Supernatural Botanicals

One of Cincinnati’s favorite resources for fresh fruits and veggies, unique meats and cheeses, and amazing breads and pastries is Findlay Market.  Located in downtown Cincinnati, Findlay Market remains the hottest spot for the coolest people.  Check out my visit from earlier today.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spqkev3U5iY

Outspoken, hilarious, brilliant, and easy on the eyes, you can catch our favorite politically incorrect poster child, Bill Maher, in Cincinnati on October 23rd at the Aronoff  Center.  He’s bound to have lots of opinions on our super-conservative city!  Simon Leis…I’m talking to you!  You can come as my personal guest…call me.

Whether you are a conservative or a liberal, politically or religiously inclined, or just a big thinker and a fan of intelligent comedy, Bill Maher will keep you in stitches all night.   He’s super-smart and quick on his feet.

There is still time to get great tickets for Bill’s show.  Click the picture below for tickets.

Way to impress the pants right off of us, Los Angeles!  

Los Angeles is going to start a new pilot program with RecycleBank that will compensate households for recycling!  The hope is that the city’s recycling rate will go up from 65% to over 70%.

15,000 homes will be eligible for the program and the contents of their tagged bins will be weighed and recorded each week. Depending on the weight, residents earn points that they can redeem at businesses like CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond, and El Pollo Loco.  The total tally can reach the equivalent of $400 a year per household!

Super-impressive initiative, LA!  Cincinnati…take notes!

Here are five great magazines to get to know better. 

  Body + Soul Magazine:  Articles on whole living, living green, health and fitness articles, recipes.

  Cooking Light:  Hundreds of light, low calorie, and low fat recipes each month.  Great fitness articles.  Wellness.

  Organic Gardening:  Advice on green gardening, eco-issues, environmental issues, living organically.

  Every Day with Rachael Ray:  Many recipes each month, lifestyle advice, decor, girlfriends, household tips, etc.

  Cincinnati Magazine:  A favorite resource guide for local Cincinnatians.  Shopping, dining, events in and around Cincinnati.

Ikea…it’s a total experience.  If you’ve never been to an Ikea store, it’s a must-experience type of place.  If you adore interior design (like I do!) and great prices, Ikea is the place for you.  Visiting Ikea can be an all day event.  There’s even a restaurant inside (go for the Swedish meatballs), so you can make a day of it.  The word on the street is that going to Ikea is the new trendy thing to do on a date.  Makes sense….lots of things to stimulate your senses visually.  Below is my video log of my day at Ikea.  There was so much to love there!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgrkZGgXE2k

Robin Feltner and Diane Keaton.

Smart Talk Connected Conversations brought the fabulous Diane Keaton to the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati last night.  What a night!  To my surprise, she didn’t wear her signature hat or gloves.  In fact, she said she’s over the gloves at this point.  She still likes them, but is outgrowing that look.

Physically, Diane Keaton is very tall and willowy.  In the picture above, I’m at least 5′ 9.5″ in peep toe pumps….and she’s taller than me.  She was wearing a black jacket with pearl necklace, a fabulous Prada floral skirt with leggings under the skirt.   Diane walks in the room, and the dynamics change.  There’s something about her that’s electric, it’s palpable.  Her very presence commands your attention.  She certainly possesses movie star quality.

Diane on her first love: You guessed it….Woody Allen.

Diane on her celeb crushes… “Al Pacino, although he didn’t feel the same way.”

Diane on being a cougar, and which is better to kiss, a younger or older man? Diane likes kissing them all!  She says she feels blessed to have kissed so many leading men in her career.   She thinks they are all great (and who can blame her?)  She admits she had a particular fondness for a very young Mel Gibson.

Diane on the toughest director she’s ever worked with: Without hesitation, Diane says “Warren Beatty!”  She dated Warren and felt it difficult to transition from boss to girlfriend with him.  She said he’s very demanding, and required multiple shots for every scene.

Diane on her favorite movie: Diane is not big on watching herself on the big screen.  She claims she doesn’t have a favorite movie, but appreciates what each one brings.  For instance, Something’s Gotta Give, with Jack Nicholson, is a rebel cry for older women and sexuality.  She loves that!

