Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Lexus Makes the Holidays Happy for the 9th District School Chorus!


Today reminded me what the holidays are all about. Magic, surprises, generosity and joy. 


Lexus RiverCenter and Performance Lexus donated $10,000 to the Ninth District School chorus in Covington this afternoon. After the kids caroled, Lexus reps surprised the pint-sized singers with Fabulous Fur coats and lots of presents! Check out all their surprised little faces in this video!



Thursday, December 1, 2011

CARoling Dec. 6 at Lexus RiverCenter!


What better way to get in the holiday spirit than to see and hear some adorable carolers!

You can at noon on Dec. 6 at Lexus RiverCenter!

Lisa, the GM at LRC, told me that kiddie carolers from the Ninth District School chorus in Covington visit the dealership each year to sing a few holiday tunes. How cute! So, if you have some time that day, and need a little holiday cheer, I'm sure they'd love it if you could attend! How great would it be to have a big crowd for these kids!

Lisa says she'll also have some special treats for all attendees as a thank you for attending! Please RSVP to Lbernstein@lexusrivercenter.com (along with how many people). See you there!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Black Friday Sales Event at Performance Lexus

I just got an email from Performance Lexus about their Black Friday Sales. I don't know what I like more about it ... the fact that the car featured is my exact car (silver IS350), or that says "You deserve the best. It's that simple." (I've been telling my husband that as I plead for Santa to leave a LV delightful handbag under the tree this year! haha!)

What I also love about the email is that there are some great deals in there! Everything from 10% over Kelly Blue Book for your trade-in to $1k in flex cash to use as down payment or for service later! I even learned something new about Performance Lexus... I didn't know they do complimentary pick up and delivery for service! That's huge! Even though I love the dealership and all the niceties there, I love hanging out at home in my PJs even better!

Check out the email for yourself below, click here to learn more, and stop in to Performance Lexus on Black Friday for some divine deals!


Monday, November 21, 2011

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales at Lexus RiverCenter

Black Friday and Cyber Monday is right around the corner! While you expect the deep discounts at the malls and stores like Best Buy, you don't typically think of your car dealership offering them too. Well, Lexus RiverCenter continues to surprise. I just got an email on Friday from Ken Kocher, the LRC service manager, telling me about some great deals they were offering for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Black Friday Sales: 
On Friday Nov. 25 only, customers will receive 20% off ($135 max discount) any scheduled service or repair - 10k, 20K, 30k, 60K, 90k - when you bring three or more can goods for the FreeStore FoodBank.

I also saw this Black Friday Sale promoted on the LRC facebook page:


Cyber Monday Sale: 

Schedule any service online on Monday Nov. 28, 2011 and you will get $100 in coupons that can be used during your visit and future visits. You get five coupons valued at $20 each, and you can use one per visit.


11/21-11/23:
Bring in three or more non-perishable food items (donations go to the FreeStore FoodBank) Monday Nov. 21- Wednesday Nov. 23 and receive 10% off any repair or maintenance service.

Click here to learn more about the sales!


Monday, October 17, 2011

Testimonial Time! Sharon's GS 350

Sharon and her GS 350 from Lexus RiverCenter
So, I'm hanging out in my second home, Lexus RiverCenter, last week getting a car wash, enjoying some yummy coffee and hopping on the wifi to get some work done.... I look across the waiting room and see a friend of mine who's doing the EXACT same thing!

I didn't know she owned a Lexus. So, we get to chatting and she tells me that she just bought a car there, and she bought because of all the same awesome perks I'm always raving about! I asked her to write a testimonial for the blog so you know I'm not the only one who buys a car based on free coffee and car washes. :)

Here's her testimonial!

From the moment you arrive to Lexus RiverCenter you experience exceptional service.

The staff is amazing.  They will do everything possible to make sure you are 100% satisfied with every visit to their dealership and make you feel like the most important customer every time.  There are so many places that you can purchase a car, but not everywhere provides a welcoming atmosphere with all of the amenities of Lexus RiverCenter.  Multiple waiting Lounges, great coffee and complimentary car washes….you can’t beat it!


Lexus RiverCenter has great service, wonderful follow-up and reliable cars!! The staff will listen, respond and have thorough knowledge of their vehicles - communication is key - a most valuable asset!  A few of the great reasons why I decided to purchase a Lexus from LRC.  Thank you, Paul Suchanek and Lexus RiverCenter for my GS 350!


Sharon Laine, Burlington KY

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Pet Fashion Show at Performance Lexus

The Pet Fashion Show I’ve been telling my readers about for the past couple of weeks was PAWesome! :)

Cincy Chic held this third annual event at Performance Lexus in Mason. They were amazing hosts for the event... they even changed their valet parking sign to say "valet Barking" haha!

