February 2016 Akron Life Magazine

The 100-year legacy of Henry B. Ball / We are North Hill

volume 14 / issue 2

februar y 2016

Sip & Savor

Warm up your winter at these tea rooms

FACES OF THE 330

+ The Ladies

0 2>

$3.95

0

74470 57871

0

Piccadilly Parlour Victorian Tea Room in Canfield photo by Natalie Spencer

Behind the Leaders

% &

%# %#

$%

!

!" # # #

februrary 2016 / vol. 14 / issue 2

PAGES start here

On The Cover / 48 Tea Rooms / Piccadilly Parlour Victorian Tea Room / photo by Natalie Spencer

Features

44 A Family Legacy Cut in Stone Four generations of the Ball family have kept Akron in fine jewelry for 100 years.

48 Rediscover Tea Rooms Warm memories and warm beverages create special moments in four area tea rooms.

Miss Molly’s Tea Room and Gift Shop Photo by Natalie Spencer

4

akronlife

february 2016

pages

14 around town

57 uncorked

16

agenda

Departments

6

/ Mail Bonding

7

/ From the Editor

8

/ Radar (Seen + Heard)

9

/ Up Front

10

/ The Interview

16

/ Agenda

Special Sections

17 Entertainment listings & Calendar of events 22 Spotlight: Big Love Fest 2016

/ 33 Faces of The 330 The people behind the professions

/ 61 Health & Wellness

55

/ Good Eats (notable food & drink)

Jessica Belden Teacher, Translator, Traveler

12

55 Restaurant listings 57 Uncorked: Roth Estate Winery 58 Untapped: Stone Pataskala Red X IPA

/ The Gamut

Everyday fitness and tips from a pro to keep you moving

/ 67 We are North Hill A neighborhood transformed

The Folly of Fighting Failure

14

/ Around Town Ladies Behind the Leaders National First Ladies Library

w w w. akronlife.com

5

mail bonding

Tell us what's on your mind.

The Ronald McDonald House of Akron / Holiday Gift Guide

volume 1 3 / issue 1 2

december 2015

BEST 2015

+

'GPQR /GEF R "IPM L

DOCTORS

+

Comments? Got something to say about an article you read in akronlife? Or maybe you want to tell us about something great happening in the area. Send comments and suggestions to: akronlife, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313 and please include your name and address. Or, email them to editor@bakermediagroup.com.

Six Local Philanthropic Physicians

Gamut: Thoughts on the big picture

Photo by Shane Wynn

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

Get Your Face In Our Magazine HAVE AKRON, WILL TRAVEL - Send us pics of yourself with a copy of akronlife magazine from your travels around the globe and end up on this page!

Publisher Colin Baker cbaker@bakermediagroup.com

Editor-in-Chief Don Baker Jr. dbakerjr@bakermediagroup.com

Creative Director William L. Teckmyer III wteckmyer@bakermediagroup.com

Managing Editor Molly Gase mgase@bakermediagroup.com

Editorial Associate Sharon Cebula scebula@bakermediagroup.com

Reader Appreciation

Contributing Writers Jessica Burkhart Aaron Fowler Rick Rodger Rodney Wilson

I subscribe to akronlife for Rodney’s articles and the rest keeps me up to date on Akron happenings.

I grew up in North Hill and now live in Canton. I get the ABJ and akronlife to keep up on things….so I don’t actually subscribe JUST for that, but really, Rodney’s writing is great and I look forward to each article.

Photographers Shane Wynn swynn@bakermediagroup.com

Natalie Spencer

Barb Abbott Owner, Canton Food Tours / Wooster Food Tours

Sales Colin Baker Bunny Lacey Steve Tyson Ben DiCola

the gamut

by Rodney Wilson and illustration by Carla Wilson

The Crazy Path

sales@bakermediagroup.com

/ In which we (attempt to) celebrate the uncertain road /

I've spoken many times, within these pages even, of how I lack a "fixed notion of self." And by "spoken" I mean bemoaned, lamented, mourned.... For once, though, I want to try something new: I want to flip this too-familiar (to me at least) train of thought and celebrate the migratory, champion inconsistency.

Today, I'm here to praise the ever-changing path.

As I type this, change swirls around me like a temporal twister. There's the overall change, still very active in my consciousness, affected when my family and I left the business we'd run for 12 years to live in the literal wilderness. The fallout from this move has been slow, often boring, occasionally tumultuous, but we've now effectively established this weird life shared with two bossy cows, a mess of pigs and countless chickens and the winds of change have started picking up again. I can smell a storm brewing.

My gut reaction involves fear and anxiety, and I won't lie to you, there's a buzz of terror humming inside me 24/7. I feel it now, churning unbidden, and I don't like it. But just the other day I heard a radio program that celebrated oddballs like me and mine, folks like the NYC bus driver who, one morning in 1947, turned right rather than left onto his route and didn't stop until he reached a warm, Florida beach. Yes, he was arrested, but public acclaim for his detour landed him on talk shows rather than behind bars. The general populous loves an active, preferably public redefinition of a self otherwise determined by routine and consistency. The other day an office worker with a state job and a writing habit told me, after learning of my own writing career, that "the rest of us are living through you." Truth is, I silently coveted the steady reliability of her desk job the entire conversation.

10

But we love the weirdos, don't we? At the risk of equating myself with superior luminaries, I'll call your attention to Apple's iconic "Think different." campaign that championed the "crazy ones," outside-the-box thinkers such as Jim Henson, Amelia Earhart, Pablo Picasso. While my understanding of these figures is that unwavering dedication to their dreams drove them ever-forward into uncertainty, the key word "different" speaks to the change I'm feebly attempting to celebrate, that shift away from normalcy, from office jobs and (sigh) regular paychecks.

This celebration of change, of the constant, headlong bus drive away from familiarity into the shadowy unknown...well, it really is easier to do from inside the box. Most folks remember Frost's metaphorical path, the lesstraveled one, for all the difference it made to the narrator. I've long loved that poem, but it's always been abundantly clear to me that Frost never actually said the difference was a good one. He speaks of a late-in-life "sigh" as he recounts the choice, and the poem's second line states a wish to travel both. I recall footage of Frost reading at JFK's inauguration and wonder where his ambivalence came from.

The poetry path certainly worked out for the man who, previous to national acclaim, worked as a farmer and an English teacher, so why would he even remember the moremanicured trail? Is it because he understood that, for every poet who enjoyed Frost's suc-

akronlife

januar y 2016

Circulation Jessica Burkhart jburkhart@bakermediagroup.com

cess, thousands more languished in poverty and uncertainty until their final breath?

So it's in this last luminary, the rural and gravelly and didactic Frost, that my hand is forced. I must compare myself. Though a failed farmer, he owned farmland throughout his life; despite a body of published work, he always wondered about that other path.

My farm is wildly unprofitable, and touch the page before you my work is published, and not irregularly. And when I stand at the farmer's market, listening to a gainfullyemployed woman tell me how she envies my career, I'm mentally picturing money silently appearing in her bank account every Friday. I stumble down the long, gravel driveway to my mailbox, drawn along this path by the hope I'll find a check from one of the magazines I write for.

Because, you see, we can't celebrate this change, wherein folks buck the system to forge their own paths, without ambivalence.

I mean, they're called "crazy ones" for a reason, and that reason is the system works.

The system takes care of those inside its box.

Some people step off the trail to find a hidden fortune in the wilderness, but plenty of folks get lost in the forest; taking that first step, you never really know which one you're going to be.

Back to the incomplete Frost comparison for

330-253-0056 ext. 112

a minute: Before and after his transformation into what some believe was the finest poet of the 20th century, Robert Frost was an English teacher. I've never been an English teacher but, for many years, I believed my path led in that direction. And now, in the woods on what appears to be a totally different trail, tripping along as way leads on to way, I remember Mr. Pingilley, my high school English teacher, reading Frost's most famous poem (his was the more conventional interpretation of Frost's meaning). I emailed

this teacher the other day, in fact, not to discuss Frost but to share some news: After years of metaphorical burrs and thorns and brambles and, yes, the occasional clearing filled with unspeakable beauty, I've begun the process of earning my teaching certificate.

Interns Photography - Emily Vaeth Design Intern - Caitlin Jones

/ Rodney Wilson is either a pig farmer who writes or a writer who farms pigs. Either way, he’s got a freezer full of bacon and a finished manuscript, and he’s trying to sell both.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

Because, really, there's just one path, and it's yours. Champion every twist, every blind curve, every shifting footing. Celebrate change, and be a crazy one.

w w w. akronlife.com

11

Look for these special features in upcoming issues.

In March, look for our Personalities feature, Top Dentists, Home & Garden and Education: Summer Planning section.

In April, look for our Pets feature, Camp Directory and Travel Beyond The 330 section.

In May, look for our Food feature, Cosmetic Enhancement and Medina County section.

To advertise in one of these special issues, contact Colin Baker at 330-253-0056 ext. 104 t cbaker@bakermediagroup.com 6

akronlife

february 2016

February 2016, Volume 14, Issue 2 (ISSN No. 74470 57871) akronlife is published monthly by Baker Media Group, LLC, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313. Copyright 2016© 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. $3.95 each plus $3.50 shipping & handling.

Editorial, advertising and business offices: (330) 253-0056, fax (330) 253-5868.

from the editor

“All you need is love, love, love...”

Close the blinds, put the children out of the room. We’re going to talk about love. I want to admit right off the bat that I am not an expert on the subject, just an experienced amateur. Though my experience is thin in numbers, a couple of girlfriends and a couple of wives, I have been married since before I can remember and feel the better for it.

Like many young people, I fell in love for the first time at a school dance. I wasn’t a dancer, but somehow I was talked into going to a dance at that school across town—Roosevelt High School—by my friend Sam Hannan. We figured if we were going to fall on our faces, both literally and figuratively, it would be better to fall in front of people we didn’t see every day. But Kent being the small town that it is, nothing gets communicated across town more than a screw-up by one of the students.

I don’t know what it was that pointed my heart in the direction of a girl, Barbara Ruttan, with whom I had attended several classes. What changed from her being just another girl in my Latin class to being my first true love is a mystery that has remained unsolved for decades. Maybe at that point, the hormones that make boys into men kicked in—whatever it was, it hit me hard.

My feet didn’t reach the ground, the world took on a rose hue and my friend Sam asked me to stop talking about her. But I couldn’t.

The dance had incorporated a shoe dance; this is a dance in which the women on one side of the room toss one of their shoes into the center of the dance floor. The boys are then released to grab up a shoe and try to find out which girl it belongs to. I was shrewd, like a boy possessed. I saw Barbara throw her shoe, and I traced it into the pile. I knocked several boys out of the way and ripped the shoe from the hands of a suppliant red-headed boy. I looked to the sidelines and saw her smiling back at me. Oh, love, sweet love.

Be careful of flying too close to the sun. As elevated and exalted as I felt at that moment, I crashed just as hard when she dumped me a couple of months later. I knew it was over

when I collected my meager wages at Hahn’s Bakery and wired her a dozen red roses for her birthday. When we accidentally ran into each other on our way into school the next morning she said, “Thank you so much for the roses.

My mother thinks you are a gentleman and a scholar.”

She started dating Red Ensinger, and we didn’t talk much after that. I don’t mean to imply that I didn’t carry a torch for her for a long time, but after a brief dating experience with another classmate, I swore off love and mostly dated my best friend, Judy Cole, for the rest of high school. I survived without a serious relationship until college.

When I met Molly, we were both auditioning for a part in Cyrano de Bergerac at the new E. Turner Stump Theater at KSU. Sam and I walked by Campus Supply and saw an actor’s call in the window for the first-ever production in the new theater. She was sitting on a step in the rehearsal hall knitting when I, in total innocence, not knowing that I would be the one to make her so, said, “You are going to make someone a wonderful grandmother.”

I don’t remember what she said in response, but we were inseparable from then on.

We were both 19 years old. We were married at 22 and produced Melissa Kathleen thereafter. Young parenthood took over, and two sons were born during the next few years. No divorce is easy, but Molly and I tried to make it as easy on our children as we could. I don’t know how well we did with that, but she and I are still good friends to this day.

A couple of years later, I fell in love with and married Nancy, to whom I have been married

ever since. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was probed and radiated over several weeks, at the end of which I was declared rid of the disease. Prostate cancer strikes one in six men. In a group of golfers with whom I sometimes play, three of us have had the disease. This treatment left me with a completely new look at life. I no longer was looking to mate. I was retired from God’s first rule of law: Go forth and multiply. Now I look at women as God’s gift to man, not just with whom to procreate, but as partners in love, in life and in family. I still love all of those whom I have loved before. I add to that group children (5), grandchildren (10), greatgrandchildren (2) and a couple of beloved dogs.

This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day, the day for lovers. Go out and buy some flowers for someone special and do what we did in the third grade: buy enough Valentine’s Cards for everyone. Also, love with abandon, like you will never be hurt, though you surely will.

You will also be loved with abandon, and that is worth all the hurt that comes your way.

Happy Valentine’s Day Don Baker, Jr., Founder and Editor-in-Chief dbakerjr@bakermediagroup.com

w w w. akronlife.com

7

february 2016 / vol. 14 / issue 2

RADAR seen+heard

»»»»» »»»

Historic Band Receives National Award

city watch

by Rodney Wilson

A local brewer recently released a new beer named after the city of Kent.

“We craft brew it with hops and patchouli,” he said of the IPA. “It’s really a lot of patchouli.”

Since 1859, the Medina Community Band has been filling Medina Square with summer music. The John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the prestigious Sudler Silver Scroll Historic Community Band Award to the group, which has over 100 members and has been under the baton of conductor Marcus Neiman since 1972.

The Medina Community Band is one of only 10 groups in the nation to receive this award.

202% The increase in attendance at the Akron Zoo over the last 15 years.

The Akron Zoo’s new parking lot near the corner of Edgewood and Euclid Avenues includes a FocalPoint Biofiltration System and a StormTech Subsystem Stormwater Mangement System, the first of its kind in Ohio. These systems work together to keep debris and sediment from tainting the natural aquifer under the zoo, and storm runoff from overloading the city’s combined sewer system. Attendance at the zoo has grown 202 percent in the last 15 years.

8

akronlife

Deadline to Enter Juried Arts Festival Area artists only have until midnight on February 22 to get their entries in for the Valley Art Center’s 33rd Annual Art by the Falls festival. The two-day juried event in June features over 120 artists from around the country displaying every imaginable medium amid the natural beauty of Riverside Park in Chagrin Falls. Food, live music and a children’s art tent will also be available.

february 2016

A Cuyahoga Falls man rented out a whole movie theater to ensure he saw “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” on opening night. “Visit my match.com

profile for a full description of the experience,” said the man, adding, “Please.”

A show featuring pastel portraits by Bob Dylan recently opened at Kent State’s Downtown Gallery. When

reached for comment, the legendary singer said, “[unintelligible].”

The University of Akron was recently dropped by its Broadway partner, Kansas City’s Theater League. A

representative for the school’s theater program was fired as you read this.

A man wielding a rolling pin was arrested after Akron restaurant workers foiled the robbery attempt.

The suspect was released after police realized he was there to interview for the pie-maker position.

up front

A little look at history Looking at past personalities illuminates future decisions.

The study of history is an amazing thing. Stories of lives lived to the fullest, flags waved with gusto and causes shouted as loud as possible.

The names of people in our history books did more than just exist.

They shaped our present, or at least helped to do so.

Ever since I was little, I have been absolutely enthralled by the past.

The stories were almost as good as fiction—with the exception of Harry Potter, that took the cake. Life is so unpredictable. Like a crazed carnival ride, it jerks passengers up and down, jarringly flinging them around each curve. Each bump in the track changes the direction you were going, even if ever so slightly. These changes in direction happen to everyone, regardless of name or destiny. Without the bumps, a life that impacted everyone worldwide might not have gone the way it did.

The downfalls, failures and moments of change are what set us on the path of who we will be. For some people, those paths ended up being pretty darn awesome.

Though the people of the past were fascinating to me, I hadn’t thought of them as actual people. To me they were names to memorize, forces of impact upon the timeline. It took a trip across the ocean to open my eyes fully to one part of the reality of history—that each of those names had a life. I was 11 years old the summer that my family went on our biggest vacation. We boarded a plane in Detroit and flew to visit some old family friends in England. The trip was amazing, and I could say many things about the things we saw, ate—or didn’t eat in the case of my brother and I…we’re picky eaters—and learned. But the day that my parents ushered us into the Globe Theatre in London has always stuck in my mind.

Today, Shakespeare is known as a literary great. But I remember standing there in that rounded theater thinking of it as an office. Just like my parents went to their respective places of employment each day, what he did in that landmark location was a job. I understand that this is an extremely simplified way to look at it and that he was doing much more than just clocking in each day. As a kid though, this notion was a way to link him to reality, lifting him off of the pages of history and into the very dirty real world.

Before that visit, I wasn’t really sure where I was going career-wise. It really didn’t worry me in any way—I still thought astronaut or movie

star might be an option at that point—but after that trip I knew one thing for certain. I had a great regard for the written word. Reading was no longer an obligation; it was a passion. Thanks, Shakespeare.

It is amazing that a man who lived hundreds of years before me could be such a source of inspiration. Of course, many of history’s greats probably had no idea how their actions would change the world. In this issue of the magazine, we were able to hear some amazing stories of the past. On a local front, I spoke with three generations of a family-owned business with humble origins. Henry B. Ball, the man, started out in the jewelry industry running deliveries. As he worked hard to climb the ladder in his career, I doubt he actively thought about what the business would be like three generations later. Legacies develop over the years; they aren’t always planned in the beginning.

I also had the opportunity to learn about the National First Ladies Library, located in Canton. This resource of national history is the only one of its kind and is a treasure trove of unexpected stories.

Once again, many of the women featured there are great examples of people presented with a turn in the track. Though planned, usually, they seized opportunity and ran with it. Through their notoriety as the leading lady of our country, First Ladies were able to advance causes important to them. Organizations like the Girl Scouts benefited from the support of First Ladies, impacting multiple generations of Americans.

Even in North Hill, Akronites can see history developing every day as new immigrant groups come to the neighborhood, making it a home through their own hard work. The cultural changes the area has seen over the decades tell a unique story—one sprinkled with interesting people.

To say that history is constantly changing is slightly corny, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Sometimes a person who is just going to work, living their life, raising a family, can transform into an influential name in our history books. These real people have fascinating stories that we can only hope will live on throughout time. Enjoy the local histories that are all around us in this area, and don’t forget that they began with a real person, just living their life.

/ Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office non-stop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

the interview

by Molly Gase and photo by Emily Vaeth

Jessica Beldon / Teacher, traveler and translator /

Jessica Beldon works daily with language. Currently an instructor for Project Learn of Summit County—an organization that provides literacy programs to county residents—she has worked with language all her life.

Beldon’s parents are both deaf and met while attending the Ohio School of the Deaf in Columbus.

They raised their family in Akron, where Beldon’s father worked as a printer for the Akron Beacon Journal and her mother taught at The University of Akron.

While her mother, father and older brother are each deaf, Beldon and her older sister are both hearing.

Growing up, Beldon developed a deep appreciation for not only the hearing-impaired, but all different cultures. “Around the age of 9 or 10, I remember seeing pictures of Bhutanese people and wanting to know them more, and now I teach them here in Akron.”

What inspired you to become a teacher?

JB: Seeing my mom teach University of Akron students who had no knowledge of our visual language, ASL (American Sign Language), transform into successful interpreters inspired me to become a teacher.

Early in high school, I struggled to keep up with notetaking my teacher’s lectures. The teacher thought I had hearing loss. After hearing tests proved that to not be the case, my mom realized it was an auditory-listening skill that I needed to develop.

How did you overcome this?

JB: The learning strategy my mom chose was for me to interpret Rap and Heavy Metal music to her while she read the lyrics. If I missed even one word, I had to start the song all over. Thus, my love for these types of music came from my deaf mom introducing me to it.

Did your mom also teach you how to interpret?

JB: Like many children, I began working in the family business. My mom trained interpreters. My brother became a CDI (Certified Deaf Interpreter) like our mom. My sister and I also became nationally-certified interpreters.

10

akronlife

february 2016

How did you transition into teaching English as a second language?

What’s one aspect of working there that is especially cool?

JB: After 20 years in the interpreting field, I began tutoring international adults, who were learning English as a second language.

I really enjoyed it. My passion for teaching was back. I began pursuing a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language with a concentration in Intercultural Studies.

Halfway through my program, my mom’s health declined so I moved back up north to be near her. Aiming to finish school sooner, I concentrated in ESL (English as a Second Language). I also completed a M.A. in Ministry, to learn more about serving people in the community. I have always had a passion to work in a field helping people.

JB: I love creating different teaching strategies and watching students improve their skills.

I also evaluate refugee new arrivals at the International Institute for English class placement. I enjoy seeing students on their journeys, from the beginning to the completion of their academic goals with us.

What kind of classes do you teach at Project Learn?

FEB. 20 7:30 PM EJ THOMAS

JB: While growing up hearing in a family of deaf culture within the society of hearing culture, I learned cultural sensitivity and developed an understanding of different types of people early on. With a desire to go to Asia, I led a team of college students teaching English in Hong Kong for six weeks. The college students knew of my family’s background and dared me to talk to some people we saw signing in Hong Kong.

Did anyone answer you?

JB: I told my group that their sign language is different than ours, but they thought we could manage to communicate anyway. I approached them and signed, “Does anyone of you know ASL (American Sign Language)?”

One of the ladies replied in ASL. Whew!

Is there a particular place still on your travel wish-list?

JB: I have always wanted to see the Great Wall of China in person, but have not yet.

Going to Tokyo has also been a dream of mine—hopefully someday.

Have your children ever traveled with you? Where did you go?

JB: I did a month-long internship in Spain teaching English to adults as well as children in an English camp. I brought my sons, so they could have cross-cultural experiences too. It brought our family closer together and solidified my decision to pursue teaching ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). / Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office non-stop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

Gospe

SATURDAY

JB: I am in my third year as an instructor for Project Learn of Summit County. I love what I do there. Not only do I teach ESOL classes, such as ESOL Healthcare and Career Pathways—a class designed for international medical professionals pursuing healthcare fields here in the United States—I enjoy teaching beginner-level ESOL Vocational Skills at ASIA, Inc. In addition, I teach adult Literacy and GED classes for Project Learn.

I heard you are a bit of world traveler.

Why do you enjoy travelling?

We chatted for a little while, and she taught me several signs in HKSL (Hong Kong Sign Language).

Christopher Wilkins Music Director

l Meet single tickets range from $25-$55 become a patron for an additional $35 www.akronsymphony.org or 330-535-8131

phony

s Sym

Featuring Kofi Boakye and Ashton Blake from One Sound!

w w w. akronlife.com

11

the gamut

by Rodney Wilson and illustration by Carla Wilson

The Folly of Fighting Failure / Leaving room to get it wrong /

Yesterday, I gathered with family members around our dining room table, its sturdy top laden with homegrown farm fare and heaping plates of Pinterest cookies. For me, the experience was laced through with strange juxtapositions and thematic inconsistencies.

This tabletop—of which I’ve previously written—is a familiar space where I and my immediate family meet for almost every meal in a fairly routine experience. We, the parents, sit quietly as we listen to them, the children, chatter excitedly about superheroes and video games. But when the family table extended its leaves to welcome sisters and in-laws, parents and nieces; when conversation veered toward sports teams and church attendance (topics about which I know infinitely less than caped crusaders and pixelated adventures), I felt the unsettling duality of feeling out of place while seated in my own home.

But what I really want to talk about is something my brother-in-law told me while we stood by the dinner table. I can’t remember exactly how talk veered toward this particular topic, but he, an old acquaintance with a full beard and job at a library with no books, told me how, in the cafeteria of the school where his son, my nephew, attends middle school, a collection of banal quotations peppers the wall—platitudes hung with ticky tack for students to passively absorb without notice.

My brother-in-law noticed, however, and recounted one specific quotation that stuck in his craw, as it now sticks in mine: “Failure is not an option.”

First, some history on this quote. Though it feels like a truism written in our genetic code by multi-generational repetition, the line actually dates to the 1995 Hollywood blockbuster film, “Apollo 13.” While the movie recounts actual events, this particular bit of dialogue was the result of a screenwriter’s time at a 12

akronlife

computer, a piece of cinematic punch on par with “may the force be with you” or “you had me at hello.” However, in an instance of simulacrum that feels less surprising than it should be, Gene Kranz, the real-life NASA Flight Director whose big-screen variant uttered the line, appropriated the statement for the title of his memoir, which itself inspired a History Channel television series. So...

