December 2008 Issue
Underground Ohio
Turns out, there’s plenty of interesting stuff down there. Some of it, you already know about: Folks in southeast Ohio, for instance, know that there’s natural gas and oil beneath their gentle hills, and in Toledo it’s reasonably well known that the city and its paved environs sit atop a vast, boggy marsh that once was known as the Great Black Swamp. In Oxford, Miami students are aware that the sidewalks of their red-brick campus cover a honeycomb of utility tunnels that a few freshmen... |
Get In The Picture
For six decades, Norman Rockwell used his artistic talent to leave indelible images of the 20th century in our hearts and minds: an American GI joyously being welcomed home by a neighborhood of friends and family, a trio of umpires deliberating about whether or not to call the game because of rain, a poignant homage to Franklin Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms speech. No matter the subject, says Connie Bodner, director of education and interpretation services for the Ohio Historical Society, every facet ... Rue Dumaine
It’s safe to say that few restaurants that have opened in the Dayton area in recent years have gotten the kind of buzz that attended Rue Dumaine. And once diners started making hard-to-get reservations, they discovered what all the anticipation was for: This is a restaurant that definitely has the goods. The wife-husband team of Anne Kearney-Sand and Thomas Sand Jr. seem unruffled by all the attention; after all, Peristyle, the New Orleans restaurant they owned before moving back home to the Dayto... Wooden Wonder
Mother Nature’s wrath can be a thing of beauty. That’s what Darren Baker, curator of the Southern Ohio Museum, discovered one afternoon last fall as he wandered the banks of the Ohio River in Portsmouth following a flood. The receding waters had left a magnificent find behind: a rectangular patch of maple that reminded Baker — a furniture maker — of a pergola. There was also a generous assortment of stumps that resembled the heads of bulls, birds and goats, and a tangled rootball... |
Be Our Guest
Guest rooms get neglected in the off-season. The extra space becomes handy storage, a drop spot behind closed doors for all that stuff you don’t want to look at but can’t seem to toss. Who knows when the sheets were last changed? Then comes a call from family or friends to reserve the extra bedroom for an overnight stay. It’s easy to transform your extra room into a private getaway for visitors with some preparation. The guest room should be an escape, especially during hectic h... Top Tools
Last year Ohio Magazine launched an ongoing feature we call “In the Kitchen With...” The series takes our readers into the home kitchens of the state’s best chefs, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the kitchen tools these experts prefer when they’re on their home turf. And while we’ve discovered that no two chefs think alike, one point on which these kitchen gurus can always agree is that investing in the right equipment, even if it costs a bit more, makes time spent i... |
‘A’ for Effort
Ohio colleges and universities are constantly striving for excellence, not only academically, but also in the social, leadership, citizenship and other important opportunities they offer their students. For the past six years, Ohio Magazine has dedicated these pages to honoring these standout schools, their faculty and students for their hard work and commitment to excellence. This year, we’re spotlighting schools that have made a splash with their innovative programs. From offering free tuition t... Bearing Up
The plan seemed foolproof: Maribeth Flowers would stand in front of the taxidermic polar bear at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and talk about why she should be awarded the once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Arctic sponsored by Polar Bears International. The conservation group, dedicated to educating the public about the creamy-white mammals, was offering high-school students a weeklong sojourn to the Arctic to study the bears in their natural habitat. “After two-and-a-half hours of outtakes ... Gift-Challenged
Given Ohio’s climate, Christmas comes just when we need it most. Holiday warmth counters bitter temperatures; colorful lights brighten early nightfalls; holiday parties and family gatherings discourage the impulse to hunker down during bleak December evenings. Christmas is the perfect antidote for the winter blues. As the kids say, “It’s all good” — that is, unless you’re gift-challenged. For those plagued by gift-giving uncertainty, Christmas brings a great deal of p... Lending a Hand
Pam Frank’s voice breaks as she watches her son, Doug, struggle to write his name. Deprived of oxygen at birth, the 24-year-old has learned to live with cerebral palsy, a muscular condition resulting from trauma to the brain that affects more than 800,000 Americans. “Whenever I feel frustrated or tired, all I have to do is look at Doug and see what a happy guy he is,” Frank says. “He can’t talk, eat by mouth or hold a pen by himself. But that doesn’t deter him. “... Ohioan - Jane Black
AGE: 48 HOMETOWN: Grew up in Oakwood and lives now in Sugarcreek Township, both in the Dayton suburbs. FAMILY: Married to Leigh, with two children: Charlie, 15, and Hazel, 11. WHAT SHE DOES: As executive director of the Dayton Visual Arts Center, she leads a nonprofit organization that supports and advocates for artists. DVAC sponsors exhibitions, workshops and educational projects that connect artists and the community at large. “It’s a place where artists and art lovers can come together t... Season's Greetings
To Flora Johnson, the magic of Christmas was everywhere. “She was a kid at heart,” recalls Rick Johnson about his mother, “who made a big deal about the season. Mom didn’t just put up decorations. Everything that wasn’t related to the holiday was packed away. She transformed our house into a Christmas castle. “I was one lucky kid.” In 1984, Flora decided to share that happiness with young readers. The Atwater resident delved into her imagination and created R... Strategies For Tough Times
The volatility of today’s financial markets can be unnerving for even the most experienced investors. The subprime mortgage meltdown, record-high oil prices, and the collapse of several major financial institutions have led to steep declines in stock prices. Add in the costly Iraq War and the possibility of a global recession, and experts are forecasting uncertain days ahead on Wall Street. People nearing retirement are the most likely to feel the effects of the current U.S. financial crisis. Many... Toy Story
Toy collectors, explains Gary Lyons, are a curious lot. “We’re a different breed,” the Cambridge resident admits. “I mean, who else but a dedicated toy trader like me would actually demand that his table [at toy shows] be set up down the hall just outside the restrooms because sooner or later everyone has to walk by.” For Lyons, 56, that affinity for lavatory real estate translates into toy soldiers. Lots of them. He estimates that he has 5,000 to 6,000 pieces on display, a... |
All Aboard!
