April 2008 Issue
Shades of May
For two decades, May, GLTF’s associate artistic director, has used his versatility to bring an eclectic cast of characters to the stage, ranging from tormented composer Antonio Salieri, Mozart’s archrival in “Amadeus,” to Angelo, a political zealot who lets desire get the better of him in Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure”; to neurotic Mortimer Brewster, who must contend with his aunts’ penchant for murder via elderberry wine in the darkly funny “Ar... The Little Festival That Could
At first glance, Athens, Ohio, might not seem to have much in common with the likes of Cannes, Berlin, Venice or Park City, Utah. Tucked away in the scenic Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio, it’s best known as the home of Ohio University. But every spring, thousands of film buffs congregate there for the town’s annual celebration of cinema from around the world. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Athens International Film & Video Festival, which takes place April ... VegiTerranean
As a longtime vegetarian, I can truthfully say that I have never missed meat, nor do I know what it’s like to crave a big, juicy steak or burger. But I have long dreamed of a magical place — a restaurant where I could go and order anything off the menu, with no questions, no limitations and no meat. Most important, it would be a place so hip, innovative and tasty that my friends and family— meat eaters and vegetarians alike — would actually want to come with me. That dream came t... |
Glass Act
Jay Moorman picks up a cutting tool and lays its edge to a stray piece of glass in his studio, taking a moment to show a visitor how it’s done. With a swift, effortless motion, he draws a line in the smooth colored surface, picks it up and snaps it — chink! — with a flick of his wrist. “Easy,” he says. “Glass is lazy. It follows the path of least resistance. All you need is a light score, and it follows that.” The perfect, gentle curve he’s cut is the proo... Sublime Scenery
Two white mute swans glide gracefully across the lake and preen in anticipation of visitors. Spring rains gently bathe arched footbridges. Thousands of annuals, including marigolds, impatiens and purple wave petunias wait patiently in the greenhouse, almost mature enough to be transplanted outside. Add to that scene the debut of lavender-colored lilac buds, the creamy white blossoms of kousa (Japanese) dogwood trees and the pink “pin cushion” flowers of the mimosa silk tree (Albizia julibris... |
Guru of Green Living
On a chilly, fall afternoon at Oberlin College, a handful students has gathered in a lecture hall in the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, waiting for their class, Environmental Studies 101: Environment and Society, to begin. Their professor, David Orr — clad in his typical uniform of jeans, loafers, a khaki shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a blue Patagonia vest — zips into the room, dims the lights, and makes an announcement. “I’m so sorry,” h... Here's the Scoop
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will soon be putting its own spin on the “Waste not, want not” proverb. A new two-year feasibility study — dubbed Poop Power by staffers – will explore the pros and cons of converting organic waste from pachyderms into energy. Although there are no specific numbers on how much the project — co-funded by Duke Energy and the Ohio Department of Energy — will save the zoo in energy costs, Mark Fisher, the zoo’s senior director... Hop, Skip and a Jump Rope
Most of us have memories of skipping rope — summer afternoons spent with Double Dutch, and seeing if we could cross the rope between our legs as we jumped. But for the Comet Skippers of Mason, these maneuvers are not just a memory. They’ve entered the world of competitive jump-roping, with aspirations of taking the sport globally. Three years ago, Carmen and Mike Simpson moved from Texas to Ohio, and formed the Comet Skippers with the hope of fostering and promoting their children’s in... Man on the Run
He’s seen the great redwoods of California and met Mickey Mouse at Disney World. He’s experienced the tropical sunsets of Hawaii and the blustery winds of North Dakota. In fact, Gary Nuss has traveled to every major nook and cranny of the United States, but not for a vacation or even a glorified road trip. Thirteen years ago, the Gahanna resident set the goal of running a marathon in every state. That ambition became reality in October when he crossed the finish line at the Green Mountain Ma... Winning Ways
The national title game in college football produced more than one winner. While Louisiana State University defeated Ohio State 38–24, the other winner was the city of Elyria, the hometown of LSU coach Les Miles, who graduated from Elyria High in 1972. Steve Sunagel, head baseball coach at Elyria High, has known Miles since junior-high school. The two played football and baseball at Elyria High and are still close. “He’s brought a lot of attention to us,” Sunagel says. “It&... |
A River Runs Through It
Eddie Condran and fellow rafter Trent Murphy ride aboard the historic bateau.“It would be like going back in history, but without a time machine. ”That was how I pitched a whitewater rafting and camping trip in the wilds of West Virginia to my 8-year-old daughter, Jillian, and 6-year-old son, Eddie. “Cool,” Jillian said, a broad smile spreading across her angular face. Her brother was immediately interested, too: He’d seen video footage of his father navigating some rigorou... River Crossings