Ralph Sells, the General Sales Manager (perfect name for that job, right?!), was SO creative. He came up with great drink recipes like "Bloodhound Punch" (for the sangria) and "Poodle Punch" (for the white wine spritzer).

We also had puparazzi on the red carpet, tail-wagging treats, howl-worthy shopping, a canine couture fashion show, and a phoDOGraphy booth that captured lots of candid canine Kodak moments.

The pics of the fashion show are up on our site, and there are more pics up on our photographer’s Facebook page. Enjoy.... They're dog-gone cute! :)




Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My Favorite Things about Lexus RiverCenter

So, a couple weeks ago, I wrote about my favorite things about Performance Lexus. Well, the Lexus dealership on the KY side of the river is Lexus RiverCenter. I actually bought my car there!

I get it serviced and washed there a little more often because it's just a few miles away from our house, but also because (I know I'm a dork for geeking out about this) they JUST started offering complimentary hand-washes for their clients.

This is huge because it's exactly the care I wish I could provide myself… Ah, the days when I had spare time and would wash my car by hand every weekend… but they do it for you while you get other things done in one of their lounges.

They actually have three different customer lounges: a TV lounge, a quiet lounge, and a JAVA lounge. They all have complimentary coffees, cappuccinos, hot cocoa, and snacks. They have free Wi-Fi throughout the dealership and a business center for those work-o-holics like me who like to get ahead on some work while they're there.

I just learned about this too… they offer complimentary gourmet lunches throughout the year (prepared by a culinary chef), Customer Appreciation cocktail receptions to mix and mingle with other Lexus owners (I went to their last one and it's amazing networking!), Free Nitrogen fill-ups, New owners clinics to learn more about and enhance your Lexus experience, and they even lend-out their dealership facilities for events sponsored by non-profit organizations as well as local business partners. 

More often than not, when I'm there to get the car washed/serviced, Lisa the GM has some sort of fun event planned there. She'll invite me over for a drink, bite to eat or a sweet treat to take on the road with me! It's so fun - not your typical dealership!

It's actually almost my favorite time of the year to be at LRC! Every year, Lisa has the dealership professionally decorated for the holidays. I'm usually the one who gets their tree up the week before and am wrapping gifts in a rush the night before. So, I go in there to enjoy the decor and holiday spirit I wish I was Martha Stewart-ish enough to actually do at my house! :)

I can honestly say though, LRC is the one dealership in the Tri-State area that has earned a reputation for being completely different and innovative in their approach to wowing their clients. Lisa has truly set the bar extremely high so you can refreshingly expect the unexpected at LRC!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Dealership Amenities at Performance Lexus

I just got done reading a GREAT book called "Why She Buys." It really got me thinking about the reasoning behind the purchases I make and have made in the past.

Some of the big "takeaways" I got from the book are that women buy based on practicality; we don't get caught up in all the bells and whistles. But we do require sophisticated marketing. "Pink is not a strategy," the author tartly reminds marketers.

I got to thinking about some of the big purchases I've made lately, and the first one that came to mind was my car. Why buy did I buy a Lexus? Yes their cars are amazing, but honestly, I bought because I feel at home in their dealerships. They're sophisticated yet practical.

First of all, they do free handwashed car washes, so I know my car won't get dinged up when I need it cleaned. Plus, while I'm there, they have a cozy lounge where I can get work done on wifi, grab a cup of coffee, or even work out while I wait for my car to be cleaned/worked on. It's SO nice to have a home away from home, especially when you're on the road as much as I am!

I decided to make a top 10 list of my favorite things at each dealership. This week, I'm featuring Performance Lexus and next week I'll feature my top 10 favs at Lexus RiverCenter! Drum Roll... here are my top 10 favorite things at Performance Lexus:
1. Movie theater (enjoy a movie on a hi-def big screen in a big cozy reclining chair)
2. Four customer lounges including a "quiet room" (no TV or kids!)
3. Future Lexus Owners' Lounge (aka children's play area with toys, puzzles, coloring books & DVD player)
4. Full snack bar with custom coffee/tea/hot beverages
5. Lexus Gym with elliptical machines/treadmills/hand weights, etc. and full locker room with showers
6. Business center with four separate workspaces including desktop computers and printer
7. Complimentary pickup and dropoff for service customers (they come to you!)
8. Complimentary service loaners
9. Complimentary lifetime car washes and interior vacuum
10. The Service Manager (Whitney Binski) is female! (for some reason I just trust getting my auto info from a woman!!)

Here are some pics of Performance Lexus! It's soooo nice! You have to see it for yourself!










