June 2023 Akron Life Magazine

VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 6

JUNE 2023

SPLASH! MAKE A

PADDLE THE 330’S RIVERS & LAKES THIS SUMMER

VICTORY DANCE HALL OF FAME VILLAGE COMES TO LIFE GRAPE ESCAPE EXPERIENCE A NEW WINE CAVE & SPA FUEL UP SAMPLE FARE & FUN AT NOHI FOOD TRUCK PARK

JUN. 2023 $4.95

photo by Meghan Winkler

PAGES

JUNE 2023 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 6

Pages start here

On The Cover

| 20 Outdoors | photo by Meghan Winkler

[ FEATURE ]

20 MAKE A SPLASH Paddle our rivers and lakes. Kayak or canoe under the moonlight, combine yoga with stand-up paddleboarding, learn how to row with a team and enjoy more ways to get out on the water.

photo by Meghan Winkler

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UNTAPPED

AGENDA

CANTON LIVING

Gluten-free beers

[ the essential social digest ]

[ DEPARTMENTS ]

06 MAIL BONDING 07 FROM THE PUBLISHER Real Life

08 RADAR [ seen + heard ]

10 AGENDA [ the essential social digest ] 11 Entertainment listings

+ Calendar of events

Special Section 35 CANTON LIVING Explore the Hall of Fame Village, winning eats and fun destinations.

30 GOOD EATS [ notable food + drink ] 30 Restaurant listings 33 Uncorked:

Lonz Winery 34 Untapped:

09 UPFRONT Victory At Last

Gluten-free beers

59 PARTING SHOT Akron City Hospital

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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PAGES MAIL BONDING SPRING 20

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Tell us what's on your mind.

SUS TAI NA BLE SLE EK BEAUT Y

MELINDA and JOE SCALFARO'S MODERN LAKE TOWNSHIP HOME photo by Lisa

Buie, Pixel Perfect Productions

AMAZING AKRON-C ENTRIC LOFT

NAVIGAT E THE HOT MARKET

LIGHT, AIRY OPEN FLOOR PLAN

Comments? Got something to say about an article you read in Akron Life?

Or maybe you want to tell us about something great happening in the area.

Send comments and suggestions to: Akron Life, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313, and please include your name and address.

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We reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

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Get Your Face In Our Magazine Send us pics of yourself with a copy of Akron Life and end up on this page!

Images and descriptions can be sent to editor@bakermediagroup.com.

FOUNDER

Don Baker Jr. [ 1940-2018 ] PUBLISHER

Colin Baker cbaker@bakermediagroup.com C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R

William L. Teckmyer III w teckmyer@bakermediagroup.com MANAGING EDITOR

Kelly Petryszyn kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com A S S I S TA N T E D I T O R

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Tylar Calhoun tsut ton@bakermediagroup.com CO N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R S

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Bunny Lacey Steve Tyson Ben DiCola sales@bakermediagroup.com C I R C U L AT I O N

circulation@bakermediagroup.com 330-253-0056, ext. 104 EDITORIAL INTERN

Shawn Davis WHE T HER YO U WANT TO HOS T O R AT T E N D A

JUNE 2023 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 6

V I R T U A L E V E N T,

(ISSN No. 74 470 5787 1)

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akronlife is published monthly by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2023© by Baker Media Group, LLC, All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by an addressed envelope and sufficient postage.

Baker Media Group, LLC and akronlife accept no responsibility for unsolicited material. Subscription rates: Continental U.S., One year —$19.95, Two years —$34.95. Call for Alaska, Hawaii or international rates. Single issues available by calling the circulation department or visiting akronlife.com/store. $3.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling. Editorial, advertising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.

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akronlife.com | JUNE 2023

PAGES FROM THE PUBLISHER

[ Publisher | Colin Baker | cbaker@bakermediagroup.com ]

Real Life Artificial intelligence is a hot topic, but Akron Life is still created by real people.

I have waited until this point to share my opinions on artificial intelligence and its effects on society and impacts on the magazine industry and local media as a whole.

I have been following this topic closely for a while and have tried to learn as much as I can about the trends and the industry.

When the ChatGPT AI chatbot first made an appearance, it was November 2022.

Since then, it seems like everyone has been talking about it, and lots of people are trying this free tool to see how it works.

What most people don’t realize is that AI has been used all around us for many years.

Google, Facebook and other big technology companies have been building it into their businesses and systems for quite some time. Most people are familiar with Siri on their phones or Alexa in their homes. I had to disable Alexa because of how annoying it was. Most of the time, it seemed to only want to sell me things, asking if I wanted to buy coffee pods or diapers.

Not long after ChatGPT came out, I started going down the rabbit hole of AI, watching videos on YouTube of all the companies and what they were doing. It scared me to the point I couldn’t sleep, so I had to stop that. Instead, I have tried to look at the areas where it will change humanity for the better. I believe access to quality education for everyone will be one great advancement as well as better health care.

I have heard people say that it won’t take your job away but will take away the parts of your job that you don’t like — mundane

work, reports, charts and graphs. At Akron Life, we are still writing our own stories and have our boots on the ground in the community.

I asked ChatGPT if Akron Life magazine and ChatGPT could coexist, and here is what it said: “Yes, Akron Life magazine and ChatGPT can coexist. Akron Life magazine is a local publication that provides news and features specific to the Akron area, while ChatGPT is an AI language model that provides general information and answers to various questions.

While both serve the purpose of providing information, they serve different functions and have different audiences. Akron Life magazine provides a more personalized and local experience for readers interested in news and events specific to Akron, while ChatGPT provides a more general and broad information resource.

Furthermore, Akron Life magazine and ChatGPT can complement each other.

Akron Life magazine can use AI technology like ChatGPT to improve its operations, such as by automating content creation or providing personalized content recommendations to its readers. Meanwhile, ChatGPT can use Akron Life magazine as a source of information and inspiration for its responses to questions related to the Akron area.

I still think it’s pretty scary, but I believe in real people doing real work. There will always be bots on the internet, but at Akron Life, we will always call and meet real people and discover new restaurants and things to do in the area. Until ChatGPT can sit in a restaurant and eat a steak and drink from a local brewery, I think we are safe.

In short, Akron Life magazine and ChatGPT can coexist and even benefit each other through their respective strengths and capabilities.”

[ Publisher Colin Baker is a retired racing driver and gearhead. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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PAGES RADAR

by Shawn Davis and photo by The Green Photograph

seen + heard

PARKING SPOT Food trucks fill missing niches of unique street foods in our diet, and you can find an array of global selections at the new NoHi Food Truck Park, which opened in May in North Hill’s Temple Square area.

Experience eats and drinks from local food trucks while taking in vendors and live artist performances on Fridays and Saturdays.

Stop by the Tiki bar, with a colorful spraypainted mural nearby, to grab a wine, beer, cocktail or hard seltzer to pair with your food. 765 N. Main St., Akron, northhillcdc.org

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+3 Father’s Day Gifts Grand Slam Make your ballpark experience the GOAT by trying new extreme foods at Akron RubberDucks’ Canal Park stadium. Star sluggers include the All Around the World Dogs — a platter of three distinct hot dogs topped with ranch-drizzled Buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese, kimchi, chili Sriracha, cucumbers and mayonnaise, and banh mi-style carrots, jalapenos, radishes, cucumbers, cilantro and cusabi dressing.

There’s also a pound of Buffalo chicken nachos with jalapenos and bacon, and new additions of crispy sauerkraut balls and jojos will make Akronites feel right at home. Cool off with the new Boot Scootin’ Boozy cocktail — a 16-ounce vodka lemonade with delightful purees of strawberry, raspberry or mango.

300 S. Main St., Akron, akronrubberducks.com

“Weird Moments in Cleveland Sports”: Akron Life contributor Vince Guerrieri launches this look at offbeat “only in Cleveland” moments in our sports history like a then-Cleveland Indians player who was traded for himself, a Lake Erie midges swarm storming a ballgame and the wild result of giving Clevelanders beer at 10 cents a bottle. Give the old man a good laugh and hear all about it at the next family barbecue. Gray & Co., $16.95 “Mom’s Magnavox”: Enjoy a heartfelt recollection from Canton native and Akron Life sales associate Ben DiCola about a simpler time in the ’60s when listening to baseball radio on summertime porches was the go-to for the Pittsburgh Pirates fan. A new personal essay collection that’s sure to scratch the nostalgic itch for oldtimer sports dads, it hits home and recalls the impact of America’s pastime on relationships, history and life. $19.99 “Gridiron Legacy: Pro Football’s Missing Origin Story”: Pittsburgh native Gregg Ficery delves into a scandal during pre-NFL history of professional football when his great-grandfather was a Massillon Tigers captain. Ficery reveals missing links surrounding how attempted bribery and game-fixing during the 1906 championship series between the Canton Bulldogs and the Tigers led to a drought in pro football in Ohio.

