Supernatural Botanicals

So I was hanging out with Tim Gunn the other night…yes, that Tim Gunn, and yes, I was really hanging out with him!  Tim Gunn was in Cincinnati to kick off the SmartTalk Connected Conversation Series at the Aronoff.  Tim packed the house with the VIP reception party prior to the event.  Gracious as ever, he really took the time to meet people, ask them questions, sign portfolios, and even encourage some design students that were hanging on his every word (understandably).  I envision those young fashion design students to be dedicating their early influencers to Mr. Gunn.  Tim was everything a star should be…kind, gracious to his fans, and engaging.

Tim’s speech was equally engaging, as he shared his experiences at Parsons, Fashion Runway, Tim Gunn’s Guide To Style, and Hollywood.  Tim’s style is to “make it work” for your particular body style.  He isn’t trying to push a near-skeletal frame to women, insisting that it’s the only way fashion will work on a woman’s body.  Instead, he personalizes style more to the individual.  And he delivers it all with his unmistakable “Tim Gunn” charm.   He has a confidence that just oozes from him.  Classy, yet not stuffy.  Kind to the core.  Kudos to SmartTalk on thinking out of the box with January’s speaker (first male celebrity ever!)  Join us in February as SmartTalk welcomes Arianna Huffington to the Aronoff in Cincinnati.  Click here for tickets and information.

Tim Gunn will be at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Theater on January 14th for a night of fun and insight with SmartTalk Connected Conversations.   SmartTalk has been bringing women together to experience the power of the spoken word since 1991. In the past several years, SmartTalk has grown into one of the most powerful and entertaining live events in the nation. The core mission of SmartTalk stems from the idea that women are inspired by the heart and voice of other remarkable women. In fact, we became more than just a lecture series but a series of connected conversations. These thoughts, stories and pieces of advice shared face to face create invaluable connected conversations that truly renew, enrich and uplift the spirit.

You have a chance to win tickets to see Tim Gunn!  Simply leave a comment and let us know you want to see Tim!  A name will be drawn at random, and the winner will receive two tickets to attend the show.  Good luck!

Looking for the perfect gift for the fashionista in your life?  SmartTalk will bring the sensational Tim Gunn to Cincinnati on January 14th, and there’s no time like the present to get tickets…and save.  Shop SmartTalk’s Holiday sale for 20% off tickets – starting Tuesday November 18^th.    Simply use “SANTA” to get the discount.  Shop now and save big!

The Discovery channel’s breakout rockstars from their hit reality show, Deadliest Catch, was in Cincinnati last night to share some of their adventures on the Bering sea…and these boys definitely do not disappoint.  The show’s format consisted of all three captains, Sig Hansen, Andy Hillstrand, and Johnathan Hillstrand, and a moderator on stage, asking the captains questions on various topics, from what it’s like to be on the ocean, to rouge waves, to their whirlwind successes.

Over whiskey and cigarettes, the captains showed us home footage of their adventures, told us of their personal experiences, had various feedback sessions with audience members, and spoke on family ties in the business.  Andy sang not one, but two, of his original songs.  We saw Sid’s cameo appearance in the movie, Cars 2, where he does the voice of a boat…which, incidentally, looks just like him, too.  Johnathan had a mohawk, which he did for a little boy who has cancer, and it actually looked fantastic, and told us how he kissed Sarah Palin “in the way every woman should be kissed”.

The VIP line after the show was incredible.   In hundreds of shows I’ve seen at the Aronoff, I’ve never seen a VIP line that long.  Longer than celebrities.  Longer than food chefs.  Longer than Broadway musicals.  Backstage, the captains were completely unaffected by any amount of stardom they are receiving.  They joked all night long, had the best stories, and, I think, were happy to finally see women!

Visit their website to find where they’ll be touring next.  It’s a must see.

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Smart Talk Connected Conversations will host Della Reese in Cincinnati May 17, 2011.  Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Della Reese is a world famous singer, actress and television star.  As well as a spokeswoman for the American Diabetes Association and an Ordained Minister!  Ms. Reese was born Deloreese Patricia and began singing at six years old!  By the age of thirteen she was hired by the late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  A generous amount of television exposure followed Ms. Reese’s first recording successes. She was also the first female to host The Tonight Show. She was soon asked to host her own talk show, Della, (making her the first Black woman to host her own show). Her most recent television credit,Touched By An Angel she was able to combine her talent for acting and singing, as she sang the theme song. Della will inspire you with her ability to be more than an entertainer, more than an actress and more than a minister- she is living proof that you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true!