Thursday, June 30, 2011

Library makes Holiday Travel a Breeze

Hope you're heading somewhere fun for the long weekend! My husband and I are going camping at our family farm! And then next week, I'm headed to Myrtle Beach for a week-long vaca. I can't wait to unplug for a while!

Before you load up the car for your holiday road trip, stop by your Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County branch, where you can:
•       Grab books on CD for everyone to listen to during your travels.
•       Check out portable Playaways: About the size of a deck of cards, Playaways come loaded with an audio book. Just press and listen. Everyone can listen to their own book.
•       Download free music from thousands of songs in over 100 genres. Best of all, they’re yours to keep forever. Check it out!
•        Lighten the load by downloading books to your eReader or your mobile device. Available to download 24/7! No late fees! Click here to learn more.

Don’t forget that all the books you read and/or listen to moves you closer to winning a free NOOK Color and Reds tickets as part of the library’s Summer Reading program, which continues through July 31.  Log onto www.CincinnatiLibrary.org/SummerRead and register the whole family.

Not sure what to read? Once you’ve registered for registered, you can browse more than 100,000 book reviews left by other readers who are in the summer reading program.


FREE EBOOKS in JULY:
Get FREE eBooks, as an added bonus. You’re halfway through the Library’s Summer Reading Program and there’s so much reading left to do! Not sure what to read next? From July 1-9, let the Main Library’s TechCenter staff help! Bring your Nook, Sony Reader, Kindle, flash drive, or blank CD and we will give you 45 free eBooks to help you get through the next month! Classics, computers, philosophy, history, and more are all included. No library card or registration required.
There's still time to register for SummerReading and log books to win prizes -- including a NOOK Color.  www.CincinnatiLibrary.org/SummerRead

Have a great weekend! Safe travels!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Fab Fuel-Saving Tips

I love taking summer road trips! But there’s one thing I’m dreading this year (even more than I’m dreading bathing suit shopping): the price of fuel. It’s more than $4 a gallon now! Yikes! So I did a little digging to see how I can ease the pain at the pump – and on Mother Earth!

I found some good tips from the EPA. The first tip has to do with saving gas itself. The number one tip would be to only use your car when necessary. If you are in walking distance, go ahead and walk, even if you have to bring your work shoes with you to change once you get there. Do me a favor, though and wear some cute flats, instead of gym shoes and socks with your work outfit. Not chic! But getting in a little exercise instead of into your car is healthy for you and your budget - and that IS chic!

If "not driving" isn't an option, you might want to consider a hybrid. I recently reviewed the 250h and I was really impressed.

The next tip is to combine errands into one trip. I don’t know about you, but my daily to do list is full of places to go and people to see. So I try to communicate as much as possible via email, Skype or phone. When I do schedule meetings, I’m strategic about scheduling them when I will be in that area. If you need to move things around to make it convenient, people are actually more understanding about it than you'd think (because YOU are visiting THEM). Plus, scheduling your meetings like this saves so much money, time and stress.

When I need to run errands, I now list them out and plan the best route before I get in the car. A little pre-planning will save you time and money. Also, try to choose businesses that are conveniently located nearby one another. Starting up your car and only driving short distances, especially in city traffic just wastes fuel. 

I learned that one of the biggest things you can do to save on fuel is keeping up on the maintenance of your vehicle. Especially for us women, it can be easy to forget about changing our oil or getting new tires, but keeping up with your vehicle and taking care of problems as they happen, can not only save fuel, but also extend the life of your vehicle.

I also learned tips for saving fuel as you drive. Like when you’re in a traffic jam, and you want to speed around someone, only to soon thereafter come to a complete stop…over and over again. This can waste your fuel big time. The EPA recommends going easy on your car's breaks and gas pedal. Ease your car into a stop and make sure to go easy on the gas pedal, too. Running late makes your heart race and your tank tremble. So, next time, leave the house earlier to avoid damaging your car and guzzling gas. Easy for me to say, though…. I’m always running “fashionably late.”

If you get into a traffic jam, (which NEVER happens in Cincy, right? Ha!), then be sure not to keep your car in idle for too long. By turning off your car in a long wait, it can avoid an overheated engine. Also, if you are grabbing fast food on the way home from work or for lunch, go inside to eat instead of in your car in the parking lot.

For us women, this one is a big one: Avoid carrying unnecessary weight in car and trunk. Women are notorious for using their trunks as another large handbag (helloooo, did you read my first blog?). For you guys out there who carry your tools and sports equipment in the car, this one goes for you, too. As convenient as this “storage” can be, it can drain your tank (and wallet).  

If you are going to treat yourself or family to a long trip and have to carry luggage, avoid using the roof tracks. Place the luggage inside the car or trunk to avoid your vehicle from “dragging,” which can use more fuel than needed. In this case, “aerodynamic” is synonymous with “fuel economy.”

