July 2008 Issue
A Splendid Selection
Five hundred years ago, Michelangelo Buonarroti and Giuliano da Sangallo journeyed to the Holy See after receiving word that Pope Julius II requested they assess a marble sculpture uncovered at a vineyard in Rome. When the artists inspected the relic, they were not only astonished by its portrayal of the mythical Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons being strangled by sea serpents, but also were intrigued by the work’s ties to ancient Rome. Soon after, the pope displayed the artifact at the... Batter Up
Timothy Shutt, a professor of Humane Studies at Kenyon College, grew up with a passion for baseball. The game was a major part of his life as a youngster, whether it was playing the game with his brothers, Mike and Robin, and friend (and future brother-in-law) Patrick Trahan in their back yard in Bay City, Michigan; listening to stories his father told about the sport; or gazing at his collection of baseball cards (“I can still see them today,” the 58-year-old says). Not a day went by during... Downtown 140
With airfares climbing, traveling to London or Paris for a romantic getaway may not be in your immediate future. Instead, you can head to Downtown 140: A Restaurant & Wine Bar in Hudson and you’ll feel like you’ve dashed off to foreign country for the evening. The restaurant is small, and the low ceilings, dim lighting, brick walls and plush booths enhance the cozy ambiance. This eclectic eatery was the perfect setting for celebrating my best friend’s new job and big move to New York C... |
Food & Friendship
“It’s so much fun to have foodie friends,” says Donna Butler, who is seated on a couch in the living room of her longtime friend and fellow foodie, Dianne Williams. There are six women in Williams’ Gahanna home on this spring afternoon, and they are doing what they love to do — talking about food. “Foodies are very generous people — great people to have as friends,” Williams adds. Williams, Butler and five others (Tony Loehnert, Patty Miller, Martha Smith,... Natural Imagination
The choices Ohioans make for their homes reflect a wide range of interests and a distinct sense of style. The four featured on these pages also take advantage of the state’s diverse landscapes, from the rolling hills of the southeast, to farmland in central Ohio and a college town in the northeast. Far From the Fast Lane In the early 1990s, Jeg Coughlin Jr., a four-time NHRA POWERade world champion race car driver, set out to find a piece of land in Delaware county — a scenic, private farm h... |
Banding Together
When Sheffield’s Brookside High School Marching Band accepted a job to appear in a national TV commercial for Subway restaurants alongside Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, members had no idea that most of the drama would take placebefore cameras rolled. Casting director Rick Mason found the 77-member band through a YouTube video. However, just days before the shoot, “the producer worried he’d have a mob of unruly kids on set,” says Mason, “so he said he only wanted... Broad Stripes, Bright Stars
What did Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration of Independence and designer of the Stars and Stripes, imagine defiance and its fluttering symbol would come to after more than 230 years? (His work on the flag, Hopkinson told Congress, merited nothing more than a “Quarter Cask of the public Wine” in payment. Congress, which in those days apparently counted its pennies and held tight its casks, paid him nothing.) In Coshocton, where famed flag maker Annin and Co. has one of its three pla... Crossing Borders
Every year when I was little, our family traveled from Findlay to my grandparents’ house in downstate Illinois for Thanksgiving. To keep from getting bored on the trip, then an all-day affair on two-lane roads, I usually took a map to see where we were at any given moment. It was a very big deal when we crossed that first state line: the thick black line on my map and the “Welcome to Indiana” sign told me that these were no longer Ohio fields or barns. Suddenly, we were somewhere else. ... House of Worship
It’s nearly time for Pastor Keith Fulton to speak. The choir has led the congregation in the gospel favorites, “Do Lord Remember Me” and “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” the sounds of the joyous music and a tambourine filling the humble country church and spilling out into the warmth of a sunny Sunday morning, across the churchyard and into the forest surrounding the Union Baptist Church. Deacon Paul Keels and the congregation — 40 strong that day — finish morn... Ohioan - Ralph Bornhort
AGE: 86 PERSONAL: Bornhost lives near Sidney with his wife of 20 years, Madeline (they are both widowed). He has eight children, 17 grandchildren, and has been marching in parades and welcoming soldiers home dressed as Uncle Sam since 1988. PATRIOTIC BEGINNINGS: “I was stationed on a battleship in World War II, and I had a pair of binoculars up in what they called ‘the crow’s nest.’ I was there for Iwo Jima and the Okinawa invasion. I was a surface lookout, so I jus... Safety First
