This holiday season will be an exciting one in Mt. Lookout Square. The MLBA is hosting Light Up Mt. Lookout Square on Sunday, December 17th to correspond with the Mount Lookout Community Council's 31st Annual Luminaria.

This is an exciting opportunity for retail establishments around the square to benefit from the extra foot traffic through the area that night, especially families looking for unique gifts. Luminaria planners are expecting an exceptional turnout this year.

The Cincinnati Observatory will also be joining in the celebration. From 6:00 until 9:00, both telescopes will be open for stargazing. Lookout Joe's is supplying beverages. Participants can sign up to win a free private, evening for up to 6 guests at the Observatory. It includes a behind-the-scenes tour and a stargazing session.

Also, hayrides will be running outside between the Observatory and the southern corner of the square beside Chase Bank.

All businesses are encouraged to decorate their storefronts with white lights and extend their hours for the evening. Confetti Cats, Mt. Lookout TV, Mt. Lookout Sprouts, Zip's, and Lucy Blue Pizza are some of the establishments that are participating so far.

Light Up Mt. Lookout Square Events
   • Luminaria Burn
   • Caroling (in front of Chase Bank)
   • Hay Rides (from the Observatory to Chase and back)
   • Observatory Open House

Luminaria kits will be for sale at various businesses throughout the square, including MLT, Lucy Blue, Lookout Joe, Sprouts, and possibly others. All proceeds will benefit the Mt. Lookout Square and community. Kits are also avaliable, for the first time ever, online at MLCC's new website.

For more information about Luminaria, check out Mount Lookout Community Council's new website, www.mtlookout.org.

Start picking out your Christmas sweater; it’s time to get together with family and friends. And where there’s family, friends, and Christmas cheer, there’s food. Whether your house is the celebration destination or you just need a side dish to take to a party, Beacon's owner, Steve Elliott, has both your cooking needs and your busy holiday schedule in mind.

You’ll find breads, wine, and all the best cuts of meat inside. Marinated, ready-to-cook cuts are also avaliable. Elliott also introduced a new hot food line recently. That means that you can pick up a baked chicken or two, some mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and be ready to serve when you walk in the door. It’s one of the many changes Elliott and his wife, Marcia have made since they bought the store 2 years ago. Last but not least, don’t forget dessert; they feature a selection of baked pies in the deli.