Now, for Gene Krantz, whose job performance had a direct impact on the lives— actual lives—of people floating in space and really hoping to get back to their earthbound families, failure in that most crucial of moments didn’t have a place at the table.

However, for the scores of astronautic scientists whose decades of study, experimentation and trial-and-error led to humans escaping the atmosphere to swim in the inky ether of space, failure was not only an option, but an february 2016

absolute reality. Anybody with the dimmest understanding of the scientific process understands that failure is an indispensable propellant to ingenuity and massive breakthroughs.

Another major scientific figure requiring minimal education for recognition is Albert Einstein. For all the German physicist’s genius and inestimable discoveries underlying the framework of modern scientific thought, most people don’t know society came close to never knowing the man and his universedefining theories. While Einstein introduced the General Theory of Relativity in 1915, shattering Newtonian law and opening up whole new fields of study, in truth the paper was a reworking of a 1913 publication, one that contained a fatal flaw in the calculations.

The 1913 paper was, in terms of proving the theory of relativity, a failure, but the world at large didn’t realize this at the time—in fact,

nobody paid much attention to Einstein at all in 1913, as early skirmishes in what was to become World War I transfixed the public.

Einstein was able to quietly retract the paper and rework it to remedy the miscalculations, and when he finally found the functioning equations in November 1915, the discovery was untainted by previous failure. Many believe, however, that had the right person noticed in 1913, Einstein’s flub would have cost him his clout and undermined acceptance of his 1915 findings. Our intolerance of failure very well could have ruined spacetime for us—no “Star Trek,” no “Doctor Who,” no “Interstellar.”

It should be noted, though, that Einstein did not, as popularly believed, fail high school. He was, in fact, a notably capable student.

A world in which failure isn’t an option is a world where chances are never taken, opportunities never explored. A world without failure is one where new doesn’t exist and standard reigns supreme. Failure looms as a possibility over every encounter with the unfamiliar, and denying room for an unsuccessful experience in effect negates the possibility of ever learning anything. And this, on the wall of a public middle school.

I’m sure whoever put this un-inspirational quote on the cafeteria’s cinderblock wall didn’t intend to dissuade learning. I don’t think it’s cynical to assume it was an admonishment for students not to fail their state-mandated tests, either. But I do believe tacit acceptance of this phrase as something worth posting is symptomatic of a greater problem in society, a focus on success potential as a barometer for evaluating experiences. The concept of a hardwon success, an eventual victory after countless failures, requires patience and an ability to take the long-view of life’s journey. As I see it, our culture obsesses over every footstep, often choosing to stand still or even step backward rather than take an uncertain step forward into uncertainty. If failure’s not an option, neither is progress.

The Internet is filled with articles and blogs on failure, often laid out in numbered lists of how to handle and/or learn from it. My advice is simpler: Fail. You need to, we need to. Sometimes it’s the only option. / Rodney Wilson is either a pig farmer who writes or a writer who farms pigs. Either way, he’s got a freezer full of bacon and a finished manuscript, and he’s trying to sell both.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

w w w. akronlife.com

13

around town

by Molly Gase and photos by Emily Vaeth

Ladies Behind the Leaders / National First Ladies Library /

Throughout our nation’s history, we have seen many powerful men occupy the top office of our government. Some are looked back on with respect and feelings of endearment, while others are disliked or even pushed right out of the limelight, almost forgotten. Behind each of these leaders, however, was a woman: The First Lady.

Simply defined as the wife of the president of the United States, this role is more than a title or an old-fashioned domestic role. The women bestowed with this title over the years were more than pretty faces; they worked hard to drive through their own initiatives—many of which were very political. Learning about them could take hours upon hours of studious research, but with a trip to the National First Ladies Library in Canton, visitors can glimpse into these women’s lives.

The library itself was brought to life by a politician’s wife. Mary Regula, the wife of a congressman, started the Library in 1995 with the goal of bringing the First Ladies to the forefront of history.

Patricia Krider is the current executive director of the library. She was originally recruited as a volunteer by Regula herself. Regula went to Stark State College, where Krider happened to be teaching computer classes, looking for volunteers to help develop the brand new organization’s website. After three years of volunteer work, Krider became the first executive director in 2000. Though her initial involvement was technologically based, Krider says that it was just a starting point. “I got involved by creating the website and that grew into this love of history,” says Krider.

Nellie Taft's fan and portrait on display at the library

When many people hear the word library, they assume that it will be a silent home to thick tomes.

14

akronlife

february 2016

However this is not the case with the First Ladies Library. “Well our name is a little bit of a misnomer because we are much more than a library,” says Krider. “We’re actually a national historic site. My organization, the National First Ladies Library, is a private partner with the National Park Service, and we operate and manage the site.”

Officially made the 380th unit of the National Park Service in 2000 by President Bill Clinton, this piece of history is comprised of two parts. First, there is the seven-story education and research center. This is where visitors can find the research library, exhibits based around themes, programs for the general public and school children, as well as living history presentations, author lectures and book signings.

The second half of the site is a home rich in its own history. “We have a historic home that was the home of Ida Saxton McKinley, and she and her husband William lived there longer than any other private residence.” A bustling home, its occupants included not just the McKinleys, but also Ida Saxton McKinley’s parents, her sister and her children as well. According to Krider, the home was built in two sections. “The original section was [built] in 1841, and then it was expanded in about 1865, and it’s been restored to look like it may have looked during the 1870s, 1880s, while the McKinleys lived there.”

A walk through the education and research center is more than just a chance to gaze at garments of the country’s leading ladies.

Though there are beautiful gowns on display, the exhibits showcase much more than fashion trends. “We’ve done a lot of different themes,” says Krider. “We’ve done First Ladies in education, in health care, the causes of First Ladies. We’ve done exhibits on the artistry of First Ladies and talked about who had musical talents or talents with painting or a variety of different things.”

One exhibit even highlighted the forgotten First Ladies. These lesser-known women have slid from the limelight for many reasons— sometimes due to illness or death—but still have a tale to be told. “There are First Ladies where there is very little. It’s difficult with some of the First Ladies because there are not even photographs in existence or paintings or anything,” says Krider. Regardless of the limited resources, she says that they work hard to present a complete presentation of the woman in question. “You just have to use what you have and tell the story of her life. She still had a life and she still had a story, even if there is nothing tangible that you can show.”

Portrait of Florence Harding

Betty Ford's fascinator hat and gloves

Not all First Ladies are on exhibit at the same time. Instead, five to seven of them are highlighted within the theme of that particular exhibit. “You’re never going to see all 44 First Ladies,” says Krider. This allows visitors to have a detailed experience about the women featured in the current exhibit without being overwhelmed by information.

The current exhibit, running through February 26, is called “A Gift to Cherish.”

“These gifts that are given by First Ladies are something that you would cherish because it is something very special,” says Krider. The upcoming exhibit, opening March 3, will highlight First Ladies on the campaign trail— discussing the details of campaigning for the Oval Office.

As the stories of the past unfold before a visitor, it can be surprising which ones stick. For Krider, there is no solid favorite. “I really can’t say that I have a favorite, but I have come to admire pretty much all of them.” Though each one has her own fascinating story, Krider says that one definitely surprised her. “Lou Hoover was an amazing woman. She’s a First Lady during the Great Depression, so her husband wasn’t a particularly popular president and [because of this] she kind of gets shuffled to the background.” A fascinating woman, Hoover spoke Mandarin Chinese, was an architect, was the first woman to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in

Frances Cleveland's floral print gown

geology and was an advocate for women’s physical fitness, Krider says. She was also involved in the Girl Scouts.

Discovering women like Hoover is one of the reasons that Krider encourages people to visit the Library. “There are just amazing stories and fascinating facts about these women that people don’t realize,” she says. “They were a major contribution to our country, and there are stories to tell, things to see and history to learn.” The National First Ladies Library Education and Research Center is located at 205 S. Market Ave. Canton, Ohio 44702. The Saxton McKinley House is located at 331 S. Market Ave. To learn more about the library, visit www.firstladies.org. / Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office non-stop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

w w w. akronlife.com

15

february 2016 / vol. 14 / issue 2

AGENDA the essential social digest

2/26 CIRQUE ZIVA FEATURING THE G OLDEN D RAGON ACROBATS

These acrobats have been recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company in the United States and have toured continuously since 1978 to international acclaim. Its members are athletes, actors and artists who have studied and trained for their craft since early childhood.

Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $17.50-$35. For details, visit www.akroncivic.com.

2/6, 2/7 SOME L IKE IT C OLD: SNOW L EOPARDS

Learn more about some of the animals at the zoo who love the cold of winter. Enjoy exhibit talks and crafts, as well as feeding the penguins for only $3. Saturdays and Sundays through February. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7. Free for members. For details, visit www.akronzoo.org.

16

akronlife

february 2016

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

Through 2/7 “Same Time Next Year” One of the world’s most widely produced plays, the plot follows a love affair between two people, Doris and George, married to others, who rendezvous once a year. Twenty-five years of manners and morals are hilariously and touchingly played out by the lovers.

Actors’ Summit Theater, Greystone Hall, 103 S. High Street, Akron. $10-$33. For showtimes, visit www. actorssummit.org.

Through 2/13 Barbara Gillette “Retrospective” Barbara Gillette has been a force in the Ohio art scene for more than 25 years and has been represented by the Harris-Stanton Gallery since 1993. In her newest body of work, she is continuing her exploration of line and color with a focus on flowers from her garden. Harris Stanton Gallery, 2301 W. Market St., Akron. For details, visit www.harrisstantongallery.com.

Through 2/15 The Ice Rink at Lock 3 Bundle up in your warmest winter wear and come down to Lock 3 for the winter festivities. Enjoy free ice skating at the outdoor rink or bring the kids to Zippy’s Little

Roo Rink. Play nine holes of Polar Putt-Putt or enjoy 150 feet of downhill fun on the Reindeer Run slide designed for children ages 14 and under. At the concession stand, chili, soups and hot chocolate will warm skating and sledding enthusiasts. Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron. Skate rental, $3. For a complete list of Lock 3 winter events, visit www.lock3live.com.

Through 2/21 “Murder on the Nile” In this thriller by Agatha Christie, a young couple on their honeymoon cruise of the Nile is surrounded by mysterious, potentially dangerous characters, as well as the groom’s jilted fiancé. Coach House Theatre, 732 W. Exchange St., Akron. $12-$22. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.coachhousetheatre.org.

Through 2/21 Andrea Modica: “Extended Moments” This exhibition focuses on photographs Modica has taken in Italy, when she traveled on a Fulbright Scholarship. Photographs offer insights into the artist’s career, with the prints dating as early as 1986 on view alongside studies from recent projects.

All are distinguished in offering quiet moments and conveying the humanity of her subjects. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; $5-$7. Gallery admission is free every Thursday. www.akronartmuseum.org.

Through 2/21 “Composing Identities”: Paintings by Melissa Markwald Markwald’s work, strongly based in photography, has been included in two dozen juried, group and solo exhibitions in Summit, Portage, Cuyahoga and Stark Counties, garnering 3rd place in the 2015 UA Myers School of Art Juried Show.

Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E., Canton. For details, visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

Through 2/28 Island of Misfit Toys In celebration of a decade of misfit toys at the Akron Art Museum, the museum asked local school children and professional artists to transform Munny vinyl toys into works of art. Artists of all ages have decorated Munny using pens, pencils, markers, paint, clay, feathers and other supplies. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron.

Wed.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; $5$7. Gallery admission is free every Thursday. www. akronartmuseum.org.

Through 3/6 “Moving Toward the Light”: Watercolors by Joseph Raffael Joseph Raffael manifests the intensity of nature with his contemporary, color-saturated works. His dazzling large-scale paintings have meticulous detail, which bloom before your eyes as you experience the pop of his lavish color palette. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. $6$8. Children under 12 are free. For details, visit www.cantonart.org.

Through 3/6 “Blue Collar”: Sculptures by Kyle & Kelly Phelps The identical twin Phelps brothers present “Blue Collar”, an exhibition of expressive ceramic sculptures. Much of the twins’ work is about the working-class and the everyday struggles of the common man and woman. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. $6-$8. Children under 12 are free. For details, visit www.cantonart.org.

w w w. akronlife.com

17

2/3 BLU Jazz+ presents Cliff Barnes: Solo Piano Pittsburgh-based pianist, organist and bassist, Cliff Barnes, is an accomplished and versatile musician in genres ranging from gospel to jazz. Barnes has performed with some of the biggest names in the industry, including David Sanborn and Pieces of a Dream. BLU’s Solo Piano Wednesday series showcases the finest pianists in the greater Northeast Ohio area. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 7 p.m.

Free. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron.com.

2/3 Jilly’s presents Tim Coyne Quartet Enjoy Coyne’s quartet, playing smooth and original horndriven jazz. Must be age 21 or older, or accompanied by an adult. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 7-9 p.m. Free. www.jillysmusicroom.com.

Through 3/6 “Out of the Woods and Into the Ring”: Clay Sculptures by Kristen Cliffel Cliffel draws upon incidents from her home life and transmutes them into a fairy tale realm full of familiar images from unassuming cultural references.

The resulting sculptures are playful, often humorous, sometimes cynical, and reveal both the joys and hardships of living in the modern world. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. $6-$8.

Children under 12 are free. For details, visit www.cantonart.org.

Through 3/15 “Three Artists, Three Viewpoints” This show expresses three different thoughts and feelings that are based on the same themes, presented by three area artists: Paul Jersik, watercolorist; Carolyn Lewis, Plein Air painter; and Jana Volkmer, oil and pastel artist, express their three viewpoints in this upstairs gallery show. New Studios of Jack Richard, 2250 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. For details, call 330-929-1575.

2/3 Solo at Sarah’s Vineyard presents Little Steve-O’s Blues Local musicians perform at this Countryside Initiative farm. Enjoy wine and light food in the 1840s post-and-beam tasting room.

Sarah’s Vineyard, 1204 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls. 7-10 p.m. Free. For details, visit sarahsvineyardwinery.com.

2/3-2/4 2016 Winter Special Olympics Ohio Come to cheer on these athletes as they brave freezing temperatures to compete in the Winter Special Olympics.

The games will feature 200 competing athletes from Ohio. Cross-country and downhill skiing events will be held at Brandywine Ski Resort, 1146 W. Highland Road, Sagamore Hills. Ice skating will be held at Kent State University’s Ice Arena, 650 Loop Road, Kent. For a complete list of events, visit www.sooh.org/events.php.

2/4 Nature Stories Children ages 18 months to 3 years old, with adult companions, join a naturalist for this interactive, nature-inspired story time.

Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/4 Creative Playdate: Geo Magic Playground Children 0-5 years and their grown-ups learn best through intuitive, open-ended play that feeds their senses. Follow your child’s natural instinct to wiggle, squeal and make a mess while exploring the creative process. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron.

11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $10/Non-members; Free/ Members. To register, visit www.akronartmuseum. org/calendar.

Through 4/24 Fashion Outlaws This exhibition explores the social history of women’s clothing from the Industrial Revolution to World War II. Fashion outlaws are women who rebelled against tightly laced corsets and heavy, full skirts, to gain the ease of movement necessary to run, drive, bicycle and more, all while earning greater social freedom. Massillon Museum, 121 Lincoln Way E., Canton. For details, visit www.massillonmuseum.org.

2/4 Apollo’s Fire presents “Sephardic Journeys: Wanderings of the Spanish Jews Cast out of Jerusalem and Spain, the Spanish Jews in their travels absorbed the colorful and exotic musical accents of Italy and the Middle East. This musical journey interweaves Sephardic folk songs with the Monteverdi-like Hebrew choral work of the Songs of Solomon. Fairlawn Lutheran Church, 3415 W. Market St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $20-$60. Free for students. For tickets, visit www.apollosfire.org.

2/4 Wynonna & The Big Noise: Stories & Song Wynonna Judd is touring for the first time in over four years to promote her newest studio album, “Wynonna & The Big Noise.” Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 7:30 p.m. $30-$58. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

2/4 BLU Jazz+ presents Big Band Residency with The Sam Blakeslee Large Group Join BLU as they kick off the new first Thursday of the month artist

18

akronlife

february 2016

residency in 2016, featuring the very best in local and regional big band jazz. The debut resident ensemble is led by composer, Sam Blakeslee. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $10. For tickets, visit www. blujazzakron.com.

2/4 The Tangier presents Little River Band Little River Band is considered to be one of Australia’s most significant bands.

Their current lineup brings energy and arrangements to the classic hits, making new memories for the audience out of each live performance. The Tangier, 532 W. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $50. For tickets, visit www.thetangier.com/entertainment.

2/4, 2/19 Voices in the Valley presents Roger Hoover’s Pastures of Plenty The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www. peninsulahistory.org.

2/5 Winter Bird Walk Join a naturalist on this walk to search for winter birds of the ledges. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. Liberty Park, Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 9:3011:30 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/5 Homeschoolers: Camouflage Homeschoolers, ages 7 to 10: Discover why camouflage is one of the best adaptations in the natural world. Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10:30 a.m.-Noon and 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/5 First Friday: Cupcakes & Cocktails at Canton Museum of Art Join Kristen Cliffel for this special event during First Friday. Indulge in cupcake decorating as a fun activity for the whole family and then kick back and enjoy custom cocktails designed by the artist herself. Free activities and admission into the galleries for First Friday. Cocktail Cash bar.

Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton.

5-8 p.m. For details, visit www.cantonart.org/exhibits/ current.

2/5 Kick The Cold Fed up with winter and the cold?

Take a brief hike around Maple Loop, and then enjoy a campfire in the new shelter. Marshmallows and roasting sticks will be provided. Liberty Park, Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 6-8 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/5 Canton’s First Friday: “Frosty Frolic” First Friday is a monthly party in the downtown Canton Arts District featuring themed music, performances and visual arts events, as well as a few surprises for adults and children. It is a self-guided tour of local art galleries, studios, stores and restaurants. Downtown Canton, 321 Court Ave. NW, Canton. 6-10 p.m. Free. www. cantonartsdistrict.com/firstfriday.

Prepare.

The FAFSA you get it done the better.

Apply early!

Log in.

Fill out.

Follow up.

Some things can’t wait. Like securing money for college.

With up to $5,700 in free tuition grants on the line – plus low-interest loans – submitting your child’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid [FAFSA] before the deadline is a must. So don’t delay. Visit FAFSA.gov today and follow the simple steps to see how much your student can receive. Go to FAFSA Summit County on Facebook for helpful tips!

2/5 Voices in the Valley presents Hey Mavis Americana band Hey Mavis is back at the G.A.R. Hall featuring sensual and innovative roots music from last year’s release of their album, “What I did.” Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. 7 p.m. $15/Presale; $20/Door. For tickets, visit www. peninsulahistory.org.

2/5 Jilly’s presents Roxxymoron This Akron-based band is an eight-piece rock cover band (except when they rap) with a full horn section, tight vocals and harmonies, witty banter and ridiculous costumes for Halloween. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Free. Visit www.jillysmusicroom.com.

2/5 Marlon Wayans Wayans is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter and film producer best known for his roles in the comedies “White Chicks” and “Scary Movie.” Wayans will be performing his live stand-up show for fans at the Rocksino.

Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 8 p.m. $38-$58. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

2/5-2/27 “1776” The seminal event in American history blazes to vivid life in this most unconventional of Broadway hits. “1776” puts a human face on the pages of history as we see the men behind the national icons: proud, frightened, uncertain, irritable, charming, often petty and ultimately noble figures, determined to do the right thing for a fledgling nation. The Hudson Players, 41 S. Oviatt St., Hudson. $14. For tickets and showtimes, visit www. hudsonplayers.com.

“Striving for 48,000 college degrees by 2025!” seisummit.org

2/6 Rubber City Rollergirls A diverse group of women built for hard hits and speed. The Rollergirls’ bouts promise fun times and excitement for everyone. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron.

5 p.m. doors; 6 p.m. bout. Adult tickets $9-$13; Children $5-$6. Advance tickets available. www. rubbercityrollergirls.com.

2/6 Cardboard Classic Enjoy some fun in the snow by recycling old items into new sleds. All sleds will be assembled on site. Cardboard, duct tape and marshmallows will be provided for roasting. If no snow, the program will be rescheduled. Registration required. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Sled Hill, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/6 License Plate Bird House Learn how to attract wrens to your back yard, then build a license plate birdhouse. Limit one kit per family. Participation is required to purchase a $10 kit. Space is limited.

Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. $10. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/6 Music and the Mind Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Kogan speaks about creativity and performs Rachmaninoff’s most popular concerto, dedicated to his hypnotist. The emotional impact of Berlioz’s youthful Symphonie fantastique is as forceful today as ever. Christopher Wilkins conducting.

The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $12.50-$55.

For tickets, visit www.akronsymphony.org.

w w w. akronlife.com

19

*IFVYEV] MW 2EXMSREP 4IX (IRXEP ,IEPXL 1SRXL K;@=<MD= QGMJ H=L K N=L=JAF9JQ <=FL9D =P9E LG<9Q

*( G>> <=FL9DK <GF L A?FGJ= QGMJ H=L K :9< :J=9L@ &EH FVIEXL MW SJXIR E [EVRMRK WMKR SJ HIRXEP HMWIEWI MR TIXW

(IRXEP HMWIEWI GER PIEH XS LIEVX PMZIV ERH OMHRI] HMWIEWI 4VSXIGX ]SYV TIX [MXL VIKYPEV GLIGO YTW ERH E LSQI HIRXEP VSYXMRI 0MOI YW SR *EGIFSSO ):)2-2+ %4487 32 132(%= %2( 89)7(%= ,3967 132 89)7 %1 41 ;)( 8,9 *6- %1 41 7%8 %1 41

:%00)= %2-1%0 ,374-8%0 ;;; 3,-34)8:)8 '31 1)66-1%2 6( %/632 3,

2/6 Jilly’s presents Colin Dussault’s Blues Project Award winning harmonica-driven, blues-based, roots, rock and soul music is what best describes the musical stylings of this Cleveland-based band. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Free.

Visit www.jillysmusicroom.com.

2/6 Tangier presents Ekoostik Hookah Formed in 1991, this Columbus, Ohio-based jam band has made multiple national tours in the U.S., as well as performing in overseas locales like Amsterdam and Jamaica. Band of Peace will open. The Tangier, 532 W. Market St., Akron. 8:30 p.m. $15. For tickets, visit www.thetangier.com.

2/6 BLU Jazz+ presents Orrin Evans Trio This New York City piano sensation and chart-topping Smoke Sessions Records recording artist brings his trio to the Rubber City in support of his allnew album, “The Evolution of Oneself,” spanning jazz, neo-soul, hip-hop, country and more. Featuring Orrin Evans, Madison Rast and Anwar Marshall. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 7 and 9:30 p.m. $20. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron.com.

2/6 Voices in the Valley presents The Mostly Blues Band The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available.

G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.peninsulahistory.org.

20

akronlife

2/6 Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute Band sponsored by WONE Formed to create an accurate depiction of Led Zeppelin, each member was selected to portray both the appearance and playing styles of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham and John Paul Jones. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $20. For tickets, visit www.akroncivic.com.

2/6 Heritage Concert: The Way Wanderers The modern folk Americana band has been performing and writing together for just over a year. Youthful and professionally trained, these five young men captivate with soaring instrumentals, foot-stomping singalongs, and a lively stage show. Happy Days Lodge, 500 W. Streetsboro Road, Peninsula. 8-10:30 p.m. $5$17. For tickets, visit www.conservancyforcvnp.org.

2/6, 2/7 Some Like it Cold: Snow Leopards Learn more about some of the animals at the zoo who love the cold of winter. Enjoy exhibit talks and crafts, as well as feeding the penguins for only $3.

Saturdays and Sundays through February.

Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7. Free for members. For details, visit www.akronzoo.org. february 2016

2/6, 2/20 Point of No Return Improv Now in its 14th year, Point of No Return Improv provides an interactive comedy experience. Brave volunteers may even find themselves on stage being serenaded or used as props by the cast. Shows are suitable for audiences ages 13 and up.

Quirk Cultural Center, 1201 Grant Ave., Cuyahoga Falls. 7:30 p.m. $5. www. pnrimprov.org.

2/6-3/19 The Illusion Factory’s Winter Theatre School Children ages 5 and over will enjoy seven weeks of theatrical training from professional theatre instructors. Classes include “Let’s Pretend,” that takes students to a world of imaginative make-believe through play acting, and “Acting Out,” a fun, handson acting class where students work on basic acting skills. Register today and make friends and lasting memories. Northwest Family Recreation Center, 1730 Shatto Ave., Akron. $70. To register, call 330-3765700.

