AMERICA’S LARGEST HOME & GARDEN SHOW

                           A Tribute to Italy Offers a Mediterranean Escape

CLEVELAND, OH—As an annual source of inspiration and expert advice, the 65^th Annual National City Home & Garden Show returns to the I-X Center in Cleveland February 2-10, 2008 to showcase the region’s finest landscaping architects and the latest home trends and design innovations.

With three walk-through model homes, nearly 30 blooming garden displays and six seminar stages, America’s largest Home & Garden Show is not just a show – it’s a destination.  Live entertainment, interior design showcases, a “green” living pavilion and daily cooking demonstrations are captured within 20 sprawling indoor acres.  Hundreds of thousands of visitors annually attend the nine-day event for its high-end exhibits, accessible expert advice and sophisticated project ideas.

As a testament to the show’s longevity and mass appeal, 2008 marks National City’s 12^th year as the Home & Garden Show title sponsor. “We couldn’t be more proud and excited to once again host this year’s National City Home and Garden Show,” said Paul Clark, President of National City Northern Ohio Banking. “We look forward to seeing some amazing indoor and outdoor home improvement ideas, along with exhibits inspired by the rich traditions of Italy. And it’s great to see that ‘Think Green’ will again be a focus this year, sharing with us simple and low cost ways to save money and protect our environment. But the best part of the National City Home and Garden Show? All these fantastic ideas and resources are made accessible and available for everyone who visits.”

This year’s theme, “Bella Italia,” will transport guests to Beautiful Italy and pay tribute to the horticulture and heritage of the popular Mediterranean country. The pulse of Italy will be felt the moment guests enter the Show.  The spectacular sight of budding Italian gardens, the camaraderie of Little Italy businesses in the Piazza and the aroma of Italian cuisine beckoning from The Bistro will warmly welcome guests.

To capture the true gusto and essence of Italy, the Home & Garden Show worked closely with members of the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation (NOIA). NOIA played an integral role in the Show’s meticulous planning efforts that spanned more than seven months.

“NOIA offered invaluable insight about the deep-rooted passion and pride that resonates among the local Italian community,” say Chris Fassnacht, Show President.  “That knowledge will result in a visually stunning and truly authentic Italian tribute for the thousands of guests who will attend this year’s Show.”

In addition to an Italian tribute, this year also brings exciting modifications to the Show itself. The Home & Garden Show will expand its array of interior design offerings by 60 percent. The new Boulevard Idea Design Center will offer innovative decorating concepts and an exciting opportunity for a free one-on-one design consultation. The newly combined Interior Design & Home Improvement Stage allows for a larger range of seminar topics while making room for a new Green Pavilion seminar stage.  After its debut in 2007, a larger, more comprehensive Green Pavilion will address today’s flourishing green building movement.

The Home & Garden Show will once again team up with Rosby Resource Recycling in Brooklyn Heights,

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Ohio, to strengthen its sustainable business plan and decrease its overall “waste stream.” The ongoing efforts to reuse Show materials, divert waste from crowded landfills and maximize recycling efforts are part of the Show’s proactive and ongoing green mindset.

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