It’s that time of year! Take advantage of local holiday fun and try some of these local events to kindle your holiday spirit! PNC Festival of Lights Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden When: 5-9 p.m., nightly through Jan. 2 Tickets: Included with zoo admission, $14. ($9 for seniors 62+ and children 2-12.) Enjoy nearly 2 million LED lights, a Madcap Puppet show, rapping elves and more. When you visit, bring a new, unwrapped toy that will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati. More info: www.cincinnatizoo.org * Downtown Dazzle Fountain Square When: 6:30-7 p.m. Saturdays in... [more...]

If you’re selling your home — or just planning an update — a new coat of paint is a good option to give your rooms a clean, fresh look. Choosing a color is important, but so is the finish. Take a stroll at your local hardware store to see what finishes are available. Flat/Matte: You’ll typically find flat  or matte paint in new construction. Sure, it looks great when it’s fresh — it will have a completely matte finish and will easily hide wall imperfections. The downside to flat paint is that marks and scuffs are difficult to wipe off. This finish will require... [more...]

Sales are still recovering both nationally and locally, but one thing Cincinnati can brag about: affordability. The affordability in the area ranks at 257, with the nation’s affordability at 172 — the higher the number, the better. The numbers are compiled by looking at median home prices, mortgage payments and household income. You can also visit the national Housing and Transportation Affordability page. They supply a chart for most areas of the country. Areas where a housing cost is less than 30% of that household’s income are considered affordable. So, those areas in yellow... [more...]

No matter how big or small, all homes have one thing in common: wall space. But many homeowners get stumped by what to do with it. Walls are a blank canvas for creating an inviting space and showing off personality, and although homeowners’ tastes vary widely, there are a few general ideas and guidelines to consider when deciding how to make the best use of your walls. Sconces are a great way to add light and style to a room. They should be placed about six feet above the floor, and if there are two or more, be sure to place them evenly to provide balanced sources of lighting. If the sconce is... [more...]

Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky celebrated the re-opening of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, a regional icon. Perhaps taken for granted for a while, many residents missed the bridge during its closure. In celebration of the bridge renovation and reopening, we pulled together some fun facts, both old and new. • When the first pedestrians crossed on December 1, 1866, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world at 1,057 feet. More than 166,000 pedestrians crossed the bridge in the first two days. • The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling from Pennsylvania, who would later design the... [more...]