October 2009 Issue

Classic Composition
In a 19th-century art world that was replete with the palatial landscapes of Monet, Pissarro and Sisley, Paul Gauguin was a breath of fresh air. For while the exquisite pastels of the impressionists depicted the familiar, Gauguin offered a taste of the exotic: Tahiti, Martinique, Brittany and Arles were favorite ports of call — which he captured vividly in brilliant hues of green, blue, crimson and yellow. “Gauguin painted,” explains Heather Lemonedes, associate curator of drawing...

Page Turners
Who says you can’t judge a book by its cover? When it’s an Ohioana selection, you know it’s a winner before you even get to the title page. Since 1942, The Ohioana Library Association has made it its mission to collect, preserve, protect and promote the written works of writers, musicians and artists who live in or write about the Buckeye State. And that includes the select group of authors who will be honored during the 2009 Ohioana Award luncheon on October 17 at the Ohio Statehouse....

The Greenhouse Tavern
There’s no better place for Ohio’s first certified green restaurant than the revitalized East Fourth District in Cleveland. Although chef and restaurateur Jonathon Sawyer’s farm-to-table practices at The Greenhouse Tavern would have been embraced elsewhere, the historic block of mixed-used redevelopment that contains some of Cleveland’s trendiest dining, entertainment and housing is the perfect location for this eco-friendly establishment. On any given night, Chef Sawyer can be s...

Country Modern
The story of Nick and Ruthie George’s move from Akron to Bath Township sounds a lot like a plot summary for the popular ’60s sitcom “Green Acres.” Like Eddie Albert’s Oliver Douglas, Nick is a lawyer who yearned to live in the country. Like Zsa Zsa Gabor’s Lisa, Ruthie is a dedicated urban-dweller reluctant to leave the couple’s Akron abode. Of course, Bath Township, situated just beyond Akron’s western suburban fringe, is more upscale than Hooterville ...

Green Team
With football season in full swing, fans are pouring into stadium parking lots across the state to take part in pregame celebrations. Of course, anyone who has seen the post-game look of these lots knows that the cleanup is no party. And when you think of the cumulative impact of even a season’s worth of cans, bottles, plastic cups, wrappers and other garbage, it’s enough to make your green conscience feel defeated. So it’s no surprise that this time-honored tradition has come into the...

College Greens
When this year’s class of graduating seniors entered college four years ago, campuses were wooing students with athletic megaplexes, new stadiums and access to free “Hi mom” webcams that let logged-on parents catch a glimpse of their waving student on his or her way to class. A lot can change in four years. Now students are ranking financial aid packages and in-state tuition at the top of their list when deciding which college to attend. But while all eyes are on the economics of a col...

Gone to the Frogs
During her 27-year tenure as a children’s librarian for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Amy Adler enjoyed recommending books to her pint-sized patrons that recounted Toledo’s geographic history, and explained the fact that the area was part of the Black Swamp glacial wetland that once stretched across northwest Ohio. So upon her retirement, Adler decided to pay homage to her favorite amphibian, which once populated the area: In February, she opened the Frogtown Froggy Museum at Fort I...

Lasting Legacy
Charitable contributions from individuals are a necessary source of support for nonprofit institutions, both for present programs and to secure the future. That’s where planned giving comes in. Making philanthropy a part of estate and tax planning helps individuals make a difference to a cause they believe in, and enables worthy organizations to move forward with their mission. A challenging economic climate calls for both creativity and caution. How should people adjust their thinking relative to...

Life Over Easy
Some music makes a clumsy man think he can dance. Some women, when they come in a room, make a man want to stand up and remove his hat, even if he is not wearing one. Fall does that to me. Summer in Ohio is like sipping warm butter through a curly straw. But in autumn the air goes crisp as a chilled apple, and magic happens. People who have not stirred since July get up and move. Some think of leaf-peeping and hay rides, but I dream of tape measures and tool boxes. The connection was made long ago in a ...

Ohioan - Dan Erlewine
AGE : 65 PERSONAL : Lives in Athens with his wife, Joan.  He has two grown daughters and a granddaughter. HIS SPECIALTY : Erlewine is an internationally known expert who has been fixing and building guitars since 1960. He has a shop at home and has worked at Athens-based Stewart-MacDonald, a parts supplier and repair service for stringed instruments, for 23 years. “I enjoy fixing things and solving problems,” he says. “Every job I do, I may never do again. It’s constantly di...

Troop-Train Heroines
Although they couldn’t go off to combat, Troy’s Junior Girls Canteen volunteers faithfully served our country during World War II.

Zoo Story
Everyone dreams of seeing the world, but few can claim they’ve been on a whirlwind tour of Australia, Asia and Africa. After visiting 52 zoos in 52 weeks, Marla Taviano is entitled to do just that. An avid blogger who’s also penned four books tackling subjects ranging from marriage to new motherhood, the Columbus resident decided she wanted to write something that everyone –– no matter what age or stage of life they’re in –– would enjoy reading. An animal lover ...

Bridges to Autumn
Build a bridge with good Ohio hardwood, put a roof over it to protect it from the elements, and it will last a century, maybe two. Often, the simplest solutions are the most elegant, and Ohio’s covered bridges are as lovely as they are practical, especially this time of year, with brilliant fall foliage as a backdrop. Covered bridges have always been about more than just getting to the other side — something we take for granted today. We whoosh over streams and ravines on steel and concrete ...

Capital City Chow Down
Once upon a time, epicures looking for a decent meal might have bypassed Columbus. Dubbed a kingdom of chain restaurants and fast-food corporate headquarters, the capital city had its share of burger joints and buffets, but not much in the way of culinary adventure. Since then, the city has declared its independents —independently owned restaurants, that is. Now you’ll find passionate local chefs and restaurateurs creating big-city dining experiences. So where, then, can you get the best gru...

Dressing in Disguise
A light bulb, pirate Jack Sparrow and the Fruit of the Loom grapes make for a rather motley crew. However strange the combination may seem, each is fairly typical of the assortment of costumes (upwards of 15,000) that fill the 15,000-square-foot Akron Design & Costume Co. “The whole world is a costume,” insists owner Debbie Meredith, referring to some of the wildly unusual disguises the store carries, including a hand, beehive, penguin and pickle suit. And if Akron Design doesn’t carry...

Write Turns
In the magazine business, we talk a lot about “shelf life.” The physical nature of a magazine — the quality of its paper, its heft and its weight — makes it something that many people have a hard time throwing away months, and even years, after its issue date has passed. We like to think the nature of our editorial content has something to do with it too, of course. Much of what we write about has relevance that is close to timeless. And the pictures are nice to look at. Keats sa...