2/7 Nature Drawing for Kids Children ages 6 to 12 join a naturalist-artist for this lesson in nature drawing. Paper and pencils will be provided.

Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-3:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks. org.

%HFDXVH

PRUH FRYHUDJH 0$77(56

:.68 KDV \RX FRYHUHG ZLWK PRUH HQJDJLQJ 135 SURJUDPV DQG LQ GHSWK UHSRUWLQJ LQ PRUH RI 1RUWKHDVW 2KLR FRXQWLHV WR EH SUHFLVH

Celebrating 65 years WKSU, an equal oopportunity, affirmative action employer, is committed to attaining excellence through the recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce 15 UR 00125 135

2/7 Feeding Time Ever wonder what we feed our display animals at the Nature Realm? Children ages 5 and over can help us feed the animals and learn more about them. Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 1-2 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/7 Rusty Blackbird Bird Walk Join a naturalist to search for the beautiful yellow eyes of the rusty blackbird, a declining species that winters in Firestone Metro Park. All other birds will be a bonus. Firestone Metro Park, Tuscarawas Meadows Area, 2620 Harrington Road, Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/7 German Family Society’s Kinder Maskenball This is a special day for children to dress up and play games. An exotic animal trainer will be coming out to show off his friends. Sandwiches and pizza will be available. German Family Society of Akron, 3871 Ranfield Road, Kent. 2 p.m. $6. For details, visit www. germanfamilysociety.com.

2/8 Cardio Hike Join a naturalist for healthy outdoor exercise by hiking at a vigorous pace with few, if any, rest stops. Beginners are welcome, but talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine.

Drinking water is recommended. Liberty Park, Tinkers Creek Area, 10303 Aurora-Hudson Road, Streetsboro.

Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/9 Nature Stories Children ages 18 months to 3 years old, with adult companions, join a naturalist for this interactive, nature-inspired story time.

Registration required. Liberty Park, Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 9:30-10 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/9 CMA Uncorked: Valentine’s Day Couples Starry Night Bring that special someone and enjoy wine, music and your date, while each of you create your masterpiece. CMA’s artist will make painting easy and fun by instructing you step-by-step through re-creating this Vincent Van Gogh “Starry Night”inspired painting. Materials, wine and refreshments are included. Must be 21 and over to register. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. 6-8 p.m. $35. For details, visit www.cantonart.org.

2/9 Tuesday Musical presents Marina Piccinini and Andreas Haefliger Marina Piccinini is in demand as a flautist soloist with orchestras around the world, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and London Philharmonic. Andreas Haefliger, born into a distinguished Swiss musical family, was quickly recognized as a pianist of the first rank. The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $25-$45. For tickets, visit www.tuesdaymusical.org.

2/9 BLU Jazz+ presents “Fat Tuesday” Mardi Gras Party with Eric Seddon’s Hot Club Celebrate Mardi Gras this year with native New Yorker and clarinetist, Eric Seddon. The Hot Club returns with the roarin’ sounds of New Orleans’ French Quarter featuring Eric Seddon, Jim Davis, George Foley, Bob ‘Mad Dog’ McGuire, Gene Epstein and Bill Fuller. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $12. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron.com.

2/10 Weekday Walkers Join us for a leisurely stroll around Tinkers Creek Area with stops along the way to discover nature and history. Liberty Park, Tinkers Creek Area, 10303 Aurora-Hudson Road, Streetsboro.

1-2:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/10 O&E Canal: Milling and Industry The Ohio & Erie Canal is credited in part with changing Ohio into an industrial state. Learn about milling and industries along the canal, and how they affected Ohio’s economy. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7-8 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/10 Dr. Sketchy’s of Akron “Anti-Art School” What happens when art class meets cabaret? Enter Dr Sketchy’s themed life drawing with a twist. Music, drinking, drawing, games and dames. Must be 18 years and over to paint. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 N. Main St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www. jillysmusicroom.com.

2/10 The Kent Stage presents Ana Popovic Award-winning Popovic blends smoking electric funk with slide guitar, jazzy instrumentals, incredible stage presence and a tight blues groove with soulful vocals. The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 8 p.m. $15-$20. For tickets, visit www.thekentstage.com.

w w w. akronlife.com

21

By Jessica Burkhart

Big Love Fest 2016 Building a creative community

In 2013, friends Zach, Beth Vild, Megan Shane, Jessica Meyers and David Swirsky put their heads together and came up with a concept of combining community involvement and enlightenment with creativity, music and healing. The idea came during one of Zach’s concerts, where he announced to his audience his wish to create a festival of consciousness. The concept became Big Love Fest, an event celebrating collaboration and inspiration throughout our city.

“Akron has a lot of strong, creative problem solvers. There’s a spirit and a pride for this community that we don’t see elsewhere in traveling. It feels like [an] awakening to great potential,” Zach says about the concept. “Big Love is really about community, and to see [it] come together and grow together and begin really supporting each other has been one of the most inspiring things to come out of this.”

David Swirsky, co-founder of the Akron Creative Interventionists, says that many art22

akronlife

ists are involved in this endeavor. “This year we are branching out in our artists outreach to include a more neighborhood-focused approach to the festival in general.” Swirsky was the project assistant for 500 Plates, the project that brought 500 Akronites together to share a meal on a section of the Innerbelt Freeway while expressing their visions for the future of our city. Megan Shane, Jessica Lofthus, Natalie Sanuk and Caty Petersilge are some of the local artists participating in Big Love Fest 2016.

The whole of downtown Akron’s Summit Artspace will be used this year for Big Love Fest, each floor of the building dedicated to a different creative theme. The third floor space will be the gathering place where attendees can eat, drink, listen to live music or bring their own instruments to join in on a jam session.

There will be a healing room on the first floor, offering meditation, yoga and different forms of massage. “It is also a safe space for february 2016

interfaith dialogue and understanding of what it means to be a “Welcoming City,” says Beth Vild, a community organizer and permaculture entrepreneur. She will also oversee the “Four Sides of Akron” on the second floor of Summit Artspace. This installment is dedicated to artists from different parts of Akron and their perspectives of the neighborhoods in which they live.

All artists participating in this event are being asked to bring something new to the table— whether it’s a new song or artwork, or some other form of expression. “Most importantly, we see something resonating with many members of our community,” Zach says, “something that’s been searching for expression and an outlet for some time, and finally is finding one.” Big Love Fest 2016 takes place on Saturday, March 12 from 11 a.m.Midnight. For more information, visit www. bigloveakron.wordpress.com/.

2/11 Animal Tales Children and their adult companions will enjoy a story about our amphibian friends. After the story, the children will watch the naturalist feed the Nature Realm amphibians.

Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/11 Dinner in the Valley: Dinner and a Movie Join for the ultimate date night in CVNP’s one-night-only dinner theatre. Watch “The 100-Foot Journey” and enjoy a movie-themed French dinner with an Indian accent, prepared by Chef Larkin Rogers. Reservations required. Happy Days Lodge, 500 W. Streetsboro Road, Peninsula. 6-8 p.m. $20-$48. For tickets, visit www.conservancyforcvnp.org.

2/11 Yoga in the Galleries The transformational power of yoga for individuals, relationships and communities comes alive in the Akron Art Museum galleries. Combine breath, flow and art in a beginner friendly series taught by a certified Nirvana Yoga instructor. Bring your own mat. No water bottles allowed in the galleries. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 6:30 p.m. $10/Non-members; Free/ Members. To register, visit www.akronartmuseum. org/calendar.

2/11 Small Footprint: Power Savers Unplug, save your socks and paint items white. Join us for a bi-monthly conversation about ways to become energy-efficient this year. Bring a notebook and a head full of ideas. Liberty Park, Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/11 Yoga in the Park Join a naturalist and certified yoga instructor from Yoga Bliss for an energizing practice to help us make it through the long Ohio winter. Wear comfortable clothing, and bring a yoga mat or large towel and drinking water. Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7-8 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.

2/11 Voices in the Valley presents The New Soft Show The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available.

G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.peninsulahistory.org.

2/11 Jilly’s presents Jeff Klemm Klemm is a musician/producer based out of Northeast Ohio best known for his work as Maid Myriad’s frontman and guitarist. Boasting a beautiful, but potent style of post-progressive/alternative/pop referred to as kaleidoscope rock, Klemm’s Maid Myriad blends dynamically versatile songs, angst-fueled progressive riffs, delicate pin drop moments and intense start/ stop dynamics. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Free. Visit www.jillysmusicroom. com.

2/12 Canton Ballet’s Red Velvet Party: Casino Royale Save the date for this fabulous evening to benefit the Canton Ballet. Enjoy food stations by Chef Ken of Brookside Country Club, live music and dancing, and a raffle to win a Judith Ripka heart necklace donated by Gasser Fine Jewelers. Joseph Saxton Gallery of Photography, 520 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton. 7 p.m. $60-$100/VIP ticket. For details, visit www.cantonballet.com/school/red-velvet-party.

w w w. akronlife.com

23

2/12 Dusty Guitar Promotions and The Repository present Scotty McCreery McCreery burst onto the national music scene in 2011 at age 17, quickly establishing himself as one of country music’s hottest new stars. His deep voice and irresistible sound create the perfect blend of contemporary and traditional country.

Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N., Canton. 8-10 p.m. $44-$64. For tickets, visit www.cantonpalacetheatre.org.

2/12 Exploring the Night Skies It’s a great month for stargazing! Many bright stars are visible. Learn about the seven stars of the winter hexagon and the constellations associated with them. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/12 Tangier presents Gerald Albright Albright is an American jazz saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist who has sold over 1,000,000 albums in the U.S. alone. His self-produced music features him on bass guitar, keyboards, flutes, drum programming and background vocals. The Tangier, 532 W. Market St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $35- $95. For tickets, visit www. thetangier.com.

2/12 Voices in the Valley presents SyRuP The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www. peninsulahistory.org.

2/12 The Kent Stage presents Red Wanting Blue Led by singer-songwriter Scott Terry, Red Wanting Blue is proudly based in Columbus, Ohio, but could be America’s local band. For years, the group has gone about logging thousands of miles on the road throughout the nation’s heartland, making fans the hard way: one at a time. The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 8 p.m. $20-$25. For tickets, visit www. thekentstage.com.

2/12 BLU Jazz+ presents Josh Rzepka Join BLU for a special evening welcoming jazz trumpeter Josh Rzepka back to the BLU Jazz+ stage. After recently relocating to Chicago and accepting a position on the jazz faculty at the Merit School of Music, Josh returns to the Rubber City in swingin’ fashion. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $15. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron.com.

2/12 Heritage Concert: Ten Strings and A Goat Skin This original band has created a unique sound, both fiery and contagious.

They infuse modern and world rhythms with Irish, Acadian, French and original songs. Jesse Périard and brothers Rowen and Caleb Gallant of Prince Edward Island, Canada, ignite onstage. Happy Days Lodge, 500 W. Streetsboro Road, Peninsula.

8-10:30 p.m. $5-$17. For tickets, visit www. conservancyforcvnp.org.

24

akronlife

2/12 Jilly’s presents Get On UP Get On UP is Northeast Ohio’s new funk authority, playing yesterday’s funkiest grooves, and slowly starting to scratch the surface by breaking out some new original jams, and throwing a big party wherever they play.

Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 9 p.m.

Free. www.jillysmusicroom.com.

2/12, 2/13 Kinderealm: Snow Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions join a naturalist to discover the benefits and fun of snow. The program includes a short hike and craft. Please make arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. Registration begins 2/5.

F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.

Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/12-2/15 22nd Annual Medina Ice Festival The four-day ice event will showcase nearly 100 ice sculptures sponsored by local businesses. Planned activities include a speed carving competition followed by the lighting of the Fire & Ice Tower, an individual carving competition and a team carving competition. All works of ice art will be on display as they are created, and may be viewed throughout the weekend, day and night. Historic Medina Square, 32 Public Square, Medina. Free. For a detailed schedule of events, visit www. mainstreetmedina.com.

2/12-2/28 Elton John & Tim Rice’s “Aida” “Aida” is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal chronicling the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love.

Rubber City Shakespeare, Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., 2nd Floor, Akron. $10-$14. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.rubbercityshakes.com.

2/13 Archery for Couples Couples can learn international-style target archery and test their marksmanship together at the indoor range.

Program good for beginning and practiced archers.

All equipment and hands-on instruction provided.

Participants must be at least 18. Registration required.

Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 10:30 a.m.-Noon and 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/13 Winter Tree I.D. No leaves? No problem!

Leaves are just one of many ways to identify trees.

Learn how to tell your trees apart using different characteristics. Wood Hollow Metro Park, 2121 Barlow Road, Hudson. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

february 2016

2/13 Wildlife & Wood Workshop: Squirrel Feeder Discover the types of squirrels you can attract to your back yard, then build a squirrel-in-the-jar feeder.

Limit one kit per family. Participation is required to purchase a $15 kit. Space is limited. Registration required. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. $15. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/13 Hiking Spree Shield Assistance You hiked eight trails to earn the 2015 Fall Hiking Spree shield, but attaching it to your hiking staff was harder than completing the hikes. Volunteers will gladly attach it for you at no charge. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Main Entrance, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 1-3 p.m.

Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/13 Jilly’s presents Copali with Jared Lees and Red Rose Panic Copali is an original instrumental infusion based in the Akron/Canton area. Jared Lees has played with such bands and artists as Winslow, Jason Farnham, Chris Mitchell and Drop Soma. Red Rose Panic is an Alternative Hip Hop Collective, based out of Akron Ohio. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 7 p.m. Free. www. jillysmusicroom.com.

2/13 BLU Jazz+ presents “Love, Wesley”: Valentine’s Date Night with Wesley Bright Sensational Akron-native soul singer brings his dynamic showmanship & top-notch band to BLU for a very special Valentine’s Weekend date night. Featuring Wesley Bright, Jimmy Parsons, Matt Garrett, NathanPaul Davis, Max Brady, Matthew DeRubertis and Dan Fernandez. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 7 and 9:30 p.m. $20. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron. com.

2/13 The Kent Stage presents Eric Burdon & The Animals Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, this legendary, ground-breaking group will perform hit songs, including “House of the Rising Sun,” and “See See Rider.” The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 8 p.m. $42.50-$62.50. For tickets, visit www.thekentstage.com.

2/13 The Scintas With their tremendous capacity to entertain and surprise, the typical Scintas show is not typical at all, with their great music and hilarious comedy. The Scintas feature favorites

by Dino and Jerry, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and a slew of other people, singing songs you love. Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield.

8 p.m. $30-$48. For tickets, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

2/13 Tangier presents David Allen Coe As a talented songwriter and charismatic performer, Coe has garnered legendary status in the world of country music, alongside his wild tales and behavior. With his throaty baritone and dirty grooves, Coe’s honky-tonk country certainly sounds pretty unforgettable. The Tangier, 525 W. Market St., Akron. 8:30 p.m. $35-$90.

For tickets, visit www.thetangier.com.

2/13, 2/14 Some Like it Cold: Grizzly Bears Learn more about some of the animals at the zoo who love the cold of winter. Enjoy exhibit talks and crafts, as well as feeding the penguins for only $3. Saturdays and Sundays through February. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7. Free for members. For details, visit www.akronzoo.org.

2/14 Archery for Adults Adults ages 18 and over can learn international-style target archery and test their marksmanship at the indoor range. Program good for beginning and practiced archers. All equipment and hands-on instruction provided. Registration required. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/14 “Love is in the Air” Hike Bring someone you love for a Valentine’s Day hike on Pheasant Run Trail.

Along the way, learn how some animal friends show their affection for one another. Silver Creek Metro Park, Pheasant Run Area, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks. org.

2/14 Archery for Seniors Seniors ages 55 and over can learn international-style target archery and test their marksmanship at the indoor range. Program good for beginning and practiced archers. All equipment and hands-on instruction provided. Registration required. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 3-4:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/14 Jilly’s presents Andy Wood Wood, lead guitarist and mandolin for Rascal Flatts, is recognized as part of the forefront of this generation’s top influential guitarists, merging a broad range of fusion, rock, metal and acoustic styles. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 7 p.m. $15. www. jillysmusicroom.com.

2/14 Tangier presents ConFunkShun One of the premiere funk bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s, ConFunkShun developed a huge following with a string of memorable funky cuts and slow jams that are still receiving airplay more than 20 years after they were originally released. The Tangier, 525 W. Market St., Akron. 7:30 and 9 p.m. $35-$95. For tickets, visit www.thetangier.com.

2/14 MasterWorks 5 “Young at Heart”: Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Sarasate, Bizet & Márquez This concert celebrates the exuberance of youth and the future generations of music makers. Canton native and Julliard School of Music scholarship student, William Shaub solos, while members of the Canton Youth Symphony perform with CSO for Bizet’s Carmen Suite and Márquez’ Danzón No. 2.

Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th St. NW, Canton. 7:30 p.m. $13-$48. For tickets, visit www.tickets.cantonsymphony. org.

2/14 Rick Springfield: Stripped Down This rock superstar has been wooing audiences with his polished voice and leading-man looks ever since his rise to fame in the early ‘70s. More than four decades later, he looks and sounds as good as ever, treating fans to an unforgettable evening of solo performance and storytelling on his Stripped Down tour. Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 7:30 p.m. $38$60. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

'(),1(' %< /29(

/<5,$ &2//(&7,21

:HGJHZRRG 'U 6XLWH & $NURQ 7D\ORUPDGHMHZHOU\ FRP

Relax this Valentine’s Day at

Enjoy a couples massage with a light snack and beverage

Gift Certificates Available 137 East Ave Suite 105 Tallmadge, Ohio, 44278

330.633.8211 w w w. akronlife.com

25

2/14 The Kent Stage presents Pure Prairie League Pure Prairie League has maintained itself as a successful country-rock band during the 1970s and early ‘80s, releasing ten albums and enjoying hits with different configurations of the group that included “Amie” and “Let Me Love You Tonight.” The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 7:30 p.m. $20-$35.

For tickets, visit www.thekentstage.com.

2/14-2/20 Random Acts of Kindness Week An act of kindness goes a long way, and the Akron Zoo is dedicating a whole week to giving back to their visitors. The Zoo will be randomly selecting different guests each day to receive different prizes.

Check Akron Zoo’s social media accounts all week. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7. Free for members. For details, visit www.akronzoo. org.

2/15 Winter Hike Enjoy this leisurely hike to discover the beauty of Ohio in winter. Hampton Hills Metro Park, Main Entrance, 2925 Akron-Peninsula Road, Akron. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/16, 2/17 Nature Crafting for Adults: Baskets Over two nights, weave a basket that measures 18 inches tall. Please bring a small flathead screwdriver, needlenose pliers, towel and 2-gallon bucket, if you can.

Registration required. Sand Run Metro Park, Shady Hollow Pavilion, 1750 Sand Run Pkwy., Akron. 6-9:30 p.m. $20. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/17 Nature Drawing for Adults Join a naturalist-artist for this entertaining lesson in nature drawing. Bring a sketchbook, pencil and a sense of humor. Beginners are welcome. Registration begins 2/2. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10 a.m.-Noon and 1-3 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks. org.

2/17 Kinderealm: Snow Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions join a naturalist to discover the benefits and fun of snow. The program includes a short hike and craft. Please make arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. Registration begins 2/5. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/17 BLU Jazz+ presents Dynamo Direct from Nashville, this exciting nationally-touring group fuses jazz, rock, and funk with soul and R&B for a sound all their own in a must-hear evening at BLU. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 8 p.m. $10. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron.com.

2/17 The Kent Stage presents Bill Frisell: When You Wish Upon A Star with Petra Haden, Eyvind Kang, Thomas Morgan and Kenny Wollesen Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, Frisell has found what connects them—improvisation and a sense of play. Presented by Western Reserve Folk Arts Association. The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 7:30 p.m. $27.50-$40. For tickets, visit www. thekentstage.com.

26

akronlife

2/17 Voices in the Valley presents Noam Pikelny: One Man, One Banjo, One Joke Tour Finally freed from the shackles of his brilliant musical friends, Punch Brothers’ banjoist debuts a solo show, previewing new original music slated for a fall 2016 release. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula.

7:30 p.m. $28/Presale; $35/Door. For tickets, visit www.peninsulahistory.org.

2/18 Frosted Meadow Hike Traverse the frosted meadow and look for signs of wildlife. Munroe Falls Metro Park, Tallmadge Meadows Area, 1088 North Ave., Tallmadge. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/18 Art Tales: Love IS Engage your tiny book lover in an interactive storytelling experience where art and story become one through song, rhyme, and pictures.

After the book ends, keep the story going with related art activities in the lobby. Art Tales are recommended for all ages and their grown-ups. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $10/Nonmembers; Free/Members. To register, visit www. akronartmuseum.org/calendar.

2/19 Archery Games for Seniors Seniors 55 and older will play different games to build archery skills in a fun and exciting way. Participants must have already taken one of the Intro to Archery programs.

All equipment and hands-on instruction provided.

Registration begins 2/9. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/19 Archery Games for Adults Adults ages 18 and over will play different games to build archery skills in a fun and exciting way. Participants must have already taken one of the Intro to Archery programs.

All equipment and hands-on instruction provided.

Registration required 2/9. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/19 Tangier presents The Whispers The Whispers is an R&B-dance vocal group from Los Angeles, with a consistent track record of hit records dating back to the late 1960s. The Tangier, 525 W. Market St., Akron.

7:30 and 9:30. $50-$97.50. For tickets, visit www. thetangier.com.

2/18 Tanya Tucker A defining voice of country music and a modern day legend, Tanya Tucker inspired many female artists who still top the charts today. From the signature classic songs to the unforgettable sass and soul of her voice, Tucker has paved a path in country music due to a natural, undeniable talent. Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield.

7:30 p.m. $25-$45. For tickets, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

2/18 Migration: Thrushes Get a jump start on migration by brushing up on the thrushes and their look-alikes. Join a naturalist for identification tips, songs and habitats. Good for new and experienced birders to refresh their skills. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/18 Throwback Thursdays: Weaving Inspired

by NEO Geo Celebrate Throwback Thursday by indulging in your favorite kid crafts inspired by art museum exhibitions. Grab a fancy cocktail and a friend and de-stress with a fun, monthly throwback art activity. These evenings are just for adults.

Admission includes one signature cocktail and all crafting supplies for this artist-led experience. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 7-9 p.m. $25/ Non-members; $20/Members. To register, visit www. akronartmuseum.org/calendar.

february 2016

2/19 Verb Ballet Tribute Heinz Poll Verb Ballet will celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of choreographer Heinz Poll, founder of Ohio Ballet, with an eveninglength concert honoring the diversity of his choreographic style and enduring legacy to Northeast Ohio and the dance world. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $12-$32. For details, visit www.akroncivic.com.

2/20 Hike & Breakfast: Heartful Join in for a brisk winter hike and hearty breakfast. Participants will be asked to contribute to the feast. Registration begins 2/6. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Pavilion, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 8-10:30 a.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/20 Archery Games for Couples Couples ages 18 and over will play different games to build archery skills in a fun and exciting way. Participants must have already taken one of the Intro to Archery programs. All equipment and hands-on instruction provided. Registration begins 2/9. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

on li fe

ak

ro

The Polls Are Open!

akr

n

li

fe.

5IF UI BOOVBM #FTU 0G "LSPO DPNQFUJUJPO JT ZPVS DIBODF UP WPUF GPS ZPVS MPDBM GBWPSJUFT o BOE UP XJO HSFBU QSJ[FT 8IP EP ZPV MPWF o BOE XIZ 8JOOFST BSF EFDJEFE TUSJDUMZ CZ ZPVS WPUFT .

BOE XJMM CF BOOPVODFE JO UIF +VMZ JTTVF PG 1MFBTF EP /05 OPNJOBUF OBUJPOBM DIBJOT J F 4UBSCVDLT PS .BDZ T Local establishments only!

com

2016

WIN PRIZES BY VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL BUSINESSES!

