The 2011 Western & Southern Open is under way in Mason. I have been out there all week and I have had a blast! It is a world class tennis event , one of the top 10 tennis tournaments in the world.

All the world's top players are here playing like Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Mardy Fish and more. I have been taking pictures courtside all week and you can see a lot of my pictures at Cincinnati Snapped.

You never know who you will see while there. Last night I saw Gavin Rossdale of Bush in the front row. He is best friends with Roger Federer.

The players are also fan friendly, you can get up close and personal while watching on one of the many practice courts. They also sign some autographs on the way to and from the courts. There are also plenty of food options and other entertainment events happening at the tennis center including live music.

I have really enjoyed the week so far and would highly recommend it, go check it out through Sunday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason. Tickets are available at cincytennis.com

There is a great event going on tonight at the Polo Grille in Deerfield Town Center from 6-10 benefiting Susan G. Komen. Team Tata's has a lot of fun planned including a silent auction ans special PINK drinks.

You will also be able to pre-register for this year's 2011 Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Team Tata's will also give away door prizes at 7p, 8p and 9p.

I am heading to Pink-A-POLOoza after work tonight.

Weekend of 8/5/11

New Movies
The Change Up – Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Olivia Wilde
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes -- James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow.

New on DVD
Rio – Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, George Lopes, Tracey Morgan…
Soul Surfer – AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt

Cincy Blues Fest
Friday & Saturday at Sawyer Point. More than 40 acts on four stages. Two-day or one-day passes available.

Gliers Goettafest Newport 2011
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy an extensive goetta menu, goetta family games and great entertainment.

Visitor Appreciation Days at Cincinnati Zoo
Friday, Saturday and Sunday… Half Price admission & parking for all ages. Sponsored by the Goddard School. Activities throughout the zoo, including a model train show.

Zoo La-La Keepers Of The Night
Friday 7 – 11PM. Coctail reception followed by a stroll through the Zoo, encountering animal ambassados along the way. Dinner-by-the-bite from local restaurants and live entertaiment. Benefits the Zoo.

Q-102 Dive In Movies at Beach Waterpark
Saturday with “Twilight: Eclipse” at the Kahuna Beach Wavepool. Kids 48-inches and under get admission for only .99 through August 13th with a coupon on WKRQ.COM.

Miller Lite’s Reggae Fest at Beach Waterpark
Sunday, 2 – 5PM with the band Flex Crew. Price included with admission.
Parking .

Big Bugs! At Glenwood Gardens
Through August 21st. 13 huge insects constructed of wood and other natural materials. Created by David Rogers. Presented by Hamilton County Park District.

Top Pick Charity Events
Kings Island For The Cure – You can buy your .99 Pink Days tickets now and save off the regular price at the park thanks to Cincysavers.com. Plus, .00 from every ticket sold will go directly to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Greater Cincinnati Affiliate. Tickets will be valid for park admission August 1 - 21, 2011.

Newport Aquarium Penguin Palooza
Exhibit hours 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission adults… Children . Toddlers free.

The Bank of Kentucky Center Is Hosting A Part Time Job Fair
Wednesday, August 10th at The Bank of Kentucky Center


Highland Heights, KY – The Bank of Kentucky Center will be hosting a Part Time Job Fair on Wednesday, August 10th from 10:00am to 6:00pm. This event will take place inside The Vault Lounge at The Bank of Kentucky Center, which can be accessed from Parking Lot O located adjacent to the NKU Soccer Complex.

The part time positions available include:

· Event Staff, such as ushers, ticket takers, and guest services members.
· Box Office Ticket Sellers
· Conversion Staff
· Concession Stand Workers
· Luxury Suite Attendants
· Bartenders

We will be accepting applications, interviewing, and potentially hiring some candidates during this time. For more information on the job fair please visit www.bankofkentuckycenter.com/jobfair.asp or call 859-442-2652.

New Movies
Crazy, Stupid, Love – Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone
Cowboys & Aliens -- Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde.
The Smurfs -- Neil Patrick Harris, Sophia Vergara, Katy Perry

New on DVD
Source Code – Jake Gyllenhaal
Jersey Shore – (Season Three)

Cincinnati Reds
Reds Vs. San Francisco Giants

Friday – 7:10 - Fireworks
Saturday – 7:10 – First 20-thousand fans receive a Scott Rowland Jersey
Sunday – 1:10 – First 10-thousand kids receive a soft-sided Reds lunchbox from Chick-Fil-A

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
FRIDAY… PNC Pavilion at Riverbend, 7:30. Free pre-show cookout from Bluegrass Quality Meats & Kroger.

Glendale Beer, Wine and Food Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Glendale Village Square. More 40 craft beers and more than 50 boutique wines, gourmet street food, musical guests, chef demos, art and jewelry. Cooking demonstrations.

