Ohio Blog Posts

It's a story filled with hope and courage — not to mention two dozen tunes that are an integral part of the Great American Songbook. In a nutshell, that's "Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical," which debuted last week at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton. As I sat in the audience during the Sunday matinee of this stellar show — produced by the acclaimed Human Race Theatre Company — I couldn't help but marvel at the fact that there is indeed so much more to this legendary song stylist than the image we se... Read More »

The title of the new book by Dan Chaon seems so sweet: He called it "Stay Awake," after the lullaby Mary Poppins sings in the Disney movie about the super-cali-fragi-listic-expi-ali-docious nanny. But, in fact, the Cleveland Heights author's book of short stories — just published by Ballantine Books — is anything but restful, Instead, its a compendium of concepts so disquieting that sleep is sure to be elusive. From the father grappling with his son's night terrors to the trauma experienced by a child s... Read More »

Last night was a trip. I attended the opening of "Hair," the American Tribal Love Rock Musical taking center stage at the Palace Theatre in downtown Cleveland through January 29. As I sat in an audience filled primarily with fellow boomers, it didn't take long for the show to become a colorful sojourn back to my youth. When "Hair" debuted on Broadway in 1968, it radiated a spirit that clearly defined us, the children of the '60s. The litany of songs from the show we fervently memorized back then ("Aquari... Read More »

Three avid Columbus-area gardeners have begun a blog that offers gardening advice, as well as   information on books, trends, events, tools, plants that thrive in the Midwest and recipes for harvested crops. Check out heartland-gardening.com for postings by Deb Knapke, a horticulturalist, lecturer at Columbus State Community College and author of four gardening books; Michael Leach, a master gardener and former garden reporter for The Columbus Dispatch ; and Teresa Woodard, a master gardener and fre... Read More »

Star-Studded Legacy If there’s ever a place to catch the spirit of the season, it’s at Malabar Farm, nestled amid the pastoral ambiance of Mansfield. On December 8, the halls were decked with boughs of holly, and Christmas trees throughout the 32-room “Big House” were aglow during the annual fete in which those of us who love it raised a glass to 2012.   It’s easy to see why book lovers revel in this palatial estate. Novelist Louis Bromfield resided there from 1939 until his death in 1956. A member ... Read More »

On November 17, I had the honor of being asked to speak at the Historic Hotels of America’s annual conference. It was held at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, an architectural beauty dating back to 1931. I shared the podium with Preservation magazine editor James Schwartz and Ken Price, public relations director of Chicago’s Palmer House hotel. Our topic: “Print in the Digital Age.” (At Ohio Magazine , that's a subject that's near and dear to our hearts. For three decades, we've presented the best... Read More »

I was in Akron the other day and decided to try The Creperie, a new gourmet crepes and sandwich shop on E. Mill Street downtown. At first, I thought that the restaurant’s theme might be lost on me, but as I sat there and waited for my friend to arrive, the smell was intoxicating. I arrived at a perfect time because I got to see the transition between the breakfast crepes and lunch crepes. I listened as people made their selections off the menu. Baked apple, banana split, strawberries and Nutella. Wait, I... Read More »

When I tell people I like to “swing,” the response I get is generally a raised eyebrow and a look of disgust. And before they completely form the wrong opinion about me, I quickly add, “No, not THAT kind of swing. I like to swing DANCE.” Swing dancing has been part of my life for more than 10 years. I caught the tail end of what is now referred to as the “neo-swing” movement in 1999 when my high school sweetheart introduced me to swing dancing. I was immediately hooked. Brian Setzer Orchestra, Royal Cro... Read More »

Most of us know what to expect on a trip to Holmes County: postcard-perfect scenes, horse-drawn buggies appearing (sometimes unexpectedly) over the crest of a hill, handmade signs at the roadside advertising fresh pies and other homemade goodies. On a mid-September Saturday afternoon this year — while attending a   weekend-long wedding at the Inn at Honey Run in Millersburg — my husband and I took a trip into Berlin to look for Helping Hands Quilt Shop, where I’d purchased a wall-hanging decades ag... Read More »

Although I’ve been married for more than seven years, some of my favorite memories from Valentine’s Day involve being single. As a teenager, my friends and I were often forced to navigate our way through the carnation-decked halls of our high school, receiving cheap paper valentines only from each other. Once we got our driver’s licenses, we went to dinner together, stuffed ourselves with fries and cokes, and talked about our exes or the boys we hoped would send flowers. In many ways, “dates” with my fri... Read More »

Admittedly, I’m not much of a winter traveler. Two years ago in December, just before Christmas, my husband dragged me out of the house so he could take outdoor pictures for holiday gifts. There we were, hiking through Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, fresh snow dusting the ground, looking for naturally occurring letters in nature. I started out the day grumpy, but after a few hours of (cold) fresh air, I felt invigorated. Each year, I say that I’ll be more active in the winter and I almost always fail. F... Read More »

