This was such a fun experience. Drinking, pedaling, enjoying the experience of seeing our city in a…read moredifferent light.

My first experience on a pedal wagon, this was a lot of fun!…read more I've been asked in the past to do this and I've always thought "who wants to pedal around and get sweaty just to drink?" There's something to this pedaling around. Listening and singing to music. People watching. Waving at cars passing by. Having fun. Thanks for the fun!

:-D I cannot stop smiling! This was my second Yelp Cincy Made event and let me tell you, these…read moreevents are top notch! Cindy does a great job with finding cool spots and making the events so exclusive. We had only 12 people at the event, which was the perfect size to learn to bake these fantastic little French treats! Cindy started everyone with a glass of champagne (I mean, how can you NOT have a good time when there is bubbly?!) and we all introduced ourselves. Then she introduced Nathan, owner of Macaron Bar and his team. From there, we learned a little history about the macaron and started the lesson. I was surprised that the class was 3 hours, but the time flew by!! Nathan was a fantastic teacher. Making the macarons was actually easier than I thought, but having an expert and 2 other team members (shout out to Shelley and Courtney!) made it fun and exciting. We made some beautiful purple mararons and had lots of fun with the caramel filling! And much to my surprise, they tasted amazing as well!! Not as good as Nathan's version, but pretty yummy for our first attempt! I absolutely LOVE this event series! Learning about and supporting local businesses is just awesome. Thank you SO much, Cindy, for the time and effort you put into these events! Can't wait for the next one!

This is hands down the best Yelp Elite event I have been too! We learned how to make macarons from…read morethe masters at Macaron Bar (hey Nathan!) and it was amazing. First off, there was free champagne which is a good starting point for any event (good call with the champagne Cindy!). The class was small enough for us to each get to take part in each step of the baking process, so it was super hands on. I hate going to cooking classes where you just sit and listen to a lecture, and this macaron making class was certainly not that. We started by learning about the macarons (did you know that the flavor is all in the filling and the cookie doesn't have any additional flavor, just almond meringue?? I had no idea!). Then we made the meringue, the cookie batter, piped the cookies, and baked them. Each group of three then made a fluffy ganache filling (ours was chocolate, but the other groups made vanilla, rose, and even a salted caramel)...I'm not gonna lie, I stole a bit of the chocolate ganache off of the spatula. It was fantastic! Then, the best part...trying all the macarons! We tried all of the flavors, and we each took home a box for later. The macarons weren't quite as *pretty* as the ones at Macaron Bar (I think I need to work on my piping technique), but they still tasted pretty darn good, especially considering we were all novices! This class was free, but I would definitely pay for the macaron making class at Macaron Bar! This class was totally worth it, and I learned so much...No wonder their cookies are $2 each, it takes a ton of effort to make them! Now I can't wait to eat the ones I took home

I don't think there's anything I can say about this that hasn't been said... it was amazing, and I…read moremean that in the literal sense. I had an absolutely wonderful time with my friend I brought along and meeting some of my fellow yelpers. The DJ was awesome. He was really good at playing a diverse set and kept the jams coming. That was one of the highlights for me, the "dancefloor" being where I met some of my new friends! The food- fuggetaboutit. Knocked out of the park, as expected. Two memorable bites I had were the barbeque and the opera cream cupcake. Thanks again, Cindy, for putting this together and for being so great, in general. p.s.- I was able to get some rad photos of the Cincinnati skyline, which was an added bonus!

While searching for things to do in Cincinnati, I found this, which was perfect for my family! It's…read morea quick trip over the bridge to Newport, KY. There's ample parking in front of the building (easy to find). The staff was super nice from checking in to leaving the boat! The captain greeted us to show us where to go, which I thought was a great touch. The snack bar staff was also great! The boat takes you up and down the Ohio river. There's so many beautiful sights to be seen. It was just so relaxing even as full as it was. There's different levels to sit on with chairs. The snack bar had great options for all. I thought the pricing was fair. They offer pictures prior to stepping onto the boat.

