January 2006 Issue

By The Book
As winter settles in for the long haul, there's nothing like hunkering down with a good book to pass the time. These four bookstores offer an eclectic mix of titles, as well as the chance to get reacquainted with old favorites and editions not found at the mall. Happy browsing. Super sleuthing It has the makings of a great whodunit: A weapons tester from Las Vegas retires to the Otterbein College town of Westerville with his wife, a former fourth-grade teacher at West Franklin Elementary School in Colum...

For the Record
There's more to miss about records than the inimitable crackle and pop sound when needle meets vinyl. For more than 50 years, their covers served as canvases where artists, illustrators and photographers applied their talents to complement the work within. Through January 29, the Cincinnati Art Museum explores the link between photography and music by presenting "Borrowed Time: The Photograph as Music Album Cover," a collection of 42 original photographs selected by musicians ranging from Bob Dylan to B...

Just for the Girls
It calls for profound words, really. How else could you possibly capture all of those treasured characteristics that make a great friend? From the shoulder to cry on she offers when times get tough, to the fun spirit she provides when you need to cut loose, it seems any definition of the bond between girlfriends would have to be as lengthy and deep as the relationship itself. Or not. "A friend," said Ohio humorist Erma Bombeck, "never defends a husband who gets his wife an electric skillet for her birth...

The Best of Ohio
Best Winter Vista While you can't climb the Marblehead Lighthouse in winter, the view from the base is a glittering panorama of ice and snow. The lighthouse, one of Ohio's most-photographed landmarks, is often captured in summer’s light. But intrepid shutterbugs may find their best shots framed in winter's illumination. 110 Lighthouse Dr. Marblehead, 419/734-4424. Best Spot for Jazz If you're a touring jazz musician in the United States, you most likely know Jerry Gillotti. He's been booking the best ...

Winter Sky Wonders
On a winter's day in Wyandot County, the short-eared owl, a meadow vole clutched in its talons, flew toward a perch and an anticipated feast. Out of the electric gray, as quick as a cruise missile, bolted a bird little bigger than half the owl's size. The startled, slow-flying owl - often an attacker but seldom the attacked - let loose its furry morsel as the fast-closing bogey, a merlin, screamed past. As the vole began to fall, the aerial aggressor made a swift u-turn in pursuit of its prey and magica...