A ramble along the Ohio River cross-stitches Ohio to her waterfront neighbors, with bridge and ferry connecting the latest boutique to a historic mansion, a fun new café to an intriguing museum. Hop on for three zigzags along the Ohio, with serendipities old and new along both banks. East Liverpool to Marietta Get ready for a deep road trip — deep into the rich natural resources that fueled this stretch of the Ohio River Valley. Every newcomer, from prehistoric Indian to late pioneer, discove... The View From Amish Country
I hadn’t been sitting across the table from some old friends for 20 minutes when the subject of the Amish came up. Their stories went something like this: One friend had hired some Amish to build a small barn. “They’re good workers,” my friend said. “They started early and left late. Had a 10-minute lunch.” Another friend offered this: “A guy I know hired some Amish to work in his shop. They were all on crystal meth.” What came next is what always comes ne... Urban Legends
Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral Forget your navigation system. You will know you’ve arrived at this jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring cathedral long before it tells you it’s time to turn. The Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral is the only Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral Plateresque cathedral in North America, a style of architecture from 16th-century Spain. Completed in 1931, the cathedral was designed with Toledo, Spain — Toledo’s sister... Urban Legends - Blair Museum of Lithophanes
Unlike Charles Dickens or “gingerbread” houses, lithophanes — porcelain castings with three-dimensional pictures that are visible only when light passes through them — are products of Victorian Europe that leave most of us in the dark. Which is why, new to Toledo and attending a plant sale at the Botanical Gardens, Margaret Carney was shocked when she noticed the sign for the Blair Museum. “I did a double, then a triple take,” says Carney, now the museum’s curat... Urban Legends - Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
Forget your navigation system. You will know you’ve arrived at this jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring cathedral long before it tells you it’s time to turn. The Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral is the only Plateresque cathedral in North America, a style of architecture from 16th-century Spain. Completed in 1931, the cathedral was designed with Toledo, Spain — Toledo’s sister city — in mind, says Reverend Charles Singler. “Artists and craftsmen from around the world ca... Urban Legends - The Old West End
Testimony to the turn-of-the-century wealth that glass, manufacturing and other industries brought to the city, Toledo’s Old West End neighborhood contains a large collection of late Victorian, Edwardian and Arts and Crafts homes. While a drive through this historic neighborhood offers a fair introduction to its 25 blocks of grand homes, one of the best ways to experience the neighborhood is to plan a visit during the annual Old West End Festival, June 7–8. The event features home and garden... Urban Legends - Toledo Club
Started as an organization for the city’s business leaders, the Toledo Club took up residence in its uptown clubhouse on the corner of 14th Street and Madison Avenue 93 years ago this June. While the facility remains a private club, its Georgian Revival-style architecture and the who’s who of local and national history (including six U.S. presidents) it has hosted make it a treasured part of Toledo’s past. Carved limestone arches and Parthenon-like columns mark the entrance along the b... Urban Legends - Toledo Firefighters Museum
People come to see “Neptune,” the beautifully restored 1837 machine that was the city’s first hand-pulled and -operated fire pumper. Personally, we’d go just to meet Bob Schwanzl and John Repp, retired firefighters and curators of the Toledo Firefighters Museum. With about 70 years of service between them (Repp joined his division in 1953, Schwanzl in 1958) the duo adds a living-history component to the collection that is just as compelling as all the brightly restored vehicles o... |
Going Home
This past summer, heavy rains overwhelmed the Blanchard River and flooded large sections of Findlay, where I grew up. I now live in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., and as I followed the story, it was hard to imagine such a catastrophe happening in a place where, as I remembered it, nothing much ever happened. From the Web site of the Findlay Courier I learned that the impassable streets included an intersection at the heart of my old neighborhood. Even though our family left Findlay decades ago, ... Spring Brake
Drive far enough into Ohio and you’ll find spring. Drive far enough into spring and you will find my Ohio. Do not dwell on any ice still crunching beneath your wheels. I believe in spring. In the dead of winter, I want spring. And when spring is near, I want spring more. My Ohio vanishes in winter, when the snow clouds drift in, and everything turns steel gray. People disappear, too, buried in layers of warm clothes, until you wonder if there truly is anybody inside that bundle of lau... Word-worthy
Forty years ago, I wrote a column forThe Scoop. Oh come on, you’ve never heard ofThe Scoop? Back in the day, the weekly newspaper was the hottest thing going in the Collinwood area of Cleveland. Nearly 50 years ago, I was delivering the paper in our neighborhood near Euclid Beach Park. It was a big job. The route — which I inherited from an older brother and sister — covered every home and business on several streets. It was a kick a few years later to have my ownScoop byline. I was ta... |
|
|