This book is for fathers who love a great uncovering of a mystery in an investigative approach to one of the earliest scandals in pro football history. The Story Plant, Preorder for Aug. 15 release, $49.95

PAGES UPFRONT

[ Managing Editor | Kelly Petryszyn | kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com ]

Victory At Last After delays, new Canton landmarks are open and starting to flourish.

photo by Kelly Petryszyn

It was the first Stark Pride Festival, and more than 3,000 people came downtown in support. The crowd overwhelmed vendors, with food trucks running out of food and surrounding restaurants getting so full that we had to walk back to Conestoga Grill for dinner. After that success, Stark Pride returns this year on June 10.

The plaza opened about two and a half years ago after pandemic delays of the project that began in 2016. Previously, Canton didn’t have a central green space where everyone could gather downtown. Since it opened, the plaza has been a venue for football parties, summer outdoor movies, farmers markets, First Fridays and festivals.

The turf on Centennial Plaza was so packed with spectators that the crowd spilled into the streets and alley — and it was a sea of rainbow pride at the Stark Pride Festival last June 11. A woman with a rainbow pride flag draped around her shoulders kissed a woman in an ombre rainbow T-shirt, kids in rainbow print waved LGBTQ-plus flags, a little girl sported an “I heart My Moms” T-shirt and a pair of men in rainbow leis put their arms around one another. Drag queens Hershae Chocolate, Kaleigha Diamond and Rosie Quartz each killed it on the amphitheater stage, garnering whoops and dollar bills from the crowd. One queen broke a heeled boot but performed through it and earned thunderous applause. When Angie Haze took the stage, Haze remarked on how much love was coming from the crowd.

Turn to pg. 35 to explore more of what the Hall of Fame City has to offer in our Canton guide that has new restaurants, destinations and more.

A game changer is the Hall of Fame Village.

After years of struggles and delays, anchors have gradually been opening and the village finally comes alive this summer with most of the campus activated and shopping and dining spots opening on its promenade. It changes the landscape of Canton — you can see the Red Zone Ferris wheel from the highway exit.

I got a chance to tour it, and it is impressive. Located next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the village includes Touchdown Terrace that offers up close stadium views from below the scoreboard, Top Golf rooftop swing suites that have sophisticated VR tech in the Brew Kettle brewery restaurant and an amphitheater area in the center of it all with a zip line overhead and the Ferris wheel behind it.

Anne Graffice, Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. executive vice president of global marketing and public affairs, says data shows that Canton is getting older, smaller and poorer. But developments like the plaza and the village are turning a corner.

“We’re becoming more opportunistic, we’re building for the future, we’re becoming younger and becoming a place where jobs will be created,” she says.

It’s tough to visualize while walking by the eight fields, indoor dome and stadium, but those anchors can bring hundreds of thousands of people for one event, festival or tournament. And with the newly renovated DoubleTree by Hilton Canton Downtown, those guests are pouring out into downtown restaurants, shops and attractions too. The same effect happens on a smaller scale with events on Centennial Plaza. And the Hilton Tapestry Hotel and indoor water park are coming next year, so numbers can only go up.

Graffice admits that the village is not yet the “Disneyland of football,” as it has been described, but it’s on the road to a version of that. The future of Canton and the village is looking up.

“It’s a mission to really change a landscape,” she says. “We are working toward creating a bigger, better and brighter future for everyone.”

[ Managing Editor Kelly Petryszyn is an adventure seeker, forever a dreamer and an avid supporter of #TeamFiona. ] JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

JUNE 2023 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 6

Agenda

the essential social digest

photo by Courtney Cable

Through 9/30 “World of Wonders”

This exhibit with work by pop funk sculptor Clayton Bailey is open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Polsky Building, 225 S. Main St., Akron. 4-8 p.m. curatedstorefront.org

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NOTE: Dates, events, locations, times and prices are subject to change. Please call ahead.

Through 6/17 Spring Exhibitions Browse art from the exhibits at Summit Artspace, including “Black Spaces: Defying Social Constructs,” “Women’s Art League 90th Anniversary,” “The things we carry,” “Artists of Rubber City Juried Exhibition” and more. Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. Friday noon7 p.m. & Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. summitartspace.org Through 7/2 “Tigers vs.

Bulldogs: Origins of a Historic Rivalry” Learn about the history and rivalry between the Massillon Tigers and Canton Bulldogs professional football teams of the early 20th century at this exhibit that displays photographs and artifacts from both teams.

Massillon Museum, Paul Brown Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday 2-5 p.m.

Free. massillonmuseum.org Through 7/7 “Threads of Connection: Recent Fiber Works by Members of Weave a Real Peace” View artistic creations and traditions from countries like Argentina, Ghana, Guatemala, India and more. KSU Downtown Gallery, 141 E. Main St., Kent. Free. Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. kent.edu/galleries Through 7/23 “Borderless: Artist Migration from the CMA Collection” Peruse pieces that tell stories and journeys of artists who have experienced migration, immigration and displacement.

Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N, Canton. TuesdayThursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., FridaySaturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sunday 1-5 p.m. Free members, $8 adults. cantonart.org

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

Miller South’s 30th Anniversary Miller South Visual & Performing Arts School in Akron celebrated its 30th anniversary with song and dance performances, poetry readings and art displays March 3. Performances by students, teachers and Miller South alumni included jazz, concert band, theater, orchestra, dance and show choir.

Jamar “GoalGetta” Blackmon, who is an alumnus and has a child attending the school, was the event’s emcee.

Margo Snider, the first principal, shared her vision of creating a visual and performing arts middle school for grades four to eight.

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Photos by Mike Rich 1. Band teacher Marissa Hughes directed the jazz and alumni band concert with songs like “Jazzmanian Devil.”

2. Jazz and alumni band 3. Jamar Blackmon 4. Skidzone 7th grade poets 5. Current alumni and staff 6. Miller South principal Julie Schmidt and Margo Snider accepted a certificate of congressional recognition for the 30th anniversary.

7. Alumni show choir

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AGENDA

6/1 Ballet at the Vineyard Watch a Cleveland Ballet performance from the covered pavilion with a glass of wine and light appetizers.

Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 6-8 p.m. $125. gervasivineyard.com 6/3, 6/10, 6/17 & 6/24 Winery Tours Explore Gervasi Vineyard’s winemaking facility, then enjoy four wine tastings and four chefselected bites. Gervasi Vineyard, the Crush House, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 1:30-2:30 p.m. or 3:30-4:30 p.m. $27. gervasivineyard.com 6/4 Field & Forest Bird Walk Take a peaceful hike while searching for migratory and resident birds. Munroe Falls Metro Park, Tallmadge Meadows Area, 1088 North Ave., Tallmadge. 8:3011 a.m. summitmetroparks.org 6/4, 6/11, 6/18 & 6/25 Distillery Tasting Tours Go behind the scenes of the distillery at Gervasi Vineyard during a tour, then enjoy three spirit tastings and take home a shot glass. Gervasi Vineyard, the Still House, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 2-3 p.m. $17. gervasivineyard.com 6/6 & 6/13 Music by the Lake Sit back and enjoy a performance by the Metro Parks Ensemble.

Munroe Falls Metro Park, Lake Area, 521 S. River Road, Munroe Falls, and Silver Creek Metro Park, Lake House & Pheasant Run Area, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton. 7-8 p.m. summitmetroparks.org 6/8 & 6/22 Silver Creek Kayak Learn the basics of kayaking and see wildlife around the water.

Silver Creek Metro Park, Lake House & Pheasant Run Area, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton.

4:30-6:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. $15. summitmetroparks.org

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

6/8, 6/13, 6/22 & 6/29 Summer Serenades in the Park Concert Series Listen to performances by the Canton Symphony Orchestra at Fry Family Park, Stadium Park, Metzger Park and Minerva Municipal Park. 6:30 p.m. Free. starkparks.com 6/9 ArtWalk Enjoy local art, music, food and more at this event themed “Be the Change: Social Justice & the Arts.” Historic Arts District, Akron.