O-M-effing-G with a huge side of swanky wow!…read more I have been to my fair share of yelp elite events and this one tops them all, hands down. Not only were the staff incredibly sweet, gracious and friendly - not only was the food absolutely melt-in-your-mouth phenomenal - not only was it so much fun to pretend like I was actually living in the 1960's and able to dress the part (and I won best dressed - total cherry on top of the cake of my nite!)- but it was also a wonderful opportunity to get to know other yelp eliters, most of which I'd never met before! Talk about an incentive to open up a yelp account and start writing your heart out! I know many non-yelp elite significant others watched us walk out the door with a twinge of jealousy in their hearts. lol. I equally appreciated learning about the background, history and roots of this restaurant (I wish we could have finished watching the video!) In my brief stint working in the restaurant industry, I gained a new respect for how familial it is. Ruth's Chris is no exception - in fact, their mission is founded on southern hospitality, and they do not disappoint. Many, many thanks to Cindy and all of the Ruth's Chris staff who showed us such an excellent time last nite. I genuinely appreciated every second of my experience and left with a happy (and very full) tummy, and some new friends!!! So to anyone curious about joining Yelp, or those of you who are on the fence with your review writing, or those of you who creep - if you love food and fun -it's 100% worth it to dive right in and begin food-blogging away!!!

This was my first Elite event and I'm so glad it was because it was so memorable. How fun to get to…read moremeet a bunch of fellow Yelpers, dress up like Mad Men AND have a beyond amazing meal! Everything about this night was in a word, FAB. The food, the service, the theme, the atmosphere, it was all great. Ruth's Chris speaks for itself when it comes to the food but as usual the steaks were perfectly done and I was so happy they had the creamed spinach as a side... my FAVE! I was also totally stoked to finally find out why it is called "Ruth's Chris" after watching a great video on how Ruth's Chris got it's start- what an inspiring story! It explains why the staff here are so proud to work at this organization and why the level of service here is heads above the rest. Thanks to Cindy for putting together such a fun event, and thanks to the Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Staff for being so gracious. Looking forward to many more Yelp events!

What an awesome Yelp Event! I know we are only half way through the year, but this is my favorite…read moreone so far. The night started off checking in. We got cool bandanas and a complimentary drink ticket. I got the 5 Star Stout (Tropical brewed with coffee). Awesome stuff. City Barbeque provided the delicious meal. We were given a tote bag with instructions on making a simple rub recipe, coupon and faqs about their business. I LOVED creating my own Rub! So much fun. My friend Brandy and I did not waste any time and headed to the Buffet line and got our meal. There was green beans (with bacon), Macaroni and Cheese (you can choose the toppings), Brisket (so tender and juicy, the best!!! YUM!!) and for desert- the peach cobbler. The long tables felt like we were outdoors on a picnic. Sweet!! After dinner, we were given a tour by Braxton Brewing Co. Very informative and interesting. It was short and to the point. They brew their beer at this location which is small, yet spacious. I've never been to Braxton Brewing and will definitely return. I love the décor and the long couch to chill out. My second drink is the Storm Golden Cream Ale (smooth and crisp). At the end of the night we had some pictures taken by WINKINGMANPHOTO.COM (Cool Props and backdrop provided). Overall, I had a blast!!! Thank you Cindy, Yelp, Braxton Brewing Co., City Barbeque, and Winking Man Photo, for everything!! The night was absolutely perfect!

Since I don't get to Covington very often, I wonder how long it would've taken me to find this…read morejewel known as Braxton Brewing. I shudder to think about it. Predominantly a family run business, it is clear that they want to set themselves apart from the rest of the craft beer pack. We learned on our tour that one of the sons in the family started out brewing beers at home when he wasn't even old enough to buy a beer. At 18, he already had an award-winning concoction!! This place is so high-tech that in order to vie for some of the gift cards, you could tweet and see it almost instantaneously right there!! The facility itself was modern, spacious and clean. Co-hosting this amazing Yelp event was City Barbecue! They started off with a bang by letting us all go through their make-your-own-spice-rub bar to bring home some of the resulting deliciousness. Not only were the scents of their spices enticing, but the colors were as well. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to make use of it tomorrow!! Their brisket was mouthwatering and who could resist their mac n' cheese with extra fixings to top it with - think bacon and extra cheeses! After filling our tummies, we were sent home with their simple rub recipe, along with a small container of the one we had made with their ingredients. I found this to be a novel and fun idea!! Then as if that wasn't enough, they gave us a coupon for two free sides when we purchase the smoked meat from them. Here is a company trying to "rub' us the right way. Another fun night coordinated by Cindy again! A big thanks to her, as well as Braxton Brewing and City Barbecue!

