italianchef

I haven't ridden The Crypt yet. Maybe this weekend I can.

Are concerts no longer being held at the TimberWolf??

The only way the Phantom Theater will come back is if you or I win the PowerBall and build our own Phantom Theater off Kings Island property. I miss it as much as you do, but realize that it is gone with the wind.

Why would anyone like being stuck on a ride? It would especially suck if you had to go to the bathroom.

No doubt that FoF is much easier to ride than it used to be. The previous restraints caused me discomfort.

Personally I don't gamble because I am cheap and hate wasting money. But while the anti-gamblers block gambling in Kentucky and Ohio, the gambling money is driving to Indiana. Hence, I'd say legalize casions, but restrict their areas. We don't want a casino next to a grammar school.

Flight of Fear (indoors and looping LIM), The Beast (longest wooden coaster in the world), The Racer (Red, Blue, or both), Flight Deck (flying coaster), and Vortex are my favorite 5 coasters at KI.

Today I went with my wife and son to the Cincinnati Museum Center for its Asian Festival. If memory serves me right, there were tables representing China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and India. Since the festival was in the auditoreum of the Musuem Center, non-Museum Center members didn't have to purchase tickets to enjoy the festival. But they did need tickets if they wanted to visit one or more of the Museum Center's three musuems. We are members, so it didn't affect us. Most of the booths sold decorations and clothes from their native countries. However, Japan didn't sell a thing. It did, however, offer free tea. No other booth offered beverages and none of them sold food. How can one have an ethnic festival without ethnic food??? We enjoyed the Japanese Taiko drum demonstration - in which I volunteered, an Akido presentation, a trio of Japanese musicians, an Indian meditation display, and I paid to have my Taiwanese fortune told. The fortune teller told me to grab a stick, drop two stones to verify the stick, I was assigned a number (38), and then I was told that this was a bad year for me and to be conservative with my money. Specifically, the fortune teller told me not to make any stock investments, purchase a house, or take international trips. IRONY!!!! I was laid off from my job with a severance package in January, watched 1/7 of my net worth disappear due to bad investments, and I've been temping for the last month. How did this fortune teller know all that? Best regards, Italian Chef

My family will make it again to Coney Island this season. We'll probably visit 1-3 times. If Coney had better rides, we'd get season passes to it instead of Kings Island because of geography. C'mon Coney, build me an awesome roller coaster or two and you got me.

I voted "Awesome" because I greatly enjoyed my ride on the Red Racer last Sunday.

I was at the Cincinnati Flower Show today (as a guest) and last Saturday (as a volunteer). It was a nice time. But I was disappointed that there were no rides this year because there were in previous years, and my 4-year old son kept complaining that he wanted to do the rides. The offerings for food, wine, plants, and such were great. And the park was very well decorated. Best regards, Italian Chef

I'd go with Best Western or Microtel - both on Exit 25, real close to KI.

Today I went to the Cincinnati Flower Show, as a guest - not a volunteer - with my wife and son. Th whole park was garnished with plants and flowers. Vendor booths were plentiful and were local and came from places as far away as Minnesota. My favorite thing was the free wine tasting, in which I tasted 4 excellent Biltmore Estate wines. My son enjoyed running around and eating chocolate that I bought him. I dropped $50 for different plants for my wife to make her happy. Best regards, Italian Chef

Somebody telegraph Busch Parks and tell them what an incredible mistake they are making in their parks..... Amen to that! People are so anxious to say that German food failed, when it didn't. It was simply changed by people who have no respect for Cincinnati's German heritage. If German food is a "failboat", tell that to Hofbrahaus in nearby Newport, KY, Busch Gardens, the German Pavilion at Disney World, etc.

Tonight I decided to take my family to ChuckeCheese for dinner because we have never been there before. The food is nothing to brag about. But WOW - what great prices for the tokens. My son, wife, and I all had a blast playing may games for much less than we've paid at GameWork, the GWL, and CoCo Key's arcades. And my son was thrilled to see ChuckeCheese and he kept yelling his name. Hence, for its reasonably-priced arcade and kiddie attractions, my family will return to ChuckeCheese. Best regards, Italian Chef

If I am correct, KI no longer hosts concerts - other than religious - at the TimberWolf. Am I mistaken?

I think that Country Line is a great show, but I also think that it is out of place. When I saw it, I thought to myself, "Okay I am in a restaurant named Festhaus in a place called Oktoberfest. To my left I see Italian LaRosa's, to the center I see a Country music show from the southern USA, and to the right I see a Chinese restaurant, Panda Express. I think that LaRosa's And Panda Express should be on International Street and Country Line should be in Rivertown. As for Festhaus.......WHERE IS THE GERMAN IN FESTHAUS????? I should see brats, metts, potato pancakes, German beer, a German band, and sexy full-figured women in Oktoberfest outfits. Dankashein, Italian Chef

It seems like a fun opportunity.

Pretty cool.

Not gonna happen.

Today I went to Kings Island with one of my friends to enjoy the big rides. First we headed to The Crypt to see how different it is now that TR:TR is no more, but it had a sign stating that it was closed all day! So we opted for a ride on The Beast, followed by a joy ride on Backlot Stunt Coaster. Other than a new sign and a paint job on the cars, it seemed the same at TIJSC to me. And I really think that the new name should've included L.A. somewhere since the scenery replicates Los Angeles. Who came up with this new name? On to Vortex for a fun twisting ride, followed by the indoor Flight of Fear, the only science fiction themed attraction at the park. We left the park and went to Chan's Asian Wok on Exit 19 for a delicious and reasonably priced lunch, and then returned to Kings Island. First we rode Flight Deck and were surprised to see that not an ounce of theming is left. KI didn't just remove the Paramount poster, they took out the flags and everything, and left no new theming in its place. And I noticed that the train cars were painted different from TG. Then we waiting a LONG time on line to ride Vertigo, which other than a new sign, looks exactly like Face/Off. And it began raining while we were on the LONG line. We concluded our rides at The Racer, where we rode the Blue Racer first and won, followed by the Red Racer and lost. Then we viewed The Country Line Show in Festhaus, which was awesome, and shopped for t-shirts at Festhaus. As we had different obligations, we left the park for the day around 3:40 p.m. Happy 36th Season Kings Island, Italian Chef

I woke up early today and will be there.

I'll use it for my next article about KI - which will likely be Halloween Haunt.

Today I volunteered at the Cincinnati Flower Show at Coney Island. I spent most of the day selling environmentally friendly shopping bags. There weren't any rides operating. However, there were lots of AWESOME food and wine vendors there. When not on duty, I tried several foods and wines. In addition, there were crafts vendors from as far as New York City, Minnesota, and even Washington state!!!! I purchase a bamboo plant and some Italian pastries for my wife. Best regards, Italian Chef

The loss of a loved one is not a viral infection. It takes much longer than 2 weeks.