4-9 p.m. Free. summitartspace.org 6/9-10 Founders’ Day Weekend Commemorate the 88th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous at the Gate Lodge, which has the exhibit “Henrietta Seiberling: A Spark for a Movement.” Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. stanhywet.org

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6/9-6/11 “Matilda: The Musical” See this Rubber City Theatre performance of the story about Matilda, a young girl with psychokinetic powers. Goodyear Theater, 1201 E. Market St., Akron. 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. $20-$50. goodyeartheater.com

6/9-6/24 “A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM” Experience this comedy with music and lyrics

by Stephen Sondheim in an open-air pavilion. Porthouse Theatre, 3143 O’Neil Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 2 or 8 p.m. kent.edu/porthouse

6/10 Brew at the Zoo Enjoy food trucks, beer tastings and live music by Cold Blue Steele during this ’70s disco party event. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 6:309:30 p.m. $20-$35. akronzoo.org 6/12 “The Fiddlers of Dublin” Catch three starring fiddlers in this performance that is a part of the Countryside Concerts series and is led by Jeannette Sorrell. The Bath Church, United Church of Christ, 3980 W. Bath Road, Akron. 7:30 p.m. $10-$57. apollosfire.org 6/14 & 6/28 Hooks & Books Discuss what you’ve been reading while you sew or knit at this event at 6 p.m. June 14 and 2 p.m. June 28. White Rabbit Galleries, 571 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton. Free. barbertonlibrary.org

AGENDA

6/15 AKRON ROUNDTABLE: BRENT LEGGS Listen to Brent Leggs, the executive director of African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and the senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Quaker Station, 135 S. Broadway St., Akron. Noon. $25. akronroundtable.org 6/16 & 6/17 “The Showman” Witness musician and comedian Frankie Scinta performs his popular show. House Three Thirty, 532 W. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $100-$200. bit.ly/frankiescinta2023

“Sympathy of Life” under the stars.

Akron Art Museum, Bud & Susie Rogers Garden, 1 S. High St., Akron. 6 p.m. akronartmuseum.org 6/17 Classy Canvas Get inspired at this adults-only event that guides you through painting a scene of nature’s beauty. Registration is required. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org 6/17 & 6/18 “Oklahoma!” Attend this All-City Musical performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Western musical. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. $15-$30. akroncivic.com

6/18 CULTUREBANA FASHION SHOW Celebrate Juneteenth during this fashion show that showcases local talent and the rich culture and heritage of the Black community. Summit County Fairgrounds, 229 E. Howe Road, Tallmadge. 6 p.m. $20$75. summitfair.com 6/18 Father’s Day: Bourbon, Bites & Cigars Treat your dad to three bourbons and a Manhattan, bites like prosciutto-wrapped figs and a cigar.

Gervasi Vineyard, Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 2 p.m. $39-$49. gervasivineyard.com

6/17 Ballet in the Garden at the Akron Art Museum Watch the Cleveland Ballet perform

Adding Value to Your Home and Your Life View our online portfolio or call to speak with a Landscape Architect:

www.SuncrestGardens.com • 330.650.4969 • 5157 Akron-Cleveland Rd., Peninsula, Ohio JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

6/18 FATHER’S DAY CAR SHOW View 400 classic, antique and collector cars made between 1915 and 1997.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $6-$16. stanhywet. org 6/18 FATHER’S DAY HIKE The family can hike together and enjoy some dad jokes along the way. Liberty Park, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 2-3:30 p.m. summitmetroparks.org 6/18 Father’s Day at the Zoo All dads and grandpas can explore the zoo for free, and families can enjoy Kona Ice. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. akronzoo.org

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6/19 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Take part in crafts, food, fishing and more during this celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. summitmetroparks.org 6/19 “Soul” See this movie about a New York jazz pianist during the Summer Kids Movies series and the Sensory Cinema series. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, Canton. 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. $2. cantonpalacetheatre.org

6/20-6/25 Akron RubberDucks vs. Binghamton Rumble Ponies Cheer on the Akron RubberDucks, our minor league baseball team affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. Times and prices vary.

Canal Park, 300 S. Main St., Akron. akronrubberducks.com 6/21 Hike-a-Thon Spend the day hiking trails like Hoover Trail, Middle Branch, Nickel Plate Trail, Quail Hollow Park and more. starkparks.com 6/21 Summer Birds of Northeast Ohio Learn about 50 species of birds from Matt Valencic of the Audubon Society of Greater Cleveland. Barberton Public Library, 602 W. Park Ave., Barberton. 6:30 p.m. Free. barbertonlibrary.org

AGENDA

6/24 BEGINNER STANDUP PADDLEBOARDING Give stand-up paddleboarding a try.

Nimisila Reservoir Metro Park, Lot C4, 5550 Christman Road, Green. 10 a.m.noon and 1-3 p.m. $15. summitmetroparks.org 6/24 720 Market Explore this market that has over 100 makers, bakers, brewers, musicians and more. Duncan Plaza, 2 James Duncan Plaza, Massillon. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. eventsby720.com

6/24 MULTICULTURAL DAY Tour the Akron Zoo and discover local multicultural organizations during this celebration in which the zoo is partnering with Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron. 10 a.m.5 p.m. Free members, $14 adults. akronzoo.org 6/24 TOUR OF ITALY PAVILION DINNER Enjoy live music, wine and a fivecourse meal that includes tortellini, grilled swordfish, osso buco and more. Gervasi Vineyard, Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 6-8:30 p.m. $140. gervasivineyard.com 6/25 Yoga on the West Terrace Do yoga then stroll the gardens.

Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron. 10:3011:30 a.m. $12 members, $16 nonmembers. stanhywet.org

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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AGENDA

6/26 FUNKOLOGY Jam out during this performance as a part of the Concerts in the Park series. Hardesty Park, 1615 W. Market St., Akron. 7-9 p.m. Free. akronrecreationandparks. com 6/26 “LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE” Take in this movie about a crocodile that lives in New York City during the Summer Kids Movies series and the Sensory Cinema series.

Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N, Canton.

1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. $2. cantonpalacetheatre.org 6/27 BROWN BAG LUNCH: MARY MCMUNN Listen to this presentation titled “From the Governor’s Garden to the Fields of Ecuador.” Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E, Massillon. 12:10-12:50 p.m.

Free. massmu.org 6/29 24K MAGIC: BRUNO MARS TRIBUTE CONCERT Jam to hits like “Uptown Funk” and “Locked Out of Heaven” during this highenergy tribute performance.

Gervasi Vineyard, Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton.

8-9:30 p.m. $29-$39. gervasivineyard.com

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AGENDA

6/29-7/16 “LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST” Experience this Ohio Shakespeare Festival performance in the Lagoon area of the estate. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron.

7:30 p.m. greenshow, 8 p.m. performance. $15-$30. ohioshakespeare.com 6/30 Preview: “Brick Flicks” Get a first look at this Lego exhibit, including the work by winners of the Lego contest. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, 800 McKinley Monument Drive NW, Canton. 6-8 p.m. $5-$15. mckinleymuseum.org

6/30 Summer Al Fresco Wine Pairing Try vegetarian bites like sweet corn soup and wild mushroom Wellington paired with award-winning wines. Gervasi Vineyard, Pavilion, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton. 6 p.m. $39. gervasivineyard. com

6/30-7/4 RIB WHITE AND BLUE FESTIVAL Sample ribs from vendors throughout the country, listen to concerts by bands like Draw the Line and Hotel California and take in a fireworks show. Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. lock3live.com

6/30-7/15 “THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES” Hear ’50s hits during this offBroadway show. Porthouse Theatre, 3143 O’Neil Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 2 or 8 p.m. kent.edu/porthouse

The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory

Family owned and operated since 1875, with chapels in Fairlawn and Cuyahoga Falls. Now celebrating the sixth-generation of family leadership in dedicated service to the city of Akron.

Complimentary Live Streaming. Virtual Arrangements. Digital Tribute Wall and Guestbook

Fairlawn • Cuyahoga Falls • 330-867-4141 • www.billowfuneralhomes.com JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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Kelly Petryszyn and Alexandra Sobczak photos by Meghan Winkler

Make A Splash Paddle our rivers and lakes. Kayak or canoe under the moonlight, combine yoga with stand-up paddleboarding, learn how to row with a team and enjoy more ways to get out on the water.

Don Howdyshell 20

akronlife.com | JUNE 2023

Whitewater Kayaking

Major Rush Kayakers maneuver around boulders, taking on Class 4 rapids before free-falling down a waterfall in the Upper Gorge stretch of the Cuyahoga River at the Cuyahoga Falls Fest April 29. When they hit the pool below, some do tailies, a freestyle trick where they raise the front of their kayaks vertically into the air in celebration.

“We’re out there doing what we love to do,” says Don Howdyshell, the coordinator of the Cuyahoga Falls Fest, an annual festival that features freestyle whitewater kayaking and draws spectators and paddlers to Cuyahoga Falls.

The Upper Gorge area is what’s known as a park and huck, where paddlers can park and launch their kayaks nearby.

“The fact that it’s tucked in the middle of an urban setting is very unique,” says the 43-yearold Cuyahoga Falls resident. “It offers a challenge for people … and when they’re done, they can — within five minutes — be ordering drinks or sit down and get food.”

Getting to a level of comfort with Class 4 rapids takes time and lots of practice on the

water. Howdyshell began whitewater kayaking in 2015, after kayaking recreationally for most of his life. He says some of the biggest challenges are anticipating the movements of the water and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone while coming face to face with daunting situations.

“A large misconception is that people call whitewater kayakers adrenaline junkies. … It’s basically, you see something you want to do that presents a challenge, and you need to figure out the formula,” Howdyshell says. “The thing to remember is the water is always in control.