When Wendy Moore died 11 years ago as a result of injuries sustained while skiing without wearing a helmet, her grieving parents decided they wanted to honor her memory and help prevent others from the same fate. Dan and Marge Moore founded the Team Wendy corporation to promote the idea of wearing a helmet while engaged in intense recreational activity, and raise product-safety standards for those already on the market. The Cleveland couple also made it their mission to create new headgear that would pe... Trailblazer
Doug Morris is an avid off-road rider. As director of the Pickerington-based All-Terrain Vehicle Association, he promotes opportunities for motorized play across the United States. But the ATV advocate also knows that public-land managers are struggling to keep up with the skyrocketing use of these trails. So Morris spends some of his free time riding his Suzuki LTZ 400 over the rugged hills of the Wayne National Forest, helping to keep the trails “open, safe and fun” as part of Wayne’... Welcome Home
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman is finally back where he belongs –– at home in Lancaster. Twenty-six years ago, a portrait of the renowned Civil War general and Ohio native was stolen from the town’s Sherman House Museum during a break-in. Last November, an eagle-eyed museum volunteer spotted the picture in a catalog from Garth’s Auction House in Delaware, Ohio. “This painting is unusual because it’s an early image of Sherman, so unlike the portraits and photographs don... |
A Blooming Good Time
Like a kid counting down to summer vacation, Julie Taylor draws Xs on her calendar to mark the days until Lilyfest. “This will be my fifth year at the festival,” says the Columbus resident. “The gardens are so stunning, and they look a little different every time I see them. It’s always exciting to get down there and see what kind of color is in bloom.” For residents of the Hocking Hills and surrounding towns, Lilyfest (July 11–13) has carved its place into the list o... Appalachian Ohio
You can’t understand America until you understand Appalachia. It’s a sentiment echoed by authors, historians and the proud people who have celebrated their mountain roots for generations. Twenty-nine Appalachian counties curve along the eastern and southern borders of our state — regions distinguished by historical, cultural and industrial traditions, as well as the strong work ethic, ties to the land and deep family roots of those who call this part of Ohio home. Here, we explore some... Brewing Up a Good Time
This may be the ultimate definition of carrying coals to Newcastle: importing rivers of beer into a college town synonymous with partying. But, like so many things in life, it’s all in the timing. The Ohio Brew Week Festival, July 14–19, falls during summer sessions at Ohio University, when the student body is at low ebb and Athens businesses can use a boost. So this is the moment to tap kegs of Buckeye craft beers in America’s only weeklong beer festival. “The only other weeklon... Head for the Hoosier State
Roller-coaster fiends are screaming their heads off on the new Steel Hawg in Monticello. Caimans and toucans are exploring their new Amazonian digs in Evansville. Indiana’s kicking summer into high gear with fresh fun all across the state. Here are some Hoosier highlights for hot times in summer 2008. Exotic Critters Evansville’s Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden opened its doors wide for a jaguar and more than 250 animals that share the big cat’s hot, steamy Amazon homeland. Zookeepe... Outdoor Adventures
Ahh, summer. We wait and wait for it, through winter winds and late spring snows. And then, in a flash, it has come and gone. Fortunately, there are plenty of places in and around Summit County where you can not only enjoy the season’s balmy breezes but also get your fill of the warm-weather riches Ohio offers. It Takes a Village A voracious reader, 8-year-old Caitlin Slusarski is captivated by the Laura Ingalls Wilder “Little House” books. So, says her mother Yvette, it’s no won... Weekend Discoveries
Some people take pleasure in weekends filled with days of sightseeing, while others crave the frenzied hunt for oh-so-chic, mango-colored drapes. For others still, the perfect getaway requires a combination of both, with time for family fun and a double scoop of black raspberry chip ice cream, too. Fortunately, Butler County offers travelers a range of ways to spend a weekend –– options that feature a mix of outdoor fun and adventure and indoor entertainment to nurture the need for discovery... |
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