June 2009 Issue
High-Flying Honors
Oh, the stories those oil-stained coveralls could tell: Their owner was the first pilot to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean and the first woman to fly solo nonstop coast to coast. Between 1930 and 1935, she set seven women’s speed and distance aviation records in a variety of aircraft. Through September 13, The International Women’s Air & Space Museum (IWASM) at Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport is honoring aviatrix Amelia Earhart with an exhibit celebrating her accomplishments and ... Historic Preservation
If he had been caught sneaking into the Lincoln Theatre, Columbus jazz legend Gene Walker may have never picked up a saxophone. The allure of the theater, located on Columbus’ east side, was hard to resist during the Golden Age of Jazz. Since the city was a cultural mecca, musicians traveling between New York and Chicago — and some who made their home in LA — made it a point to include the Lincoln as a tour stop. Walker made it his mission to see them. As kids, we used to ... |
Creative Corners
Rich Kanary, owner of Kanary’s Landscaping in Sheffield Village, makes his living on inspiration. After 37 years in the landscaping business, his company continues to win awards for cutting-edge concepts and designs — including Best in Show for garden design and water feature entries at this year’s Cleveland Home and Garden Show. With nearly four decades in the same field, it’s amazing the veteran landscape designer manages to keep his idea pump primed. His secret: “I bough... Fresh Ideas
Not long ago, Stevens’ comments might have sounded a little enthusiastic for something as simple as salad ingredients. But our increasingly green consumer conscience has made the farmers market the preferred grocery store of shoppers like her, who seek not only quality and freshness, but also items such as sunchokes and ramps that offer culinary adventures unlike those they’ve had before. “I used to buy bags of iceberg and romaine at the grocery store before I tasted [the lettuces] at ... |
Her Father's Daughter
Robbin Evans doesn’t need to see a menu. When it’s time to order lunch at the Mansfield restaurant that bears her father’s name, the choice is clear. “Today, I’m forgetting about triglycerides and cholesterol,” the 63-year-old says with a laugh. “When I’m here, I’ve got to have the fried cornmeal mush and syrup — it shows me up as a real farmer’s daughter.” Robbin isn’t the only one who finds the meals her dad made famous irre... Music Fit for a Queen
If it hadn’t been for a bumpy friendship, Sharonville’s Ingrid Woode might not have been invited into the recording studio with Queen Latifah. “Farewell, fair-weather friend,” Woode sings in the video she submitted to the Queen’s online singer/songwriter contest. From hundreds of entries, Woode was chosen to record her song, “Fairweather Friend” with Queen Latifah on the superstar’s “Persona” album, set for release this summer. She chose “... Ohio Libraries Stack Up
We love our libraries — and they love us right back. According to a recent national study released by the professional trade publication Library Journal , the Cleveland and Columbus public-library systems each earned the top rating of five stars. “We focus on output measures — the ‘what have you done for me lately?’ questions,” says Library Journal editor Francine Fialkoff. Using 2006 data from the Institute of Museum and Library Services — a federal agency that... On Track
When I was 17, I scratched my name across a Norfolk & Western Railroad application, buckled on a tool belt, and went to work the Big Iron. While my friends flipped burgers, I rode with outlaws. That work shaped the man I became as much as anything ever did. We are trying to be a nation that is pretty and green. That Cleveland — my Cleveland — was neither. The N&W repair track sat on an ash-colored rise alongside the Cuyahoga River. As the ’60s slid into the ’70s, the industrial b... Wright at Home
Filled with numerous museums, Dayton is clearly a history enthusiast’s dream. And that’s no more evident than in the homage the city pays to brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright. This summer, there’s even more to experience: Orville Wright called Oakwood’s Hawthorn Hill estate home for more than 30 years. Thanks to a partnership between the Wright Family Foundation and Dayton’s historical society, the mansion is now open to the public. One half of the world-famous aeronautica... |
All in the Family
After seemingly endless months of snow and a grueling school year, there’s no doubt that the entire family is ready for a break. Whether you’re looking for a quick day trip or a full weeklong excursion, pack your bags and head out to discover some unique experiences close to home. History & Heritage Just because school’s out for the summer doesn’t mean the kids can’t keep learning. Take them to one of Ohio’s many historic locales for a history lesson so fascinating th... Fun on a Budget
When the going gets tough, the tough go on vacation. Or at least they should from what we can tell, considering that destinations from Youngstown to Cincinnati are going all out to offer incentives to their cash-strapped clientele. We’ve compiled some of the best travel deals close to home; to find more, check with the visitors’ bureaus where you’re traveling, or log on to the Ohio Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus ’ Web site, www.oacvb.org . Land of the Free ... Head for the Hills
With warm breezes lifting the leaves and bird songs swirling in the air, summer is the perfect time to gather family and friends and head outdoors. But hikers may not like to bird-watch and photographers may not want to canoe. How to keep everyone happy? The West Virginia State Parks come to the rescue with a season full of themed retreats. Travelers can choose the activities they want, backed up by the natural allure of the Mountain State — just step outside and you’re there. Hikers ... Hometown Stroll
Scholarly Spirit There are countless reasons we picked Athens as a best hometown. Swaddled with gently rolling hills and enviable natural beauty, this semi-rural city is an enclave of community spirit and commendable conservation efforts. It is also the home of Ohio University, the oldest public university in Ohio, whose constant flow of students from around the globe helps to keep a balance of fresh ideas sprouting out of town’s deep Appalachian roots. Another thing we like about Athens: The peop... Isles Away from Home
When it comes to vacation destinations, the Lake Erie Islands may be the most misunderstood spot in Ohio. Some people don’t even know they exist, let alone that they’re part of the Buckeye State. And those who are up on their geography can harbor a decidedly outdated view of them. Some believe the only overnight accommodations available are weekly cottage rentals, the only places to eat are bars that serve booze and burgers, and the only way to pass the time is by engaging in outdoor pursuit... Summer Salute
Here’s one of the best things about the Dayton area: During the summer, it’s a great place to get outside and enjoy the season. And you can do it pretty easily, too. Not only does Dayton’s comfortable middle-city size allow you to get from concrete to countryside in just a few minutes, but the area also is crisscrossed with a network of floatways and bikeways and dotted with MetroParks, inner-city green spaces and affordable outdoor venues. Add to that a bounty of festivals, events ... Vines of the Times
A summer trip spent sampling wines — dry and sweet reds and whites – is a salubrious prospect. Sip a chardonnay and take in the blue-green hues of a lake or the grassy scent of a meadow. Pause, reflect, savor the bouquet and feel the warm sun on your face. Summer enhances the pleasures of a glass of wine. You need not fly off to France, Italy or California. Celebrated wineries are within a day’s drive of Ohio. Pack a hamper, corkscrew and cheese knife and set out for western New York a... |
Picture Perfect
How’s this for budget travel? When our young family lived in a third-floor walk-up in Cincinnati, we’d make the long trip (about 15 minutes, door-to-door) from our apartment to a motel just the other side of the river. For $8 — and another buck for a rollaway crib — we’d cash in on three things we didn’t have at home: air-conditioning, a pool and a color TV. At dinnertime, I’d drive back, raid the refrigerator and return in the space of a color cartoon with balo... |
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