Safety Covers
Been thinking about a safety cover for the in-ground pool…?
Here’s a good reason to have one. This is a picture of our pool lot. Somewhere under that snow is an in-ground pool. 
Now, imagine this is your home and your backyard. It just looks like a yard covered in snow, eh?
We could stand everyone that works here on top of this pool’s cover and they would be safe. –Max
Like meatloaf? Try this one.
I’ve never been a gourmet griller but when we started carrying the Kamado Joe ceramic grills, I was our first customer. I’ve always liked southern-style barbeque and this was my opportunity to get better on a grill and to satisfy my taste buds at the same time. Not to turn this into an ad for Kamado Joe, but I’ll admit that I am now fully hooked on this grill. I’ve done ribs that rival any of the famous steak houses, 8 lb. briskets, 7 lb. Boston Butt Pork roasts, stews, and of course regular steaks, chops, and chicken breasts. But I found a recipe for meatloaf and upon study I thought I could make it even better. The resulting? Moist, spicy, smoky, and very tasty meatloaf that I will make again. Soon. Don’t have a ceramic grill? We can help on that one too but you can also do this on a regular grill. Here’s the recipe:
Prep time: 20 minutes—tops.
Cooking time—2 hrs or less.
Ingredients:
2.5 lb ground beef
1 lb sausage. Don’t do spicy. You won’t need it.
1 lb. ground veal.
5 TBS finely chopped sweet onion
2 TBS powdered barbeque seasoning.
3 TBS Hein 57
2 eggs.
6 oz. of chunk cheddar cheese, cut into pieces about the size of peas or beans
1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1 package of thin sliced bacon. And don’t you dare use that turkey stuff!
Mix everything in a large bowl, except for the bacon. Make sure the seasoning is not all clumped together. Form it into two evenly sized loaves, then place in a throw-away tin pan or meatloaf pan. Layer the bacon over the loaves, letting the pieces overlap about 1/3 of the way. One package covers both loaves with no leftover. (The bacon does not go under the loaves.)
Light lump charcoal and when the coals are ready add the heat deflector. Slowly bring the Kamado Joe temperature to 350-375. Remember, it is easier to get it hotter than to try and cool it off.
Cook at 350-375 degrees for about two hours or until you reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Remove and let stand for about 15 minutes then remove from the foil pans.
Eat, enjoy, and repeat. –Max
Hang In There
Hang in There. Warmer Weather is Just Around the Corner…
Almost forty years ago I was in Central America and picked up a copy of the Central American version of Time magazine. There was a blurb in the back titled “If winter comes, can spring training be far behind?”
I’ve always remembered this because it is true. Spring training is just around the corner and that means that warm weather is too. I say bring it on. I’m tired of this crappy winter weather. –Max
Football Fan
I am a football fan. I admit I am a Bengals fan, but moreover I am a football fan. If football is on TV, I am watching it: high school, college, or pro. I will watch college basketball, but not with the same intent as I follow football. You see the same fade to darkness every year. The twilight starting with the college bowls picking teams, followed by the award winners being announced. Once the twilight has faded to late evening the fun begins in earnest, the same way it does on Fourth of July. The NFL playoff picture begins to clarify, college bowl season runs it’s course of over 30 games in under 2 weeks. After those 2 weeks, once the teams have been determined, the NFL playoffs lead up to the crowning of the champion of the game that cannot be named. But once the crown has been laid upon the champion’s head all must go dormant for 5 months. Maybe this is why I am such a fan of football, it is like the seasonal cycle here in Cincinnati where all of the plants are silenced for roughly 5 months to only then re-emerge.
Alas, pitchers and catchers report next month. On to baseball! –Chris
Festivus
It’s that time of year once again for my favorite holiday. I believe that the main focus points of Festivus are the same as all of us keep to ourselves during this holiday season; Airing of grievances, the things that drive us nuts are aloud to be 
said instead of withheld. Feats of strength, granted this normally ends when the younger males in the family get above 25 years of age, but there is normally another generation waiting in the wings. The Festivus pole, a galvanized steel pole in a bucket of concrete, this never really goes bad and should never need to be replaced. I understand there is no real historical nor religious backgrounds for this holiday, but hey if it is good enough for Frank Costanza I’m aboard.