Now, for the last tip. Buying a nice sports car (I’m currently pining over the Lexus LFA) is an amazing luxury, but speeding isn’t a luxury when it comes to the amount of fuel you use. In fact, by going 55 mph instead of 65 mph, you can save up to 15% more fuel. Who knew that not speeding could save us more than a speeding ticket? 

With these tips in mind, we can pinch a few more pennies at the pump. And maybe that itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini won’t be so scary if I take my own advice and walk more, drive less! That sounds good to me!

Thanks to BreeAnna Smith, my intern, for helping put this blog post together. 

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Review: Lexus HS 250

I recently took a roadtrip to Philadelphia, and my friends at Lexus RiverCenter let me try out a HS 250 for the ride. I was excited because "h" is for "hybrid" is for "more money to spend on FUN things on the trip versus gas!"

And man did it save on gas! I put it in eco mode and it really helped on the gas mileage. The gas gauge didn't even flinch until I hit Columbus (more than 100 miles!). Granted, in eco mode, I didn't have the power I'm used to with my IS 350. It did have a "power mode" button you could push if you needed a little extra umph, but I actually didn't end up using that! Probably a good thing, too, because 71N was a speed trap and you have to be really careful around that curvy Pennsylvania Turnpike.

I only ended up needing to refuel one time on my entire 9 hour trip, which I was really happy about. And, when we were driving it around in the city, the electric kicked in when we were just coasting from one red light to another. That saved on gas too.

It surprised me how much it looked and handled like my IS 350, but the fuel economy was SO much better. So, if power isn't a high priority, but saving at the pump is, I highly recommend this HS 250!

Check out the webcast below where I give you a tour of the car and my favorite features it had to offer!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Recap: Cincy Chic's Eco-Fab Fashion Show

Brenna models a romper made out of seatbelts.
(David Sorcher | Special to Metromix)
Hope everyone had fun at last week’s Eco-Fabulous Fashion show at Lexus Rivercenter. I know I had a blast! Click here to check out pics Metromix took! If you were there and got pics in our photobooth, click here to go to our Facebook page and tag yourself in the photo album!

The clothes were amazing, the crowd was big and the event was a huge success. Basically the concept of the event was to have a fashion show featuring clothes made by DAAP students out of re-purposed materials. We also had other eco-friendly vendors there to shop with. Swag bag were for sale and we raffled off a weekend lease of a loaded RX. 100% of those proceeds went to the Civic Garden Center. We raised almost $800 for them with this event! So excited!

And because of the "Eco-Fabulous" theme, we were able to feature the new Lexus 2011 CT 200h. It's sleek, sexy and oh-so-much-more sustainable. Just an FYI, the new CT is the most efficient luxury hybrid Lexus offers. It pairs a combined MPG rating of 42 with lower CO2 emissions... without skimping on all the things Lexus is known for: speed, technology and luxury. It's really a great car.

I love that people came for the fashion, and left with lots of ideas for how they can go green! Can't wait for our next event at Lexus RiverCenter, which will be May 6 for the Cincinnati Profile Bourbon/Cigar Tasting! Mark your calendar and make sure you're subscribed to Cincinnati Profile to be the first to learn more about the event!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Recap: Cincinnati Profile Launch Party at Performance Lexus


A couple weeks ago, we had our Cincinnati Profile Launch Party where we celebrated its new online-only format and new events! It was a huge success! Click here to check out pics!

Performance Lexus was a fabulous host to the party. All the guests were completely wowed at the venue and couldn't believe it was actually a car dealership. If not for the new CT parked in the middle of the showroom and all the pictures of cars around, you wouldn't know it!

It has a workout facility, locker room, movie theater, lounge, patio, pond and fountain... you name it, they have it! It's unbelievable! Mark your calendar for June 11 when we'll be back at Performance Lexus for another Cincinnati Profile event called "Summerfest" ... we'll be grilling out, making sushi, tasting beers and wines, smoking cigars, taking hot air balloon rides... lots of fun! Make sure you're subscribed to Cincinnati Profile to be the first to learn about the event!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Eco-Fab Fashion Show Sneak Peek

To say I'm excited about today's Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show at Lexus RiverCenter is an understatement. First of all, I brought on a national client for it (Vitamin Water Zero...woohoo!!). Second of all, we have 350 RSVPs and it's sold out. Third of all, it's benefiting the Civic Garden Center which is an amazing organization making our city pretty. And lastly.... it's going to just be a ton of FUN!

There will be food, drinks, music, shopping and a eco-fab fashion show with clothing made out of re-purposed materials. And the jewelry is also made out of re-purposed/recycled materials. The jewelry vendor, Serket Jewelry, sent me a sneak peek of some of the jewelry that will be in the show. The pics are just showcasing some of the jewelry that will be at the show.