The wife and I don't make it down to Cincinnati very often. Making the list for Yelp's Bourbon…read moreTour gave us a great reason to come for a visit. The lovely and talented, Cindy G, set up a great Elite event with Cincy Brew Bus for a daylong tour of the area's emerging bourbon scene. Mike, the owner/driver/guide of Cincy Brew Bus, kept it entertaining and fun...so much so, the wife and I definitely want to try their brewery tour. New Riff Distilling and Second Sight Spirits couldn't be more different in the size of their operations. New Riff was a state of the art, spacious, beautiful modern facility with a multi-story column still that served as the visual focal point for the distillery. Second Sight was the epitome of the DIY spirit as it occupied a small space on the main drag in downtown Ludlow with the most unique and beautiful still I've ever seen. Both distilleries offered up informative tours given to us by people that were truly passionate about their craft and the spirits they were producing. Both distilleries offered up their entire line of other spirits for tasting, which were intriguing and delicious. At 94 proof, New Riff's Bourbon Barreled Kentucky Wild Gin possessed the expected gin botanicals but was amazingly smooth and nuanced as a result of its barrel aging. Second Sight's Villa Hillbillies Apple Pie Moonshine was dessert in a glass and their delicious Spiced Rum was balanced in its spice notes. The other two stops on the tour, the Littlefield and Horse & Barrel, offered informative and tasty flights of Kentucky bourbon. It was a great way to compare and contrast between bourbons from different distillers as well as bourbons from within the same distiller's product line. Each of their staffs were gracious and accommodating for our group. What made the event and our trip down to Cincinnati extra special was the opportunity to meet some of Cincinnati's other Yelp Elites. It was a great group and I had a very fun time making their acquaintance over food and drink and experiencing Cincinnati's (and surrounding area's) bourbon scene. Thanks, Cindy, for hosting this awesome event!

This was my first Yelp Elite event and I survived! :) this was an intimate event with only 14…read morepeople invited, but I loved meeting some new people and doing something different. Cindy was amazing as usual in planning this and Cincy Brew Bus made the day educational and entertaining. I haven't spent much time in Kentucky so it was nice to check out some new areas. I'm not a HUGE fan of bourbon (I'll drink it in mixed drinks and sip a bit but not my everyday thing) but my chemical engineering nerdy self loves the distillery tours and just learning about all the different types of bourbon and how it's made. I have been to a ton of brewery tours but this was my first distilling tour. Cincy Brew Bus kept us entertained the whole time with fun Cincinnati or Kentucky facts and scenic tours. They also provided snacks like water, pretzels (from Servatii's!) and KIND bars to keep us hydrated and full. The stops on the tour were: New Rift Distillery (Newport), the Littlefield (Northside), Second Sight Spirits (Ludlow, KY), and finally Horse and Barrel (downtown Cincy). New Rift was a great tour and very spacious, you can tell the staff is passionate about what they do, the business, and bourbon. After the tour we got to sample some of their house-made bourbon and even a fruity mixer (which was delicious). They have a huge space and areas for people to host work events and they even have a larger space above where they do weddings. There's also a gift shop near the tasting bar. The Littlefield I have been to a few times now (you can see my review of them on my account). As usual I love their bourbon drinks and food. I was excited to get their pigs in a blanket. We got a $5 credit to spend on anything. Only thing I wish at this stop was that we weren't so rushed and had more time to finish eating/drinking. I got my food 5-10 min before we left and had to scarf it down. Second Sight Spirits is definitely the most unique place I've been to and is a craft distillery. Their story of getting started is very interesting. I won't spoil it for you in case you check it out. Overall the owners are entertaining and brilliant men. For the tastings here, we got to try some of their unique infuses bourbons like apple pie moonshine and fire jack (infused with a chilli pepper). They were amazing and definitely worth a try. Horse and Barrel is in the heart of downtown so I've also been here a few times. The manager who led he tasting was very knowledgeable and you can tell really enjoys bourbon. I actually was a fan of the Old Fashion. We got a $10 credit here and tried some months food, which was delicious and needed after a full day of tasting bourbons :) Overall this was a great 5 hours spent meeting new people, trying new drinks, and exploring Cincinnati/ northern Kentucky. Thanks to Mike, our bus driver, and Cindy for a fun day!

This was an amazing event. I have driven past the garage multiple times and always wondered about…read moreit and was so happy to attend an event there and learn more. I have never rode on a Segway before and was a little nervous but the instructors made me feel much more confident. We rode off in groups of 6-7 on a 10 minute tour down the road toward the horse shoe casino and back. We also took a moment to goof off in an empty parking lot where we could go fast without worrying about cars. When we arrived back the staff was awesome showing us around the store and even gave us an electric bike to test out. I had never even heard of an electric bike before! It was great fun and I was so impressed with the staff there who were all incredibly personable. I can't wait to book my next Segway tour!