Chris
So is it ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’?
I know that some people are offended when someone wishes them happy holidays. As for me, I don’t care. I personally prefer Merry Christmas but it boils down to this:
I appreciate any and all sentiments meant to wish me well in this holiday season. I cannot envision ever getting ticked off at someone that is simply wishing me well. I will not take it as a personal affront to my Christianity as I am sure it is not being intended that way.
So no matter what you choose to celebrate, here’s to it being safe, filled with friends and family, and merry happiness.
Happy holidays!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Seasonal Products
As everyone is aware, Eastgate Pools & Spas is largely a seasonal business.
Well, we are into the new season and we have products for
the now as well. 
If you are cold, how about a hot tub? Soaking
your sore body in a steaming hot tub will warm you up.
Are you cold inside the house? How about an Infinity or EdenPURE™ infrared room heater? 
They produce even and efficient heat and will keep
you warm while saving you money.
Is all the staying warm inside boring the heck out of you? Then come in and check out our billiard department.
Whether you need a billiard table to entertain the family and guests, or you already have a billiard table and are looking for new accessories,
come and check us out. Customers come from all over Cincinnati just to
look for the billiard accessory they couldn’t find elsewhere.
GEOCACHING
GEOCACHING- A MODERN TWIST ON SCAVENGER HUNTING
Geocaching is an outdoor activity, in which participants use a GPS device
and other navigating techniques to hide and seek containers, called
“geocaches” or “caches”, anywhere in the world. Basically, you download a
geocaching app, I use my smartphone, and it will locate caches that are
near you. Then, you drive closer to them, get out and start walking, using
the GPS to direct you where to go. Unfortunately you usually don’t really
know exactly what you’re looking for. Some are very large and you get to
take things out of the cache and replace it with something of yours. Some
are very tiny (called micros) and may or may not even have paper inside
for you to sign in that you have located it. You also log it into the app
that you found it, and then you put the cache back exactly where you found
it for the next person.
This is an exciting (to me) activity for me to kill some time and get
outdoors for a little while. My seven year old also loves it! We keep a
backpack in my car full of different supplies such as Ziploc baggies,
pens, and small toys or collectibles. I have also found two trackables.
With these you go online and put in the tracking number to see where it
was started and how it got to your location. It’s pretty neat, I encourage
you all that are capable to give it a try. Keep calm and cache on!
Fall BBQ’s
Fall and BBQ go hand-in-hand. I find that as the air starts to get crisper and the wind bites at your ears, it is almost proper to grill or BBQ every single meal. I personally love using my Kamado Joe smoker but the Swiss Grill is perfect for the quick grilling. Most importantly, I try to keep cooking outdoors well into winter. I don’t feel that there is a particular season that is better for grilling but I do think Fall is just ideal for outdoor cooking.
I plan on cooking Pork Tenderloin this Sunday and it will be absolutely delectable. I like to cook it with a dry rub that includes plenty of brown sugar, bourbon smoked sea salt and thick cracked peppercorns. While the meat finishes its slow cook I add a thick sauce in the last 20-30 minutes of smoking to add a caramelized saucy coat on the outside of the meat. Pork relishes in its fat and as the meat cooks it will tenderize. Adding a “candy” coating of sauce toward the end of cooking is one of my favorites tips/tricks.
Football, beer and BBQ are all synonymous in my book. If you agree that Fall is the greatest time to BBQ, send us some pics of your feasts and tell us your stories about why you love to BBQ in the fall.