For a sneak peek of some of the clothes that will be in the show, check out the bottom of this post for a segment we did on Wednesday on Fox19!

Lexus RiverCenter was so kind to give us a weekend lease to auction off to raise funds for the Civic Garden Center. The car will be a loaded RX for the weekend, 2011 AWD model with navigation, Bluetooth, backup camera, parking sensors. The winner can pick it up on a Friday and bring it back on a Monday…weekend of their choice!

Enjoy the pics and video, and hope to see you at the event!


Model Brenna Nicole' Lee Principato (also model for Fox 19) is wearing a skirt made out of a variety of ribbons. The light blue top is made from a bed skirt. Jewelry: necklace is made from plastic lids that are on milk jugs, juice, etc then added chains and butterfly components. The headband is made from red bull labels.

Model Nataly Silva is wearing a 2 piece dress; top is created from ladies fashion belts woven together then cut to shape the bodice. The layered green and gold skirt is made from curtains. The jewelry: necklace is made from the lid of a jewelry box with attached beads and the flower is made up of bridal flower pedals and rhinestones.



Model Nataly Silva with hat with magazine clipping fringe


EVENT INFO:

Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show

Brought to you by vitaminwater zero

Date:
Friday, March 25, 6-9pm

Fashion Show at 8pm, showcasing eco-fabulous designs from several local DAAP students. Drinks provided by Lexus Rivercenter. Food provided by Behle Street Cafe.

Location:
Lexus Rivercenter
633 W. 3rd St. Covington, KY 41011

Vendors include:
SerketJewelry
Mitchell's Salon and Day Spa
FENNOfashion
Keep It Tight Fitness
Miche Group
Spice and Tea Exchange
Votre Vu by Julena Bingaman
Purdy Everyday
Yelp
Nature's Bath

After Party: Join us for the official after party at Behle Street Cafe. Complimentary parking in the rivercenter garage directly behind Behle Street Cafe.


PHOTO CREDITS:
The photographer: Alicia Calton located in Lexington, Kentucky check her out on Facebook: "Alicia C. Photography"
The makeup artist: Galvin Mason
The hairstylist: Amanda Fiehrer
Jewelry: Serket Jewelry
Clothing: made by Courtney K., who is only 17 and attends the School for Creative and Performing Arts

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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show At Lexus Rivercenter


I’m so super excited for our “Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show” event coming up March 25 at the Lexus Rivercenter! We did a go green event last year, and it was great. But this year, we’re taking it to a whole new, even more amazing, level.

Last year, we had some designs that DAAP students made on display throughout the venue. It was neat to look at them, but none of them could really be worn. But this year, the DAAP students are making eco-fab designs that are going to be worn on the runway! The outfits will be made out of repurposed household items and/or eco-friendly products. Think couture gown out of dryer sheets whisking its way down the catwalk… yeah, amazing.

Serket Jewelry is sponsoring the fashion show portion of the event, and is designing all the jewelry for the models. I interviewed her in this previous blog. I just love how innovative Lyn (owner/designer for Serket) is, so I’m sure she’ll have incredible designs and concepts for you to enjoy at this show. I’ll have a sneak peek here of some of her designs soon on the blog after Lyn and my fashion show intern go and check out the DAAP designs.

Also, this year, Lexus has a brand new hybrid it’ll be featuring. AND vitaminwater zero just came on board as the presenting sponsor, so you know there will be great swag!
I hope you can make it! Here are all the details…

Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show
Brought to you by vitaminwater zero

Friday, March 25, 6-9pm
Fashion Show at 8pm, showcasing eco-fabulous designs from several local DAAP students. Drinks provided by Lexus Rivercenter. Food provided by Behle Street Cafe.

Lexus Rivercenter
633 W. 3rd St.
Covington, KY 41011


Click here to RSVP by March 24! Event is free to attend. Those who purchase a $10 ticket will receive a swag bag and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Civic Garden Center.

After Party: Join us for the official after party at Behle Street Cafe. Complimentary parking in the rivercenter garage directly behind Behle Street Cafe.

Hosted by: Cincy Chic, an online publication for women in Greater Cincinnati

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Cincinnati Profile Launch Party at Performance Lexus



Cincinnati Profile, the local e-zine for men in Greater Cincinnati I run with my hubby Pete (basically the male version of Cincy Chic) is hosting a big launch party!)

Profile has been around for more than four years in print, but I took it over at the end of last year and transitioned it to an online-only format. So this party is to launch the new format and all the new events we'll be doing, like a cigar and bourbon tasting event in spring, and a burger and beer "Summerfest" event this summer.

