I was reading the New York Times article on Jim Tressel and the bizarre dichotomy between his sterling behavior and the not-so-sterling behavior of his players, and it mentioned a great statistic: how many Ohioans would vote Jim Tressel in as a major politician, based solely on his performance as the head coach at OSU. Quite a few, is the response. (Exact number?) I can't really blame them; I'm from Berea where the Tressels are from (I once had his brother as a teacher in sixth grade; and there is a Tressel street), so we love the Tressels without question.
But I'm also a Clevelander, and so here's my thought: who would win in a political race between LeBron James and Jim Tressel? That is a tough question. You have LeBron "King" James, bringing the Cavs and Cleveland's sports back into the national spotlight (sportlight?). He's young, he's energetic, and he'd obviously be able to get the entire youth vote. But what about Jim? Been around for a while, also getting national recognition for his team. A little more of a leader (corralling young football players year-round has got to be good for leadership) and obviously a little more mature than 22-year-old LeBron. But who would win? Let's see some votes!
I am always so behind the times - although that's not really kind to myself! Isn't it more along the lines that I was just not away, and now I know more about more cool things to do in Northeast Ohio? Yeah, let's look at it in that light. It makes me seem more on top of things and less clueless.
The Parma Theater (located on Ridge Road in Parma, Ohio, of course) has been showing Bollywood hit movies fairly regularly, as has the Solon Cinemas (Solon, Ohio). Bollywood, for those of you even more out of touch with what's hip and worldly than myself, is the cinematic glory of Mumbai (what used to Bombay), India. Bollywood films find huge audiences anywhere that there are Indian immigrants, who enjoy the glamorous colorful picture of life in the extremely lovely subcontinent of India. The films are also quite popular with non-immigrants - I myself am a big fan! I just recently re-watched Bride and Prejudice again, a Bollywood interpretation of the British Pride and Prejudice, and it's so much fun. I love it!
This weekend, the Parma Theater and Solon Cinema will be screening Guru, which stars Aishwarya Rai. Rai has been described as the most beautiful women in India, and frankly, I think she could be the most beautiful woman in the world. She is incredibly glamourous, and a stunning actress.Check out the showtimes here - and don't worry, there will be English subtitles.
I'm a little behind on this assignment. I blame my terrible cold and the fact that I may have broken a bone in my foot - more on that exciting news tomorrow! But since the end of the year has come and gone, I want to join the ranks of my fellow bloggers and talk about what I think were some of my better posts from 2006.
Most recently, my review of the Bazaar Bizarre craft fair. Start saving up for the December 2007 version! In October, I talked about two things that I thought were pretty interesting, and completely unrelated: Toni Morrison and her anniversary of getting the Novel Prize, and being filmed in November on Election Day. I really like to review restaurants, local fairs of any kind and books. So, in a quick sampling, my review of Sullivan's restaurant in Lakewood, Ohio; a review of my annual pilgrimage to the St. Rocco's Festival; and a review of Cleveland native Les Roberts' memoir, We'll Always Have Cleveland! Obviously, I love Ohio - you may have gathered that piece of information from my working for a website wholly devoted to Ohio! But I like when our great Buckeye state makes it into the news in weird ways: like when I found an mention of our major cities in Forbes' discussion of best cities for singles. I really have become involved in the wholly stand-up comic scene here in Cleveland, for which you may totally blame my dear good friend, Sidekick Girl! But I like helping her and her fellow comics out with a little bit of free publicity, like when I reviewed the first Rockstar Comedy event.
I also love getting to take pictures for you, Blogging Ohio! Enjoy an old Ohiopic of the Day! Let's go to '07!
Mwa-ha-ha! I found this story to be quite hilarious. Apparently, some 30 students and others who were arrested after the OSU-Michigan game for underage drinking and disorderly conduct were sentenced for community service. And when will the community service take place? It will take place tomorrow! Ahh! They won't get to celebrate during the pre-game festivities for the national championship between OSU and University of Florida (team name: the Gators)! The judge who sentenced them apparently wanted them to realize that they still have to obey the law while at Buckeye football games - a wise ruling. So the students have to clean toilets, pick up trash and do some gardening work at the state fairgrounds tomorrow. Hopefully they'll get done before kick-off!
Hooray! It's almost time for the Miss America pageant. What? As a filthy liberal, I shouldn't support the event? Well, technically, it's still a scholarship contest, and I will always support people trying to get more money for their education. Plus, Miss Ohio deserves my support not only because she is representing me (and therefore, I think for her talent she should sing the OSU fight song while dressed as a buckeye candy), but because she is from Brook Park, Ohio!