Q-102 Dive In Movies at Beach Waterpark
Saturday with “Shrek Forever After” at the Kahuna Beach Wavepool. Kids 48-inches and under get admission for only .99 through August 13th with a coupon on WKRQ.COM.

Big Bugs! At Glenwood Gardens
Through August 21st. 13 huge insects constructed of wood and other natural materials. Created by David Rogers. Presented by Hamilton County Park District.

Top Pick Charity Events

•Kings Island For The Cure – Attempting to break the World Record for the biggest human pink ribbon… you can purchase tickets to Kings Island on CincySavers.com for that day, July 31st.
•St. Bartholomew (St. Barts) Parish Festival -
Friday, Saturday, Sunday… 9375 Winton Rd. in Finneytown

Night Hunters at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The best of the Nocturnal House and the Cat House in one.

Newport Aquarium Penguin Palooza
Exhibit hours 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission adults… Children . Toddlers free.

NEXT WEEK:
Monday:
Snoop Dogg at Bogart’s. Doors open at 8PM.
Tuesday:
Vans Warped Tour. Riverbend at Noon. Gates open at 11AM. Acts include Gym Class Heros.

If you attended this week's Def Leppard / Heart show you know it was a special show but I had no idea what it was like for Joe Elliott, read what he had to say below.

THANK YOU CINCINNATI from Joe Elliott...

By now most of you will know that my Father passed away after a long illness, on July 7th, aged 81. This is why some of our shows have been rescheduled, & quite frankly, why I might have been "off my game" recently, & for that I can only apologise. Going into the rehearsals & tour, even with a sick Father's blessing, is a lot harder than I imagined it to be, & through all the jokes & smiles during interviews & indeed up on stage, there's an inherent sadness & worry you just can't shake ... and as we like to say, you can't unscramble an egg, .... it IS hard to deal with, but you all know, we are the kings of getting on with it, so we shall prevail, .... which brings me back to the title of this piece ....


Last night was the first show back after the enforced break, the first show I've ever done without a Father, & can I say to the good people of Cincinatti Ohio, THANK YOU FOR MAKING IT THAT LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DEAL WITH BY BEEING "SO" GOOD !!! ... I'll admit, I ran out of gas last night, by Photograpth I had nothing left to give ... it WAS emotional, yes, but it was over 100 degrees on stage too, which didn't help either, but you guys carried me over the last part of the show on a wave of goodwill that I will never forget !! I had to get the first show, wherever it might have been, out of the way, to help me move on as it were, & after experiencing a reception like we did last night I wouldn't have wanted it anywhere else !!! .... I hope the rest of the shows are as good, and I'm sure they will be, but for now, last night emotionally at least has help[ed my through the hardest few weeks of my life, & I thank you all for that.

Also, I thank everyone who has sent condolence messages to my Mum and me, mainly through the Planet Rock account, way too many to reply to, so please take this as a great big THANK YOU !! ... my old man would be well proud !!! ... as he was when I photographed him sat on Rick's Kit at the Don Valley Stadium gig back in 1993, the photograph below is something I thought I'd like to share with you all .....

Once again, thank you all so very much for your support over these last few very difficult weeks ...

Love & peace,
Joe Elliott

Celebrate SHARK WEEK at Hoxworth

Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati is a proud sponsor of the Discovery Channel’s SHARK WEEK, which starts July 31. Like the great whites of the deep blue sea, Hoxworth Blood Center is OUT FOR BLOOD this summer.

“The summer months often mean increased blood usage and decreased donors,” reports Alecia Lipton, Hoxworth spokesperson. “We need all donors to help take a ‘bite out of’ blood shortages this summer and what better theme to have than SHARK WEEK?”

Donate blood Monday, August 1 thru Saturday, August 6 at one of Hoxworth’s eight neighborhood donor centers and you will receive a FREE limited-edition “Out for Blood” T-shirt.

Donors can visit www.hoxworth.org or call (513) 451-0910 or (800) 830-1091 to schedule an appointment to donate.

How to Donate:
Donating blood is safe and easy. You must be at least 17 years old (16 with a signed parental consent) and in good health. You must weigh at least 110 pounds and bring identification to donate. It is recommended that donors eat a good meal and drink plenty of water within four hours before donating.

About Hoxworth:
Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, founded in 1938, we serve 31 hospitals in 17 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects over 90,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in our area hospitals. At least 350 volunteer blood donors and 40 volunteer platelet donors are essential each day to keep up with the demands of tri-state hospitals and their patients. Hoxworth Blood Center. Our Donors Save Lives. Who Will You Save?

(click on picture to enlarge)