At the launch event, you'll get to meet the Cincinnati Profile staff, network, and enjoy complimentary drinks as you check out local vendors and the new rides at Performance Lexus!

Get your photo taken in our custom photo booth, made to look like you’re on the cover of a Profile magazine! Also, meet the leading ladies of our Single & Successful issue!

So, mark your calendar and RSVP for this event! Also, make sure you're subscribed so you can get exclusive invites to events like this in the future.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Review: Lexus CT 200h

Earlier this month, Lexus RiverCenter held a VIP unveiling of the CT 200h (Performance Lexus had an unveiling event too, but Covington is closer to where I live, so I attended that one).

The event was amazing, complete with my friends at Cooking with Caitlin doing food demonstrations and my other friend Taren Kennebrew with Sweet Petit desserts. Can you tell the way to my heart is through my stomach ...and sweet tooth? :)

Click here to see pictures from the event!

The CT hybrid is a very cool car. Not as cool as my Lexi, I must say, but that's because I'm still in my compact car phase of life. I don't need all the extra space.

But when we start a family, I think the CT would be perfect. It doesn't have the "get up and go" that my IS-350 has, but with kids in tote, I will probably be a lot better about obeying the speed limits. haha! And, as you know, I will never drive a minivan. So, I do like that it has lots of extra space but it still looks sporty.

Another huge selling point - and will be even more important with a family - is the price. It's under $30k, which is a great price for a Lexus, especially a hybrid Lexus.

It's a smooth looking car with lots of perks - for you, your pocketbook and the environment. I give it two green thumbs up!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Winter Weather Driving Tips

It's supposed to get icky out for the next several days so I asked Whitney Binski, Service Manager at Performance Lexus, if she could give me some good winter weather driving tips. I've been known to hit a parked car during perfectly clear weather, so I really need the help when Mother Nature isn't on my side! :)

So, here are Whitney's Winter-Wise Driving Tips
•    Become familiar with your vehicle’s winter weather operating characteristics. Front-wheel-drive vehicles generally handle better than rear-wheel vehicles on slippery roads because the weight of the engine is on the drive wheels, improving traction.
•    Remember to clean head, tail and brake lights before you start driving.
•    If you need to turn on your wipers, turn on your headlights. Effective January 1, 2010, Ohio law requires drivers to turn on vehicle headlights whenever windshield wipers are in operation due to any precipitation.
•    To prevent fuel line freeze-up, keep your gas tank at least half full. Fill your gas tank before your vehicle is parked for lengthy periods.
•    Leave ample stopping time between you and the driver in front of you. Braking distance can be up to nine times greater on snowy, icy surfaces than on dry roads.
•    If your vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), be sure to: STOMP - firmly depress the brake pedal. STAY on the brakes - do not pump the brakes. STEER where you want the vehicle to go.
•    Gently pump non-ABS brakes to stop the vehicle. Take any corrective action gradually. You need to maintain full control of the vehicle. Refer to the vehicle operations manual for proper methods to correct skids.
•    Lock your vehicle, even in bad weather. If locks freeze, heat the key. Do not pour hot water on the locks - they will refreeze.
•    Drive with extreme caution on bridges and overpasses during freezing temperatures. Because bridge temperatures can be 5-6 degrees colder than roadways, they can become slick and icy before roads.
•    Stay with your vehicle while warming it up. An unattended, running car invites theft.


I also just read this helpful article about the damage the salt can do on your vehicle frame, tires and windshield wipers. I definitely suggest you read that article too for more tips!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The Darker Side of Green


We have a Go Green Fashion Show coming up at Lexus RiverCenter on March 25. So, I asked Lisa (GM at LRC) if they had any hybrids they wanted to feature at the event. Her eyes got super big and told me that Lexus has a brand new car that would be PERFECT to feature at our event: The 2011 Lexus CT 200h. I wanted to see it, but they don't even have one on the lot yet! But they will next week!

This is the newest hybrid – which starts at $29,120 – to join the Lexus lineup. And it's the fifth hybrid model Lexus offers. I love my little sports car for now, but when we start our family, this would be perfect (Pete and I made a pact that we'll never get a minivan).

Both the Lexus RiverCenter and Performance Lexus locations are having events to unveil the CT. Check them out!

Lexus River Center
633 W. 3rd Street
Covington, KY 41011
www.lexusrivercenter.com

Wednesday, February 2, 2011
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

RSVP by Monday, January 31, 2011
(859) 547-5300 Lbernstein@lexusrivercenter.com

(Click here to learn about a promotion we're doing on Cincy Chic to win a $100 Apple Store gift card for sharing this event)
_______
Performance Lexus
4328 Kings Water Drive
Cincinnati, OH, 45249
www.performancelexus.com

Thursday, February 3, 2011
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Please RSVP by Thursday, January, 27, 2011
(513) 677-0177 or email   nparsons@performancelexus.com

Monday, January 24, 2011

Cincy Chic's 4th Birthday Recap

my brother, me and my mom and dad (who came up from TN
for the party!) Photo by Thomas E. Smith for the Enquirer
We had such an amazing event at Lexus RiverCenter this past Saturday. Check out the slideshow below that I made with some of the pics from our Cincy Chic 4th birthday party. Click here to see an album of all the pics I took.