Clearly, Melanie is a winner. She was a Cavs girl, for crying out loud! That's way tougher than any silly beauty pageant. Sadly, the Miss America website does not tell us what her talent is going to be - I can only hope that she does a dance routine! I'm going to be watching on January 29, and if you had any buckeye love in you, you would too!
The holidays are a memory, spring still not on the horizon. Rather than give in to couch-itis, why not take a weekend getaway to one of Ohio's top-notch lodges?
Among my favorites: The Inn at Cedar Falls. Only a short walk from Ohio's greatest state park, The Hocking Hills, and its namesake Cedar Falls. The Inn offers rooms on a bluff overlooking the hills, with gourmet meals served in the restored cabin. The highlight here, though, is a winter hike up the gorge from Cedar Falls to Old Man's Cave. If the weather has been below freezing for a few days, the water that seeps through the sandstone cliff freezes, covering the gorge with sheets of icicles that shine stunningly against the moss-covered walls. Lunch at the nearby Etta's Lunchbox Cafe is highly recommended, too.
The Inn at Honey Run. This treasure, hidden in the midst of Amish country in Holmes County, provides a wonderful touch of luxury and comfort. The locally-influenced meals are served in the main building. The Honeycomb, a separate building built into the hill nearby, offers rooms with fireplaces and a spendid. There are also cabins available.
For those staying here, day excursions into the Amish area are a delight in the winter. You won't have to fight the summer tour bus crowd when shopping for quilts and furniture, and a table at your favorite restaurant. (Recommendation: The Homestead in Charm; order the fried chicken. I promise you won't be disappointed.)
The Murphin Ridge Inn, Peebles. Tucked away in a little-visited part of Ohio, Adams County in Southwestern Ohio, this old farmhouse and new bank of luxury rooms is a true getaway. The meals are splendid and the quiet of the winter woods should have you sleeping like a baby. During the day, take a trip to the Serpent Mound or Buzzards Roost Rock, hike at the Davis Memorial, dig for fossils along Rt. 41, or tour the local Amish area. Make sure to lunch at the historic The Olde Wayside Inn in downtown West Union, built in 1804.
Check out Jamie's story or mine in previous blogs for more background.
So don't give in to the blahs – treat yourself to something new.
Perhaps I was too hasty in discounting the potential for a terrorist attack in Ohio. After reading about the content of a new book by Canton author Abbas Sadeghian, a fatwa seems all too possible.
In his book Sword and Seizure the Iranian-born neuropsychologist Sadeghian hypothesizes that Muhammad suffered from complex partial seizures, evidence of which he finds throughout the Koran. These epileptic seizures cause "excessive sweating and light trembling, olfactory, auditory and visual hallucinations," as well as hyper-religiosity.
My search of the net didn't come up with any diatribes against him, surprisingly. Nonetheless, one has to wonder at the usefulness of such a hypothesis. The world is full of religious figures the actions of whom could be ascribed to physical or psychological problems. Believers will discount the idea, non-believers will use it to bolster their skepticism, and nothing useful will be accomplished.
Here's a plug for a neat shop, plus a fun place for a "girls night out." Jennifers' Beads, Yarns and Whatever in Hilliard is a clever business endeavor owned and operated by two friends, each named Jennifer. A little over a year ago Jennifer Fillinger and Jennifer Moore turned a small farmhouse type building and their dream into a bead shop that also sells funky to artsy jewelry, plus quality yarns and knitting supplies.
Both of them have a passion for beads, art, yarn and meeting friendly creative people so they created a business that allows them to do just that. The first Friday of every month they keep the doors open well into the night (I've been there as late as 10:30) so people can have a real bead fest with good food thrown in. If you don't bring some sort of food to share, you chip in $5.
Their bead offerings run the gamut from glass to silver and from the teenie tiny to medallion-like. Besides the beads, there's everything you need to make items from watch bands to earrings. When I've headed to Hilliard, it's only been to go to this bead shop. Each time I insist I'm going just to socialize. Then I get hooked. The bead strands artfully arranged into interesting groupings get me every time and I start poking around trying this combination and that. Before I know it, I've made three pairs of earrings at a fraction of what it would cost if I bought them in the store.
The next "Girl's Night Out" is today. The website has information about class offerings and hours. I'd try this place out. Get artsy this year. Here is a great place to start.