The sweet Christmastime adventure of a young boy in Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved The Polar Express has enthralled children and parents for more than two decades. The story of a magical train trip through a snowy Christmas Eve landscape — complete with “hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars” — has become a winter tradition and inspired Polar Express-themed excursions aboard train lines around Ohio. Here, we preview three of these journeys, guaranteed to create... Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The annual PNC Festival of Lights at the zoo is open nightly (except Dec. 24 and 25) through Jan. 4, 5–9 p.m. A highlight of the festival is “The Polar Express™ 4-D Experience,” a 15-minute film that engages audiences in a sensory journey to the North Pole. (The film is not recommended for small children.) 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati 45220, 513/281-4700. www.cincinnatizoo.org . Call for ticket prices. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Mark your 2009 calendar now: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s wildly popular re-creation of The Polar Express sells out every year. Tickets are available only via lottery, beginning in August and ending in mid-September. The lucky ticket buyers (40,000 people will take the trip this year) are invited to don their sleepwear and climb aboard a festively decorated train that spirits them away for an evening of pure Christmas wonder. The train departs from Inde... Dennison Railroad Depot Museum
It’s a once-a-year opportunity to climb aboard an actual passenger train at the Dennison Depot in east-central Ohio and travel down the tracks to the North Pole (a.k.a. Newcomerstown). While the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum offers interactive fun year-round — the children’s wing encourages youngsters to send a telegraph message, pack a hobo satchel and explore an engine house, ticket office and watchman’s shanty — The Polar Express rolls out of the station in early Decemb... Duke Energy Holiday Model Train Display
For 63 years, young and old have made the pilgrimage to the Duke Energy building in downtown Cincinnati to see one of the world’s largest model train displays. This year’s theme, “Holiday Train to Fantasyland,” features a 12-foot-long, snow-covered bridge, over which a colorful toy train chugs along, bearing a load of toys. Surrounding the bridge are snow-laden trees, where gnomes, elves and toys find hiding spots. 139 E. 4th St., Cincinnati 45202. www.duke-energy.com/comm... EnterTRAINment Junction
Southwest Ohio’s newest attraction offers Christmas at the Junction, two walk-through adventures including a journey to the North Pole through snowy landscapes, and a stroll through the Victorian era of Charles Dickens. 7379 Squire Court, West Chester 45069, 877/898-4656. www.entertrainmentjunction.com . Open Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 12–6 p.m. (closed Christmas and New Year’s Day). Call for ticket prices, which include a special admission rate for both Christmas at th... Happy New Year!
What are you doing New Year’s Eve? This year, why not celebrate in style with people who know how to party? For 13 seasons, the Rubber City has rolled out the welcome mat to visitors from near and far for First Night Akron, an alcohol-free, family-friendly celebration of arts and culture held throughout downtown Akron. The festivities begin at 5 p.m. and end at the stroke of midnight with a brilliant fireworks display. Here, meet three artists who will take center stage this year. By Magic Dennis ... Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad
“Come in your pajamas and robes for a ride on this evening express,” the invitation says. Southeast Ohio becomes holiday central at this time of year, as the Hocking Valley Scenic Railroad morphs into the North Pole Express for two memorable nights, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Friday, Dec. 19. Departing the Nelsonville depot, the train rumbles along the HVSR tracks, hard by the Hocking River, and returns to North Pole Nelsonville, where the Polar Express-like conductor and his elf helpers lead pas... Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad
Families in southwest Ohio find the Christmas-themed LM&M train ride the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Departing the Lebanon Station on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21, the excursion follows the tracks through Warren County in southwest Ohio until its bright red engine arrives at the Golf Ranch junction a half hour later. There, The North Pole Express takes on some special passengers: Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves and “reindeer.” Children excitedly share their Christmas lis... Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation Inc.
Ride a quarter-scale train through a wonderland of twinkling holiday lights at this mini-railroad and museum in Findlay. The North Pole Express transports passengers along a half-mile track for a nostalgic, if chilly (dress for cold weather — coaches are open- sided) trip. Warm up at the NWORRP museum with hot chocolate, popcorn, hamburgers and hot dogs, and admire the model-train layouts. 11600 Co. Rd. 99, Findlay 45840, 419/423-2995. www.nworrp.org . Departures through Dec. 28; Fri.... |
Making the Grade
Like most of you, I am a product of Ohio schools. Even when it came time to venture from home, I went no farther than the opposite end of the state. There simply was no good reason to cross the border to continue my education. In making my college decision, I can’t say that the matter of state pride weighed very heavily on my mind. Affordability was a much bigger deal. And familiarity. And, oh yes, academics. I did remember to factor that point somewhere into the equation — though it may hav... |
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