All you can do is figure out how to navigate it safely.”

Much of whitewater kayaking is setting personal goals, whether it be tackling a new stretch of river or nailing a new trick.

Paddlers can celebrate accomplishments while out in community paddling groups like the Westlake-based Keel-Haulers Canoe Club.

Above: Ross Crocker; Below: Don Howdyshell

“It covers all things — the community camaraderie, personal fulfillment when you meet goals that you set for yourself,” Howdyshell says, “and getting to explore places where you can’t explore unless you know how to do this.”

Tip: Coordinate with other local paddlers before setting out.

“You have to do it as a group to be safe,” Howdyshell says.

//AS

cfallsfest.com

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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Ian Allan 22

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Canoeing & Kayaking

Glow Ride Paulette Snyder has watched people return to the Tuscarawas River to canoe and kayak throughout her time as a business partner at Canal Fulton Canoe Livery & Campground.

“We’ve had generations of people that come in,” says the 58-yearold Canal Fulton resident. “I’ve watched them come in as kids, and now they come in and bring their dads, themself and their kids.”

The spot, which has been open for nearly 25 years, offers single and double kayaks or canoes for trips that are 3, 6, 8 or 11 miles long on a rapid-free stretch of river along serene riverside primitive campsites and then residential land.

“Once you’re less than a quarter mile past where we put you in, it’s all farmland,” Snyder says.

“I’ve had people see eagles, a lot of turtles, blue herons, deer.”

For a different look at nature, try a moonlight cruise, which is a 6-mile canoe or kayak trip Canal Fulton Canoe Livery offers monthly from May to October at 7 to 11:30 p.m., with upcoming dates June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 16 and Oct. 28. Paddlers can also enjoy a bonfire, DJ and karaoke.

“The moonlight cruises are so much fun,” she says. “Your trip’s illuminated by the full moon.”

Some paddlers bring a flashlight or hat with a light, and many Boy and Girl Scout troop members don glow-in-the-dark bracelets and decorate their clothing with glowing duct tape. Limited reservations ensure the river isn’t too crowded, and the quiet makes for great opportunities for stargazing and seeing wildlife.

“You’d be amazed at how many people pull off at times and just watch for different animals,” Snyder says. “Some people just like that quiet time, and they just sit there and look at the stars.”

It makes for a romantic date night, a unique bonding experience for families, a fun adventure with your dog or even a wonderful way to celebrate.

Snyder recalls one couple, which met at a camp, got married at the Canal Fulton campground and took their whole bridal party on a moonlight cruise.

photo provided by Canal Fulton Canoe Livery & Campground

“It’s never the same. You can do it two or three times, and you’re always gonna see or hear something different,” Snyder says.

“It’s a very beautiful trip down, and it’s very peaceful.”

Tip: Canoes occasionally tip, so Snyder reminds everyone that life jackets are required for any//AS one under 18.

219 W. Cherry St., Canal Fulton, cfcanoe.com

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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Pedaling

Generate Power With a bike frame sitting tall on top of aqua platforms and yellow pontoons, Hydrobikes cause rubbernecking boaters to pull over and talk to people who rent them from Dusty’s Landing II on Turkeyfoot Lake in Portage Lakes.

“It’s very eye-catching,” says Drew Norris, a 35-year-old Portage Lakes resident and co-owner of Dusty’s Landing II, which also rents stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and pontoon boats. “They’re bright colors so they look like a lot of fun. Boats come by, and they like to see exactly what you’re on because you don’t see anything like that.”

For about four years, Dusty’s Landing II has been renting Hydrobikes that use a front rudder to steer and have a rear propeller powered by pedaling.

There’s a bike seat, a small storage compartment and handlebars. “It’s basically like riding a bike on water,” says Norris.

He says it’s comfortable and stable to ride and likens it to pedaling a bike uphill. It’s a serious workout that some people incorporate into their fitness routines.

“You get a good workout in your legs.

You get your cardio going,” Norris says.

“I’ve had a couple of customers come in every week, maybe a couple times a week, to get a good workout in.”

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Most people pedal up and down the canal and tire out after an hour’s rental.

For a more laid-back ride, opt for pedal boats. Dusty’s Landing II has a couple of two-seaters: one with a Bimini to shade from the sun and one 5-foot swan. They have rudders for steering and a rear paddle wheel powered by pedaling.

“There’s two people in it so you can take turns,” Norris says. “You can pedal at your leisure.”

Pedal boats are great for a child and parent, and a spacious compartment allows you to bring fishing gear or a lunch. Norris suggests making a day of it and stopping in the nearby Blue Iguana Tequila Bar or Upper Deck Bar & Grill for a bite to eat — and taking your time.

“I’ve seen some of them go from one end of the lake to the other,” he says.

“Sometimes people go out for five, six hours. … They’ll be out there all day just pedaling around.”

Tip: Portage Lakes can be crowded, so hug the shore enough to steer clear from boaters but keep enough of a dis//KP tance to stay out of seaweed.

401 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, dustyslanding.com

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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Rowing

In Sync When Diane GroveAckerman first sat in a boat and began rowing about a decade ago, she felt incredible.

“Your oar hits the water, and all of a sudden you are one with the team and one with the water,” says the now master rower and club president of the Portage Lakes Rowing Association, which has a boathouse on Rex Lake in Portage Lakes.

Now the Kent resident is getting certified as a level two coach and fills the bow seat on a sweep rowing team where eight rowers each control a 12-foot oar on a 60-foot boat.

Portage Lakes Rowing offers a National Learn to Row Day program June 3 and an open house June 17. There’s also a 10-week novice program, with the next one starting July 23, in which students are first trained on land to learn how to control oars, understand commands and use a rowing machine to learn correct technique and posture.

“When you understand what to do with your hands and your legs, the timing of it becomes very natural, like riding a bike,” Grove-Ackerman says.

There’s no room for egos — each rower must be synchronized and follow the stroke rate set by the coxswain, who commands the boat instead of rowing. The better rowers match

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their movements, the faster the boat will go. Nervous newbies often struggle to relax and get into the flow, but she says once you learn the rhythm, the payoff is significant.

“When you hear all the oars catch the water at the same time, you feel that release,” Grove-Ackerman says. “That is a high that you strive for.”

Rowing helps her appreciate the beauty of Portage Lakes, getting up close to sunsets, morning fog coming off the water and ospreys catching fish. She also says it’s a tremendous highintensity low-impact workout that’s easy on your legs and hips and is accessible. The most fun aspect is competing in regattas.

She was coxswain for a women’s four-plus team that won the Head of the Cuyahoga regatta in Cleveland. It’s thrilling when she rows with her team and passes boats.

“The last 200 meters, you kick it into gear — you reach down to your toes for every bit of energy, and you are gasping for air,” Grove-Ackerman says. “We’re passing other boats, and you get such an adrenaline rush — it makes you work harder.”

Tip: Avoid jerky movements that can cause the boat to rock.

//KP

4450 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, plra.club

Portage Lakes Rowing Association JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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Left: Crow pose, Release Yoga photos by Sarah Maloney

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Stand-up Paddleboard Yoga

Finding Balance Doing the crow yoga pose — where you hold your body up with your arms and you rest your shins on your upper arms — can be daunting in the studio. Pattie Wagner struggles with the pose, but doing yoga on a stand-up paddleboard surrounded by water emboldened her to go for it.

“People tend to be more willing to try poses because you’re going to fall into the water versus onto a hard floor,” says the 50-yearold Green resident and owner of Release Yoga in Green that hosts stand-up paddleboard yoga classes. “Popping up into crow pose with much more ease was a great experience.”

For about seven years, Release Yoga has been offering standup paddleboard yoga classes on the North Reservoir in Portage Lakes, with upcoming dates June 24, July 9, 23 and 29, and Aug. 6, 13, 19 and 26. It’s so popular that people come from Cleveland and Columbus to try it. The class is approachable to newbies, as it starts with an introductory lesson on using the boards from KillinIt Kayaks and safety tips while you are in shallow water. You paddle out to deeper water to do yoga poses and anchor your board — that’s the secret to success.

“The anchor holds you in place and keeps you from floating off,” Wagner says. “Keep in mind the board is not stable because it’s on water, so it’s always going to be shifting a little.”

Those subtle movements make the poses more difficult, including some that people consider easy in the studio like the armsto-floor downward dog, and warrior one and two lunges.

“They become more challenging because your center of balance is shifted,” Wagner says.

She has fallen before and says almost everyone falls off their boards at one point, and getting back on is a workout that takes core strength.

The benefits are gaining strength, flexibility and balance and being outdoors, watching the birds fly by. Wagner thinks the best part is how being in nature helps you deeply connect with your inner peace, like when she did the reclined Savasana on her board.