I really appreciate how receptive Lisa, the GM at LRC, was of us having our event there. Let's face it - a car dealership isn't the first place people envision having a chic soiree. But I love the space with its floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city, and huge space for a dancefloor.

Lisa was so sweet when we were coordinating details. She even told me at one point "our house is your house" ... and so I took her literally and showed up in my PJs to decorate! haha! No, but honestly, she couldn't have been better to work with on this event.

Bar Louie did our drinks and gave 100% of the proceeds to Emerald Miles Run/Walk. And Sweet Petit Desserts did our cupcakes. They were a huge hit! So much so that I didn't even get one! But I took that as a sign from the diet gods that I need to stick to my New Year's Resolution. :)

It was a fab way to celebrate four amazing years doing what I love: making Cincy "chic"!


Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Review: Lexus RX 350

Lexus RX 350 from Lexus RiverCenter
Pete, my husband, is a new year's baby. So, we always go on a little getaway for his birthday and New Year's. This year, we decided to go somewhere warm and we went to Panama City Beach.

Of course, we made these plans last minute, so flights were outrageous. I asked Lisa, the GM at Lexus RiverCenter, if we could borrow a car and do a review of it on my new blog. She loved the idea and set us up with a 2010 RX 350 to take on the trip.

I was excited to have a spacious car with lots of storage because Pete and I both have little cars as our daily drivers. Not nearly enough room for a long road trip -- or all the shoes I planned to bring for the trip!

Here are the things we loved, and didn't love, about the RX 350.

"I felt like the queen of the road, and this car was my throne"
Didn't love:
  • Pete said it looked like a "grocery getter." Sure, it's no sports car, but I actually think it's the perfect alternative to a mini-van (I solemnly swear to never ever be a mad mom in a mini-van!!). It's soooo much more aesthetically pleasing than a mini-van, but has a lot of the same luxuries of one, like an automatic hatch door, storage, extra cup holders, etc.
  • No GPS. Luckily we had our own GPS we brought with us to navigate our trip, but now I'm spoiled and like it in the dash. My OCD was kicking in a little with all the cords - I didn't like them. So, if I were buying this RX 350, I would've sprung for the upgrade and gotten the GPS.
  • Pete says he likes off-road capabilities in any SUV, which this didn't have. But the realist in me knows he'd never use that. It just makes him feel more manly to know he could take his car off road if he wanted to. Boys and their toys, I swear! :)
We loved the automatic hatch door
What we loved:
  • Heated seats (came in handy coming back from Florida to Ohio). At least my bum felt like it was back on the beach!
  • All the multimedia inputs. Pete completely freaked out when he opened up the console and saw all the power sources, USB ports, and auxiliary hook ups. It could accommodate every single gadget he brought with him. And believe me, that's a difficult feat. We brought a GPS, radar detector, iPod, iPod charger, phone, and camcorder - and the RS 350 handled it all beautifully. 
  • Bluetooth. We set Pete's phone up through Bluetooth, so when anyone called, we could see the caller on the dash screen and it piped the audio through the stereo.
  • Automatic hatch door. It was super handy to press a button from afar and have the hatch open on the back and we could load in our luggage, groceries or purchases we got when we went shopping at Pier Park (we highly recommend going there if you go to PCB!). Then, you can close it with another push of a button.
  • Seat/steering wheel memory. Not only could you program your seat/steering wheel placement preference for multiple drivers (which came in handy when we were switching drivers on the trip). But Pete also loved that every time you turned the car off, the seat automatically moved back and the steering wheel lifted up a few inches to give you extra room to get in and out. Then, when you turned the car on, it automatically moved back to the setting you set when the car was last running. Just a little touch we really liked.
  • Sunroof. We loved this to let in extra sunshine and ocean air when we were at the beach. It was nice and big so it helped us pretend like we were in a convertible and not in an SUV. :)
  • Lots of cupholders. On long trips, the lack of cupholders is always an issue for me. In my car, I only have two. In the RX 350, I counted six cupholders. It was great! We had plenty of cupholders for our water, Gatorade, Red Bull and coffee for our long trip. Unfortunately, this meant lots of bathroom breaks! haha!
  • The spacious RX 350 was great for a road trip
  • Wide spectrum lights. I really loved how well the RX 350 lit up the roads at night. We were driving through the backroads of Alabama at midnight. I've watched waaay too many scary movies and I was fully expecting some demented good ol boy to pop out of some dark wooded area. But with the brights on, it felt like daylight and I wasn't so scared anymore. :)
  • Ride height. I didn't think I would like sitting so high up on the road, because I've always been behind the wheel of road-hugging sports cars. But I loved driving the RX 350. I felt like the queen of the road, and this car was my throne. It set up nice and high, but not too high, and with all the windows, I felt like I had great visibility.
Obviously, there are more "loves" than "don't loves," so it's pretty clear we were huge fans of the RX 350. When we decide to expand our family, I could see us driving this.