STORE FOR FOODIES

FARMERS’ MARKET

BAKERY

RESTAURANT FOR A FIRST DATE

LOCAL BLOG BURGERINTERIOR BBQ RULES t :PV NVTU DPNQMFUF BU MFBTU DBUFHPSJFT GPS ZPVS CBMMPU UP CF FMJHJCMF BOE GPS ZPV UP CF FOUFSFE JOUP UIF ESBXJOH UP XJO QSJ[FT t 0OMZ POF CBMMPU QFS QFSTPO

t .VTU CF ZFBST PS PMEFS UP FOUFS

t #BMMPUT NVTU JODMVEF ZPVS OBNF

QIPOF OVNCFS DJUZ PG SFTJEFODF BOE F NBJM BEESFTT 0OMZ POF CBMMPU QFS QIPOF OVNCFS BOE F NBJM BEESFTT XJMM CF BDDFQUFE t #BMMPUT BSF UIF QSPQFSUZ PG #BLFS .FEJB

(SPVQ BOE XF SFTFSWF UIF SJHIU UP EJTRVBM JGZ BOZ CBMMPU DPOTJEFSFE UP CF TUVGGFE t 0OMZ CBMMPUT SFDFJWFE CZ 'FCSVBSZ

XJMM CF DPVOUFE

PRIVACY POLICY: 8F XJMM OPU TFMM PS EJT USJCVUF UIF QFSTPOBM JOGPSNBUJPO ZPV QSPWJEF VT NOTE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES: akronlife XFMDPNFT ZPV UP FODPVSBHF ZPVS DVTUPNFST UP WPUF GPS ZPVS CVTJOFTT )PXFWFS NBTT EJTUSJCVUJPO PG CBMMPUT XJMM CF DPOTJEFSFE CBMMPU TUVGGJOH BOE JG WFSJ GJFE UIF CVTJOFTT XJMM CF EJTRVBMJGJFE

LIVE MUSIC DECORATOR BIKE VENUE SHOP LOCAL BAND OR MUSICIAN

INDEPENDENT COFFEEHOUSE PATIO DINING

LOCAL FINE T-SHIRT ARTIST

BEER VOTE TODAY!! ... and many more!

GO TO

TO FILL OUT OUR ONLINE VOTING FORM

OR MAIL IN THE FORM ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE w w w. akronlife.com

27

Vote at akronlife.com for akronlife’s

Best Of the City 2016

or complete the form below and send it to: akronlife Ballot, 1653 Merriman Road, Suite 116, Akron, OH 44313

All About The 330

#FTU -PDBM )JLF

#FTU -PDBM 7JOUBHF $POTJHONFOU 4UPSF

#FTU -PDBM 7FHFUBSJBO .FOV

#FTU -PDBM /BUVSBM 8POEFS

#FTU -PDBM 3FUSP %ÏDPS "OUJRVF 4IPQ

#FTU -PDBM (MVUFO 'SFF .FOV

#FTU -PDBM 4VNNFS $BNQ GPS ,JET

#FTU -PDBM +FXFMFS

#FTU -PDBM *UBMJBO 3FTUBVSBOU

#FTU -PDBM )JHI 4DIPPM PS $PMMFHF .BTDPU

#FTU -PDBM "SU (BMMFSZ

#FTU -PDBM .FYJDBO 3FTUBVSBOU

#FTU -PDBM *OEFQFOEFOU #PPLTUPSF

#FTU -PDBM $IJOFTF 5BLF 0VU

#FTU -PDBM $IBSJUZ &WFOU

#FTU -PDBM 4MFEEJOH )JMM

akr

#FTU -PDBM 3FBTPO GPS 8BJUJOH JO -JOF

#1

#FTU -PDBM 'SFF &WFOU #FTU /FJHICPSIPPE JO 5IF

#FTU -PDBM $PSO .B[F

d

#FTU -PDBM 0OF 5BOL 5SJQ 0VUTJEF 5IF

#FTU -PDBM #JLF 4IPQ

Services

#FTU -PDBM $BS %FBMFSTIJQ

on

#FTU -PDBM #SFBLGBTU

#FTU -PDBM 'BNJMZ 'SJFOEMZ %JOJOH

li

#FTU -PDBM -BOENBSL

#FTU -PDBM (ZN

#FTU -PDBM 1J[[B

#FTU -PDBM 1MBDF UP 8PSL

fe

vo te

#FTU -PDBM 3FTUSPPN

#FTU -PDBM 8FEEJOH 3FDFQUJPO 7FOVF

#FTU -PDBM #VSHFS

#FTU -PDBM 3FUBJM 4UPSF UP #MPX :PVS 8IPMF 1BZDIFDL

#FTU -PDBM 4VTIJ

#FTU -PDBM 1FU %BZDBSF

#FTU 8BZ UP *NQSPWF 5IF

#FTU -PDBM 'MPSJTU

#FTU /FX -PDBM 4UPSF JO UIF -BTU .POUIT

#FTU 5IJOH UP )BQQFO JO 5IF -BTU .POUIT

#FTU -PDBM %PH (SPPNFS

Food and Drink

#FTU -PDBM -PHP

#FTU -PDBM %BODF 4UVEJP

#FTU -PDBM 1MBDF UP 5BLF 7JTJUPST

#FTU -PDBM #BLFSZ

#FTU -PDBM *DF $SFBN

#FTU -PDBM 'PPE 5SVDL

ak

#FTU -PDBM 4QB

Entertainment

#FTU -PDBM $PPLJOH $MBTT #FTU -PDBM 1BUJP %JOJOH #FTU -PDBM 4BMPO #BSCFS 4IPQ #FTU -PDBM 4UFBLIPVTF

#FTU -PDBM -JWF .VTJD 7FOVF

ro

#FTU -PDBM )PMFT PG (PMG

n

#FTU -PDBM #BOE .VTJDJBO

#FTU -PDBM $IFG #FTU -PDBM )PTQJUBM #FTU -PDBM 'BSNFST .BSLFU #FTU /FX -PDBM 3FTUBVSBOU -BTU .POUIT

lif

#FTU -PDBM %FOUJTU #FTU -PDBM %FMJ #FTU -PDBM *OEFQFOEFOU $PGGFF )PVTF

e.com

#FTU -PDBM 8FBMUI .BOBHFS #FTU -PDBM L 3BDF

#FTU -PDBM ##2

#FTU -PDBM 8JOFSZ

#FTU -PDBM -BOETDBQJOH $PNQBOZ

#FTU -PDBM )BQQZ )PVS

#FTU -PDBM -JWF 5IFBUFS

#FTU -PDBM $SBGU #FFS

#FTU -PDBM )PNFCVJMEFS #FTU -PDBM )BOHPWFS 'PPE #FTU -PDBM 'BJS

#FTU -PDBM #BS #FTU -PDBM 8PNFO T $MPUIJOH 4UPSF #FTU -PDBM &UIOJD .BSLFU

#FTU -PDBM 3BEJP 4IPX )PTU

/BNF

$JUZ PG 3FTJEFODF

#FTU -PDBM #BSUFOEFS

& NBJM BEESFTT

1IPOF /VNCFS

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell

Friday 0 7:30 pm 0 pre-concert lecture at 6:30

([SHULHQFH WKH 'LIIHUHQFH

March 11 EJ Thomas Hall at The University of Akron $

5IXTM ,ZQ^ M 0]L[WV ! +IUJZQLO M2M_MTMZ [ KWU

:LHZVU :WVUZVYZ!

for 25 0 $45 0 $60 0 free all students

2/20 Winter at the Ledges See firsthand how forces in nature created and continue to reshape the ledges in Liberty Park. Join a naturalist to discover the beauty, intricacy and mystery of nature in winter. Liberty Park, Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/20 Jilly’s presents The Juke Hounds This band’s mixture of blues, rock and soul brings the crowd to their feet until it’s time to go home. The Juke Hounds play the blues to packed houses across Northeast Ohio, not to mention all the way to Memphis. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Free.

Visit www.jillysmusicroom.com.

2/20 Gospel Meets Symphony Gospel Meets Symphony and Akron Symphony Orchestra bring together talent from all over the region to make one community year after year. Christopher Wilkins conducting. The University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., Akron. 7:30 p.m. $12.50-$55. For tickets, visit www. akronsymphony.org.

2/20 Tangier presents “1964”…The Tribute “1964”…

The Tribute takes their audiences on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all of our hearts forever. They are hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world. The Tangier, 525 W. Market St., Akron. 8:30 p.m. $30-$45. For tickets, visit www. thetangier.com.

2/20, 2/21 Some Like it Cold: Red Wolves Learn more about some of the animals at the zoo who love the cold of winter. Enjoy exhibit talks and crafts, as well as feeding the penguins for only $3. Saturdays and Sundays through February. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7.

Free for members. For details, visit www. akronzoo.org.

[\LZKH`T\ZPJHS VYN

2/21 Spring Felt Wreath Get ready for spring by decorating a wreath with old wool sweaters. Bring an old, bright sweater that has been washed in hot water and put through the dryer. We will provide ideas, tools for felting the wool and embellishments.

Registration begins 2/12. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 1-3:30 p.m. $5. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/21 Nuno Felted Scarf One Day Workshop Make a beautiful scarf while learning the art of nuno felting. Bring a sack lunch and take a lunch break during the workshop. No prior experience is needed.

This workshop is appropriate for ages 13 and over.

Materials are included in fee. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. 1:30-4:30 p.m. $70. For tickets, visit www.cantonart.org/learn/textiles.

2/21 Couch-to-5K Info Session Learn about these running programs that, in just 10 weeks, will get you off the couch and completing a 5K. During this info session, you will have an opportunity to meet trainers, ask questions and sign up for the program. Sand Run Metro Park, Mingo Pavilion, 1501 Sand Run Pkwy., Akron. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/21 Hike for Cocoa Join in for a winter’s walk, then warm up with a cup of hot cocoa. Search for signs of wildlife on your way. Cascade Valley Metro Park, Oxbow Area, 1061 Cuyahoga St., Akron. 2-3:30 p.m.

Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

w w w. akronlife.com

29

The 330’s Most Stolen Magazine

4VCTDSJCF UP NBHB[JOF UPEBZ BU BLSPOMJGF DPN TVCTDSJCF *MMVTUSBUJPO CZ 1BUSJDL -PXEFO

30

akronlife akr r on o lif life e

february februa feb ebrua ruary ry 2016 2 016

DOWNTOWN OFFICE SPACE

AVAILABLE

333 S Main St at Exchange. Ideal Location in the Historic Evans Building. All Utilities Included. Building Management/ Maintenance is On-Site for Prompt, Dependable Service. » Free Customer Parking in rear. Staff Parking $35/mo. » Space available in the building. Single office suite/Two office suite. 4 office suite with reception. » Entire second floor (10,881 sq ft).

&526652$'6 0$1$*(0(17 R EALTY CO MPAN Y 330-762-4840 333 S. Main St., Suite 702 Akron www.crossroadsmanagement.com

» Bsmt w/ kitchen 3,600 sq ft for $1200. Can annex space from first floor. Great for BBQ or Bakery. » Special rate for first floor space 1,350 sq ft/$800. » Not City Steam, New Hot Water Heat! » We Can Customize Any Size Space » Call or Stop in to View Vacant Space

2/21 Family Series: The Akron Zoo presents “It’s a Wild World Animal Show” Travel around the world to discover amazing animals in this theatrical presentation. Combined with music, video and audience participation, you will have a wild time.

Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. $5-$10.

Free for Akron Zoo members. 2:30 p.m. For details, visit www.akroncivic.com.org.

2/22 Kinderealm: Snow Children ages 3 to 6 and their adult companions join a naturalist to discover the benefits and fun of snow. The program includes a short hike and craft. Please make arrangements for younger children unable to remain in infant seats or strollers. Registration begins 2/5. Goodyear Heights Metro Park, Pavilion, 2077 Newton St., Akron. 10:3011:30 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/24 BLU Jazz+ presents Joe Hunter: Solo Piano A first-call pianist for many local, national, and international acts, Joe Hunter has established himself as one of the cornerstones of the Cleveland and Columbus jazz circuits. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 7 p.m. Free. For tickets, visit www. blujazzakron.com.

2/24 The Kent Stage presents The Wailers, Carlos Jones and the PLUS Band Together with Bob Marley, The Wailers have sold over 250 million albums and have played to millions of people across the globe performing an average of 200 dates a year.

The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. 8 p.m. $27-$30.

For tickets, visit www.thekentstage.com.

2/23 Cardio Hike Join a naturalist for healthy outdoor exercise by hiking at a vigorous pace with few, if any, rest stops. Beginners are welcome, but talk to your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine. Drinking water is recommended. Silver Creek Metro Park, Big Oak Area, 5199 Medina Line Road, Norton. 9-10:30 a.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks. org.

2/24 Meet Me in the Garden: Exploring the Tamarak Bog Join the Master Gardeners of Summit County and enter the world of the Tamarack Bog, a living relic of Ohio’s Ice Age. Learn about the beauty of the bog and its rare, exotic plants through slides and the eyes of a passionate environmental biologist.

Presented by Randall Mitchell, UA’s Professor of Biology. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7-9 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/24 Crystal Palace Hike Every year beautiful, colorful icicles form along the Cuyahoga River, creating a “Crystal Palace.” Join a naturalist and discover first-hand the beauty of water in winter. Gorge Metro Park, Main Entrance, 1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 1-3 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/25 Hopping Good Time Children ages 5 to 10 learn about local amphibians and make a craft. Where are these critters outdoors and when should we expect to see them again? Program includes a glimpse of live animals. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 6-7:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/26 Rodney Carrington: “Here Comes the Truth Tour” Carrington has been making audiences laugh for almost 20 years with his unique brand of stand-up comedy. The country singer-songwriter has recorded eight major label comedy albums, which have sold more than two million copies. Canton Palace Theatre, 605 Market Ave. N., Canton. 7-9 p.m. $50-$185/VIP. For tickets, visit www.cantonpalacetheatre.org.

2/26 Radically Repurposed: T-Shirts Give worn-out, wrong-sized or extra T-shirts a second life. Discover how to turn these cozy items into home decorations, gifts or even pet toys. Bring a pair of scissors and any T-shirts you would like to re-use. Some will be provided. Registration begins 2/13. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 7-9 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/26 Voices in the Valley presents Comas The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available. G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www. peninsulahistory.org.

2/26 Jilly’s presents Elipsus An alternative rock band from Akron, Elipsus formed in 2007 with original members Tyler, Max and Mason. Since then, they have written many songs and grown in musical skill. They continue to play together at many local venues and festivals. Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. Free. Visit www. jillysmusicroom.com.

w w w. akronlife.com

31

2/26 Cirque Ziva featuring the Golden Dragon Acrobats These acrobats have been recognized as the preeminent Chinese acrobatic company in the United States and have toured continuously since 1978 to international acclaim. Its members are athletes, actors and artists who have studied and trained for their craft since early childhood. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $17.50-$35. For details, visit www.akroncivic.com.

2/26-2/28 The 22nd Annual HBA Akron Home & Flower Show The HBA Akron Home & Flower Show is the “can’t miss” consumer home show of the year for companies to reach quality homeowners in Summit, Portage, Stark and Medina Counties. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill St., Akron. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri-Sat.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. Adults/$10. Free for Children 12 and under. For details, visit www. akronhomeandflowershow.com.

2/26-2/28 Cabin Fever Meltdown: Jones For Revival While covering many different genres of music, such as funk, reggae, Afro-pop, jazz and disco, Jones For Revival’s live set speaks for itself. The band has strengthened their ability to project a positive vibe to their listeners and has gained a following of loyal fans who share the same musical understanding and appreciation. The Kent Stage, 175 E. Main St., Kent. $10-$12. For tickets, visit www. thekentstage.com.

2/27 Kids Studio Class: Stain Painting, Marbled Milk & Other Creative Goo Learn how to work like a professional artist by exploring unique materials, experimental processes and extraordinary works of art, while building skills and confidence along the way. Recommended for children ages 7-12; Adult caregivers are not required to stay, but are welcome.

Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 1-3 p.m. $10/Non-members; Free/Members. To register, visit www.akronartmuseum.org/calendar.

2/27 VOCI Goes Vegas: Annual Auction & Fundraiser This is a fun-filled evening each year, and a great way to support the local choral arts in Stark County.

A delicious dinner is included in the ticket price. Enter to win a reverse raffle grand prize of $1,000. Great Court at the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton. 6 p.m. $55. For tickets, visit www.voicesofcanton.org.

2/27 Voices in the Valley presents Brent Kirby and His Luck The Peninsula Foundation supports the arts community by presenting Voices in the Valley, a showcase of traditional roots music. Kick back and relax for a night of music in the Historic G.A.R. Hall. Beer, wine and adult beverages are available.

G.A.R. Hall, 1785 Main St., Peninsula. For tickets and showtimes, visit www.peninsulahistory.org.

2/27 Tots Create: Shiny, Crunchy Texture Rubbings Toddlers explore different mediums, textures, colors and shapes, while making a beautiful mess. Dig in and discover a multi-sensory experience while fostering your tiny artist’s independence and imagination. For toddlers ages 2 and 3 with their grown-ups. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. 10:30 a.m.-Noon. $10/ Non-members; Free/Members. To register, visit www.akronartmuseum.org/calendar.

2/27 Crystal Palace Hike Every year, colorful icicles form along the Cuyahoga River, creating a “Crystal Palace.” Join a naturalist and discover first-hand the beauty of water in winter. Gorge Metro Park, Main Entrance, 1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls. 1-3 p.m.

Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/27 Winter Bird Hike Search for raptors, horned larks and other winter birds of the prairie. Bring binoculars and dress for the weather. Springfield Bog Metro Park, 1400 Portage Line Road, Springfield Twp. 1-3 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

32

akronlife

2/28 Great Lakes Theater Performance The Great Lakes Theater 2016 Outreach Tour performs a onehour adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “The Secret Adversary.” There will be a question-and-answer period after the performance. Firestone Metro Park, Coventry Oaks Area, 40 Axline Ave., Akron. 2-3:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/28 A Peek at Beaks Did You Know? There are many different types of beaks. Get ready for some hands-on fun as you discover the ins and outs of this incredible tool. Each family will get to take home a treat for their backyard birds. Sand Run Metro Park, Mingo Pavilion, 1501 Sand Run Pkwy., Akron. 3-4:30 p.m. Free. www.summitmetroparks.org.

2/28 Singers Companye’s Triptych: Cantata for String Orchestra and Chorus by Tarik O’Regan Based on texts by William Penn, Muhammed RajabAl-Bayoumi, William Blake, John Milton, Masnavi I Ma’navi, William Wordsworth and Thomas Hardy, this remarkable work leaves guests with words from the 1918 signing of the WWI Armistice. St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Ave., Akron. 4:30-5:30 p.m. $12$15. For tickets, visit www.singerscompanye.org/ season.

2/28 BLU Jazz+ presents Cyrille Aimée This internationally acclaimed vocalist and recording artist brings an amalgam of gypsy, jazz, and Brazilianinfluenced music in her return to BLU in support of the all-new album, “Let’s Get Lost” on Mack Avenue Records. BLU Jazz+, 47 E. Market St., Akron. 7 and 9:30 p.m. $25. For tickets, visit www.blujazzakron. com.

2/27 Drop-In Bird Feeders To celebrate National Bird-Feeding Month, visit the Nature Realm to help feed the birds. Make a feeder at the bird window, and then head outdoors to hang the snacks. F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/27 Ledges Trail Throughout the Year Hike Ledges Trail each month, taking a photographic record of the seasons. In December, review the year in pictures. You can take your own pictures or just enjoy the hikes. This trail is not recommended for strollers. Liberty Park, Twinsburg Ledges Area, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg. 10-11 a.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/28 Thinking Bugs and Birds Discover how to invite the natural world into your life by adding just one plant! Critique native plant catalogs, discuss which plants do best, and get excited for spring.

F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm, Visitors Center, 1828 Smith Road, Akron. 1-2:30 p.m. Free. www. summitmetroparks.org.

2/27 Jilly’s presents “Walk Right Back”: The Music of the Everly Brothers featuring Ryan Humbert and Emily Bates For this intimate performance, Humbert and Bates will be joined by a 3-piece band, featuring Dylan Gomez, Dan Nauss and Brian Poston. The group will perform over 25 Everly Brothers classics, including “Gone, Gone, Gone,” “Bye, Bye Love,” “Wake Up, Little Susie” and many more.

Jilly’s Music Room, 111 North Main St., Akron. 8 p.m. $10-$15. For tickets, visit www.jillysmusicroom.com.

2/27 The Tangier presents 30th Anniversary of The Breeze with Wild Oats Band Legendary country band, The Breeze, rides into the Tangier on their celebrated reunion tour. The group was a mainstay in the Ohio, Midwest, and Southern U.S. states, delivering their classic country music to many fans.

Opening for The Breeze are local country favorites, The Wild Oats Band. The Tangier, 525 W. Market St., Akron. 8:30 p.m. $15. For tickets, visit www. thetangier.com.

2/27, 2/28 Some Like it Cold: Red Pandas Learn more about some of the animals at the zoo who love the cold of winter. Enjoy exhibit talks and crafts, as well as feeding the penguins for only $3. Saturdays and Sundays through February. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave, Akron. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $7. Free for members. For details, visit www.akronzoo.org.

february 2016

3/3 Apollo’s Fire presents St. John Passion: A Dramatic Presentation Bursting out of the gates from the agitated opening chorus, this is Bach’s most dramatic and theatrical oratorio. In Jeannette Sorrell’s acclaimed interpretation, true singer-actors perform the character roles from memory, while the renowned Apollo’s Singers evoke the wild mob with fierce intensity. Bath Church, UCC, 3980 W Bath Road, Akron. 7:30 p.m. $20-$60. Free for students.

For tickets, visit www.apollosfire.org.

3/4 Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes A Jersey Shore musical group, Southside Johnny has been recording albums since 1976 and is closely associated with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Hard Rock Rocksino, Northfield Park, Hard Rock Live, 10777 Northfield Road, Northfield. 8 p.m. $30-$58. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

3/12 Big Love Fest Big Love Fest is a celebration of the Akron community gathering to celebrate culture, art, and music, as well as local businesses and organizations. Musicians, artists, performers, yogis, kids, foodies, dancers and actors join together within a sustainable and zero waste framework. There will be community art and lots of collaboration and co-creation. Summit Artspace, 140 E. Market St., Akron. 11 a.m.- Midnight. For details, visit www. bigloveakron.wordpress.com.

FACES of

THE 330 The great life we have in The 330 is created out of many wonderful little moments. Like building blocks, they overlap one another, climbing to the sky. Put them all together and they tell a story. The tale of a life is not something created in a vacuum—the construction is aided by the men and women living and working throughout The 330.

These are the people that help make this place great. They bake delicious treats that melt in your mouth and turn a dreary afternoon into something to remember. They transform a home, or the idea of a future home, into a reality to enjoy with your family. They brew beverages that we are proud to raise, no matter what the reason. They provide a place to pump our fists in joy, having some much needed fun. They place us in the driver seat. They help us celebrate the biggest moments in our lives with glittering jewelry that dazzle the eye.

The Faces of The 330 celebrates the people behind our local businesses. Raise your glass, grab a cupcake and celebrate these people—our 2016 Faces of The 330.

w w w. akronlife.com

33

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF FANTASTIC CUPCAKES While studying Interior Design at The University of Akron, Shawna Rollheiser-Schultz found that baking cupcakes relieved stress and delighted her classmates, including her now-husband, Eric Schultz. An assignment to design a restaurant inspired her to think bigger about her hobby, and A Cupcake a Day was born.

Located near the square in downtown Medina, Rollheiser’s shop offers high quality cupcakes in a wide selection of cocktailinspired flavors, like Strawberry Champagne, Cleveland Whiskey and Irish Car Bomb, along with non-alcoholic choices, like Chocolate Raspberry Truffle and Ice Cream Sundae. Rollheiser also hosts decorating parties and “Mom & Me” events. Naked Cakes—uniced and decorated with fruit and/ or flowers—are trending among her many bridal clients. An akronlife “Best of the City” winner for Best Cupcakes, Rollheiser is hoping to expand in the future—her kitchen just isn’t big enough for the growing demand.

115 W Liberty Street Medina 44256 330-389-1247 www.acupcakeaday.com shawna@acupcakeaday.om

34

akronlife

february 2016

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF A DIFFERENT AUTO GROUP Park Auto Group has been a staple of the Akron/Canton automotive market for decades, dating back to 1957.

Under the leadership of Vice President Tom Flory, Park offers a great selection of Acura’s, Honda’s, Mazda’s and Subaru’s, as well as a variety of other quality pre-owned vehicles.

“What makes us special is that we’re not just sales people, we’re human beings who care about peoples’ needs, which shines through everything we do,” Flory said. “Our number one goal is to take care of people.”

Tom has worked in the auto industry for 20 years. He began his career selling Hondas with a small dealership near his hometown in Michigan, moving to the Akron area in 2012. One of Flory’s biggest interests is in community involvement including Akron’s Breast Cancer Walk, The Akron Canton Food Bank and Children’s Hospital, and donating a Honda Pilot to a family in need.