Diane on quotes on aging from her friends: Diane said Meryl Streep once said to her, “I’ve got to tell you something, honey, we both look like shit” in reference to aging.

Diane on her biggest failure:  “Hanging Up”, in which she directed.  (editorial note…I just couldn’t disagree more.  I loved this movie, and adored her style in this movie!)

Diane on her fashion style: Diane says her iconic fashion style is attributed to her sense of “never wanting to be ordinary.”

Diane on her hobbies: Diane is a preservationist and loves to rehab homes.  In fact, she has written a book on Spanish Colonial and Mission Style houses, called California Romantica.

Diane on her earliest influences: Doris Day.  Diane says Doris Day was her inspiration to be famous.  Diane broke into song when she learned that Doris Day actually grew up right here in Cincinnati.

Diane on colleagues she admires: The woman at the top of Diane’s list is Meryl Streep.  She say’s “Meryl has something magical going on, she’s amazing, just amazing.”

Diane on dressing for your age: Diane says, “When you are a certain age, cover up, cover it all up” joking about her love of turtle necks and long skirts.

My thanks to Diane Keaton and Smart Talk Connected Conversations for such a fantastic night!

BUY TICKETS HERE

   SMART TALK Connected Conversations has presented captivating stories from such remarkable women as Julie Andrews, Barbara Walters, Mary Tyler Moore, Gloria Steinem, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Maya Angleou, Jehan Sadat, Whoopi Goldberg, Erin Brockovich, Lauren Bacall, Susan Sarandon, The Honorable Ann Richards, Goldie Hawn, Priscilla Presley, Anna Quindlan, Debbie Reynolds and Marianne Pearl to name just a few. 

Luckily, Cincinnati will be welcoming the incredible Diane Keaton on May 19, 2009 at the Aronoff Center as a part of the SMART TALK series. 

Having appeared in over 50 films, including The Godfather, Annie Hall (for which she won an Oscar), Something’s Gotta Give and Mad Money, Diane Keaton is that rare talent whose appeal spans generations – from teens to seniors. In addition to acting, she has transformed her hobby of restoring homes into a serious and thriving business. From mothering advice to tales from an actor and entrepreneur, don’t miss this rare evening with a true Hollywood legend. 

Tickets are still available for Cincinnati’s event.  Don’t miss this opportunity for a night with Diane Keaton.  Click here for ticket information. 

Click here for more information on SMART TALK Connected Conversations. 

A doctor who practices what he preaches?  You bet!  Hottie Columbus-based cardiologist, David Sabgir, M.D. is the founder of Walk With A Doc (www.walkwithadoc.org), a program he started to encourage his patients to exercise.  He invited patients to walk in the park with him every Saturday morning (hello, motivation!)  The outing soon caught on, and now they have between 100-175 people every weekend.  The good doc says, “with the assistance of about 50-70 hospital residents, my goal is to have walks every night of the week.”    

I love the fact that Dr. Sabgir participates with the walkers.   If a busy cardiologist has time in his day for exercise, surely you do too.  He says “I started this program knowing it would become part of my life.  We begin at 8 a.m. with a warmup and a few minutes of light stretching, then we walk at a brisk pace for 30-45 minutes.”  In fact, the good doc makes exercise the first part of each day, not just Saturdays.  “If I don’t workout in the morning, it will never happen” he says.  He runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends for 30-60 minutes and swims or bikes on Monday and Wednesdays.  “Friday is my recovery day so I’m fresh for Saturday morning.” 

The benefits of exercise are both mental and physical.  Many of his patients have lowered their blood pressure 20-30 points, feel better, and are motivated to continue to exercise other days of the week. 

I love, love, love the idea of a cardiologist or physician-based walking program.  Attention Cincinnati doctors…..I’m first on board for this.  Let’s go!  Here’s to the good doc from Columbus trying to make our bodies and minds stronger.  And Columbus is not that far away.  I might just join the good doc on a Saturday morning – meow!