“You have the water supporting you. It’s incredibly relaxing,” she says, “just laying on your back and watching the clouds move by.”

Something Somethings

Tip: Wear a swimsuit, and bring a towel — you will get wet!

//KP

Class, 803 State Mill Road, Akron, releaseyoga.com

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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GOOD EATS

JUNE 2023 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 6

Restaurants [ notable food & drink ]

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner A Alcohol available T Takeout available V Valet parking W Wheelchair Accessible $ average entrees less than $6 $$ average entrees between $6-$10 $$$ average entrees between $11-$16 $$$$ average entrees are $17 or higher Information subject to change.

Please call ahead to verify location, hours and events.

Akron Family Restaurant Neighborhood meeting place, homey atmosphere, reasonable prices. 250 W. Market St., Akron, 330-376-0600 $$ B, L, D, T, W

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Aladdin’s Eatery Outdoor dining area, tasty Mediterranean cuisine. 782 W. Market St., Akron, 330-535-0110; 1991 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-928-4640; 44 Park Lane, Hudson 330-656-0560; 3895 Medina Road, Fairlawn, 330-665-3102 $$$ L, D, A, T, W Al’s Corner Restaurant Old World comfort food served cafeteria style. Cabbage rolls and sausage made locally are a favorite. 155 Second St. NW, Barberton, 330-475-7978 $$ L, T, W Alexander Pierce Restaurant Fine dining menu of steaks, house-made pastas, calamari misto and cavatelli alla vodka in an intimate speakeasy-style atmosphere. 797 E. Market St., Akron, 330-529-2003 $$$ D, A Arcadia Grille Authentic Italian cuisine

with pasta and chops. Breakfast served Sat. and Sun. A local favorite for more than 85 years. 321 Court Ave. NW, Canton, 330-454-6055 $$ B, L, D, A, W Arnie’s Public House An attractive, affordable restaurant with a modern twist on comfort food. Featuring award-winning burgers, chicken and waffles, fish and chips, pasta and vegetarian dishes. 1682 W. Market St., Akron, 330-867-0154 $$$ L, D, A, T, W Arnie’s West Branch Steak House Casual dining, specializing in steak, ribs and seafood. 5343 state Route 14, Ravenna, 330-297-1717 $$$ D, A, T Barley House Hot and cold deli sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, soups and more. 222 S. Main St., Akron,

Go t

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w to vie aurants st e r . a re a ents & ev

330-374-0925 $$ L, D, A, T, W Basil Asian Bistro Menu features Thai, Chinese and Korean dishes, as well as sushi and Vietnamese specialties.

585 Market Ave. N, Canton, 330-4523888; 145 W Liberty St., Wooster, 330601-0885 $$$ L, D, A, T, W The Battleground Authentic Mexican food in an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. It specializes in tortillas and salsa that are made fresh daily.

Guests can enjoy street tacos, pozole, carnitas and delicious flan for dessert. 425 Cherry St., Kent, 330548-9019 $$$ B, L, D, T, A, P Beau’s Grille Well-regarded, innovative menu at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn.

3180 W. Market St., Fairlawn, 330867-5218 $$$$ B, L, D, A, T, W

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GOOD EATS UNCORKED

by Eric Van Sant

Lonz Winery Middle Bass Island, Ohio

In 1926 during Prohibition, Lonz Winery was originally founded when Peter Lonz and his son purchased the former Golden Eagle Winery on Middle Bass Island. The winery survived Prohibition by selling bottles of grape juice with instructions on how to ferment it.

When a fire destroyed the winery in 1942, Peter began construction on the Gothic-style castle building that many know today. In 1986, the winery was added to the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2000, the state of Ohio purchased the 124acre property. In 2002, Firelands Winery purchased the Lonz brand and moved production to its facility in Sandusky.

Lonz is most well-known for its Catawba wines. Catawba grapes are hardy American late-ripening grapes ideal for the northeastern temperature and climate.

Purple in color, Catawba grapes are a cross between labrusca and semillon grapes. They can be found throughout the East Coast and are most recognizable for their musky flavor. Here are some Lonz wines to uncork this summer.

PINK CATAWBA

CREAM CONCORD

Made from pink Catawba grapes, this wine ($7.99) is a soft pink color with rounded fruit flavors.

It’s sweet and full in the mouth and can be enjoyed with fresh fruit or creamy cheeses.

Labrusca grapes, which are commonly used in grape juices and table wines, make up this wine ($7.99). It is a deep blackberry in color. Cloying on the nose with a full sweet finish, it’s best served chilled with salted robust cheeses.

WHITE CATAWBA Produced with a blend of Catawba and other American grapes, this white ($7.99) is a golden straw color with a bright green apple note. Light in body and sweet on the palate, it pairs well with spicy Asian fare and pork ribs.

WINE WISDOM The Bass islands are nicknamed “Wine Islands,” as the islands have been cultivated for wine production since 1854, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

You can find these Lonz Winery wines at select Giant Eagle, Acme Fresh Market, Heinen’s and Discount Drug Mart locations.

[ Eric Van Sant is a sales manager at Heidelberg Distributing Co. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

33

GOOD EATS UNTAPPED

by Aaron Fowler

Light Sips Enjoy some gluten-free and gluten-reduced summer craft beer picks.

GLUTENBERG’S BLONDE

CRAFTED ARTISAN MEADERY’S DRAGON HEART Mogadore’s Crafted Artisan Meadery has been killing the game for over a decade now.

Its cherry and raspberry cyser ($8.99, 16-ounce bottle), which is gluten-free and made with apple cider, is easily one of the meadery’s most popular options.

SIBLING REVELRY BREWING’S OLLY OLLY GLUTEN - FREE PALE ALE For those looking for another Ohio offering, Olly Olly ($12.99, six-pack 12-ounce cans) might be right up your alley. This Cleveland-made gluten-free beer offers drinkers a nice, light alternative with a mixture of fruit flavors and slight bitterness.

This 2012 World Beer Cup winner ($11.99, fourpack 16-ounce cans) from Canada is exactly what you are looking for in a blonde ale. The gluten-free beer is crisp and clean with notes of white pepper, lemon zest and a subtle hop bitterness.

STONE BREWING CO.’S DELICIOUS IPA San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co. makes an India pale ale ($11.99, six-pack 12-ounce cans) that truly lives up to its name — it is absolutely delicious. Coming in at 7.7 percent alcohol by volume, this hophead’s dream-come-true brew is crafted to reduce gluten and takes your taste buds on a wild ride of citrus flavors and aromas.

These beers are available at select Acme Fresh Market, Buehler’s, Fishers Foods, Giant Eagle and Heinen’s locations, as well as craft beer stops such as Mustard Seed Market & Cafe and 101 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.

[ Aaron Fowler is the key account manager at Cavalier Distributing. ] Comments? Email them to Kelly Petryszyn [kpetryszyn@bakermediagroup.com].

Beau’s on the River Stunning views of the falls with floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary decor. Fusion eclectic cuisine, lunch buffet and Sun. brunch.

Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-7530 $$$ B, L, D, A, T, W Belgrade Gardens Famous for fried chicken and homestyle cooking. 401 E. State St., Barberton, 330-745-0113; 3476 Massillon Road, Uniontown, 330-896-3396 $$$ L, D, A, T, W Bellacino’s Known for grinders, pizza, pasta and fresh salads. Full bar, patio and banquet room with dance floor.

3657 Fishcreek Road, Stow, 330-6783000 $$ L, D, A, T, W 34

akronlife.com | JUNE 2023

Bender’s Tavern Largest restaurant wine selection in Stark County. Menu features seafood. 137 Court Ave. SW, Canton, 330-453-8424 $$$$ L, D, A, T Bianca’s Ristorante Italian Traditional Italian, juicy steaks and fresh seafood.

4284 Beverly Hills Drive, Brunswick, 330-225-0927 $$$ L, D, A, T, W Big Eu’es BBQ Known for delicious barbecue meals and Kool Aid pies.

The takeout spot also has a small dining area. 1730 Portage Trail, Cuyahoga Falls, 234-706-6700 $$ L, D, T Big Eye Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar Menu offers a variety of sushi as well as salads, soups, appetizers, cooked entrees and vegan options to suit

everyone at your table. 2965 W. Market St., Fairlawn, Suite L, 330-8364433 $$$ L, D, A, T, W The Bistro at Gervasi Vineyard Situated on a 55-acre estate in a renovated historic barn that overlooks a beautiful lake. Serving rustic Italian fare using only fresh and seasonal ingredients. 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330-497-1000 $$$ L, D, A The Bistro of Green An upscale dining establishment with a diverse menu that features some of Akron’s finest cuisine and gluten-free options made from fresh ingredients. Has a large selection of wine, beer and cocktails, and the inviting atmosphere offers a memorable experience. 3459

Massillon Road, Uniontown, 330-8961434 $$$$ D, T, A Bistro on Main House-made desserts, hand-cut steaks and fresh pasta. 1313 W. Main St., Kent, 330-673-9900 $$$ L, D, A, T, W Blue Door Cafe & Bakery Chef-driven sandwiches, quiche, crepes, housemade pastries and rotating specials made using local ingredients. Voted No. 1 brunch in Ohio. Drive-thru available. 1970 State Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-926-9774 $$$ B, L, T, A Go to akronlife.com to view more area restaurants & events.