“Everyone here is friendly, and have their own unique personalities who come together as a team to make sure the job gets done right” Flory said. “We love our employees, we love our customers.”

Learn more about Park Auto Group, at www.parkautogroup.com, (888)903-0160, or visit 921 Interstate Parkway in Akron, Ohio.

w w w. akronlife.com

35

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF INTERIOR DESIGN A room’s design is a statement about its occupants.

Whether you prefer casual elegance, urban classic, uptown loft, or euro countryside, the professional designers at Chez-Del can transform your house into a home. After 70 years in the business and 3 generations, this family business is currently run by siblings Tim DelMedico, Vince DelMedico Jr. and Jackie Paparella. Located in downtown Akron and nestled in a fabulous 100-year-old restored building, it continues to be one of Northeast Ohio’s destinations for unique and personalized home decor within the customer’s individual budget. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just freshening up a drab room, they can direct you to the perfect design. Their showroom 36

akronlife

features hand-selected furnishings from around the world, an outdoor living gallery, rug gallery, mattress and bedding gallery and much more. At Chez-Del there is no initial fee for design services. Clients who purchase some or all of their décor from the store receive their expert design services at no charge. Even if no purchases are made in the store, customers can utilize the design services for an hourly fee. Huge supporters of the community, they are grateful for the faithful support they have received and strive to make sure there is no place like home. Transform your home or office with a little help from your friends in design at Chez-Del, located at 480 W. Exchange Street, "LSPO t JOGP!DIF[ EFM DPN

february 2016

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF AUTOMOTIVE INNOVATION V Shujaat Siddiqui helps drivers in The 330 take home their dream car. The Center Operator/General Manger at Dave Walter BMW, Siddiqui has almost 12 years of guidance and mentorship under Dave Walter himself. Dave Walter has been selling BMWs and VWs for over 30 years and has been a pillar of the Akron community the entire time. Leading the way with the redevelopment of Akron’s west side, they are known for their customer service in both the Sales and Service Departments. Dave Walter BMW has even been recognized by BMW of North America with their most prestigious award of “Center of Excellence” in 2013 and again in 2015. They are ranked as a top performing dealer in the nation, Dave Walter among 350 other BMW centers, and are proud to be local to the Akron area. Outselling every BMW dealer in Ohio, their talented team works hard to provide an amazing customer experience. They are proud to call Akron home and take pride in being Akron’s premier luxury dealership.

Dave Walter BMW is located at 500 W Exchange St. Akron 44302.

w w w. akronlife.com

37

FACES of

THE 330

photo by Bruce Gates

THE FACE OF CRAFT BEER

38

Located in Akron’s own Historic Brewing district, in the former Burkhardt’s Brewery, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. was established in 1997. The local craft brewer proudly contributes to the community through many events and programs, including efforts of good stewardship and recycling for sustainable businesses. In 2015, Thirsty Dog sent over 1 million pounds of spent brewer’s grain to Wagon Trails Animal Park to feed the animals. With a fine selection of products ranging from ales, lagers, porters, stouts, Belgian style beers and sours to limited release and specialty items created for community partners, Thirsty Dog is now available in over 14 states and was named USA Brewery of the year in 2014 and Ohio Brewery of the year in 2015. Thirsty Dog’s brewers, accountants, biologists, microbiologists, sales reps, packaging crews, shippers, and electricians raise a toast to all of the people who make The 330 a great place to work and live with their 330 IPA. XXX UIJSTUZEPH DPN t #3&8 akronlife

february 2016

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Joel Testa and Brett Moses create buildings that blend sleek modern design with classic beauty through Mota Design Group. Some of their current projects include mixed-use developments—live, work, lifestyle communities—like Mogadore’s West Village and West Lake’s Crocker Park, as well as urban revitalization with the Northside Lofts. They have combined technology with creativity in their new tool for interior design: Motavision. With the help of a pair of goggles, clients can take a virtual walk through the 3D design. This innovation allows them to explore the space that may become their home during the design process. The duo amped up their talents with their work on Craft Beer Bar in Cuyahoga Falls. Testa and Moses not only designed the space, but also developed all the marketing and branding. Philanthropy is equally as important to these dynamic men—Testa founded the Formerly Homeless Foundation, a nonprofit that works to destigmatize homelessness through community outreach, job-training programs and a story-sharing website. www.motadesigngroup.com

w w w. akronlife.com

39

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF CUSTOM JEWELRY For the past 25 years, Jim Taylor and his staff at Taylor Made Jewelry have not only made beautiful custom products, but also built lasting relationships with their clients. Taylor strives to put buyers at ease with one of the biggest purchases they may ever make. Whether it’s a stunning pair of earrings, a classic wristwatch, or the all-important engagement ring that will result in two life-changing words—“I do”—his team exudes professionalism. Instead of pushing a diamond on his customers, Taylor educates them about each gem, ensuring that they make the best decision within their budget.

40

akronlife

february 2016

Taylor Made Jewelry is also a major supporter of The 330— supporting The University of Akron, Akron Children’s Hospital and donating championship rings to the Soap Box Derby. For Taylor, it isn’t just about the sale. Instead he works for lifelong customers and has sold rings to grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of his original clients. Throughout 2016, Taylor Made Jewelry will continue to celebrate their anniversary with promotions. More than anything, they will continue to make purchasing jewelry a comfortable experience. After all, everybody wants to buy from a friend.

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF GAMING, DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT Mark Birtha, President of Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, oversees a Vegas-style experience in Northeast Ohio. He and his 800 employees are passionate about and committed to delivering authentic experiences that rock! Four unique restaurants satisfy all appetites, from fine-dining at the Silver Spoon award-winning Kosar’s Wood-Fired Grill to the iconic Hard Rock Café. Exciting menus can also be found at the Fresh Harvest Buffet and the Constant Grind. The Rocksino features 2,278 games, including nods to local icons Michael Stanley and Bernie Kosar. In 2015, the Hard Rock Rocksino paid out more jackpots than any gaming venue in Northeast Ohio, with jackpots

every 18 minutes. Another attraction is the live concert venue, Hard Rock Live. It seats over 1,800 guests and presents 75-80 shows a year in every genre, from rock to country to R&B. The Rocksino is also committed to philanthropy; its Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness and Research fundraising events raised $100,000 in the past two years for local charities.

"Find Your Rhythm" at the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park!

10777 Northfield Rd. Northfield, OH 44067 www.hrrnp.com w w w. akronlife.com

41

FACES of

THE 330

THE FACE OF HOME DESIGN James Justice, owner of Architectural Justice, has created a truly unique space in Medina that offers clients a one-stop shop for all the materials and products needed to transform a home. Justice got his start in the industry working out of his garage, building cabinetry and working on home additions. As the work grew into larger projects, he began to pursue the granite business, now the mainstay of Architectural Justice. From the 20,000 square foot showroom and expansive granite yard featuring nearly 3,000 slabs of exotic stone, to the on-site fabrication shops for granite, cabinetry, cast stone and metal, Justice and his team have been serving Northeast Ohio residents with design and remodeling services for over 30 years. The showroom also features custom and reclaimed furniture, as well as both locally and globally sourced home accessories and unique gift items.

Architectural Justice is located at 2462 Pearl Road, 330-225-6000.

42

akronlife

february 2016

FACES of

THE 330

Front row (Left to Right): Barry Lamkin, MD; William Krug, MD; Lauren Guren, MD; Ann Kooken, MD; Allison Moosally, MD; Jill Warner, CNP; Back row (Left to Right): James Libecco, MD; Justin Woodhouse, MD; Gary Lichten, MD; Gina Berardinelli, CNP (not pictured)

THE FACE OF BEAUTIFUL SKIN Eight highly accomplished Dermatology Physicians, along with two Certified Nurse Practitioners, have come together to form Allied Dermatology and Skin Surgery. Allied Dermatology’s goal is to provide the highest quality healthcare, as well as build a trusting relationship with patients. With many years of combined experience, their physicians are skin experts who specialize in general, cosmetic and surgical dermatology, including Mohs micrographic surgery.

In addition to the skilled physicians, Allied Dermatology offers the convenience of same-day appointments at all four of their Northeast Ohio offices. Among them is a new office in Fairlawn, along with a state-of-theart facility in Mayfield Heights. With multiple locations, they can provide the highest quality care and expertise in dermatology to adult and pediatric patients, so the whole family is covered.

Locations: 3624 West Market Street, 330-665-0555 (Akron) 3085 West Market Street, Suite 102, 330-836-0201 (Akron) 5915 Landerbrook Drive. Suite 120, 216-382-3806 (Mayfield Heights) 9485 Mentor Avenue, Suite 102, 440-266-5500 (Mentor)

w w w. akronlife.com

43

by Molly Gase and photos by Emily Vaeth

family

A

Legacy...

...Cut in

44

akronlife

february 2016

stone

For many, fine jewelry is an ornament that marks a special point in life. A pair of pearl earrings or a pristine timepiece can signify a young person’s emergence into adulthood. In a similar fashion, a band of gold, a diamond ring, can transform an individual into a part of something larger—a family. Holidays, graduations, births and anniversaries are all celebrated with gemstones and twists of metallic beauty.

These mementos are important not only in monetary value, but also in sentiment. The Ball family has helped their customers select the perfect item for the perfect moment throughout not just one generation, but four.

Lisa Ball Ponder is the great-grandchild of Henry B. Ball and is the newest owner of Henry B. Ball West. After 100 years of business, Ponder is looking to take them into the future while never losing sight of their rich history.

The first generation An Akron staple, Henry B. Ball has been a part of the local jewelry story for 100 years.

The man himself, though, had very humble origins. “He started this in 1915, but he actually dropped out of school in seventh grade and started as a runner for a bench jeweler,” says Ponder. His first steps in the business came in the form of running deliveries and doing pick-ups for a jeweler who did repairs and manufacturing. Later, he became an apprentice and then a bench jeweler.

Throughout these years, Ponder says that her great-grandfather learned not only how to work with jewelry, but how to do it very well.

“In the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s, Henry B. Ball was synonymous with quality and craftsmanship in manufacturing jewelry,” she says.

At the time, Ball did not yet have an independent store. Instead he manufactured jewelry for other jewelers and for private customers who wanted custom, unique pieces. Ponder says that he then partnered with the W.J. Frank Company to get his first store off the ground, but ended up buying out his partner—creating the Henry B. Ball Company.

In 1954, he celebrated the grand opening of a new location on the first floor of the Sheraton-Mayflower Hotel in downtown Akron. By 1976, the second generation of the Ball family was firmly at the helm, with Mary Ball Gorman opening a second location in Pilgrim Square on West Market Street.

Opposite: Three generations of the Ball family, Mary Ball Gorman, Lisa Ball and Barbie Musci (left to right) sit together in the remodeled Henry B. Ball West. Top left: Walter "Skip" Ball, Helen Ball and Henry Ball in front of their home on Turkeyfoot Lake. Top right: Robert, Mary and Tom at a conference in 1995. Above: Lisa Ball Ponder repurposed the old sign in her redesign.

When downtown Akron began to decline, that location was moved to Belden Village in Canton. With a grand opening in 1983, this location is currently managed by a third generation member of the family, Robert Ball.

As a part of the fourth generation, Ponder has a good understanding of the hard work that led to the present incarnation of the business. “[Henry B. Ball] built his own name. He didn’t stand behind the name of another person; he didn’t get a fancy education. He built his own name with blood, sweat and hard work. It just carried through generation after generation; that’s kind of what we’ve all tried to strive to continue—to show that hard work and integrity,” says Ponder.

The second generation Mary Ball Gorman’s path into the jewelry industry was not a direct one. “You might almost say I married into it because I married the son of Henry B. Ball,” she says.

Along with her husband, Walter “Skip” Ball, Gorman trained in the industry, eventually becoming a certified gemologist. Not an easy feat, Ponder likens the achievement to earning a master’s degree. “You have to be a registered jeweler, then a graduate gemologist, then a certified gemologist,” Ponder says. “You have to complete all of the coursework through the Gemological Institute of America, and you do training on not only gemstone identification, but it’s much more than that—it’s precious metals and precious stones. You learn how the gems are formed naturally and in labs, how

w w w. akronlife.com

45

Below: Henry B. Ball with his canine companion. Bottom: Barbie Musci's tanzanite ring was created by her mother.

Right: Mary Ball Gorman at a Gemological Institute of America class in the 1950s.

they’re cut, recognize different cuts and different traits.”

Through extensive training, certified gemologists learn how to classify and value gemstones, allowing them to offer official appraisals. “Being a certified gemologist, your appraisal will carry the seal of the American Gem Society (AGS),” says Ponder. Not just a piece of paper, an appraisal by a certified gemologist will hold up in a court of law as a legal document. “It has a little more substance to it because you are educated and certified to put your seal of approval on it.”

Obtaining this level in the jewelry industry is no easy task, though. “Well, it’s been studying and working and education ever since [we started]. In fact we signed up to become registered jewelers when we were on our honeymoon out in California,” says Gorman.

Now 91 years old, Gorman has had quite the career in the family business. The recipient of numerous awards, she also travelled all over the world. Visits to diamond, ruby and tanzanite mines, pearl beds and watch factories dot the years. “I’ve been to Tanzania. I’ve been to South Africa. I’ve been to Burma—that’s not usual. Not many people go there. I’ve also been to China and Japan—I’ve been to the pearl beds there,” says Gorman. Trekking into the mines of Burma or Sri Lanka, she was often the only woman around. “In some cases I was the only one,” she says. This didn’t stop her though, and she continued on these trips decade after decade.

46

akronlife

Gorman says that travelling, seeing all of the amazing places she did, made remaining in Akron for all of these years an easy choice.

“I’ve been fortunate because I’ve been able to travel a lot. It’s been very interesting for me, so I’ve never had the urge to go anywhere else,” she says.

The third generation On the home front, Gorman raised six children, five of whom are still living. Like many children of multi-generational family businesses, the Ball kids worked in the jewelry industry. One of Gorman’s children, Barbie Musci, worked for the family business in her youth and is again, now that the fourth generation has taken over. “I am working here parttime for Lisa and it’s been great. It’s her store, even though I’ve been a part of this store for 57 years,” says Musci.

As a child, Musci says that she would go to the downtown Akron location with her mother sometimes. While her mother was doing appraisals or other work upstairs, Musci would ride the dumbwaiters—used to send packages up and down to the wrapping department and jewelers’ benches—creating a thrill ride out of it. Over time, she went to work with her siblings. “I started working here in high school during my summer vacations and then I [continued] while I went to college,” says Musci.

february 2016

Travelling with her mother, Musci says that they went on buying trips in New York twice a year and to the jewelry shows. While at one show in California, she remembers attending a lecture that has stuck with her over the years.

“I remember one time I went to a show out in California and for all of the children of the parents who were doing their studies—every year they had to go renew their certification because there was always something new on the market. While she was doing her certification, they put some of the kids into classes,” Musci says. One of the classes was run by another family-owned jeweler and discussed the difficulties of growing up in the family business. “He said to us, ‘don’t ever let anybody tell you that working for the family business is easy, that you have it made.’ They said it’s harder because they expect more,” she says.

The challenges of working closely with family are not always the first things people think of.

However, for members of the family involved, it is a whole different ballgame. If you are late for work or unenthusiastic, it’s not just your boss who yells at you, it’s your parent.

“Whenever I was late—and there were times in college that I was late—she would read me the riot act,” Musci says. “She’d take me over [to the sign] and say, that’s your name on that door. Nobody else’s.”

Though Musci did stretch her wings and explore other ventures, she is now back to help Ponder. As she steps back into the family

Lisa Ball Ponder recently purchased and restored Henry B. Ball West on West Market Street.

business, she is embracing the changes of the new generation. “Lisa’s got great ideas to take the history of this company into what people are looking for today,” says Musci. Instead of china patterns and crystal, she says that brides are now opting for creative cutting boards and other unique gifts. The fine jewelry that Henry B. Ball is known for is still an integral part, but now there is also a mixture of prices and items in the store.

This shift is something that Musci says reflects societal changes, including the fact that in many young couples, both partners work.

“Long gone are the days where you have to wait for your husband to buy you a piece of jewelry for your anniversary or Christmas or your birthday. These women are going out and buying it for themselves.

Lisa is doing a good job trying to navigate that.”

The fourth generation To say that change is a challenge is a major understatement. Often in life though, amazing things can happen when you see change coming and instead of balking at it, you embrace it. Lisa Ball Ponder and her husband did just that when they had the sudden opportunity to purchase Henry B. Ball West.

Born and raised in Orlando, Fla., Ponder and her husband had vaguely discussed purchasing the business until they suddenly found themselves facing the choice head-on. “It was kind of a whirlwind decision,” she says. “We had actually talked about making an offer to purchase the business when we were going to be coming up for Christmas, but it was something that was just in talks. And then we found out that they were actually going to be closing the store, so we sped up our timeline from just talking about an abstract potential future investment, to yes, we’re doing this and we’ll be up there in two weeks.”

Once the decision was made, they went all in, remodeling the store and making it their own. Ponder’s husband pitched in during the construction process, swinging the sledgehammer, installing fresh carpet and painting cabinets. While he helped with the physical part of the remodel, the couple plans to follow in her grandparents footsteps and learn about the industry together. “He’s going to the trade conferences and taking the coursework right along with me to be educated in gemstones and fine jewelry,” Ponder says.

Apart from physical changes to the store’s appearance, Ponder also plans to expand into the digital realm. “In this industry and in the retail industry in general, our generation shops online,” she says. “We shop on our cell phones. People get their ideas for what they want for their engagement ring, for wedding gifts, fashion jewelry, hostess gifts [online].” Harnessing this is something that Ponder wants to do to expand beyond a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront to what she calls a “marketplace that knows no zip code.”

One way she plans on doing this is through an app called Mallzee.

Similar to the dating app, Tinder, users simply swipe the picture they see one direction if they like it and another if they don’t. “You swipe right or left and you create this ‘likes’ category, and you can turn

The newly removated Henry B. Ball West is a modern twist on the 100-year-old business.

your notifications on when things go on sale.” As a retailer, Ponder says this will help her to know what items are trending with potential shoppers.

Despite all of the changes, Ponder still wants to honor the generations of her family that have come before her. “I’m really honored to take on the family business and see it through another generation. I think 100 years in business is a huge feat, and being a family business and keeping that value is something that I really strive to follow in my nana’s footsteps,” Ponder says.

Not only has working at Henry B. Ball been passed down through the generations of their family, but going to Henry B. Ball has also become a tradition for some local families. “I had a customer come in, in his 20s, who was the third generation to come to us for an engagement ring. That alone is a huge honor,” she says.

As the past heritage continues to support the future, Ponder understands the responsibility behind what she does. “It’s not just a family business for us—it’s a family business for Akron.” / Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office nonstop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

w w w. akronlife.com

47

by Sharon Cebula and photos by Natalie Spencer

The

Warmth of Tea Four local tea rooms bring people together When it’s cold and the snow is falling, nothing warms your hands and heart like a steaming cup of tea. Black, green, white, herbal, sweetened or straight, tea brings the weight of history and time itself to any gathering.

Historians place the discovery of tea as a beverage in China, somewhere around the 10th century BC. It spread throughout Asia as a medicinal drink, then made its way to Europe with traveling priests and merchants around the 16th century AD. The addition of cane sugar in the early 17th century exploded its popularity as a daily beverage in England. Tea has been used as currency, medicine, a religious experience and a status symbol. Mostly, though, it is consumed for its physical and emotional warmth.

When good friends sit down together with a pot of tea, they commit to the time it takes for tea to steep, for the boiling water to cool, for the steam to rise and conjure

memories of a slower, more deliberate world. Sharing tea means sharing time. It’s not the grab-and-go rush of coffee. It’s visiting an old friend, sharing stories of family and loved ones, putting away the screens and devices for a face-to-face connection.

Tea rooms are likewise very different from coffee shops.

From unique décor that changes with the seasons, to special finger foods designed to accompany tea and dress-up rooms for the little ones, a tea room is as special as the moments shared over a steaming china pot of oolong. The idea of a tea room might seem oldfashioned, but four of them are doing brisk business this snowy season. Each one offers something a little different, so put on your fancy hat, gather your friends, and visit one of The 330’s cozy tea rooms.

Dragonfly Tea Room and Gift Shop

48

akronlife

february 2016

Miss Molly’s Tea Room and Gift Shop

w w w. akronlife.com

49

Miss Molly’s Tea Room and Gift Shop

Through the years, Ed and Dinah Wright traveled a lot through East Asia, but they could never find a green tea that they really liked.

Once they acquired Miss Molly’s Tea Room 18 years ago, Ed set about having a special blend made for the shop. The result, called Temple of Heaven, combines classic green tea with apricot and peach flavors for a mild, refreshing beverage that has become their number two seller, a close second to the best-seller, cinnamon-orange spice.

The Wrights have expanded Miss Molly’s quite a bit in their almost two decades of ownership, adding a toy store, a gift shop and a high-end ladies’ fashion boutique. The business now occupies the entire first floor of the Park Exchange Building, just west of the square in Medina. “We’ve got a wonderful following,” Wright says. “And we work really hard to maintain the quality and consistency of the food and the service and everything we do.”

50

akronlife

Having an executive chef in the kitchen means excellent quality food, so customers to Miss Molly’s can expect a consistently great experience, season after season, year after year. The most popular item on the menu is the chicken salad, made in-house, and served on puff pastry, croissant, or combined into a sampler with strawberry-pretzel salad, cucumber salad, or broccoli salad. And always with a pot of tea, of course.

“We try to create a warm and welcoming environment,” Wright says. “We want people to feel like they’re stepping out of the hustle and bustle of the crazy world we live in, and into a relaxing environment where they can actually decompress a little bit and sit back and let us pamper them a little and make them feel special.”

Visit Miss Molly’s at 140 W. Washington St., Medina: 330-725-6830.

february 2016

Susie K’s Café and Tea Room

When Susie Kohl moved back to her hometown of Ravenna from Columbus 24 years ago, she wasn’t looking to start her own business. She’d been in the catering business for a long time, at hotels and convention centers, and knew how the business can swallow a person’s life. But when a Main Street location right next to her brother’s insurance company opened up, she decided to try her own tea room for a year. Before she knew it, Susie K’s Café and Tea Room had been going strong for more than two decades.

Kohl grew up drinking tea with her sisters, mother and grandmother. She still has a teapot that belonged to her grandmother, along with teapots and sets from lots of customers’ loved ones. She’s not sure exactly how many she has, but each place in the café is set with a different cup. Many times, customers will request a particular pot or choose their seat according to which cup they like best.

What makes Kohl’s shop unique? “My customers,” she says. “As a new customer, hopefully you’ll feel just as welcome as my regulars.

We form friendships here.”

Authentic Key Lime pie sets Kohl’s menu apart from other tea houses. She goes to Key West once a year to get the eponymous limes, then makes the confection herself from scratch.

Being the owner, shopper, menu planner and baker doesn’t leave Kohl a lot of time to herself. But when she can, she still likes to sit down with a warm cup and her memories of her grandmother. “I feel so fortunate because I enjoy going to work every day,” she says.

Find Susie K’s at 145 E. Main St., Ravenna: 330-296-3779.

w w w. akronlife.com

51

Piccadilly Parlour Victorian Tea Room

As a little girl, Claudia Zacharko had tea parties with her Ukrainian father, sipping strong tea with sugar and nibbling Schwebel’s bread slathered in butter. But they had to hide these parties from her Mexican mother. “She would yell at him ‘don’t give my girls tea!’

Because the sugar and caffeine weren’t good for us,” Zacharko recalls, laughing.

Her mix of heritage led Zacharko to the idea of opening a Mexican restaurant, not a tea room. But when a friend saw the Piccadilly Parlour up for sale, she urged Zacharko to take a look. Other women had run the tea room for a dozen years, but were selling to move on to other concerns.

Zacharko fell in love with the site and its potential; she owned it within five days of viewing it.

Piccadilly Parlour is a getaway from the modern world, Zacharko says. There’s no TV and no Wi-Fi, just a little background music and face-to-face conversations. On weekends, a harpist plays.

Zacharko serves her mostly female guests over 40 teas from England along with homemade pierogis, tea breads and cheese cakes. One of her loviest creations is the Rosamunde salad, a vision of spring with strawberries, onions and chicken breast in a raspberry vinaigrette.

When she gets a moment to relax with her favorite cinnamon spice tea, Zacharko reflects on what makes her shop special. “I want people to come and talk,” she says. “Ladies feel comfortable here. They love looking around at china their mothers or grandmothers had. And even the kids act nice when they’re treated like grown-ups.”