When I got the confirmation email that I was in the Garage OTR!!! I was ecstatic! I never road on…read morea segway before and always wanted to. What a great opportunity to learn! When my friend and I first arrived, I was alittle nervous. The instructors were very generous to show each and every one of us how to use the Segway. It was a 10 minute crash course and then we were to split up in groups of 6-7 and ride 10 minutes around downtown area. You can learn alot in 10 minutes. Also the intructors were not going to let you go until you felt comfortable. We were to wear safety helmets as well. Our group went from the Garage OTR to the end of the street near Horseshoe Casino. As we went around, our tour guide took us to an empty parking lot so that we can practice and go as fast as we want. I was very comfortable at the end and wanted to ride more! What I learned is not to over think it. When we got back, we were given coupons for half off segway tours (you can also go in groups) in the eden park, downtown & riverfront and spring grove cemetary area, with a cool yelp water bottle and Dewey's pizza (heck ya!!!). What an awesome experience! My friend and I had a blast! Cindy my friend, you are the bomb.com!!! This was a great addition to the Yelp's Bucket List. I will definately book online for a tour! Thanks Staff of Garage OTR! You guys rock!!

The Taste of Cincinnati is an event I always look forward to each year and I have to say that 2026…read morewas much better than 2025! This year there was a larger variety of cuisine types. Last year I felt like I was at a Texas Rodeo with only BBQ options. Highlighting our Cinci Food Trucks and Findlay Market restaurants is always one of my favorite parts. Most if not all restaurants in his year we're showcasing specialty items so it was great to see different options vs everyone having pulled pork bbq or cheeseburgers and so I had the opportunity to try so many things and places that I didn't even know about. Service was also very quick at almost every stop so no long lines, food was hot and the workers were all friendly. Being outside is always a treat and i was thankful it was warm, not HOT, partly cloudy and not sun blazing. This is a great family friendly event, if you haven't gone before, hit it up in 2027!!

Have been coming for 30 yrs. Love to find new places to check out and try new things. Tried to come…read moreyesterday but the rain got real. But today was gorgeous. We usually come when they start as the crowd and lines are fair less. Everything we tried was good and enjoyed the live music. My hubby is not a dancer but I would have like to dance a bit. Anyway great day here with gorgeous weather.

This was our first Yelp event as Elites, and Cindy really set the bar high with past Yelp events…read moreI've been to so I wasn't sure what to expect, but what a delight! The Frozen Asset demo was a great way to show off the mixologists of D. Burnhams and the food, though all catered towards carnivores, were delightful. Everything tasted great and were beautifully and artfully presented. Touring the hotel was a real unique experience considering the historic value of the building to the city and was unexpected, but definitely keeps me clamoring for more! A lot of yelpers seemed to be new to the Elite scene (myself included) and this was a great first Elite event to be invited too. Thank you, Cindy for a great Monday evening! You really know how to plan great events that'll float EVERYone's boat!

A wonderful time was had by all at D. Burnhams and the Renaissance Hotel this evening. For a…read morerestaurant that has only been open 2 months, they certainly seem to have their act together. The bartender Ryan personally developed a specialty cocktail called Frozen Assets to play on the fact that the site used to be a bank in it's previous life. It was impressive to hear how thoughtfully he concocted this wonderful libation. Because he wanted to include a dollar sign in the drink, he pureed basil and decorated the top of an ice cube with that symbol. Then he creatively used some coconut oil on top because it is a solid at room temperature before he poured more water on top to freeze so as not to mess up his design. As the ice cube melts, it subtlely changes the flavor of the drink over time, then as a finishing touch, he flambeed the liquid refreshment with Chartreuse! Next, before tasting any of the menu items, the chef came out and described this delectable array of food samples - potatoes dauphinoise, brussel sprouts, short ribs, seared scallops and duck to name a few. Delicious yet just enough to make you want to come back to eat there. Note: the chef and restaurant emphasize using local foods in their preparations which I can appreciate. The second half of the evening was led by Diana (an impassioned historian). Turns out D. Burnham was named for the nationally famous architect and when The Renaissance was built it was the tallest building in Cincinnati! The elevators right outside of the restaurant are an exquisite example of art deco even though they are no longer in operation. Besides the many suites and meeting rooms, I was blown away by the gorgeous Burnham Hall - look at some of the photos to understand what I mean. You rarely see anything like it nowadays. Glorious details and enough capacity for several hundred people whether you are planning a meeting or wedding reception! As a side note, in the bathrooms the mirrors had a grid of lights displayed in them. You could change the pattern by pushing buttons at the bottom. An unexpected, but unique design element. It was also fun for Cindy to have a Best Dressed contest. Some of the outfits were truly befitting the evening and D. Burnham's will hopefully let one of us know if we have won a free night's stay. Keeping my fingers crossed!! Thank you, thank you to The Renaissance Hotel, D. Burnham's and most of all to our tireless leader, Cindy, for arranging the entire event!