FUN STUFF: Centennial Plaza / Stadium Park / 720 Market /

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CANTON LIVING

Hall of Fame Village Touches Down

ESCAPE TO GERVASI’S NEW SPA & WINE CAVE TIKTOK STAR DERECK MALONE TAKES YOU TO LOCAL RESTAURANTS JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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CANTON LIVING story by Shawn Davis and photos by John Dunlap, Bryan Gillard and Shawn Davis

MOTOR HEADS

Canton Cars & Coffee kicks shows into gear.

Miatas, Mustangs, and Volkswagen GTIs fill an asphalt parking lot where car enthusiasts come together to show off their rides and talk cars for the first 2023 Canton Cars & Coffee show in April. Seventy-fouryear-old Canton resident Roger Mauter proudly chats about his discontinued British roadster — a stunningly preserved two-door burgundy 1974 Triumph TR6.

“I’ve always been a sports car guy,” he says.

A light rain steadily beads on about 120 waxed, shined and polished cars for the show in the parking lot of Royal Docks Brewing Co.’s Brewhouse & Cannery, where attendees duck inside for a cup of MMC Coffee Co.’s custom 710 blend. An imported right-handed drive MR2 garners a crowd for a moment — then an impressive pearl white second-generation Pontiac Firebird, then a classic first-gen Volkswagen Rabbit — the forefather of all the generations of GTIs in the lot.

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For Mauter, this is what it’s all about — a way With a piping hot dark roast in hand and to share enthusiasm for car culture, a passing giddy enthusiasm, Mauter and Langreder of passion across generations of an American talk cars. pastime. His friend, 65-year-old Uniontown What do you think of car culture now in resident Eric Langreder, drove his white “hot the United States? hatch” Volkswagen GTI to the show and also has a Triumph TR6. The two met through Roger Mauter: In our club, most of the the North Coast Triumph Association and members are 50-plus-years-old, some 60. do shows from Wisconsin to New Jersey and … Now [Eric’s] son is in on it, so he has a have been going to Canton Cars & Coffee Triumph too. for the last three years. The group that started Eric Langreder: It’s going to evolve. I don’t about 10 years ago with 10 to 15 people in think it’s ever going to go away. But it’s defia parking lot has grown into shows with 300 nitely changing. Most guys like us, we got cars on average. From April to December, the cars that we liked when we were younger, Canton Cars & Coffee meets monthly at that we wanted to have and maybe couldn’t Royal Docks and does a second show most afford.

But now it’s different. I think clubs months that can be off-site. Upcoming dates in general are kind of fading for most people include June 3 and 17, July 1 and 29, and — it’s all online stuff. There aren’t a lot of inAug. 12 and 26. person clubs.

Eric Langreder and Roger Mauter

What brings you guys out to shows?

RM: The camaraderie, talking cars with other people.

Unless we get together … I don’t really have any people to talk cars.

EL: People’s eyes tend to glaze over at Christmas dinner when you talk about stick shifts and horsepower, so you got to do this to have that release.

How is the reception to the Triumphs?

RM: If you’re a car guy before anything else, you got the common ground to talk. … Everybody has a story. Every car has a story.

EL: There’s a connection between the generations. …

Maize Valley Winery, they do a cruise-in on Thursday nights. I invite kids with their parents. You open the door and let them sit behind the wheel. You see the look on their faces — they can’t believe it. They’ll look to their dad and say, Can I really do this? Then the dad goes, Yeah, get in the car. It’s important because that’s the next generation. If they don’t have that interest — who’s going to take my car when I’m gone?

Visit cantoncarsandcoffee. com, or for more information on other local car shows, visit minervamotorclub.com.

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CANTON LIVING

by Alexandra Sobczak, photos provided by Dereck Malone

THE DISH

A Canton man invites TikTok viewers to join him on restaurant visits.

“I wanted people to see it from my vision, what it was like to open my door, walk out, get to the place, show off the place,” says Malone, who used to be a professional video game player and is the vice president of the Hyperluxe gaming company. “My passion is helping mom-and-pop shops.”

Malone takes his over 650,000 TikTok followers along with him as he films food reviews at restaurants throughout the country. The 40-year-old Canton resident draws from his previous experience livestreaming and creating vlogs as a gamer, engaging audiences with his playful commentary and memorable mohawk as he samples dishes and talks to restaurant staffers. He sometimes brings his girlfriend and son with him to his reviews, and he checks out places like chain locations and local restaurants, which are some of his favorites.

His content, which averages 15 million monthly views, has made an impact.

Restaurants have experienced an uptick in guests, like Bubba’s 33 where many came from Cleveland and farther and ordered the habanero burger Malone recommended.

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Dereck Malone and son, Dom, at Penn Station East Coast Subs

On camera, Dereck Malone dug into house-made queso, chips and salsa, garlic Parmesan and Shotgun boneless wings and a spicy habanero burger at Bubba’s 33 in Canton — all chosen by a waitress during a food review he made for TikTok in March 2022.

“I had companies that were like, Hey, you posted a video for us. You literally shut us down for three weekends in a row because we ran out of food. That’s how viral it went,” Malone says.

“I have chills right now when I think about it.

I’m very passionate about what I do.”

He offers some inside knowledge: Some people don’t know Bubba’s 33 is a sister restaurant to Texas Roadhouse. “The same cut of meat that comes from Texas Roadhouse is sold at Bubba’s at a cheaper price,” says Malone, who rated Bubba’s 33 a 9.3 out of 10.

He recommends some of his favorite Canton spots.

Gervasi Vineyard

Bubba’s 33 From wings to lasagna to rib-eyes, the Canton location of the national chain has it all.

The winery resort is synonymous with Canton, and Malone says he visits frequently during the summer. His top picks include the steak at the Bistro, the risotto cakes at the Crush House and the garlic cream pizza at the Piazza. He also enjoys walking the grounds and unwinding.

“They do a coffee ground steak there, which is fabulous, but their burgers are my favorite thing,” Malone says, adding his favorite is the “I’ll go and have a cigar at the Still House and habanero burger. “It’s got a big, deep-fried a drink,” he says, adding that he has another cream cheese jalapeno puck that sits on top. It Still House favorite. “One of the best cannolis is phenomenal.”

I’ve ever had.”

H2 Huth & Harris Wine Merchants In a memorable atmosphere, enjoy wines, craft beers and bourbons, along with plates like pan-seared scallops and grilled quail.

“You walk through the door, and then it all unfolds, the mahogany smell, the old wood bar — all that is speakeasy to the max,” he says. “I’m a speakeasy fanboy.”

Upstairs, the spot’s lunch menu, H2 Nosh, offers chef-made options like deviled eggs, spicy butternut squash bisque and housemade meatball risotto, all things Malone tried during a review in which he rated it a glowing 9.8 out of 10.

Willow Bistro It’s small but mighty. Malone called it Canton’s “most hidden gem” and described it as cute and quaint in his review. He recommends the Frenched pork chop, which is a 12-ounce center cut with house seasoning Malone describes as similar to blackened seasoning.

“They have the best pork chop probably within 200 miles,” he says. “It’s moist inside, cooked to perfection. It’s brilliant.”

TikTok @snipingfordom

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CANTON LIVING

by Kelly Petryszyn, photos provided by Gervasi Vineyard

BENEATH THE SURFACE A new wine cave provides an intimate tasting experience.

In the Old Country of Italy and France, winemakers developed a way to age their wines.

“Back when you didn’t have refrigeration, … to really make the wine great, they would put them in caves underground,” says Eric Rabin, Cave operations manager at Gervasi Vineyard.

That inspired Gervasi to build its Cave underground to barrel age and store its wines. It expands storage from 120 wine barrels to up to 350 barrels of Gervasi’s 25 wines and imported Italian collection. The Cave also adds Gervasi’s first dedicated tasting room, with a focus on flights, styled to look like an Old Country wine cave you enter from a walkout patio.

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“The tasting room is clad in stonework,” Rabin says. “It gives you a feeling of being in a cave.”

donnay, rose, malbec and Nebbiolo and antipasti including soppressata, Asiago and more.

Settle at a custom-made circular wooden table crowned by a chandelier made with red Gervasi wine bottles and select a flight: reds, sweets, winemaker’s picks or popular wines. Rabin recommends newbies select the approachable Bella Dolce flight of sweet wines. Pair it with a Vasi spread like a chocolate shavings-topped mascarpone dip with ladyfingers.