Check out the video below as Pete and I give you a tour of the car and what we loved most about it.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Cincy Chic’s 4th Birthday Party


Here's a fun event Cincy Chic is doing at Lexus RiverCenter on Jan. 22. Hope you can make it!

What:
Join us as Cincy Chic celebrates four fabulous years. Enjoy live music, dancing, birthday cake and cocktails.

When:
Saturday, January 22 2011, 7-10pm

Where:
Lexus RiverCenter, 633 West 3rd St., Covington, KY

Attire:
Cocktail attire... and of course some stylish shoes!

RSVP:
Please RSVP by January 21 to

I decided to treat myself to a new pair of shoes to wear to the event, so I did a little shopping online... here are some of my favs I found! Enjoy! :)

 

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Why Did I Start This Blog?

Never in a million years did I think I'd be writing an automotive blog. A car was always just something that helped me get to Point A to Point B.

My first car was a hand-me-down Pontiac Grand AM from my mom and my second car was "Tibby" the car I bought in college. But things changed when I was ready for my third car.

Pete, my husband, is a car fanatic. He uses words like "GTO," "torque," and "hemi" in his everyday vocab (they sounded like terminal illnesses to me). He would have been great to take along car shopping, but we have opposite schedules (and I was too proud/independent to admit I wanted help shopping) so I went alone to shop for my next car.

They could have told me these cars popped magical golden popcorn in the glove box and I would have believed them. So many too-good-to-be-true offers, act-now deals and confusing figures and stats. I was so dazed and confused - and honestly scared. I hated feeling that way, so I decided - whether I liked it or not - it was time I learned more about cars.

Instead of acting like I had better things to do, I started to go to car events and watch car shows on TV with Pete. We now go to the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance every year, we watch the Discovery Channel's Mecum Auto Auctions live, we've seen just about every episode of Wayne Carini's "Chasing Classic Cars" show, and we've traveled to various cities to view private car collections.

I was starting to feel a lot more confident about cars. 

Then, about a year and a half ago, I attended a Bacchanalian Society event and Lexus RiverCenter was the main sponsor. I got to talking with one of the sales reps there, and he said their General Manager, Lisa Bernstein, is one of the only female GMs in the nation. I had to meet her.

She was super nice and we chatted for quite a while... about cars (yes, cars!), food, wine, travel... did I mention I carried a meaningful conversation about cars? I was so proud of myself!

Long story short, this blossomed into a great friendship. I actually ended up buying "Lexi" my car, an IS350, from Lisa. It was an empowering accomplishment for me. I researched, found the car I liked, found it pre-owned on their website, I stalked it until the price decreased to where I needed it to be and I pounced! I came home with it and completely shocked Pete!

Lisa ended up sponsoring Cincy Chic events, which is what I do for a living, to target the niche of women who would relate well with a female-run dealership.

Lisa and I worked on about 10 Cincy Chic events together and when things came up for renewal, she suggested we expand the relationship and bring in Performance Lexus. I thought it was a great idea because that dealership has a female service manager, Whitney Binski.

I love seeing our Cincy Chic readers at events when they talk with these car-savvy women. You can tell they feel at ease and more confident when they hear information about cars from another woman. I got to thinking... what if I did this on a larger scale without geographical or physical boundaries... reaching women where ever and when ever they might be looking for helpful automotive info.

Whitney and Lisa loved the idea and asked Lexus corporate to fund the blog to compensate for my time. But the objective of this blog isn't to be a big ad for Lexus. Sure, I'll review new cars when they get to the dealerships, but they'll be objective reviews. They'll be what I genuinely think of the car, in a language you'll understand.

Lisa and Whitney will also chime in and provide helpful info you can use no matter what car you drive, like "What to know before you buy?" , "How do you know if buying or leasing is right for you" ,  "winter weather driving tips" , "how to inexpensively enhance the value of your car" ... things like that that'll give you good-to-know woman-to-woman automotive info.

If you have a question you'd like answered, contact me and I'll be sure to find an answer for you!