Piccadilly Parlour is located at 114 S, Broad Street, Canfield: 330-533-4749.

52

akronlife

february 2016

Piccadilly Parlour Victorian Tea Room w w w. akronlife.com

53

Dragonfly Tea Room and Gift Shop

Tiffany Craney and her sister used to visit tea rooms together while they were growing up. When her sister got engaged, Craney found it the most natural thing in the world to throw her a tea party for her wedding shower. One of the friends at that party loved it so much, she requested that Craney throw her a tea party of her own. Then another friend wanted one. And another.

So when she was looking for a full-time job, Craney’s husband suggested she open a tea room. She got some funding and found a location she loved—the Dragonfly Tea Room was born.

“My husband is my biggest supporter,” Craney says. “Even when I say, oh my gosh, what am I doing? He says, it’s okay; you can do this!”

All the soups, salads and sweets at Dragonfly are hand-made in-house by the owner herself. Craney’s newest specialty is a Hummingbird Cake, her personal take on a spice cake with sweet cream cheese frosting.

If you’re dreaming of spring already, you might want to try it with a pot of Blooming Tea, a special hand-sewn bag of tea leaves with a flower in the middle that “blooms” in the hot water. Craney serves it in a glass pot, so the pretty posy can be fully enjoyed during the meal.

As busy as she is, Craney still enjoys a cup of tea now and then. Her favorite is called Grandma’s Garden. It’s fruity and light, needs no sweetener, and is liked by non-teadrinkers, as well.

“When I share a pot of tea with a friend, it’s a time to sit down and reflect,” she says. “I want my guests to feel like that. Come in, sit down and get that time to catch up.”

Dragonfly is located at 116 Canal St. S., Canal Fulton: 330-854-4832.

54

akronlife

february 2016

good eats

restaurants

B Breakfast L Lunch D Dinner A Alcohol available T Takeout available V Valet parking $ 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.

/ notable food & drink / Go to akronlife.com to view more area restaurants & events.

Akron Family Restaurant Neighborhood meeting place, homey atmosphere, reasonable prices. 250 W. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330376-0600 $ B, L, D, T Aladdin’s Eatery Outdoor dining area, tasty Mediterranean cuisine. 782 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-535-0110; First and Main streets (Hudson) 330-656-0560; 3895 Medina Rd. (Fairlawn) 330-665-3102 $$$ L, D, A, T Al’s Corner Restaurant Old-world comfort food served cafeteria style. Cabbage rolls and sausage made locally are a favorite. 545 W. Tuscarawas Ave. (Barberton) 330-753-7216 $$ L, T 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. (Canton: Downtown) 330-454-6055 $$ B, L, D, A Arnie’s West Branch Steak House Casual dining, specializing in steak, ribs and seafood. Closed Sun. 5343 State Rte. 14 (Ravenna) 330-297-1717 $$$ D, A, T B Loco Mexican Grill Tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, salads, quesadillas, monster nachos and monster fries. Plus Mexican cannoli and elephant ears. 7216 Fulton Dr. NW (Canton) 330-830-5020 $ L, D, T Babushka’s Kitchen Old World food with a Polish influence. Handmade fresh kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, pierogi, paprikash and more. 6531 Brecksville Rd. (Independence) 216-447-9275 $$ L, D, T Bar145 This Gastropub features bar fare and an extensive menu of burgers made with Niman Ranch beef. 100 E. Erie St. (Kent) 330-968-6201 $$ L, D, A, T Barley House Hot and cold deli sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, soups and more. 222 S. Main St. (Akron) 330-374-0925 $$ L, D, A, T Basil Asian Bistro Menu features Thai, Chinese and Korean dishes, as well as sushi and Vietnamese specialties. Closed Mon. 585 Market Ave. N. (Canton) 330-452-3888; 4195 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-9156893 $$$ L, D, A, T Beau’s Grille Upscale, well-regarded, innovative

menu at the Fairlawn Hilton. 3180 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330-865-5577 $$$$ L, D, A, T Beau’s on the River Stunning views of the falls with floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary décor. Fusion/eclectic cuisine, lunch buffet and Sunday brunch. Sheraton Suites Akron/ Cuyahoga Falls, 1989 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-920-7530 $$$ B, L, D, A, T Belgrade Gardens Famous for fried chicken and home-style cooking. 401 E. State St. (Barberton) 330-745-0113; 3476 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-896-3396 $$$ L, D, A, T Bellacino’s Known for grinders, pizza, pasta and fresh salads. Full bar, patio and banquet room with dance floor. 3657 Fishcreek Rd. (Stow) 330-6783000 $$ L, D, A, T Bender’s Tavern Largest restaurant wine selection in Stark County. Menu features seafood. 137 Court Ave. SW (Canton: Downtown) 330-453-8424 $$$$ L, D, A, T Bennett’s Family Restaurant Comfort food, standard American fare. 13211 Cleveland Ave. NW (Uniontown) 330-699-9291 $ B, L, D, T No credit cards Best Sports Bar Specialties include: Jumbo Wings, Mile High Nachos, Jameson Glazed Entrees, Burgers and Specialty Sandwiches. Daily Specials Mon-Fri. 4 Locations - www.johnnyjspub.com $$ L, D, A, T Bianca’s Italian Ristorante & Lounge Traditional Italian, juicy steaks and fresh seafood.

4284 Beverly Hills Dr. (Brunswick) 330-225-0927 $$$ L, D, A, T Big Eye Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar Menu offers a wide variety of sushi as well as salads, soups, appetizers, cooked entrees and vegan options to suit everyone at your table. Closed Sun. 2965 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330-836-4433 $$$ L, D, A, T 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. Closed Mon. Open for lunch Sat. and Sun. 1700 55th St. NE (Canton) 330-497-1000 $$$ L, D, A Bistro on Main House-made desserts, hand-cut steaks and fresh pasta. Closed Sun. 1313 W. Main St. (Kent) 330-673-9900 $$$ L, D, A, T Block 7 Fresh-ground burgers, unique sandwiches, onion rings and more. Closed Sun. 524 W. Tuscarawas St. (Barberton) 330-745-7677 $$ L, D, A, T Blue Canyon Creative American cuisine in six

nature-inspired dining environments. Sunday brunch buffet. 8960 Wilcox Dr. (Twinsburg) 330-486-2583 $$$$ L, D, A, T Blue Door Café and Bakery Sandwiches, quiche, soup, crepes and omelets. Open Wed.-Sun., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner served Thurs.-Sat. from 6-9 p.m. 1970 State Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-926-9774 $$ B, L, T Bombay Sitar Fine Indian cuisine. Food is natural and prepared fresh daily. 5111 Fulton Dr. NW (Canton) 330-305-0671 $$ L, D, T Bricco Open since Sept. 2003, this restaurant is known for its eclectic seasonal menu, wood-fired pizzas and pasta dishes. Open Sun. for brunch and dinner. 1 W. Exchange St. (Akron) 330-475-1600 $$$ L, D, A, T, V Bricco in Kent Menu is modeled after the original Bricco in downtown Akron. À la carte brunch on Sun. 210 S. Depeyster St. (Kent) 330-677-1335 $$$ L, D, A, T The Brickoven Brewpub Hand-crafted traditional, deep-dish, specialty and dessert pizzas, calzones, appetizers, salads and nanobrewed beer.

604 Canton Road (Ellet) 330-475-7005 $$ D, A, T Brubaker’s Specialty sandwiches, wraps, pizzas, appetizers and a full bar. Bottomless soup and salad special. 4005 Medina Rd. (Montrose) 330-6668021; 5823 Darrow Rd. (Hudson) 330-650-9401; 3939 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-896-8803; 1922 Buchholzer Blvd. (Chapel Hill) 330-630-2237; 357 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-7160; 4141 Bridgewater Pkwy. (Stow) 330-475-1525 $$$ L, D, A, T The Burntwood Tavern Owned by the same couple that runs the other Burntwood locations in Rocky River, Brecksville, Chagrin Falls and Solon, this restaurant’s menu features steaks, sliders, hand-cut fries, smoked, planked, and wood-grilled food. 2291 Riverfront Pkwy. (Cuyahoga Falls) www. burntwoodtavern.com $$$ L, D, A, T The Cabin Upscale Italian within the Mario’s International Spa and Inn complex. 35 E. Garfield Rd. (Aurora) 330-562-9171 $$$$ B, L, D, A, T Café Bricco This menu is a smaller version of the one at the original Bricco location downtown.

Doubletree Hotel, 3150 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330835-2203 $$$ B, L, D, A, T Cafe Tandoor Casual atmosphere, Indian cuisine.

Closed Mon. 96 Barrington Town Center (Aurora) 330-562-5334 $$$ L, D, A, T Caffé Gelato Italian coffee drinks, paninis, salads, soups, pizza, desserts and homemade Italian gelato.

Coffee house nights with live entertainment. 506 S. Main St. (North Canton) 330-494-1123 $ B, L, D, T Cana Valley Winery Check out this winery’s 13 varieties. Bring in your own food. Open Wed.-Sat.

w w w. akronlife.com

5665 Waterloo Rd. (Atwater) 330-596-3017 $ D, A Capri Pizza Pizza, pasta, wings and barbeque ribs.

810 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-762-9131 $ L, D, T Casa Del Ranchero Authentic Mexican. Try a 44-ounce jumbo lime margarita, Arroz Con Pollo and flan for dessert. Kids’ menu and vegetarian menu.

562 W. Tuscarawas Ave. (Barberton) 330-753-8494 $$ L, D, A, T Casa Del Rio Mexican dining. 839 High St. (Wadsworth) 330-335-4001 $$ L, D, A, T Ceedo’s Eatery Traditional Middle Eastern food — kosher and halal — including shwarma and falafel, stuffed whole lamb, hummus, tabbouleh and kibbeh. Closed Mon. 4147 Bridgewater Pkwy. (Stow) 330-940-2424 $$ B, L, D, T Cellar 59 Wine Bar & Wine Shop The menu in this renovated 19th century farmhouse features small plates and desserts, as well as bottles of wine and craft beer. Closed Sun. and Mon. 3984 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-688-2684 $$$ L, D, A, T Chicken Manor Restaurant Menu includes pasta, seafood, steaks and chops. Kids’ and seniors’ menu. Closed Mon. 8043 Cleveland Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-499-2159 $$ L, D, T China City Traditional Chinese cuisine in an elegant setting. 156 Cherry St. (Kent) 330-673-6566 $$ L, D, A, T Chowder House Café Salads, soups, sandwiches and clam chowder. Bring your own wine and beer ($5 corkage fee). Open Tues.-Thurs.

11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sat. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sun. and Mon. 2028 Chestnut Blvd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-794-7102 $$$ L, D, T No credit cards Cilantro Upscale Thai and Japanese, extensive menu, fresh ingredients, hand-selected sushi and no MSG. Eclectic atmosphere. 326 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-434-2876 $$$ L, D, A, T Circle L Steakhouse The new menu offers a wide selection of steak cuts, and the atmosphere provides an upscale, rustic feel. Sunday brunch and live entertainment. 201 Park Centre Dr. (Wadsworth) 330-335-7913 $$$$ B, L, D, A Cleats Club Seat Grille This sports pub and grill features burgers, “the official chicken wing of the Cleveland Indians” and the longest happy hour around, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Entertainment at 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 469 College St. (Wadsworth) 330-3345151 $$ L, D, A, T Coffee Pot Cafe Attached to the Akron-Summit County Public Library downtown. Coffee, salads & sandwiches. Open Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m - 5 p.m,. Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., and special events. 75 S. Main St. (Akron). 330-807-8039. $ B, L, T The Corkscrew Saloon Specializes in

55

Wine n Dine and

Valent ine your

Featuring:

Filet Mignon & Lobster Tail Join us all Valentine’s Week!

February Fe bruary 10VJth – VJ16th )GDTWCT[ Monday through Thursday 4-10 Friday 4-11, Saturday 1-11, Sunday 11-9

NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 2809 PEARL RD. RT. 42 , MEDINA (half way between Medina and Brunswick) 56

akronlife

february 2016

0-72 - 288

fresh seafood, steaks and chops, prepared by executive chef Ryan Marino. Live entertainment Wed. nights. 811 W. Liberty (Medina) 330-725-0220 $$$$ L, D, A, T Cortabella’s Italian Eatery In addition to a soup, salad and pasta bar, the menu includes seafood, poultry, steak, pizzas and calzones, desserts and a wine list and full bar. 10 Tallmadge Circle (Tallmadge) 330-633-7844 $$ L, D, A, T Craft Beer Bar A large variety of craft beer, cocktails, wines and whiskeys that accompany upscale bar food. Watermark Building, 1846 Front St., Suite G (Cuyahoga Falls) 234-571-1409 $$$ D, A, T, V Crave Creative comfort foods, slightly eccentric with bold tastes served up in a sensational setting. 57 E. Market St. (Akron) 330253-1234 $$ L, D, A, T, V Cristo’s House of Pasta Pizza, manicotti and stuffed shells are a few of the favorites. Closed Sun. 1275 Norton Ave. (Norton) 330-825-1994 $$ L, D, A, T The Crush House at Gervasi Vineyard A modern industrial building that houses a state-of-the-art winery facility, wine bar and eatery. Perfect for a fun lunch, casual dinner or late snack. Closed Sun. Opens 11 a.m., Mon.-Sat. 1700 55th St. NE (Canton) 330-497-1000 $$ L, D, A D’Agneses Tomato Grill Wide array of entrée choices.

Sunday brunch. Catering available. 106 First St. (Hudson) 330342-3771 $$$$ L, D, A, T D’Agnese’s White Pond Contemporary Italian food served in a classy yet casual setting. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Live entertainment in the lounge. Full service catering. 566 White Pond Dr. (Akron) 234-678-3612 $$$ L,D,A,T Danny Boy’s If you love the Rat Pack, you’ll love this menu.

Try the Old Blue Eyes Mac & Cheese, the Hammy Davis Jr. Melt or The Chairman of the Board Calzone. 6081 Dressler Rd. N (Canton: Belden Village) 330-499-3726 $$$ L, D, A, T Dave’s Cosmic Subs Sign the walls at this sub stop, featuring psychedelic and music memorabilia decor. 186 N. Main St. (Hudson) 330-342-5666; 215 S. Water St. (Kent) 330346-0620 $$ L, D, T Dave’s Tip Top Pleasant atmosphere with home-style menu.

Perfect for family dining. 3428 Darrow Rd. (Stow) 330-6883171 $$ B, L, D, T David B’s Grill & Pub Known locally for excellent service and a variety of foods. 3900 Medina Rd. (Montrose) 330-6661191 $$ L, D, A, T D.B.A. (Dante Boccuzzi Akron) Modern American food in a rock ‘n’ roll palace setting. Several menu items can be ordered in varied portion sizes, based on your appetite.

Vegetarian and vegan options available. Order a drink and relax on the restaurant’s spacious patio. 21 Furnace St. (Akron) 330375-5050 $$$$ D, A, T, V Delanie’s Neighborhood Grille Comfort food, sporty atmosphere and full bar. 67 West Ave. (Tallmadge) 330-6302888 $$$ L, D, A, T Desert Inn Family-owned since 1970. Specializes in “Family Style” shish kabobs. 204 12th St. NW (Canton) 330-456-1766 $$$$ L, D, A Diamond Deli A local favorite with fat sandwiches and fresh soups. 378 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-762-5877 $ B, L, A, D (Saturdays only), T Diamond Grille Akron’s oldest steakhouse, authentic 1950s-style décor. All steaks are hand-cut, and seafood is flown in fresh. 77 W. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-0041 $$$$ L, D, A No credit cards Dontino’s Restaurant Home-style Italian cuisine, popular community meeting place. 555 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. (Akron: North) 330-928-9530 $$ L, D, A, T Downtown 140 Executive Chef Richard E. Bennett IV calls his food style “minimalist new American.” He uses as few ingredients as possible to make an impact and keep clean flavors on the menu at this fine-dining establishment. 140 N. Main St. (Hudson) 330-655-2940 $$$$ L, D, A Eadie’s Fish House Bar & Grill All kinds of seafood, including fried alligator bites, lobster tail and homemade lump crabcakes. 6616 Wise Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-494-4000

by Rick Rodger

uncorked

Roth Estate Wines Healdsburg, California There are many excellent wineries in the Alexander Valley. Among them is the Roth Estate Winery. The Alexander Valley is one of the larger AVA wine districts in California, located in the northeastern end of Sonoma County near the city of Healdsburg. This area is excellent for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. The coastal mountain range to the west of the Alexander Valley helps keep this AVA warmer. The valley has very little fog from the Pacific Ocean, and if they do get fog it’s along the Russian River and burns off with the strong morning sun. The Russian River runs alongside the Alexander Valley, which has alluvial and riverbed soils that are high in mineral content— a combination that is great for growing wines. The Alexander Valley’s cool nights and warm afternoon temperatures help produce high quality fruit and excellent wines.

Roth Estate is a family-owned winery that was established in 2001, making only Cabernet Sauvignon from the rolling hills of the Alexander Valley. Ten years later the winery started producing Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Today they are dedicated to producing classic Bordeaux-style red wines rich in intensity and depth. Their Chardonnay is planted in the higher hillside closer to the coast in a cooler climate that produces rich and ripe grapes with a nice balance of acidity. Their Sauvignon Blanc is planted along the Russian River, which helps make zesty, citrus and elegantly textured wines.

The new state-of-the-art winery and cave at Roth Estate will help their director of winemaking, Leslie Mead Renaud, make and store outstanding wines. According to the winery,

their 2013 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon “has aromas of black fruits intertwined with vanilla bean, tobacco leaf and black olive. The wine is soft with supple tannins and a full body. It displays a medley of flavors with black currant, blackberry, plum, black olive and herbs in the forefront, but has subtle notes of spices and cedar that offer a wonderfully balanced and lingering finish.” This wine pairs well with grilled steaks, braised short ribs and cheeses like Gouda, gorgonzola and mild blue cheese. The Cabernet Sauvignon retails for $27.99.

The winery describes the Roth 2014 Alexander Valley Sauvignon Blanc as “crisp and balanced with a nice vibrant acidity. On the nose, it displays notes of tropical fruits, citrus zest and floral aromas that carry through to the palate with lively flavors of melon and grapefruit. The wine finishes strong for a long, juicy finish.” This wine pairs well with light fish, shellfish, salads and green vegetables. It retails for $12.99.

You can order or find Roth Estate Wines at Acme Fresh Markets, Buehler’s Fresh Foods, Heinen’s, Fisher Foods, Giant Eagle, Papa Joe’s, Regency, River Side Wine & Imports and 750ml or your favorite wine retailer in the Greater Akron area.

Wine Wisdom: Before you purchase a bottle of wine, don’t forget to read the back label of the bottle.

You’ll find additional information about the wine or winery that could add to your knowledge and enjoyment. Sometimes you’ll find information as to what to serve with your wine purchase.

/ Rick Rodger is a manager at Heidelberg Distributing Company.

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com. w w w. akronlife.com

57

untapped

by Aaron Fowler

Stone Pataskala Red X IPA Stone Brewing Co’s new seasonal pays tribute to the Buckeye State Six-packs $10.99

This month is sentimental for both Stone Brewing Co’s co-founder Greg Koch and Ohio, as February brings the national debut of the brewery’s Pataskala Red X IPA. Koch grew up in Pataskala, just east of Columbus.

Now he calls San Diego home, but he still has a soft spot for the Buckeye state, thanks to the time he spent here in his younger days.

It was the mid-80s when Koch returned to the state where he was born, Califorina, to study music. Things changed a lot over the following decade, and in 1996, Koch opened Stone Brewing Company along with his business partner Steve Wagner. Stone Brewing later become the ninth largest craft brewery in the United States.

Last year, Koch received a letter from a freshman at his alma mater—Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala— asking for help with a levy, which if not passed, would cut the marching band. Koch, who also played in the marching band his freshman year, was not only moved by the letter but donated $1,000 and promised to brew a special beer for the occasion. All proceeds would go to Watkins Memorial’s band, theater and arts programs.

$$$ L, D, A, T Eddy’s Deli and Restaurant Try the banana-split waffle, a corned beef sandwich or chicken paprikash. 2655 Oakwood Dr. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-7489; 4581 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-346-0551 $$ B, L, D, T Edgar’s Serves a variety of entrées, such as chargrilled grouper.

Homemade soups, salads and starters. 530 Nome Ave. at Good Park Golf Course (Akron) 330-869-3000 $$$ D, A, T El Campesino Authentic Mexican cuisine. 4360 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-686-5561; 9169 State Rte. 14 (Streetsboro) 330-626-9777; 4048 Lincolnway E. (Massillon) 330-477-8731 $$ L, D, A, T El Fogon Mexican Grill Traditional Mexican fare from the owner of El Campesino in Canton and Perry Township. Full bar and weekly margarita specials. Open 7 days. 1080 Interstate Pkwy. (Green) 330-644-7700 $$ L, D, A, T El Rancho Traditional Mexican fare made fresh from scratch each day.

Weekly margarita and happy hour specials. Open 7 days. 4065 State Road,(Cuyahoga Falls) 330-922-8112; 1666 West Exchange St. (Akron) 330-864-3300 $$ L,D,A,T The Eye Opener Diner-style menu features jams and jellies from Crooked River Herb Farm. Upscale décor includes photos of historic Akron.

1688 W. Market St. (Akron) 330-867-1114 $$ B, L, D, T Farmer Boy Restaurant House specialties include Greek souvlaki, broaster chicken and delicious desserts. 1324 Canton Rd. (Akron: East)

58

akronlife

Needless to say, the brew was a hit when it was unleashed in a limited run in Columbus bars last September. As luck would have it, the brew has now become the brewery’s latest seasonal release nationwide.

Brewed with a new special German malt variety called Red X, the beer is then dry-hopped with Mosaic, Cascade and Amarillo hops, creating an expected citrusy goodness, but at the same time a perfect balance of malty biscuit notes.

Stone Pataskala Red X IPA can be found in $10.99 six packs at select Acme, Fishers Foods and Giant Eagle locations, as well as your finer craft beer stops such as Mustard Seed, World Market, Lizardville and 101 Bottles of Beer on the Wall. / Writer Aaron Fowler is a sales representative at Cavalier Distributing.

Comments?

Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

330-784-4052 $$ B, L, D, T The Fat Bob Grill Housed in The American Legion building, this restaurant provides big portions at low prices. Burgers, pizza and salads.

Chef David Tate also offers homecooked meals for four for only $25. Pickup or delivery only. 783 W. Market St. (Akron: Highland Square) 330-9267919 $$ B, L, D, T Firehouse Grill & Pub Watch sports and enjoy steaks and buffalo wings. 1677 E. Market St. (Akron: East) 330-733-6279; 2437 Canton Rd. (Akron) 330-699-3616; 4809 S. Prospect St. (Rootstown) 330-325-0706; 76 West Ave. (Tallmadge) 330-634-9967 $$ L, D, A Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Aged beef, chops, fresh seafood, salad and more than 100 wines by the glass. 4000 Medina Rd. (Akron) 330-670-5200 $$$$ D, A, T Flip Side Gourmet, Ohio-raised beef burgers with chef-crafted condiments, toppings and sides; free-range organic chicken breast sandwiches; and market fresh salads. Craft beer on tap. 49 Village Way (Hudson) 330-655-3547 $$ L, D, A, T Franklin Square Deli Quality sandwich shop with an auto-racing theme. 108 S. Water St. (Kent) 330-673-2942 $$ B, L, D, T Fred’s Diner Well-known North Hill stop for breakfast and lunch. 930 Home Ave. (Akron: North) 330-535-3733 $ B, L, T Fresco Mexican Grill and Salsa Bar A new Mexican cuisine experience in the Kent area. Big burritos, tacos, warm soups, quesadillas

february 2016

and more. Known for its beer selection and extensive salsa bar. 100 E. Erie St. (Kent) 330-677-2588 $$ L, D, A, T The Galaxy Restaurant Diverse selection of dishes in a creative building. Fantastic desserts. 201 Park Centre Dr. (Wadsworth) 330-3343663 $$$ B, L, D, A, T Game Grill + Bar The menu of the new street-level restaurant at Akron’s Canal Park includes several local classics, including sauerkraut balls and Whitey’s chili. Steve Smith, formerly with One Red Door in Hudson and Ken Stewart’s in Akron, is executive chef. Saturday and Sunday brunch.