Guests said they have learned more at the Cave than at popular wine destinations like Napa Valley, California, and having ambassadors guide you through a tasting makes an impression.

To go behind-the-scenes, take a 45-minute ticketed tour of the barrel cave and learn about winemaking and aging techniques like the use of an amphora, a terra cotta microoxygenation vessel that slowly develops flavors.

Or reserve a spot via OpenTable for a group of 10 to 16 friends at a table in the barrel cave, which is temperature- and humiditycontrolled at 64 degrees and 66 percent, so you will want to bring a light jacket. Both experiences include a curated flight of a char-

“They can teach you how to experience the wine, how to taste the wine, how to smell, evaluate the wine,” says Rabin, “in a different way than you’ve ever learned.”

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INSTANT RELAXATION A new spa offers ultimate luxury.

When you walk into the Spa, it smells distinct — a signature citrus peppercorn aromatherapy scent is infused in the air ducts.

“As you open the doors … you immediately start to relax,” says Spa operations manager at Gervasi Vineyard Brooke Zarconi, “know that you’re in the right place of calming and great energy.”

Previously, hotel guests got massages in their rooms, but demand was high. So the 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art, high-end Spa above the Cave fills a void.

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“The Spa is really the only resort spa within an hour radius that’s a level of luxury and capable of offering the services we do,” says Zarconi, adding it’s the only one within 50 miles to offer the cutting-edge HydraFacial.

The pampering happens right away. Arrive a half-hour early to dress in a fluffy robe and slippers, get a heated neck wrap and enjoy a glass of Gervasi wine or a mimosa along with snacks like fruit and mixed nuts in the fragrant tranquility lounge.

“They can ground themselves, just feel at peace, no cellphones,” Zarconi says. “You’re just present in that room.”

There’s a duo room for side-by-side services, but the crown jewels are two couple’s suites.

Join a loved one for a luxurious day with a chromotherapy air bath and an aromatherapy

steam and chromotherapy rain shower.

Chromotherapy features rotating colored therapy lights that help with energy, insomnia and anxiety. Pick any 80-minute service like an ultra-rich shaping and firming body wrap and sip a glass of Gervasi wine. Or opt for the extended experience. Drink another glass of wine, nibble on chocolate-covered strawberries or fruit and cheese and enjoy a 50-minute service like a warm Himalayan salt stone massage. Finish with grapes and a signature blood orange chocolate truffle, and head to the salon if you want to get your hair, makeup or nails glammed up.

“I had a couple of guests when they walk in, their jaws dropped open. They are stunned at how beautiful the space is,” Zarconi says.

“You’re gonna leave here wanting to come back.”

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Spa Services to Try HydraFacial: This revolutionary antiaging machine has a wand to slough off dead skin cells, extract impurities, reduce puffiness, create a contoured look and hydrate with targeted serums. “You’re glowing,” says Spa operations manager Brooke Zarconi. “It’s super noticeable even days afterward.”

Renewal CBD Body Wrap: Get exfoliated and then cocooned in a warm mud treatment infused with CBD ointment to help with muscle regeneration, joints and lymphatic system restoration. Plus, get a full scalp massage and application of CBDinfused body butter. “You’re feeling very relaxed,” she says. “Your skin is really nice and soft.”

Gervasi Signature Massage:

Warm herbal poultices in cheesecloth combined with a hands-on massage revitalize muscles during this 80-minute service. Also get a hot oil scalp treatment and a facial massage. “It helps stimulate circulation with the herbs that are inside it. It’s really helpful with reducing aches,” she says. “You’re melted away, especially after having that heated scalp massage. You really don’t want to leave.” gervasivineyard.com

JUNE 2023 | akronlife.com

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CANTON LIVING

by Kelly Petryszyn and photos provided by Hall of Fame Village and Visit Canton

GAME ON

Hall of Fame Village comes to life.

Anne Graffice has a direct line to the best seat in Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Her office in the Constellation Center for Excellence, where she works as Hall of Fame Resort & Entertainment Co. executive vice president of global marketing and public affairs, is behind the scoreboard on the west end zone and steps away from prime stadium viewing at the Touchdown Terrace patio.

After years of planning and overcoming obstacles, the 120-acre Hall of Fame Village next to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is coming to life with six anchors open to visitors, athletes and more. Plus, travelers can stay in the new DoubleTree by Hilton Canton Downtown featuring the 330 Bar & Grill in the restored former McKinley Grand Hotel. The $300 million Phase I is complete, and the $360 million Phase II expansion continues, with a ride and more shopping and dining options opening 12

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this summer, and an indoor football-themed water park and hotel are under construction for a 2024 opening. Traction at the village bolsters Canton’s renaissance.

“It is an opportunity for you to come stay for not just the day but overnight, play, eat, dine, be entertained,” Graffice says. “The more we grow, as months go on, the more there’s cause to do that.”

Thousands of jobs have been created by the village, and management makes a point to hire Ohioans. The village is set to increase the tax base of the city and county by almost $100 million over the next five years, says Graffice. Over a million visitors are coming through the village a year, and Graffice projects the amount of visitors could expand to 3 to 5 million in the next five years. While hundreds of thousands of visitors come for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement week, the ultimate goal is to draw visitors to Canton beyond that. So the village is planning a Phase III with more entertainment, gaming, interactive experiences, attractions and potentially a living component.

“We are creating a destination,” Graffice says.

She shares the game plan behind each zone in the village. {continued on pg. 14}

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CANTON LIVING {continued from pg. 12}

Constellation Center for Excellence

Play-Action Plaza

The 73,000-square-foot hub contains management offices and fantastic stadium views including an atrium with tiered seating and a rooftop entertaining space for 50. There’s also a Starbucks and a workout facility from former NFL player Donald Driver. Office tenants include Cleveland-based JumpStart, which is developing an entrepreneurship center. “[It’s] a hub for cutting-edge technology, research, development related to not just sports but entrepreneurship in general,” Graffice says.

The iconic 20-gondola Ferris wheel from the I-X Center got restored as the new Red Zone ride to anchor this 3-acre amusement area. Also ride the Forward Pass zip line where you sit in a football-shaped car and get flung from the quarterback to the receiver. This summer, Spike It is coming, which is a 40-foot-tall drop tower ride that emulates a touchdown celebration.

Hang out around an amphitheater with food, beer, wine, a fire pit, yard games like cornhole and entertainment. “We can have small venue concerts, small plays or vignettes,” says Graffice, “flag football tournaments, you name it.”

Center for Performance The largest air-pressurized dome of its kind in the country, the Center for Performance offers 100,000 square feet of year-round sports and event space. “It’s a very unique technology that’s relatively new that creates an environment where the temperature is the same top to bottom,” Graffice says. Turf and cement can be covered with basketball flooring, so it can host soccer, volleyball, pickleball and more events, such as the recent Stark County Home & Garden show that drew over 100 vendors and over 7,000 attendees.

{continued on page 16}

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Fan Engagement Zone Get travel tips from Visit Canton, create a bear wearing your favorite team’s football uniform at Build-A-Bear Workshop, dine at the upscale coach Don Shula’s American Kitchen and have a beer at the Brew Kettle’s rooftop Top Golf virtual swing suites overlooking the stadium. “It’s a venue like nowhere else,” Graffice says. Plus, find {continued on pg. 16}

CANTON LIVING {continued from pg. 14}

more choices this summer with the opening of Hall of Famer Isaac Bruce’s Smoosh ice cream cookie sandwich shop and Canton landmarks Pizza Oven and Heggy’s Handcrafted Chocolate & Candies.

Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium The biggest action takes place in the 23,000-seat NFL-caliber stadium with rooftop viewing and a stage on the 50-yard line. “People are blown away,” says Graffice. “Entertainers that come to us, … they’re like, This is spectacular.” Features include a sky-level terrace event space, luxury suites with catering, a VIP lounge and a stylish club level. It’s the home field for McKinley Senior High School and U.S. Football League teams Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals, which bring in tens of thousands of visitors. It hosts events like the Winter Blitz carnival with tubing through the goalpost and stadium tours where you can kick a football on the field, tackle a dummy and push the sled.

ForeverLawn Sports Complex Hundreds of thousands of athletes from football and lacrosse to quidditch and field hockey play on these eight fields equipped with concessions including Pizza Oven slices, a Cleveland Clinic training facility and more. “Upward of 70 to 80 percent of those that are on those fields are from outside our area,” Graffice says. “They’re staying in our hotels multiple days, eating in our restaurants, buying our gas.”