Duck & Cover
When do you decide to cover your outdoor furniture? After you cover, do you uncover? I am an outdoor type of guy, and have my furniture near my firepit, so covering this time of year for me would just require frequent uncovering. For me the weather generally dictates when to cover the furniture for good. We host quite a bit for the holidays, so I am also known to have a fire in the firepit just for extra available “house” space while staying warm and out of the way. What about you? Are you the type to cover and recover, or do you just decide enough is enough and cover it for the season?
Doctor Who’s Return
Not that long ago I offered up my recommendation about the BBC classic Doctor Who. I recently completed watching all of the modern era seasons, including an incredible 50th Anniversary special that incorporated David Tennant and Matt Smith on screen together. Perhaps, none of our readers gave it a whirl, but I don’t know anyone that has given this show a fair shake and didn’t come aware a fan.
The newest season just began and introduced a new Doctor in Peter Capaldi. While I’m sure he’ll be an acquired taste after two amazingly fun and endearing incarnations of the Doctor, I have to say I enjoyed his first crack at things. The newest Doctor is Scottish and much older than the most recent versions, but you get the sense that he will add an understated degree of comedy to his portrayal.
Either way, I can’t say enough about just how great this show is and what you’re missing if you aren’t giving it a try. Now that I’m on the once a week viewing schedule for Doctor Who I’ve decided to step into the world of Breaking Bad. So far I can say it has delivered on the hype. Just don’t comment with any spoilers please! Happy viewing everyone!
As the Weather Turns….
We are going through a swift change into fall and there is much that can be done to prepare for the cold months here at Eastgate Pools & Spas. Fall and winter are my absolute favorite weather for the spa. Don’t be fooled, as the temperatures drop, the spa is absolutely wonderful for cold stiff bones. I love going out after dinner, queuing up my favorite relaxation song on the iPod and slowly slinking into my tub. 102 degrees is my preferred temperature but some prefer a little more heat in the colder months. Keep a towel close because the moment you exit the tub you will want to dry off and head inside. Your best bet is to use a tablespoon or two of the White River Oxidizer after each use to prevent the build up of organic matter. Oxidizer is a Potassium Monopersulfate and is completely safe to enter the water after using Oxidizer to treat. Therefore, if you want to use the tub after treating with Oxidizer feel free to do so as it is safe and comfortable to the human body.
The other reason I enjoy fall around here is we have a lot of great options for indoor entertainment. Bumper Pool is my favorite of all the billiards games and we have multiple tables in different styles to choose from. Along with Bumper Pool tables we have a wide variety of 8′ Pool Tables. We have more cues than any other dealer in the city and our selection of balls, racks, chalk and accessories is unparalleled. If you got a cold basement that is just perfect for a pool table and a bar, come on in and see us. We can help you fit the room with lighting, bar options and even space heating!
Winter is slowly approaching but we still have the ability to provide you with toys and ideas to keep your indoors entertaining all year long.
Weather. Bleh!
Let’s face it, this summer was not the banner weather year that we all hoped for. Granted there have been years that are way worse in regards to temperature and precipitation, but this year was not among the top 10 years for using your swimming pool. Now with the Autumn weather enveloping the Cincinnati area it is time to look for other avenues of outdoor entertainment. I am in no way saying that we don’t have the toys for outside entertainment though. Be it a fire pit to take the chill off the September air while sitting on the deck or patio, or relaxing all through the winter in your own spa we have the toys to keep you outside.
I Don’t Care What Max Says…It’s Basketball Season!!!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited that college football is starting up and that the Bengals are poised
for another good year, but I’m a college basketball addict. My beloved Wildcats played six games in
the Bahamas against a bunch of grown men from a French pro team, a Puerto Rican national team, and a
Dominican national team. They won 5 of the 6 games during the 8 day stretch and only lost the last one
by one to the Dominican national team when they simply didn’t have the legs to finish. I know I’m in the
minority here at Eastgate, but after the awesome run last year I’ve been excited to see a “veteran” team
get back out there and give it another go. Normally I would still be all about the Reds right now, but
that has been a train wreck. Either way we are entering the best time of year for sports and some August
basketball has only made it better for me.
-Craig
