Sunday brunch is one of the week's more pleasant meals, given its leisurely pace. How about enhancing your pleasure with a beautiful natural setting? The Hamilton County Park District offers two choices for BRUNCH IN THE PARK: Mill Race Banquet Center (through March 9) at Winton Woods in Springfield Township or Sweetwine Banquet Center (through Feb. 23) at Woodland Mound in Anderson Township. With service from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both locations, you can enjoy made-to-order waffles, plus a buffet featuring two dozen breakfast and lunch items ranging from eggs and sausage to roast beef and mashed potatoes. The price is a reasonable $9.30 (kids 4-8 are $5.65, and little ones are free). Purchase a 2003 Hamilton County Park District motor vehicle permit ($3), and you'll save $3 on brunch. More info: www.greatparks.org ... Nice social events often result from professional catering, although the best caterers are often invisible, making the event sponsor look good. So it's nice to learn that the CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER has chosen JEFF THOMAS CATERING as its preferred caterer at the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, opening for regular public hours on June 7. The catering firm, founded in 1985 in Ludlow, Ky., will provide food and beverage services for events booked at the new CAC facility in its various lobbies and public spaces.
Thomas says, "What makes us a good match for the CAC is our commitment to excellence with style." For CAC booking information: 513-345-8429 ... Ever been frustrated looking for a place downtown to have lunch on Saturday or dinner on Sunday? Here's a few suggestions: HAMBURGER MARY'S (911 Vine St.) serves on Saturday (11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.) and Sunday (brunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner 5-11 p.m.). PALOMINO (505 Vine St.) has lunch on Saturday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and there's a happy hour all day Sunday, 1-9:45 p.m., with half-price appetizers and drink specials in the lounge. KO-SHO (215 Ninth St.) is open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday at noon, and they stay open until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. If it's really late and you're starving, don't forget SHANGHAI MAMA'S (216 E. Sixth St.) where the kitchen stays open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. ... Sorry to hear that a downtown place that opened with promise, CAFÉ CIN/CIN (15 W. Sixth St.), was closed by the Cincinnati Health Department in December. No word on re-opening.