Though it's not quite a done deal, yet, but time might be running short for the Seneca County Courthouse, in Tiffin. The County Commissioners are proceeding with seeking bids for demolition. If they succeed, it will be the first time in decades that one of Ohio loses one of its nineteenth century courthouses. Can we spare one? Well, that depends on your point of view. Ohio does have an embarrassment of riches in that department. Strict preservationists would say a resounding "no". Especially with this one's connection to an important architect. The commissioners can point to the substantial cost of restoration. Even for me, this one is a hard choice.
The Seneca County Courthouse was built in 1884. Its architect was Elijah E. Myers, of Detroit. Myers was a prolific designer. Among his works are the state capitols of Michigan, Texas, and Colorado. He also designed a territorial capitol for Idaho, a parliament building for Brazil, and courthouses all over the USA. Most are already gone. Ohio does have one other, at Elyria, but that's all.
Notice anything odd about the picture, an old postcard? The tower? Well, that's why I have mixed feelings here instead of being ready to denounce the whole idea. Back in 1943, the cupola was taken off and the lower part of the tower covered over in a completely different style. Today, when you look at it, it's almost as if the tower is part of a separate building. The two just don't mix. Still, if the commissioners change their minds about tearing it down, I won't complain.
Whenever I see a round-up of newsy bits, I check to see if there is an Ohio story. Sure enough. In this past Sunday's Parade Magazine section I snagged (after asking) from my in-laws Plain Dealer was this funny story about a town in Ohio that needed more money to pay its lighting bill. In Chauncey this past summer, the town started to put a wooden outhouse in people's yards as a fundraising gig. It worked. In order to get the outhouse out of your yard, you had to pay the town money. This scheme was created as a way to get the needed dollars for street lights. According to the article, the town was $200 richer within two days. Since the monthly street-light bill is $500, I'm curious to know if the plan is still in place or if everyone has paid as much as they are going to pay to get the outhouse out of their yard. Here is a longer article that also has a video from the wkyc television station website.
Chauncey is in Athens County, and once boomed as a coal-mining town. Now it is rich in scenery even though its population has shrunk to the point that it requires ingenuity to keep the lights on. Here is a website with photographs and a well developed historical account of Chauncey. The above picture is of a different outhouse.
I found this gem of a WGTE Production preview that encapsulates the history of the Irish immigrants who came to Toledo. There are historic photos paired with interviews and narration. Well done.
With the weather in a state of flux this is the time of year to pick up a good book. Here are some suggestions I've culled from a couple of Ohio's sources. Perhaps you have some other ideas. Send them along. Here's to not waiting for what Oprah says to read before heading to the library or bookstore. Check out Ohio's brand of literary tastes for some reading pleasure. They run the gamut from classics, to mystery to literary to just plain fun. The websites have what's on the agenda for the coming months as well.
Here's a smattering of what's being read in January, or at least suggested.
J-Link Book bunch at Panera's in Clintonville (Columbus) is reading The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
Newburgh Adult Book Discussion Group that meets at the Central Branch of the Ohio Township Public Library System is discussing Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (Oh, wait a minute. This group is in Indiana, but since I took the time to write it up, here's a nod to them.)
Lori Foster, a Cincinnati-based romance writer wanted for Christmas the following: Drop Dead Gorgeous by Linda Howard; Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris and A Marked Man by Stella Cameron.
On I-71 at about mile marker 187 is a sign that touts "Ashland World Headquarters of Nice People." I've been to Ashland to visit a friend of mine who was visiting her sister. I think we crashed a 4th of July barbeque or something. Everyone seemed nice to me. I would have to say very nice, so perhaps what the sign says is true. If nothing else, it caught my attention. I did a little research on Ashland and found out that it was originally called Uniontown, but because there was already a Uniontown in Ohio, there was a name change. Henry Clay, a congressman at the time, pushed the name of his Kentucky ranch so that's what it became. The Ashland High School was almost called The Henry Clay High School.
If you head to Ashland one thing I would do is go to the Ashland County Historical Society. The Manor House built in 1859 is one of the three buildings the society owns. It now houses collections of various Ashland County citizens. Perusing the items I would guess is a terrific way to see what was near and dear to folks throughout the years.
I came across a website of one of Ashland's nice citizens that outlines what makes the town worth a visit. There is a lot in the area so the next time you're near here on I-71, think about stopping in. To also see what's going on in the area, check out the Ashland Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau website.
