood Towne Centre $98.00
clide buckle bootie by Steve Madden DSW, Rookwood Commons $79.95
Tamia Stinson is the culprit behind fashion and lifestyle blog TheStyleSample.com, and works as a freelance graphic designer and marketing consultant.
36 | May 2011 | the arrival