UNITE 2017, Cincinnati OH

For several days this past week, I was honored and excited to participate in various events related to UNITE 2017, the international convention of CBA (the Association for Christian Retailing) at Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. This annual event is where the Christian products industry gathers to address relevant topics, share knowledge, and generate business opportunities to provide resources for Christian-type people around the world.

My first stop was actually across the river in Kentucky, where the ICVM (International Christian Visual Media) conference was being held. I was thrilled to hand-deliver my book, The Bard and the Bible, to veteran TV and movie casting director Mark Fincannon (Macgyver, Nashville, The Blindside, and more). Mark is also president of Luminarium Pictures.

I also joined fellow Cincinnati-based authors Diane Stortz and Ginny McCabe (above) as well as Michelle Lazurek (below) at a combination panel discussion and book signing.

The exhibit hall this year was not difficult to navigate at all. Though I heard a number of people were disappointed because they didn't run into celebrities like me as often as they would have liked.

But I found a few celebrities, such as Cynthia Ruchti (above) and Audra Jennings (below). They were (predictably enough) honored and excited to see me.

I saw a few other dear friends and met with some fine agents, editors, and authors. But really, most of the time I just tried to make myself accessible to the public. That's why I'm here.

Montgomery Inn Boathouse, Cincinnati OH

After all these years I've lived in the Cincinnati area (1958-1971, 1973-1977, 1983-1987, 1992-now), I've never made it to Montgomery Inn Boathouse...until last evening. Like many Cincinnatians, I'm a huge fan of Montgomery Inn's ribs, which I've always enjoyed at their original location, in Montgomery (thus the name).

So I was excited to take my friends, Donnalyn Davis, Michelle Cox, and Kaley Rhea, to the boathouse for their first encounter with Montgomery Inn ribs.

We all ordered the half-slab and soon commenced oohing, aahing, and mmming. The above photo, tinted red by the awning under which we ate, like the group photo of us all, doesn't do justice to the uniquely tasty entree.

The Belle of Cincinnati (above) passed by as we shared food and uproarious conversation. I wish I could relate the "compression stockings" story, among others. You had to be there, though.

Like the other Montgomery Inn locations, the boathouse is stocked with sports memorabilia, including the above seat from Crosley Field, home of the Cincinnati Reds from 1912-1970. And you betcha I sat in it. I may have sat in it back in the day, perhaps even at the last Crosley Field game. That's right, I was there.

Montgomery Inn Boathouse is located at 925 Riverside Drive, just east of downtown Cincinnati. You should go. And take me.

High Street Cafe, Hamilton OH

I got to try a new lunch spot today in downtown Hamilton, Ohio: the High Street Cafe at 250 High Street (thus the name, am I right?) between Hamilton's Second Street and Third Street.

What a fun place with an extensive menu: breakfast, lunch, eat-in or carry-out, sandwiches, wraps, salads, bakery--even a well-displayed "hidden menu." Yes, that's right. A hidden menu. On the wall. Right there.

I had the "Texas chili." Delicious. Forgot to take a photo. Sorry about that. But I recommend it.

Gracepointe Nazarene Church, Trenton OH

The lovely Robin and I visited a new church yesterday on the way to a Sunday afternoon visit with family: Gracepointe Nazarene in nearby Trenton, Ohio.

We entered a good fifteen or more minutes before the start of the service--because, contrary to the starting time listed on the website (10:30), the morning worship service was slated to begin at 10:45. We thought it was interesting that there were pews on the flanks of the auditorium and chairs in the middle section--though strangely, the middle section was mostly empty, leading us to wonder if there were some special purpose for them. But no, it just seemed that most people preferred the side seating.

The service began with a hymn--"The Old Rugged Cross." You can't much hymnier than that. It seemed strange as an opening. After several verses, everyone was encouraged to shake hands all around. The worship band then led four songs, passionately and effectively. We were blessed by the worship leader's openness and passion, and were excited that there was a young violin player in the band, though we never heard the violin. Pity.

After the worship set, the children (who had joined the service during worship) were led out, and at some point someone opened the curtains along with walls to let the sunlight stream in; nice. The pastor, Jon Young, preached on Deuteronomy 10 and 11, concluding a series. He clearly knew his flock, and we were blessed by his sensitive and passionate delivery. 

We dashed out as soon as the service concluded, needing to get to our family thing, but were happy to have visited this dear family church. 

Gracepointe Nazarene is located at 220 North Miami Street in Trenton, Ohio. 

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company, Asheville NC

Right about this time last week I had the pleasure and honor of heading out from the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference at Ridgecrest with about a dozen fellow writers, all of whom are way cooler and more accomplished than I am, to the Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company in North Asheville (hence the name).

I refrained from all alcoholic refreshment, though my photo skills that night do seem to say otherwise. I took only two photos because the conversation was so fascinating (sorta like Tolkein, Williams, Lewis, and the other Inklings) I couldn't tear myself away. I also never took a photo of our group, because, well, several of them would have sued me if anyone found out they were actually spending time with me.

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company is a craft brewery, pizza joint, gameroom, and discount-and-dine-in movie theater with a unique vibe. Not that I'm any expert on vibes, unique or otherwise. Movies are $3 a person. We were having too much fun to even inquire into what was showing.

It was fun, and our server was patient, efficient, and charming. The pizza: meh. I shared a "Cheeseburger in Paradise" pizza with a friend who had already experienced the "Biltmore" pizza. We both wished we had gotten the Biltmore, which is meatier. Still, the pizza wasn't the point--the company was.

Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company has three Asheville locations; we dined at 675 Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville.

Americano Burger Bar, Cincinnati OH

Last Thursday, the lovely Robin and I tried a new restaurant less than two blocks from the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company theater, where we were going to see a show: Americano Burger Bar.

We arrived at a few minutes past six o'clock and were seated immediately. Our personable server arrived within a couple minutes to take our order. We did something we almost never do: ordered the same thing, the "Queen City" burger and fries. They serve more than burgers and fries, but that's what we wanted.

The food was delicious, served piping hot. Robin noted that the fry cooks (the small kitchen was fully visible from our seats) wore hats but no nets or anything on their beards--and they were all amply bearded. She managed to shake it off, more or less.

The men's room was clean. Though I didn't need a whole beer keg to take care of business. 

Americano Burger Bar is located at 545 Race Street in downtown Cincinnati. 

Prova, Morgan Hill CA

Earlier this month, while visiting the California branch of our family, the lovely Robin and I accompanied Aaron and Nina to a restaurant called Prova, in lovely upscale Morgan Hill, for lunch.

It was a lovely day, the windows were wide open, and we were shown right to our table. We didn't know it was (at least partly) a tapas restaurant. But our server (though I think he was relatively new) was delightful and helpful, so we ordered.

For once, I wasn't real hungry so I ordered the fritatta, which was drier than I expected. Over-cooked, I thought.

The lovely Robin had a hamburger and fries, which was excellent, so she saved me a few bites. Altogether it was disappointing and overpriced but the company couldn't have better, and that redeemed the entire experience.

Morgan Hill is a charming community, but I doubt we'll return to Prova. It is located at 17340 Monterey Street in Morgan Hill, California.