Looking back over the year, I thought this would be a good chance to stroke my own ego a bit by pulling out my 10 11 favorite posts of those I've tossed up this year. In case you missed some of the grain buried in the chaff, here's another chance to hit the highlights.
You've noticed that needles fall off your Christmas tree whenever someone comes near it. Yep, time to take down that tree and put the ornaments and lights back in their boxes until next December.
The ornaments and lights might be done for the season, but the tree is not. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, don't send your tree to a landfill but consider one of these ideas:
• Submerge your tree in a farm pond, if you happen to have one. Fish and pond life will live in it. Tie a cement block to it to get the tree to stay under water.
• You can also put your tree in a corner of your yard to provide shelter for wildlife.
• Or take your tree to a tree recycling place
• Or chip it up yourself to make mulch and compost material.
• Yard waste pick-up programs will also pick up Christmas trees and they will be composted. If your tree is over eight feet, cut it in half.
Before you dump your tree somewhere, make sure it's okay so you don't get nailed for littering.
Also, take off any tinsel and ornaments.
The Earth Day 911 website has some of the tree recycling centers in Ohio listed. You type in your zipcode. The ODNR website also has links to county tree recyling programs. Look for your county and click on it.
I was reading the New York Times article on Jim Tressel and the bizarre dichotomy between his sterling behavior and the not-so-sterling behavior of his players, and it mentioned a great statistic: how many Ohioans would vote Jim Tressel in as a major politician, based solely on his performance as the head coach at OSU. Quite a few, is the response. (Exact number?) I can't really blame them; I'm from Berea where the Tressels are from (I once had his brother as a teacher in sixth grade; and there is a Tressel street), so we love the Tressels without question.
I am always so behind the times - although that's not really kind to myself! Isn't it more along the lines that I was just not away, and now I know more about more cool things to do in Northeast Ohio? Yeah, let's look at it in that light. It makes me seem more on top of things and less clueless.
I'm a little behind on this assignment. I blame my terrible cold and the fact that I may have broken a bone in my foot - more on that exciting news tomorrow! But since the end of the year has come and gone, I want to join the ranks of my fellow bloggers and talk about what I think were some of my better posts from 2006.
Mwa-ha-ha! I found this 
Hooray! It's almost time for the 
The holidays are a memory, spring still not on the horizon. Rather than give in to couch-itis, why not take a weekend getaway to one of Ohio's top-notch lodges?
Perhaps I was too hasty in discounting the potential for a terrorist attack in Ohio. After reading about the content of a new book by Canton author Abbas Sadeghian, a fatwa seems all too possible.
Here's a plug for a neat shop, plus a fun place for a "girls night out." Jennifers' Beads, Yarns and Whatever in Hilliard is a clever business endeavor owned and operated by two friends, each named Jennifer. A little over a year ago Jennifer Fillinger and Jennifer Moore turned a small farmhouse type building and their dream into a bead shop that also sells funky to artsy jewelry, plus quality yarns and knitting supplies. 
The County Commissioners are proceeding with seeking bids for demolition. If they succeed, it will be the first time in decades that one of Ohio loses one of its nineteenth century courthouses. Can we spare one? Well, that depends on your point of view. Ohio does have an embarrassment of riches in that department. Strict preservationists would say a resounding "no". Especially with this one's connection to an important architect. The commissioners can point to the substantial cost of restoration. Even for me, this one is a hard choice.
Whenever I see a round-up of newsy bits, I check to see if there is an Ohio story. Sure enough. In this past Sunday's 
With the weather in a state of flux this is the time of year to pick up a good book. Here are some suggestions I've culled from a couple of Ohio's sources. Perhaps you have some other ideas. Send them along. Here's to not waiting for what Oprah says to read before heading to the library or bookstore. Check out Ohio's brand of literary tastes for some reading pleasure. They run the gamut from classics, to mystery to literary to just plain fun. The websites have what's on the agenda for the coming months as well.
On I-71 at about mile marker 187 is a sign that touts "Ashland World Headquarters of Nice People." I've been to Ashland to visit a friend of mine who was visiting her sister. I think we crashed a 4th of July barbeque or something. Everyone seemed nice to me. I would have to say very nice, so perhaps what the sign says is true. If nothing else, it caught my attention. I did a little 
Looking back over the year, I thought this would be a good chance to stroke my own ego a bit by pulling out my 
You've noticed that needles fall off your Christmas tree whenever someone comes near it. Yep, time to take down that tree and put the ornaments and lights back in their boxes until next December.