Canal Park, 300 S. Main St. (Akron) B, L, D, A, T, V Gasoline Alley Eclectic menu featuring pizza, salads, sandwiches and sauerkraut balls. 870 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-2670 $$$ L, D, A, T Geisen Haus Generous portions, great beer selection. 6955 Promway Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-499-9116 $$$ L, D, A, T Green Diamond Grille & Pub Upscale dining without upscale pricing. Specializes in steaks, chops, baby back ribs and seafood. 125 Second St. (Barberton) 330-745-1900 $$$ L, D, A, T Gas Pump Bar & Grille Fresh homemade food at a reasonable price. Try their specialty hot dogs. Kids’ menu and daily specials. Closed Sun. 2215 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron) 330-794-2222 $$ L, D, A, T H2 Huth & Harris Wine Merchants With a selection of over 200 wines, this Medina-based winery serves up a sizable selection in

AK

ITE ITALIAN RESTAURANT A AVOR ND F S LO N’ O UN R

G

E

a rustic, cellar-like atmosphere. Also offers large selection of craft beers, ciders, kombucha, meads and a large selection of tapas dishes. 221 South Court St. (Medina) 330-815-4959 $$$ L, D, A Hattie’s Café & Gifts Training and vocational site for people with disabilities. Features coffee, homemade pastries, ice cream, soups, salads and sandwiches. 520 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-535-1779 $ B, L, D, T Henry Wahner’s Restaurant An old favorite across from KSU. Complete German menu. German-style bar with beers served in ice-cold steins. 1609 E. Main St. (Kent) 330-678-4055 $$$$ D, A, T No credit cards Hibachi Japan Steak House Japanese Hibachi-style cooking, great steak and sushi. 2251 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-3333 $$$ L, D, A, T Hoppin’ Frog Brewery This spot offers 24 beers on tap and more than 50 bottles, including imports, and nightly events. Gastropub seasonal menu available. Open Tues.-Sat. 1680 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron) 234-5253764 $$ D, A House of Hunan Common favorites to spicy specialties. Oriental décor.

2717 W. Market St. (Fairlawn Town Centre) 330-864-8201; 18 Public Square (Medina) 330-722-1899 $$ L, D, A, T Hyde Park Grille New York-style upscale steakhouse. 4073 Medina Rd. (Montrose) 330-670-6303 $$$$ D, A, T, V Istocki’s Shish Kebob House Souvlaki, gyros, salads and grilled entrees. Homemade baklava, cheesecake roll and cinnamon pita with icing.

77 Westgate Circle (Akron: Wallhaven) 330-869-2550. $$ L, D, A, T Ivan’s Diner Menu includes sandwiches, burgers, subs and salads. Open Mon.-Fri. 2925 Embassy Pkwy. (Fairlawn) 330-836-3553 $$ L, T Jilly’s Music Room Creative American tapas in a sophisticated setting with live music, concerts and events Wednesday through Saturday. All gluten-free menu. 111 N. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-576-5960 $$ D, A Jimmy Bigg’s Grille Burgers, Italian subs, Reubens, wings, Philly cheese steak, BLTs, salads, hand-breaded onion rings and more. 1927 State Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-929-2444 $$ L, D, A, T Kasai Japanese Restaurant Sushi, hibachi, noodles, don buri, agamono and more. Enjoy a glass of wine, and finish your meal with tempura cheesecake. 295 Weatherstone Dr. (Wadsworth) 330-334-7141 $$$ L, D, A, T Ken Stewart’s Lodge Casual, Adirondack-style atmosphere, eclectic cuisine. 1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-8881 $$$$ D, A, T Ken Stewart’s Tre Belle Italian atmosphere and authentic cuisine.

Specialties include an antipasto bar, big drinks and an extensive wine list.

1911 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-9990 $$$ D, A, V, T Kennedy’s BBQ Pit-smoked ham, pork, beef, turkey, pulled pork sandwiches topped with cabbage relish, bean soup, chili and Troyer’s pie by the slice. 1420 7th St. NW (Canton) 330-454-0193 $ L, D, T LagerHeads BBQ Smokehouse and Brewing Co. Try the BBQ ribs, smoked wings and beer cheese soup, made with Barnburner lager. For dessert, taste the fruit crisp made with grains used to brew their signature beers. 2832 Abbeyville Rd. (Medina) 330-725-1947 $$$ L, D, A, T Lanning’s Restaurant Elegant dining atmosphere with a beautiful view. More than 150 types of wine. 826 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. (Bath) 330-666-1159, 330-864-2553 $$$$ D, A, T, V Laroush Mediterranean Food and Smoothies Handroasted vegetables, meat and produce from local farms. Falafel, hummus, spinach pies and salads. Vegetarian and vegan items. 425 Franklin Ave. (Kent) 330-677-1282 $$ L, D, T Larry’s Main Entrance English-pub style, burgers of note. 1964 W. Market St. (Akron: West) 330-864-8162 $$ L, D, A, T Laziza High-end Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare, plus steak and seafood dishes and a full bar. Acorn Alley, 195 E. Erie St. (Kent) 330-6777000 $$$ L, D, A, T Lembo’s Italian Restaurant Weekday lunchtime salad and pizza buffet, Italian specialties, chicken dinners and sandwiches. Daily specials, lunch specials, kids’ menu. 1186 Canton Rd. (Akron) 330-733-5757 $$$ L, D, A, T The Leopard Eclectic menu with American, Asian, French and Italian influences. Features seven-course chef’s table, prix fixe. 600 N. Aurora Rd. (Aurora) 330-562-2111 $$$$ D, A, T, V The Lockview Traditional American favorites. Fresh menu with spotlight on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. 207 S. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-252-5128 $$ L, D, A, T

ȰɑɄȽ

ȇ Ȑ @ɄȽ ɜ Ȩ ȣ \

ɜ

Our Food is Always Freshly Prepared and Distinctively Presented 566 White Pond Drive (At I 77 & White Pond Dr.) 234-678-3612 DagnesesWhitePond.com Louie’s Bar & Grille Local reputation for burgers. 739 E. Glenwood Ave. (Akron: North) 330-535-5030 $ L, D, A, T Lucca Downtown Locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients. Italianinspired menu. Call for reservations. 228 4th St. NW (Canton) 330-4562534. $$$$ L, D, A, T Luchita’s Authentic Mexican cuisine with a four-star rating. 36 Park Lane (Hudson) 330-655-0059 $$$ L, D, A, T, V Lucia’s Steakhouse Fresh seafood, signature garlic butter-topped steaks, Italian favorites and Lucia classics, like homemade crab cakes or cubanella and long, hot peppers. Closed Sun. 4769 Belpar St. NW (Canton: Belden Village) 330-492-9933 $$$$ D, A Luigi’s Restaurant An Akron icon. Open late. Serves superb Italian cuisine, salads and award-winning pizza. Voted Best Pizza and Best Italian Restaurant by akronlife readers. Party trays and sheet-pan pizzas available with 24-hour notice. Open Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to Midnight, Fri. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Sat. 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sun. 3 p.m. to Midnight. 105 N. Main St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-253-2999 $$ L, D, A, T No credit cards Lukity Country Inn Home-style comfort food. 2697 Manchester Rd. (Akron: South) 330-753-5983 $$ B, L, D, T The Main Street Grill A unique concept in in-store dining. The pancake special starts your day off right. 175 Great Oaks Trail in Buehler’s Foods (Wadsworth) 330-336-3588 $$ B, L, D, T Main Street Grille Perfect for date nights. Sit in the cellar and enjoy the music of a local pianist while you enjoy a casual upscale dinner. We suggest the chicken pesto penne and the Kahlua mocha cheesecake. 123 S. Main St. (North Canton) 330-497-1117 $$$$ L, D, A, T Main Wok Fast Chinese cuisine. 2855 W. Market St. (Fairlawn) 330-8658885 $$ L, D, T Accepts Discover and MasterCard Maize Valley Winery Sample wine by bottle or glass, as well as craft beer. Taste 100+ types of cheeses. Appetizers and sandwiches. Full dinner menu on Sat. evenings. 6193 Edison St. NE (Hartville) 330-877-8344 $$ L, D, A Mandarin House Chinese and South Asian entrees. 3201 State Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-929-8157 $$ L, D, A, T Marcelita’s Southwestern atmosphere, guacamole made fresh daily, authentic Mexican fare. 7774 Darrow Rd. (Hudson) 330-650-1121 $$ L, D, A, T

Mariachi Locos Fast, authentic Mexican cuisine. 2215 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron: East) 330-733-4065; 4161 Steels Point (Stow) 330-922-3307 $$ L, D, A, T Marques Cajun, Creole and soul food on the plate, and live jazz and blues music in the air. Gospel brunch on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 111 Cleveland Ave. SW (Canton) 330-313-1030 $$ B, L, D, A, T Mary Coyle Strong pasta selection. Six-time winner of Pasta Yule’s Best Red Sauce. Known for endless ice cream options. 780 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330-253-1511 $$ L, D Mavis Winkle’s Irish Pub Large, eclectic menu, cozy atmosphere and live music. 5005 Rockside Rd. (Independence) 216-525-0770; 8870 Darrow Rd. (Twinsburg) 330-405-3663 $$$ L, D, A, T Medina Steakhouse & Saloon Old-fashioned décor turns this once stagecoach stop into an open, casual place for food. 538 W. Liberty St. (Medina) 330-723-2853 $$$ L, D, A Meet Me At Irene’s House favorites include chili, omelets and daily specials, such as Swiss steak, beef tips, meatloaf and tuna melts. 264 Kent Ave. N.E. (Hartville) 330-877-6477 $ B, L, T Menches Brothers Restaurant Inventors of the hamburger and ice cream cone. In Akron since 1901. 3700 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-8962288 $$ B, L, D, A, T Michael’s AM Casual, family-style dining. Full breakfast and lunch menu featuring sandwiches and daily specials.1562 Akron-Peninsula Rd. (Merriman Valley) 330-929-3447 $ B, L, T No credit cards Mike’s Place Unique atmosphere, extensive menu. 1700 S. Water St. (Kent) 330-673-6501 $ B, L, D, A, T Moe’s Hip, intimate atmosphere featuring a diverse chalkboard menu that changes monthly. Martinis, cocktails and extensive selection of wines by the glass. Closed Sun. 2385 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-6600 $$$$ L, D, A, T Ms. Julie’s Kitchen Opened by Akron native and author of three vegan cookbooks. Specialties include salads, whole grain-foods and spelt flour waffles. 1809 S. Main St. (Akron) 330-819-3834 $ B, L, D, T Mustard Seed Market Café Located on mezzanine overlooking natural foods market. Menu reflects same strict standards as the market, with naturally raised meats, free-range poultry and foods free from artificial flavors, colorings and preservatives. Full bar, juice bar and

w w w. akronlife.com

59

espresso. Live music on weekends. Sunday brunch. 3885 W. Market St. (Montrose) 330-666-7333; 867 W. Market St. (Akron) 330-434-7333 $$$ L, D, T New Era Restaurant A mainstay of the Akron area. Heavenly paprikash and other Hungarian favorites. 10 Massillon Rd. (Akron: East) 330-784-0087 $$ B, L, D, A, T The Office Metropolitan bistro and lounge with eclectic ambiance and timeless decor. 778 N. Main St. (Akron) 330-376-9550; 1846 Front St. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-376-9550 $$$ L, D, A, T, V (Cuyahoga Falls location only) Open Door Coffee Co. This café is housed in the landmark Saywell building, across from the Hudson green. Coffee, smoothies, pastries, music and art. 164 N. Main St. (Hudson) 330-653-5900 $ B, L, D, T Orchard House Restaurant Menu features a variety of comfort foods and BBQ favorites prepared in the area’s only applewood smoker.

Closed Mon. Sunday brunch. 294 Pearl Rd. (Brunswick) 330-225-5576 $$$ L, D, T Pad Thai Elegant restaurant, extensive menu of traditional Thai dishes.

3545 Brookwall Dr. (Fairlawn) 330-668-9981; 5657 Darrow Rd. (Hudson) 330-650-9998 $$$ L, D, A, T Pancho & Lefty’s Popular neighborhood cantina. 3254 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-686-6781 $$ L, D, A, T Papa Bear’s Italian Restaurant Authentic, homemade Italian food. 4990 Dressler Rd. NW (Canton: Belden Village) 330-493-0090 $$$ L, D, A, T Papa Gyros Greek Grill Authentic Greek fare. Greek wine and beer.

4760 Everhard Rd. NW (Canton: Belden Village) 330-497-1100; 2045 Cleveland Ave. NW (Canton) 330-456-9000 $$ L, D, A, T Papa Joe’s Classy atmosphere, extensive wine list, fine Italian fare, seafood and steaks. 1561 Akron-Peninsula Rd. (Merriman Valley) 330923-7999 $$$ L, D, A, T Parasson’s Good pasta. Great for family dining. 501 N. Main St. (Akron: North) 330-376-2117; 959 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron) 330-724-9375; 3983 Darrow Rd. (Stow) 330-688-3650; 364 Wooster Rd. N. (Barberton) 330753-2264 $$ L, D, A, T Peachtree Southern Kitchen & Cocktails An upscale, family-friendly spot serving Southern fare from the Low Country. Sunday brunch. 200 N. Main St. (Hudson) 216-978-9640 L, D, A Piscazzi’s The Merchant Tavern With owner Anthony Piscazzi’s family history running Akron’s beloved Wine Merchant restaurant and chef Victor Todaro in the kitchen, this new restaurant already has a great start.

Retail wines available. Hours: Tues.,Wed.,Thurs. 3:30 p.m. - 12 a.m., Fri. 3:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., Sat. Noon - 1:30 a.m., Sun. Noon - 9 p.m. Lunch served on weekends. 1824 Merriman Rd. (Akron: Merriman Valley) $$$ L, D, A, T Pizza Fire The first fast casual, fast-fired pizza restaurant in Northeast Ohio. 22 W. Exchange St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-535-4545 $$ L, D, A, T Platinum Dragon A great spot for people-watching. Menu features a variety of Chinese favorites. 814 W. Market St. (Highland Square) 330434-8108 $$ L, D, A, T Prime/93 Appetizers, specials, hand-cut and aged steaks, chops and fresh seafood. Chef-driven restaurant. Entertainment on weekends. 4315 Manchester Rd. (Akron: South) 330-644-2239 $$$$ L, D, A, T Primo’s Deli An Akron mainstay since 1979. Try their famous corned beef sandwich or spicy Italian sub, and finish with a slice of homemade carrot cake. Closed Sun. and Mon. 1707 Vernon Odom Blvd. (Akron) 330745-9056 $$ L, D, A, T Pub Bricco The menu features gourmet hamburgers, appetizers, salads and drinks served in a pub atmosphere. 1841 Merriman Rd. (Merriman Valley) 330-869-0035 $$ L, D, A, T Pufferbelly Ltd. Located in historic Kent railroad depot. 152 Franklin Ave. (Kent) 330-673-1771 $$$ L, D, A, T The Rail High-quality Ohio beef used for burgers. Top with specialty condiments like truffle butter or sunflower-basil pesto. Veggie burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, milkshakes, and local and craft beers. 3265 W. Market St. in Summit Mall (Akron) 330-864-7245; 4347 Belden Village Mall (Canton) 330-497-7550 $$ L, D, A, T Ray’s Place Great burgers, hearty dinners and the area’s largest selection of foreign and domestic beer in the bottle and on draft. 135 Franklin Ave. (Kent) 330-673-2253; 25 Ghent Rd. (Fairlawn) 330-835-2233 $$ L, D, A, T Retro Dog Family-owned and operated, this dine-in/drive-in restaurant serves char-grilled hotdogs, hand-patted burgers, fresh-cut fries, tempura-

60

akronlife

battered onion rings, vegetarian-friendly items, home-brewed root beer and homemade custard, floats, shakes and treats. 350 E. Steels Corners Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-3500 $ L, D, T Rosewood Grill Seasonally inspired with the fresh appeal of a local farmer’s market. Happy hour, Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m. 36 E. Streetsboro St. (Hudson) 330-656-2100 $$$$ L (Fri/Sat only), D, A, T Russo’s Unique cuisine featuring Cajun and Italian influences. Fine-dining atmosphere. 4895 State Rd. (Peninsula) 330-923-2665 $$$$ L, D, A, T Saffron Patch Fine Indian cuisine including tandoori chicken, gingerseasoned yellow lentils and garlic naan. 1224 Weathervane Lane (Akron) 330-836-7777 $$$ L, D, A, T Sakura Fresh sushi served daily. Wide selection of specialty rolls. 3900 Medina Rd. (Akron) 330-670-0288 $$$ L, D, T Sarah’s Vineyard Sample high-quality wines, appetizers and desserts in the tasting room, on the deck or in the butterfly garden. Open Wed.Sun. 1204 W. Steels Corners Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-929-8057 $$ L, D, A Schwebel Room Fine dining on KSU campus. (Kent) 330-672-2583 $$$ L, D, A, T Sonnets Espresso Bar & Restaurant Signature blend coffee, local craft beer, made-to-order sandwiches, salads, soups, kids’ meals and live music every weekend. Closed Sun. 117 College St. (Wadsworth) 330336-5557 $$ B, L, D, A, T The Sound Garden Café Live music, spirits and burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches. 2156 E. Waterloo Rd. (Akron) 330-858-3951 $$ L, D, A, T Southern Gardens Restaurant & Tea Room Enjoy quiche, soups, sandwiches and salads, as well as Southern-style and authentic Southeast Asian cuisine. Over 50 loose leaf teas are brewed by the pot right at your table and are available for purchase to take home. Children’s menu available. Closed Mon. 497 Portage Lakes Dr. (Akron) 330-644-8363 $$ L, D, T Spennato’s Italian Ristorante Seafood, chicken, pasta and pizza, as well as attentive service and a casual dining atmosphere. 10446 Northfield Rd. (Northfield) 330-468-8688 $$$ L, D, A, T Stew Pot Kitchen Serves soups, stews, slow-cooked meals, beerflavored brats and more. Menu changes weekly. Specials offer unique flavors and pairings. Closed weekends. 23 S. Main St. (Akron) 330-3767839 $ L, D, T Sweet Pea Café Traditional breakfast fare plus homemade granola, omelets and frittatas. Soup, salad, sandwiches, mac and cheese, and meatloaf, all made from scratch. 117 Merz Blvd. (Fairlawn) 330-794-7952 $$ B, L, T Swensons Drive In Voted Best Burger in akronlife’s Best of the City.

Signature burger is the Galley Boy. 658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. (Akron: North) 330-928-8515; 40 S. Hawkins Ave. (Akron: West) 330-864-8416; 4466 Kent Rd. (Stow) 330-678-7775; 40 Brookmont Rd. (Montrose) 330665-1858; 5815 Wales Ave. (Jackson Twp.) 330-833-5454; 1558 N. Main St. (North Canton) 330-499-9494 $ L, D, T Table Six Kitchen + Bar This gastro pub serves small plates so guests are welcome to order several items and share with each other for a unique culinary experience. Food comes out as it’s ready, so dig in until the next plate arrives. Specialty drinks available. 6113 Whipple Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-305-1666 $$$ L, D, A, T Taco Tontos Funky, college atmosphere featuring authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch. Good selection of vegetarian dishes. 123 Franklin Ave. (Kent) 330-677-0223 $$ L, D, T Taste of Bangkok & Sushi Bar Menu includes curries, noodle dishes and hand-rolled sushi. Variety of lunch specials. 514 E. Exchange St. (Akron: University Park) 330-252-2270 $$ L, D, T Tequila Pancho’s Many flavors of margaritas. 5893 Akron-Cleveland Rd. (Boston Heights) 330-342-9401 $$ L, D, A, T Thano’s Family Restaurant Burgers, chops, chicken, wraps, seafood and pasta. Breakfast served all day, daily specials, Friday fish fry.

50-seat party room. Open 7 days. 71 5th St. (Barberton) 330-861-1300 $$ B, L, D, A, T Tim’s Pizzeria and Pub Casual, sit-down restaurant serving pizza, pasta, homemade soups, sandwiches and desserts. Open for lunch only on weekends. 2823 Bailey Rd. (Cuyahoga Falls) 330-928-1530 $$ D, A, T Timber Lodge Steaks are hand-selected from the finest USDA Prime and Choice aged beef. Seafood is flown in daily to assure the peak of flavor and freshness. Prime Rib is slow roasted rotisserie-style and hand-carved to your taste. Open Mon.-Thurs. 4 -10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 4-11 p.m. , Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (brunch until 2 p.m.) and kids’ menu. 2809 Pearl Rd., Rte. 42 (Medina) 330-725-6288 $$$ D, A, T

february 2016

Tomaso’s Italian Villa Family-owned and operated for over 50 years.

Features classic Italian cuisine. Pasta dinners, pizza, fortunes (calzones), salads, desserts, beer and wine. Kids’ menu. 3271 Barber Rd. (Norton) 330-745-6063 $$ L, D, A, T Totally Cooked Lunch Dock Chef Dante D’Avello prepares lunch at his newest location. Guests can dine inside or enjoy live music on the covered patio. Check out the 18-foot chuckwagon on BBQ Fridays. Open Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 975 E. Tallmadge Ave. (Akron) $$ L, T Tozzi’s Restaurant Downtown Canton Chef Mark Green creates an Italian-influenced menu that includes steaks, fish, chicken and pasta dishes, as well as sandwiches, soups and salads. Lunch served Thurs. and Fri. Closed Sun. and Mon. 218 Court Ave. (Canton) 330-471-8000. $$$$ L, D, A, T, V Twiisted Sushi and traditional Japanese food, with gourmet burgers and steaks, salads, appetizers, desserts and a full bar. Closed Mon. 985 Boardman Alley (Medina) 330-661-0600 $$$ D, A, T Twisted Meltz Nestled in Acorn Alley, this restaurant serves gourmet grilled cheese, salads, soups and ice cream. 164B E. Main St. (Kent) 330968-4104 L, D, T The Twisted Olive Italian American Kitchen Casual classic Italian-American fare prepared in wood-fire ovens and on grills.

Indoor and outdoor seating. 5430 Massillon Rd. (Green) 330-497-1000 $$$ L, D, A, T Urban Eats - A Pop Art Café Open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 51 E. Market St. (Akron: Downtown) 330-310-7135 $ B, L, A, V Vaccaro’s Trattoria One of the area’s best-kept Italian secrets. 1000 Ghent Rd. (Bath) 330-666-6158 $$$$ L, D, A, T Valley Café Owned by a five-star gourmet chef. Features friendly service, dishes made from scratch and famous cabbage soup. 1212 Weathervane Lane (Merriman Valley) 330-865-0101; 101 High St. (Wadsworth) 330331-7555 $ B, L, T Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse Hibachi steakhouse and sushi bar. Chefs prepare food right before your eyes. 150 Montrose West Ave. (Copley) 330-666-5522; 6338 Strip Ave. NW (North Canton) 330-9668866 $$$$ L, D, T West Side Bakery Specialties include cakes, pastries and cookies.

Breakfast items include scones, muffins and yogurt parfaits. All sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups are made from scratch. 2303 W. Market St. (Akron: Pilgrim Square) 330-836-4101; 1840 Town Park Blvd.

(Green) 330-899-9968 $ B, L, T Wild Goats Coffee & Café Offers light entrées, vegan and vegetarian soups, and exceptional coffee. 319 W. Main St. (Kent) 330-6772326 $$ B, L, D, T The Wine Mill Open daily for wine, craft beer, and bites made from fresh, local ingredients, The rustic Wine Mill serves salads, sliders and cheeseboards, along with Mason jar desserts. The Wine Mill is available for weddings and private events. Closed Sun. 4964 Akron Cleveland Rd. (Peninsula) 234-571-2594 $$$ L, D, A, V Winking Lizard Come to see the lizard, stay for the extensive beer selection and food. 79 Springside Dr. (Akron) 330-644-1780; 1615 Main St. (Peninsula) 330-467-1002; 5710 Fulton Dr. NW (Canton) 330-4971133 $$$ L, D, A, T Wise Guys Lounge & Grill Located in the former Nick Anthe Restaurant, this spot, owned by Tom Procaccio, features steaks, seafood and pasta dishes. Closed Sun. 1008 N. Main St. (Akron) 330-922-3006 $$$$ L, D, A, T Wolf Creek Tavern Housed in the former Loyal Oak Tavern, this restaurant serves craft beer, wine, salads, wraps, burgers, pasta, steaks and homemade pie. Kids menu. Sunday brunch. 3044 Wadsworth Rd. (Norton) 234-571-4531 $$$$ L, D, A, T Yellowtail Japanese-style seafood and sushi buffet. 4054 Medina Rd. (Montrose) 330-666-9988 $$$$ L, D, A, T Yours Truly This award-winning restaurant is family-owned and operated, with an emphasis on customer service and family-friendly dining. Try the burger, chili and breakfast items. 36 S. Main St. (Hudson) 330-650-2900; 3725 Medina Rd. (Medina) 330-722-5800 $$ B, L, D, A, T

Please send any changes or corrections to mgase@bakermediagroup.com.

health & wellness

by Molly Gase and illustration by Cait Jones

Starting on the right foot / Begin your new fitness routine with a few expert tips /

Getting into shape is easier said than done. Gazing into bathroom mirrors, people make mental notes of all the things they would like to change about their physical appearance. They wish for smaller waistlines, tight, strong muscles and fewer lumps in general. In many cases, these alterations are all possible with a little physical exertion.

