Hershey, Pa., portrays itself as the sweetest place on Earth.

Any place that has streetlights shaped like Hershey Kisses can’t be too far off in that claim. If they’re not No. 1 one they are a very close second to whatever place is. Only the chocoholic countries of Belgium and Switzerland swirl around in my cocoa-infused thoughts.

The Queen City is vying for that sweetest claim for at least one day. Chocolate lovers should plan on heading down river on Sunday, Oct. 13 for the fourth annual Cincinnati Chocolate Festival. Held in the Cintas Center on the Xavier University campus, this fest is designed for chocolate lovers of all ages.

This delectable event will feature tempting chocolate tastings from delicious local vendors, celebrity chef demonstrations, live vendor competition judging, contests, raffle baskets, children’s activities and much more.

This spectacular event will tempt your palate and indulge your chocolate cravings to your absolute delight and satisfaction.

Cincinnati Chocolate Festival vendors will take over the Cintas Center’s concourses this year with plenty of aisle space to explore and enjoy samples from their booths set around a circular flow floor plan.

Live cooking demonstrations and competition judging will take place in the banquet room with two stages and ample seating for all.

They’ve expanded the admission area so hopefully the lines of years past will just be a memory. The lower lobby will again host the kid’s zone with fun entertainment, contests, face painting and an Inflatable for all ages.

More festival information is located online at http://cincinnatichocolatefestival.com.

Another site worth visiting is the Findlay Market. Today it is the only surviving municipal market house out of the nine public markets that operated in Cincinnati in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The market house is built on land donated to the City of Cincinnati by the estate of General James Findlay and Jane Irwin Findlay.

Findlay Market was designed under the direction of City Civil Engineer Alfred West Gilbert (1816-1900) using a durable but unconventional cast and wrought iron frame, a construction technology that had been little used in the United States.

Findlay Market was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The structure was among the first markets in the United States to use iron frame construction technology and is one of very few that have survived.

Built originally as an open-sided pavilion, the market was erected in 1852 but disputes with contractors and difficulties correcting problems with the new construction methods delayed its opening until 1855.

The center masonry tower was added in 1902. Soon after, public health concerns about the market, which was open to the elements and exposed to increasing urban pollution, prompted enclosure of the market house and the addition of plumbing and refrigeration.

Merchants previously had used cool storage in deep cellars beneath nearby breweries.

The market house tower bell, rung at the start of each market day, was brought from Cincinnati’s Pearl Street Market when that facility was torn down in 1934. Findlay Market was renovated in 1973-74 as part of the federal Model Cities program. It was renovated again and expanded in 2002 and 2003.

Today it is a combination of tastes, sights and sounds. It’s a farmers market, a specialty retail outlet with fresh meats, bakery, dairy and deli, food stalls and live performing arts. There’s an every changing daily menu of foods, produce and activities.

The Findlay Market reminds me of the vibrant public markets that still operate in the large cities and smaller villages of Europe. It’s also comparable to Cleveland’s West Side and Columbus’s North Market.

What a shopping combination awaits you on Oct. 13. Chocolates, homemade bread and fresh Cincy brats or metts. Way too many yummy choices.

Go to http://www.findlaymarket.org or phone 513.665.4839 for their hours of operation and other information.

Just another reminder that the Lawrence County 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War Commemoration group is hosting a talk on the military action from 1861 through 1863.

On Monday, Oct. 14, retired history professor Bob Leith will speak on the armies, soldiers and events from 1861 until 1863. His talk starts at 6 p.m. in the Burlington Baptist Church, 7309 County Road 1, South Point. Admission is free and everyone is invited.

Please share this presentation information with everyone. See you there.

 

Got travel? E-mail Steve Call at the travelprofessor@gmail.com or dial 740.550.9540.