And we have free tickets to see Della Reese on May 17th.  Leave a comment below and let us know you want to go.

The stars of the Discovery Channel’s wildly popular, Deadliest Catch, will be at the Aronoff in Cincinnati on May 9th.  In this rare, live, interactive event, the Bering Sea’s toughest crew swap stories as they take the audience through some of the roughest situations the captain and crew have ever had to face on the high seas. From the treacherous weather and crew conflicts, to the triumphs of the team, Captain Sig and Johnathan and Andy Hillstrand bring the intimate world of crab fishing to a live audience.

“Deadliest Catch” was released to the public in 2005 and has been going strong ever since, making it one of the most popular shows in Discovery Channel history.  For the first time, fans across the country have a chance to hear the stories behind the show, view never before seen video, and partake in a question and answer session with members of the cast of “Deadliest Catch.” Season seven will debut in the spring of 2011. For more information on the Captains, the tour, & much more, check out  www.thecaptainstour.com.

Don’t miss  your chance to see Sig and the Hillstrand brothers in Cincinnati.  We will be offering free tickets in a random drawing.  Just leave a comment and let us know you want to see the stars of the Deadliest Catch.  Good luck! (Winners will be chosen 05/02/2011).

Rounding third and heading for home, the Smart Talk Connected Conversations finished it’s fourth in a five part series for 2011 with Alison Levine in Cincinnati last evening.  Alison was the Team Captain of the 1st American Women’s Everest Expedition and Groundbreaking Polar Adventurer; Alison Levine is no stranger to risk-taking.  She’s survived sub-zero temperatures, hurricane-force winds, sudden avalanches, and a career on Wall Street.  Levine was born with a life-threatening heart condition that precluded most demanding physical activities.  After her initial diagnosis she had surgery that changed her life – and climbing stairs soon gave way to climbing mountains.  To learn more about Alison, check out her website, www.AlisonLevine.com. 

As always, Smart Talk hosts another amazing women with yet another amazing journey.  Don’t miss the last speaker in the series, Ms. Della Reese.  She will be at the Aronoff in Cincinnati on May 17th.  For ticket information, see here.  

We had a great time with Soledad O’Brien last night with Smart Talk Connected Conversations in Cincinnati.

The one thing we all took away from Soledad was that she’s one smart cookie.  She is, after all, a Harvard graduate.  Soledad said the inspiration for her to go to Harvard was that all five of her siblings went to Harvard (kudos to the elder O’Briens).   She went on to say that her sister , whom she said was no scholar, just a good student, advised her every step of the way while Soledad was in high school.

At heart, though, Soledad is a journalist and it shines through every time she speaks.  Soledad was on the scene in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti.  She did a great job of communicating the intricate details of such massive devastation.  If journalism is your thing, look to Soledad as one of your mentors.

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WHAT:              GET THE LED OUT:  The American Led Zeppelin
WHEN:             Friday, February 4, 2011 • 8:00 PM
WHERE:           Aronoff Center for the Arts – Procter & Gamble Hall
PRICES:           $42 • $38 • $32INFO:               From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out have captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the theatrical stage. Dubbed by the media as “The American Led Zeppelin,” Get The Led Out re-create the legendary British supergroup’s greatest hits in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed live.
 
TICKET INFORMATION – on sale now
·   www.CincinnatiArts.ORG  ·   (513) 621-ARTS [2787]
·   Aronoff Center Ticket Office
·   Group sales (10 or more): (513) 977-4157
·   HALF-PRICE STUDENT RUSH – two hours before curtain (6 PM) the day of the show.  Max.(2) tix with a valid student ID.

Cincinnati is all a-buzz in anticipation of the dance sensation, Burn The Floor tonight at the Aronoff Center.

Grab a friend and get your tickets here for a night of dance and ultra-sexy entertainment.