East Walnut Hills
March 16, 2011

iSPY some yummy cupcakes

I recall studying the advent of the Salon in Mrs. Ray’s AP European History class… a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. My first experience with such a gathering came during a jaunt in Paris. The affair was a paid, trip-through-time, tourist trap. Interesting, but not quite what I’d expected. In my most recent encounter however, I got my money’s worth and then some.

Karen Hollstegge, Pat Hoffman, and Debra DeCourcy

Women Helping Women, a unique provider of crisis intervention and support services for direct and indirect victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, also provides a Sunday Salon series in their event listings. The series, which began January 30th and runs thru March 27th, helps subsidize funding for their main services.

Each Sunday guests enjoy an afternoon at a beautiful Cincinnati (sometimes Northern KY) home as well as an interesting talk from a list of keynote speakers. Some of whom include UC President Gregory Williams, a former FBI special agent, Cincinnati Ballet CEO Victoria Morgan, Craft & Cocktail Expert Molly Wellmann among others.

Krista Tevar, owner of Sugar Cupcakery                     Julie Baughman and Michele Mischler

And on my day of attendance I was lured in with the sugary sweetness of Krista Tevar, owner of Sugar Cupcakery, an upscale organic cupcake bakery located in Old Milford. The Dinerman’s, Gretchen and Robert, hosted the event in their lovely Riverside condo, which is a mere hop, skip, and jump away from an afternoon bath in the Ohio River.

View from the living room… pretty nice

As Tevar told her story, I was captivated. Within six months of opening Sugar Cupcakery (opened Labor Day 2009) a Nick Lachey Cincinnati Bell commercial was filmed at the store. Secondly, Tevar and her sister were invited to participate in Cupcake Wars, a reality show competition on the famed Food Network. They placed second. Now their cupcakes ship around the country. Believe me, there are more details to divulge in this fascinating anecdote, but they will unfold in a separate, yet upcoming, iSPYCINCY post… sorry to leave you hanging. Just remember–all good things come in time:)

Jeanne Ruggieri and Wendy Kroner

Elisa Grammel and Michelle Buehler

Until then, I leave you with more details about the Sunday Salons: there are only two left in the series, this Sunday and next. Click HERE to find out who’s speaking. And don’t worry if you miss out on the Salons, Women Helping Women has a grand Mad Men themed party coming up on Thursday May 5th at the Elements Events and Conference Centre–Light Up The Night. You’ll want to be in attendance.

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