BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
|
IF YOU GO
|
|
Free shuttle bus service will be provided from several parking lots: the Municipal and Safety Center, 4343 Cooper Road; Sycamore Junior High School, 5757 Cooper Road; Maple Dale Elementary School, 6100 Hagewa Drive; Edwin H. Greene School, 5200 Aldine Drive; or the University of Cincinnati's Raymond Walters College, 9555 Plainfield Road.
Shuttles will run during the event and for one hour after closing. |
BLUE ASH -- Along with the tradition of a musical flashback to the 1960s with name bands from the era, the Taste of Blue Ash will feature more fun for the younger set this weekend.
Julie Prickett, spokeswoman for the the three-day event that draws upward of 220,000 to Blue Ash, said an effort was made to provide more entertainment for children.
This year's Taste will feature such '60s greats as Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Turtles, featuring Flo & Eddie; Billy Joe Royal; and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
Ms. Prickett said 23 restaurants will provide American, Italian, German, Chinese and Tex-Mex fare at the event held near Hunt and Cooper roads. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Friday; noon-11 p.m. Saturday; and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.
"'Over the years, we have been trying to make the children's entertainment area (at the south end of Hunt Road) more interesting. On Saturday and Sunday we'll have presentations by the Cincinnati Zoo with zoo animals and also the Frisch's Marionette Co.," Ms. Prickett said.
Children also will be entertained with hand puppets, sand sculpting and dancing. Members of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks hockey team will conduct a slap shot contest and sign autographs, Ms. Prickett said.
As for music, the event will rock back more than three decades.
"This year, with this being the 13th annual Taste of Blue Ash, we tried to bring in (music) groups that will appeal to the baby boomers and others," said Bruce Henry, the city's deputy manager-safety director, who has been in charge of finding entertainment for the event.
Each year, Mr. Henry talks with the Taste of Blue Ash Committee and the city manager to come up with a list of performers to invite. Invitations go out early and the event has developed a good reputation with such entertainers.
"A lot of the music this year is familiar to everyone because much is used for background for TV commercials and in other ways. Our performers, such as Gary Lewis & the Playboys and Flo & Eddie and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are well known for their interaction with the public and having good times with the crowd," Mr. Henry said.
"We are finishing (the event) with Billy Joe Royal, a local boy, and with a 1964 tribute presentation of The Beatles. If you close your eyes and sit back, we'll take you back to the '60s," Mr. Henry said.