Hilton Tapestry Hotel & Indoor Water Park Coming in 2024, stay at a football-themed hotel and visit a 125,000-square-foot water park that has water slides, a lazy river, a zero-entry splash zone, a swim-up bar and an outdoor area. Expect TVs playing games, football art and jersey-shaped floats. hofvillage.com

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WINNING EATS Blue Smoke This Belden Village Mall Taste for the Space winner offers Texasstyle barbecue in the Hall of Fame City. The new place operates with a menu of free-range meats provided by Canton’s Strasburg Meats. Feast on some award-winning barbecue like tender pulled pork sliders with tangy coleslaw and multiple sauce options on a brioche bun or the Armadillo eggs — jumbo jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and Gouda that get wrapped in sausage and bacon then smoked. 4260 Belden Village Mall, Suite FC1, Canton, bluesmoke.us Gervasi Vineyard This ultimate upscale dining resort offers true-to-earth Italian at the Bistro, a casual eatery setting at the Crush House, rustic pizzas at the Piazza and draft beers, Gervasi spirits and cocktails at the Still House that has a rich lively atmosphere made complete with music performances. And be sure you head to the Still House’s Sin Room, a heated outdoor area where you can indulge in a fine selection of cigars and bourbon. 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, gervasivineyard.com

Gridiron Pizza & Sports Bar In downtown Canton, the new Gridiron Pizza & Sports Bar has hearty pizzas like the Gridiron made with creamy garlic sauce, freshly sliced tomatoes and basil then finished with a Greek vinaigrette drizzle. Size up your meal with a basket of wings with 10 sauce choices including a peanut butter and jelly glaze. Spend a night out with friends, catching up over the perfect trio of pizza, wings and beer. 309 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton, gridironpizzas. com Lucia’s Steakhouse Take a night off from cooking and go for a culinary delight — filet mignon with deluxe button mushrooms. Or try veal in four options, cooked the traditional Italian way, pan-fried and served on top of linguine or angel hair pasta, drenched in a lemon and white wine sauce with capers or sauteed with mushrooms and onions in Marsala wine sauce. 4769 Belpar St. NW, Canton, luciassteakhouse.com

Mélange, photo by Meghan Winkler

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Mélange At this neon-sign-illuminated upscale fine dining lounge, feel big city vibes in an intimate space. It offers an impressive list of internationally acclaimed wines to go with chef-driven entrees like the Colorado lamb chops with sauteed wild mushrooms, English peas and cherry tomatoes next to whipped potatoes and drizzled with a raspberry mint demiglace. Your palate will be just as piqued as your eyes in this aesthetically pleasing, classy dining room that feels like an art gallery tastefully inlaid with red faux velvet seating and rich handcrafted walnut tables, an adjacent bar illuminated with colorful lighting and a VIP club with a light-up dance floor and DJs spinning tunes. 221 Market Ave. N, Canton, melangerestaurant.com Samantha’s Downtown From peach pecan pancake breakfasts to tuna melt lunches — comfort food abounds at this homey spot that has three other locations. Find three-egg omelets, smothered burgers, quesadillas, gyros and more. Favorites include the beloved eggs Benedict with topping options like Philly steak or bacon, feta and tomato with house-made hollandaise or a chicken walnut salad sandwich made with mandarin oranges and walnuts then served on grilled sourdough, grilled pita or a croissant. 217 Market Ave. N, Canton, sunnysamanthas.com Table Six Kitchen & Bar This poppy, upbeat eatery has delectable entrees that offer a refined take on casual foods like the Korean barbecue tofu taco with feta, cilantro, mango and pineapple salsa, jicama slaw and tofu tossed in Korean barbecue sauce. Pair it with your choice of five mules sold in copper mugs, with options including classic, orange, grapefruit, spiced cranberry or blueberry made with Goslings ginger beer. 6113 Whipple Ave. NW, North Canton, table6canton.com

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VENTURE OUT photos provided by Visit Canton, 720 Market and Glenmoor Country Club

FIRST LADIES NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Get to know first lady Jackie Kennedy beyond her pillbox hats and big sunglasses in a new exhibit with neverbefore-seen artifacts and a replica of her designer wedding dress. Tour the beautifully preserved home of first lady Ida Saxton McKinley and see areas like the parlor where the Saxtons and McKinleys entertained guests. Then visit the six-story Education Center to peruse exhibits that span decades displaying clothing and other cultural artifacts that demonstrate the evolution of the role of first lady. 205 Market Ave. S, Canton, firstladies.org

Stadium Park Running down the West Branch Nimishillen Creek, the 68-acre park has spaces for many outdoor activities including softball, shuffleboard, tennis, fishing, soccer and a playground. Take a brisk stroll on the rubberized 1.5-mile Herbert Fisher Walking Track, stopping at exercise stations if you are ambitious, face off in pickleball or enjoy a game of chess outside June through August.

You will want to hang around the park to soak up the scenery including a duck pond, the John F. Kennedy Memorial Fountain, a children’s garden and the Canton Garden Center. 1200-2500 Stadium Park Drive NW, Canton, cantonparksandrec. com/park/stadium-park

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K1 Speed Race up to 45 mph in an electric high-performance go-kart on a track that has an indoor space with an outdoor extension. The extended track has about 15 turns, and the time to beat is 38.62 seconds for adults and 43.40 for juniors. Celebrate in the party space, stop by the Paddock Lounge for nachos and pizza, or visit the arcade for games and pool.

8373 Port Jackson Ave. NW, North Canton, k1speed.com/blog/canton-location.html

THE SPA AT GLENMOOR Your body gets a lot of wear in the summer, from hours baking in the sun to rigorous gardening work, so get refreshed at Glenmoor Country Club’s spa that’s open to the public. Pick a classic treatment like the diamond experience rose massage, which includes nourishing exfoliation and a regenerating massage with damask rose oil or the alternative cupping massage in which suction cups loosen muscles and encourage blood flow. Plus, pamper yourself even more by sipping a mimosa while relaxing in a whirlpool.

4191 Glenmoor Road NW, Canton, glenmoorcc.com

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at Hall of Fame Village

SUMMER FUN AT HALL OF FAME VILLAGE

Sip & Stretch Yoga June 13, July 18 & Aug. 15, Play-Action Plaza Midfield Magic featuring Rick Smith Jr. June 16, Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Super Smash Bros. Melee esports tournament June 18, stadium Kidz Bop Never Stop Live Tour July 25, stadium Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Aug. 1-6, various locations Zac Brown Band Aug. 5, stadium hofvillage.com

Open-Air Shopping Affairs Enjoy open-air shopping with the makers, bakers, brewers and growers of 720 Market.

Find live music, food trucks, coffee and craft beer.

It’s free and family friendly.

720 Markets: June 24, Massillon, Duncan Plaza Sept. 23, North Canton Dec. 10, Canton 720 Market 330-571-0367 For event details and locations visit EventsBy720.com 22

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720 MARKET Browse handcrafted goods from over 100 artisans, bakers, brewers and more at this festival-style street market held at locations like Massillon’s Duncan Plaza June 24. Sip craft beer and get local food truck fare while shopping and taking in live music. Plus, check out its sister events like Sidestreet MKT at Oakwood Square Plaza in Canton on second Saturdays May through October to shop more vendors and sample food and drink from local restaurants including Forever Urban Craft Winery, Royal Docks Foeder House & Kitchen, the Bistro of Oakwood and more. And don’t pass up the BAR B*Q MKT at the Main Street Festival in North Canton Aug. 12, where you can eat mouthwatering barbecue. eventsby720.com

CENTENNIAL PLAZA Canton’s front porch is bustling in the summer, hosting outdoor movies on Wednesday nights and farmers markets most Saturdays.

Festivals offer grand displays of entertainment that are not to miss, including Stark Pride Festival June 10 with spectacular drag queen shows, the Stark County Italian American Festival July 7-9 with bocce, and the African American Arts Festival July 21 and 22 with Canton native and percussionist Elec Simon, a drum line and gospel music. Plus, join citywide First Fridays for fun on the plaza like band performances May through October, including Akron-based rockin’ country act Buck Naked Band Sept. 1. 330 Court Ave. NW, Canton, cantoncentennialplaza.com

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PARTING SHOT

by Shawn Davis, photo cour tesy of Summit Memory/Akron-Summit County Public Library and the Alumni Association of Akron City Hospital School of Nursing

“

Healing for All Akron, 1898

”

During the turn-of-the-20th century, getting sick in Akron meant going to the Bartges mansion — it housed Akron City Hospital, which was the first in the city and surprisingly has roots in an ordinary blacksmith. During the time of industrialization, Boniface DeRoo, a long-time Middlebury resident born in the Netherlands, recognized the need for a congregate facility for healing. He gifted his 5-acre estate off East Market Street and dictated in his will that the hospital should treat all patients the same regardless of race, creed, sex or ability to pay. In its first year, 40 operations were performed and 143 patients were cared for in the 21-bed hospital that opened Oct. 13, 1892. Decades later, it merged with the St. Thomas Medical Center and became Summa Health. Breakthroughs included developing a spinal meningitis treatment and having the first accredited radiology department in the U.S. The regional health care powerhouse is still operating under the same principles of equality today.

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