On an unseasonably warm November day, the Indians previewed their new winter plans for Progressive Field, dubbed Snow Days. Through Jan. 2 (or possibly longer), visitors have the unique opportunity to be on the field where the Indians play. Each day, the ballpark will be filled with 150 tons of snow and a variety of winter activities, including the Frozen Mile, an ice skating track that wraps through the field and under the bleachers; the Batterhorn snow tubing hill that starts at the top of the bleache... Read More »

When I was a child, I always thought I’d own my own vacation home someday. It’s how I remember my grandparents living — winters at their house in Ft. Meyers, Florida, and a few weeks out of the summer at a cottage on Lake George in Upstate New York. As an adult, though, I haven’t followed my family’s much-traveled roads. Instead of returning to Lake George, home of many happy childhood memories, I recently vacationed in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The only times I travel to Florida are to visit ... Read More »

There are as many ways as there are places to check out fall foliage in Ohio. This month, Ohio Magazine covers a unique spin on the standard leaf-peeping tour with an article about some of the best places to bike and view fall foliage. For an equally outdoorsy (yet less exerting) experience, try hot air ballooning through the Hocking Hills . If you’re not afraid of heights, this aerial view offers breathtaking vistas even when the scenery is not awash in autumn color. And if you are afraid of heights, I... Read More »

Tomato, tomahto — however you say it, most people agree that the best ones are found in-season. On a recent trip to Columbus , I had the privilege of tasting multiple tomato dishes made from locally grown (and often organic) tomatoes. And although tomato season is coming to an end in northeast Ohio, the places I visited are known for consistently using the freshest in-season ingredients, and I look forward to visiting again when I can sample apple desserts in the fall and maybe some stews made out of ro... Read More »

It wasn’t supposed to start out this way. Originally, I believe I was scheduled to fish on a boat with Governor Ted Strickland. But at the last minute, Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland requested an all-female charter for the 32nd Annual Fish Ohio day on Lake Erie. Although we’ve come a long way, groups of women are commonly seen as shoppers and spa-goers as opposed to outdoors(wo)men. But on July 12, aboard the Blue Diamond Baha cruiser, a group of influential women caught 21 fish for charity and had ... Read More »

It’s not something people like to talk about. Still, the topic has been popularized by the famed children’s book Everybody Poops , and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is teaching the same lesson through Sept. 12 at its newest summer exhibit, “The Scoop on Poop!,” based on another children’s book of the same name. Although I don’t necessarily agree with the zoo’s billing of “the exciting world of excrement,” I do think that children will love this exhibit and it’s a great way to teach kids — and adults — th... Read More »

During my first trip to southeast Ohio a few weeks back, I got to try something I honestly wasn’t sure I’d enjoy: ziplining with the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours . Zipping through a lush canopy of trees was like a nature hike on steroids. I’m not afraid of heights, but I don’t love flying or the feeling of falling. However, I assumed that the guides for the Hocking Hills Canopy Tours were well trained and used to dealing with people new to this adventure, and I was right. I found it reassuring when our gu... Read More »

Last week, I accidentally drove through a part of Ohio that I have never seen before. I was on my way to The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake when, out of curiosity, I decided to follow the bend in St. Rte. 534. Almost immediately, I found myself on the small section of Lake Road that comprises Geneva-on-the-Lake . It’s still early spring, so the restaurants and attractions of this beach community were shuttered for the season, but it was a beautiful sunny day and I could practically see “The Strip” come aliv... Read More »

Like most people north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I find myself shedding winter’s cumbersome layers and heading outside coatless as soon as the temperature creeps above 50. It’s not the smartest move, but each year I can’t help it. When you live in a place where the seasons are controlled by a temperamental lake, the sun is something you don’t take for granted. I noticed the same phenomenon when I attended Syracuse University. As we all know, the first burst of warm weather usually doesn’t last, but that ... Read More »

At the end of 2009, I found myself on planes three times in a six-week period. Twice, I was flying to cold destinations and the last time, I flew to Florida during the chilliest week the state has seen in years. Each time, my goal was to not check bags. In the winter, it’s tough to pack light when you’re traveling to cold places. I found myself trying to jam boots into my suitcase at odd angles, cushioned by extra sweatshirts and the long-sleeved tees I use for layering. Right before my second trip, I t... Read More »

Let’s face it — February is not the best time to talk about travel in Ohio. High winds and low temperatures make for treacherous driving and flying conditions, while icy sidewalks make even the walk to your car challenging. If you’re like me, the coldest days usually mean traveling as far as the couch (and maybe to the kitchen) in slippers, while weighing the pros and cons of buying one of those blankets with arms. Luckily, though, my position as Ohio Magazine’s travel editor forces me out and about, not... Read More »