However, before you head off to the nearest gym and start pumping weights non-stop, take a few minutes to formulate a plan. Without one, the odds of a successful exercise regimen sink dramatically. Matt Probst is the owner of Personalized Wellness Center in Akron.

Among many other things, he is a medical exercise specialist.

Probst has seen first-hand the struggle that many people have when they begin a new fitness routine. He has a few tips that can help any beginner in the gym to not only stick to their plan, but actually see results.

Start slowly. “What tends to happen is that people get very aggressive and think they’re going to knock off a whole bunch of weight really fast— they overdo it,” says Probst.

Instead of rushing into the gym, guns blazing, he suggests starting off conservatively and then building up to more moderate efforts.

As with anything you do in life, it’s important to have a plan before you begin. Probst couldn’t stress that more.

“Having a plan of attack makes a lot of sense, and taking the guidance of a good personal trainer will help you,” he says. Once you have a plan, it is vital to not only stick to it, but have the patience to see it through. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your ideal body. The process takes time.

A gym or recreation center is full of tools that you can use to help you achieve your goals. However, many people don’t fully understand how to use them. “We see this all the time,” Probst says.

“People come in and just randomly begin to push on things—again without a plan—and they do it

w w w. akronlife.com

61

in such a way that can create injury.”

The basic mechanics of exercise are also important to understand. Probst boils it down to the simple equation of force=mass x acceleration. “When you’re trying to move a mass on a machine, many people get injured because they accelerate that motion so quickly that they end up straining or tearing muscle.” Fully comprehending how to use each machine is one basic way to prevent injury right out of the gate.

Many people jump into fitness in the first half of the year to shed a few pounds. However Probst says that exercise is not the key to weight loss.

“Weight loss, specifically fat loss, is 80 percent what you do with your mouth. You cannot out-exercise a bad diet.” In fact, as you exercise more and more, Probst says that you create a calorie demand. This means that you eat more when you get home, often ending in the opposite result than what you were going for. “To really maximize weight loss, it really comes down to three components: food, strength training to increase muscle mass and calorie expenditure,” Probst says. “When you really break it down, those are the three things you need to focus on.”

By balancing your diet, gaining strength and making sure you are burning the appropriate amount of calories, Probst says you are more likely to see the results you want.

In many cases it is wise to seek the advice of a good personal trainer. “You wouldn’t attempt to do your taxes without guidance,” he says. “Why would we attack our bodies—which are very sophisticated science projects—without any sort of knowledge whatsoever?” By doing your homework and finding the right trainer for you, not only will you have the right advice, but also the encouragement you need to continue into a new year as a healthier version of yourself. / Managing editor Molly Gase has been pacing around the office non-stop since Christmas, trying to make her Fitbit happy with her daily step count.

Simple Ways to Sneak In Some Exercise By: Sharon Cebula

The holidays are long over, and your New Year’s resolution to get healthier has started to stall out. We all want to be healthier, but our busy lives don’t always make it easy. Kids, jobs, hobbies, everyday obligations—all of these responsibilities take our time and attention away from our health. Sometimes it can feel like physical fitness is just not a priority. However, you can sneak exercise into your everyday life by utilizing a few simple tips.

Though there are many ways that you can infuse exercise into your daily routine, we have five suggestions of ways to get you moving this winter. To make sure you’re doing the exercise that’s right for you, talk to your family physician about your general health before beginning a regimen. Also consider consulting a physical trainer about

Comments? Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@bakermediagroup. com.

62

akronlife

february 2016

your fitness goals and history. Many health and fitness clubs offer one-time consults for a reasonable fee, or maybe even include their services in your membership.

Now, put down that second bagel and read on. A healthier you awaits.

Break it up.

You don’t need to devote hours to fitness every single day, instead try smaller sessions.

The American Heart Association says tenminute increments throughout the day yield some of the same benefits as a sustained workout. So do some crunches or jumping jacks before breakfast, go for a walk on your lunch break and play Frisbee with the dog after dinner.

FITNESS CENTERS OF THE 330 Summit County Green Family YMCA From youth swim class to SilverSneakers programs, the YMCA offers tons of fitness opportunities for all age groups.

Membership at any Ohio YMCA gets you access to all Ohio YMCAs. Plus, most have childcare on-sight and opportunities to try volunteering. 3800 Massillon Rd., Uniontown 330-899-9622.

Lifestyles Fitness Center This is just one of Akron General Hospital’s three area wellness centers—the other two are in Stow and Green. Their staff includes not just physical and athletic trainers, but exercise physiologists and nutritionists to make sure your fitness program is medically sound and successful.

4125 Medina Rd. 330-665-8100.

The Natatorium Right in the heart of bustling Cuyahoga Falls, the Natatorium brings you four pools, two gyms, racquetball courts, a weight room and more cardio machines than you could possibly need. On top of that, they offer membership discounts for seniors, businesses and Cuyahoga Falls residents. 2345 4th St., Cuyahoga Falls 330-971-8080.

Personalized Wellness Center The Merriman Valley is a great place to run, bike or walk in good weather, but what do you do in the cold? Come to Personalized Wellness Center in the Valley.

The center offers you personalized weightloss coaching, group exercise classes and loads of workout equipment, including a banked indoor track. 1653 Merriman Rd. 330-867-2399.

Student Recreation and Wellness Center (SRWC) at The University of Akron The SRWC offers discounts for students, faculty and alumni that make it competitive with other local fitness centers.

And the vast floor of cardio and weight machines means you’ll always have access to your favorite exquipment. Most memberships include one fitness assessment with a Wellness Technician to keep you on track. 382 Carrol Street 330-972-2348.

Know the difference between feeling secure and being secure?

We Do. fi

Trustworthy security solutions for safer communities. www.ProTechSecurity.com • 330-470-0209 w w w. akronlife.com

63

Mix it up.

Instead of meeting your coworkers or friends at the bar for happy hour drinks, meet them at the park for some touch football, a bike ride or a long walk. In poor weather, consider meeting for an activity that will get your blood pumping, like bowling, dancing or archery. You’re still socializing, but burning calories at the same time.

Take the long way.

Whether it’s parking further away at the store or work, opting for the stairs over the elevator, or walking to that restaurant that’s less than a mile away, these small time adjustments really do add up to a healthier you. And every time you walk to a colleague’s desk rather than emailing or calling them, you sneak in a little more exercise while forging strong workplace relationships.

Make the most of the weekend.

Turn your chores into exercise opportunities by washing your car by hand, using a push mower instead of a powered one, raking leaves or shoveling snow instead of using a blower—and get your kids in on the act, too. Making physical activity a regular part of the weekend routine will help your whole family be healthier while encouraging you to make fun memories together.

Make the most of waiting.

Focus on great posture while you stand in line to work a variety of muscles and boost your self-esteem. Waiting at a doctor’s office or at the airport means time to walk a few laps through the halls or around the concourse. At soccer practice, you can still watch and cheer while you’re walking laps around the field. Hide the TV remote and change stations the “old-fashioned” way. Or

spend commercial time standing up and sitting down over and over.

These are small changes you can make right now to be healthier, but be realistic. Don’t expect to be able to run a marathon or obtain supermodel abs over night. Shoot for those ten-minute increments, then gradually increase the time and intensity of your workouts. If you couple these with dietary changes—like cutting out soda, limiting sweet treats and cooking at home more often—you’ll see even more progress.

But be patient with yourself. Don’t try to “fix” all of your bad habits at once, and don’t give up if you skip one workout or overindulge on a friend’s birthday cake. Just like our favorite NFL team needs a bye week, we sometimes need a break, too. You’ll have victories and set-backs in your workout habits.

Balance in your life is key, and the point is to develop the habit. Pick your routine back up after a set-back, and keep your eye on the long view. We’re often our own worst critic, but your health is important, and every small change you make adds up.

Most important of all, make your workout fit your life, not the other way around. Choose an activity you love and a time of day that works for you.

Love to socialize? Join a Zumba class or commit to meeting friends for a morning walk twice a week. It’s often harder to skip a workout if your friends are counting on you to show up. Prefer to go it alone? Get some exercise DVDs from the library and do them at home, or take a solo walk or jog to clear away the noise of the day. Once you gain some confidence in yourself and your abilities, you might just join that volleyball team or sign up for that Latin dance class. Whatever works for you, keep doing it. Your fitness goals are probably closer than you think.

Comments?

Email them to Molly Gase at mgase@ bakermediagroup.com.

akronlife

Membership includes access to a wide variety of group exercise classes at no additional fee, including Zumba and Turbo kick. Plus new members get a free orientation with a qualified staff member to learn the proper techniques for weight-lifting, using thera bands or stability balls, and which cardio machine is right for you. 750 White Pond Dr. 330-867-7850.

Springside Raquet and Fitness Club Tired of running on a treadmill? Try some court activities instead. With five indoor tennis courts, six outdoor tennis courts, four parquet racquetball courts and a NBA competition basketball court that converts to three regulation volleyball courts, Springside puts you in the game.

Afterward, soothe those muscles in the wet spa room or private sauna. 215 Springside Dr. 330-666-3778.

Portage County KSU Student Recreation and Wellness Center Besides tons of cardio and weight machines in a spotlessly clean environment, this center offers a 40-foot climbing wall and access to seasonal outdoor adventures like kayaking and snowshoeing. The Summit Street Café onsite also offers fresh-squeezed juice and smoothies to supplement your healthy attitude. 1550 Ted Boyd Dr. 330-672-4732.

Ravenna Athletic Center With low monthly rates, no contracts and no initial dues, Ravenna’s Parks and Recreation Department gets fitness right.

Family-friendly facilities and classes for all age groups bring your health goals within reach. Check out the cardio and weight rooms or try a Barre class to jumpstart your fitness today. 530 N. Freedom St. 330-298-1201.

Tallmadge Recreation Center / Editorial Associate Sharon Cebula lives in West Akron with her very patient husband, two obnoxious cats, and an enormous collection of owl paraphernalia.

64

Shaw JCC Fitness Center

february 2016

Where can you find a full-size indoor soccer field and four indoor basketball courts along with group exercise classes, on-sight childcare and all the latest fitness equipment? Tallmadge, that’s where. You’ll feel right at home, whether you’re just getting started on an exercise regimen or keeping pace with a lifelong program. 46 North Munroe Rd. 330-634-2349.

6DYY\ :RPHQ &OXE

“Helping Smart Women Become Investment Savvy” The Savvy Women Club Introduces Educational Web Events for 2016!

Paula R. Chesser, CSA® V ce P Vi Pre resi re siide d nt Seni Se nior ni or Inv Inv nves esstm men entt Co Cons nsul ns u ta ul tant nt

Continuing our tradition of educating women about current financial topics, we’re thrilled to now offer web events reaching more and more female investors.

Robert W. W Baird & Co. 3875 Embassy Parkway, Suite 300 Akron, OH 44333 330-664-5500 | 877-792-7868 6 pchesser@rwbaird.com paulachesser.com

Visit paulachesser.com for details about upcoming 2016 events and how you can participate!

Join the conversation | paulachesser.com ©2016 Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. Member SIPC.

Macedonia Family Recreation Center Learn to swim, run on the indoor track, or relax in the steam room, sauna, or whirlpool at this clean, welcoming facility. Between group exercise classes, you can easily catch up on emails with the facility-wide free Wi-Fi, too. All ages and fitness levels will find something fun here. 1494 East Aurora Rd. 330-468-8370.

Stark County Massillon Recreation Center The beautiful Sippo Valley Bike Trail brings bikers and hikers right past downtown Massillon in summer. But in less beautiful months, the Massillon Recreation Center provides everything needed to stay fit and escape the weather: an indoor track and cardio machines, a lap pool, a lazy river, a splashdown pool with slides, and a kiddie pool. 505 Erie St. N. 330-832-1621.

Alliance Family YMCA Ohio YMCAs offer tons of fitness opportunities for all age groups and members of the family. From youth swim classes to aerobics classes that get your blood pump-

ing, there really is something for everyone.

Membership at any Ohio YMCA gets you access to all Ohio YMCAs. 205 S. Union Ave. 330-823-1930.

Medina County Wadsworth YMCA Community Center This family-focused non-profit center has something for everyone, from fitness assessments with certified trainers and dieticianapproved personalized nutrition plans to summer camp registration and swim lessons for the kids. Plus, all Ohio YMCAs offer reciprocal membership. 623 School Dr. 330-334-9622.

Medina Community Recreation Center Even without a membership, you can escape the snow and cold in MCRC’s leisure pool, sauna, or four basketball courts for a $7.00 day pass. Or buy multiple-visit punch cards for even cheaper, and make sure you can make it back for group classes. Better yet, gather 25 friends and get a group discount of $4.00/person. 855 Weymouth Rd. 330-7216900.

Wayne County Zephyrs Fitness Club Want 24/7 access to state-of-the-art weighttraining equipment, spinner bikes, an indoor MONDO track and a safe, clean, workout environment? Zephyrs has it all, right next door to one of the area’s foremost CrossFit training facilities. And membership rates to match every household size will help your whole family reach new fitness goals this year.

1330 N. Main St., Orville 866-414-5438.

YMCA of Wooster Find clean, affordable, family-friendly fun and fitness opportunities near your home, or while you’re on the road anywhere in Ohio by visiting the nearest YMCA. From youth gymnastics to Silver Stretch, you’ll find something for everyone at the YMCA. 680 Woodland Ave. 330-264-3131.

w w w. akronlife.com

65

66

akronlife

february 2016

We are

North Hill

Come see the vibrance!

By Sharon Cebula

We Are North Hill P

erhaps more than any other neighborhood in Akron, North Hill has transformed over the years. From about the mid-1800s, immigrants settled in this area on a steep rise just north of downtown. Through the decades, immigrants continued to come in waves, displaced by wars around the world.

African Americans also migrated to Akron from the South, creating their own cultural enclave in North Hill with an array of shops, businesses and jazz clubs. Each influx of newcomers has changed the face of North Hill.

Akron has long re-invented itself, weathering economic booms and busts, population growth and decline, good reputations and

bad—all with defiant Midwestern pride. In North Hill, this pride of reinvention shows in exciting new shops and restaurants, many immigrant-owned, that have revitalized the neighborhood into a welcoming, fun place to take the kids or enjoy an evening out.

That kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident. People affect change because they care about their community and want it to be a great place to live.

Meet some of the people who are making those changes, and see some of the new (and old) businesses that give North Hill its unique character. Then go and visit North Hill, discovering what makes it an integral part of Akron’s future.

Exploring North Hill by Day or by Night Whether you grew up in Akron or are a transplant from somewhere else, the North Hill neighborhood has something for you.

Shopping, dining, cocktails and international flair abound in this quirky, historic, workingclass neighborhood.

Bring the kids for a fun day of exploring cultures and trying new things, or bring a date for an evening of romance, fun and adventure—regardless of the reason, North Hill is worth a little exploration.

Day Out with the Kids Looking for a way to occupy and exhaust your kids after school or on a weekend? Start at the North Hill branch of the public library, where family-friendly events and activities abound. From pre-school story time, to teen crafting events, to Saturday afternoon movies, you’ll find something interesting for every member of the family.

There are even coloring classes for adults and teens that include warm beverages and relaxing music. Call ahead to verify times and events, as many are subject to change depending on weather or attendance. The North Hill branch is located at 183 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave, and their phone number is 330-535-9423.

2

North Hill

You’ll need to feed your little darlings too. If it’s a Thursday, definitely take them to the Italian Center for a bargain spaghetti meal. The meal includes cake and a slide down the polished wood ramp that used to convey cases of beer to the basement. This historic venue offers family-style seating and authentic red sauce in a relaxed environment. Find them at 134 East Tallmadge Ave., 330-535-3919.

Night out with a Date

If it’s not Thursday, or your kids insist they are too sophisticated for pasta, head down North Main to Family Groceries, an international market owned by local

immigrants. Take in the incense-tinged aromas and the beautiful veggies, then have your kids each pick out one new food item to try. Perhaps they’ll be delighted by the nubby-skinned jackfruit or the almond-flavored cookies from India. Your more adventurous child might be persuaded to try a sample of goat meat at the meat counter in the back. Even if it’s just a bag of plantain chips, a new food experience will give you and your kids something to talk about for quite a while. The market, located at 768 North Main St., is open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Learn more by calling 234-678-7003.

After all of that food, you’ll want to take the kids somewhere to burn off a little energy before heading home.

Head back up North Main, turn right onto Cuyahoga Falls Ave., pass the library, then turn right onto Patterson Avenue to get to Patterson Park. This lovely green space offers clean restrooms, a baseball field and lots of open room for running around. The center also offers a variety of after-school and social activities for all ages. Call Angie at 330-375-2819 for more details on homework groups, the crochet club and the Singing Seniors.

Once you’ve warmed up a little, head up Cuyahoga Falls Avenue a bit to Ranchero’s Taquerias for an authentic Mexican dinner.

Dust off your high school Spanish to order in the native language, or just smile and select from hardto-find favorites like Mexican quesadillas or tamales. Chef Dave makes everything fresh in this casual eatery, including the simply amazing guacamole.

Are you looking for a new twist on traditional date nights? Plan on a cultural adventure in North Hill. Whether you are looking to impress the new love in your life, someone you’ve been with for years, or are just working on a tight budget, an amazing night awaits you in this neighborhood.

After supping in south-of-theborder style, head down to North Main Street for a drink at The Office Bistro and Bar. Relax and CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

To impress a new love interest When impressing a new love, you’ve got to show that you’re different from everyone else and that you know how to show off your town. Why not have a donut instead of a drink before dinner? North Hill Donuts, near the intersection of Tallmadge Avenue and Glenwood, stays open until 9 p.m. during the week and 10 p.m. on weekends, so share a bear claw with some coffee. Check out the photos on the wall of owners Louie and Linda working in the kitchen circa 1976 and share stories about your own past.

Call the shop for more information at 330-253-8383.

w w w. akronlife.com

Rancheros Taquerias

3

the

People

Patricia Wyatt, co-founder of North Hill Community House

make

Hem Rai, co-owner of Nepali Kitchen

Residents New and Old Transform North Hill for the 21st Century

4

North Hill

the

Place

Gary Wyatt, co-founder of North Hill Community House

N

By Sharon Cebula

Captain Sylvia Trundle, Akron Police Department

o one comes to Ohio for the weather. Some come for jobs, others for the low cost of living, but most stay here for the people— Akron’s greatest resource. Nowhere in town is that more evident than in the North Hill neighborhood. Immigrant business owners, multigenerational residents, community organizers and police officers have long worked together to build a rich community that thrives despite negative reputations and difficult economic factors. On any given day, you can see children riding bikes, folks clad in colorful clothes strolling around, police officers engaging neighbors, and shop owners plying their wares in this historically multi-cultural community.

Whether born here or coming from halfway around the globe, people are what make Akron home.

Akron Police Department (APD) Captain Sylvia Trundle’s father grew up in North Hill, and she lived there herself for many years before becoming Zone Commander of the neighborhood. She knew first-hand the kinds of challenges North Hill’s diversity and poverty rates presented for both her fellow officers and the residents. She has welcomed and met those challenges with a team of officers who regularly patrol North Hill and work

w w w. akronlife.com

5

location for the Akron Canton Regional Food Bank because, as Patricia puts it, “if you educate them and feed them, you can change [people’s] mindsets.”

The house itself serves as a powerful symbol of North Hill’s transformation over the years. “This house used to be a dope house; there were dog fights in here,” Gary says. But the prostitution and drug deals the Wyatts observed when they first opened the house are long gone now, replaced by community events and respectful neighbors who watch out for each other.

Many of those newer neighbors are refugees from Southeast Asia, the latest group of immigrants to take root here. Refugees can’t always choose where they are resettled, but once in the U.S., they tend to gravitate to communities where others from their home country have already become established.

Back row, Left to right: Officer Kevin Evans; Cpt. Sylvia Trundle; Officer Michael Hill, Sr. Front row, Left to right: Officer Robert Patrick, Officer Twila Gaines, Officer Laurie Natko

in the area schools and community centers, participate in outreach programs and build relationships with the residents—both new and old.

“This is a team of officers who take ownership of North Hill,” Trundle says, emphasizing the initiatives her officers take in implementing programs like interpreter services that help officers respond to the needs of such a diverse community.

Trundle’s team is comprised of five members: Officer Robert Patrick took the lead on the interpreter program, Officers Kevin Evans and Twila Gaines are Resource Officers in the neighborhood’s schools, Officer Laurie Natko teaches Safety Town and focuses on community relations, and Officer Michael Hill, Sr., patrols the streets daily, looking for ways to build mutual trust with the people he meets.

The efforts of Trundle’s team have combined with those of other area organizations to bring peace and stability to North Hill. People at the International Institute, Better Block, Urban Vision and area churches have worked hard to transform the once-troubled neighborhood into the vibrant community it is today.

Gary Wyatt is no stranger to transformation. The preacher and community organizer who started The North Hill Community House in 2003 was once a drug addict and dealer on Akron’s south side. With the help of his wife, Patricia, Gary got clean and transformed his life “from dealing to healing,” as the title of his self-published life story says.

The Wyatts noticed new apartment and condominium buildings going up in the Northside area, but felt something was still lacking. “It’s not just about appearances; you need a spiritual change,” Gary says. “What good is a new surface if you don’t change hearts?”

Beginning with afterschool tutoring and Toys for Tots charity drives, the Wyatts soon added broader programs like the Violence Free Zone, Night Out Against Crime, 500 Plates and Neighbor Day that encourage residents to get to know each other. The Community House is also a registered Food Pantry 6

North Hill

That’s how Hem Rai, co-owner of the Nepali Kitchen on Cuyahoga Falls Ave., came to Akron from Dayton, the city where Immigration Services first resettled him. People he had known in Nepal were making North Hill better with businesses like the Namaste Market and Dhimal’s Mini Market, so he came here to find his own niche.

After being in the states for only three years, Rai has found such success with his restaurant that he is planning to also open a bar where his patrons can hold pool tournaments. He says that he loves his new hometown for many reasons, one of which is its affordability. “And also, we don’t have [another] restaurant like this in Akron; this is the only one,” says Rai. In Nepal, Rai and his fellow countrymen walked everywhere, partly because there were few other transportation choices, but also because it was really safe to do so. Crime inside the refugee camps in Nepal is practically unheard of. In North Hill, Nepalis are always walking, now without fear, because, as Rai observes, “now [there are] no more illegal activities, like robbery.”

Pedestrians are often a symbol of neighborhood safety, one of Captain Trundle’s team members, Laurie Natko points out. “When you have more of your residents out in the street walking and greeting people, it [creates] a sense of community—makes it look and feel safer.”

More than that though, Rai sees his success in terms of how it can transfer to the younger generation. “We want to be an example for Nepali youth,” he says. “We want to show them [that] we can do like American people. Work hard and success is here, too.”

On top of the vibrant, immigrant-owned small businesses in North Hill, Trundle sees the most hopeful sign of transformation in the changing attitudes of older, long-term residents. “Many people who were negative about [refugee] presence initially, the old timers, began to say, these are good people,” she says. “They got to go to meetings and understand that we’re all here for the same reason: to live and work in a great community. And so today you see many more stores opening up, the vibrancy, the mix and mingling of a community.”

Gary and Patricia Wyatt, founders of North Hill Community House

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

get to know your date over a Basil Mojito or a pint of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale in the sleek-but-cozy atmosphere of this local favorite. Your culinary tour of North Hill’s history and culture will surely impress your date and give you both a lot to talk about.

Dontino's Ristorante

For a date night on a budget Even if you are on a budget, North Hill has you covered for date night. Start by taking your amore to Waters Park for the best sunset view in Akron. This little park is popular on the Fourth of July because of its impressive view of the Y Bridge and downtown Akron, but it’s equally breath-taking without the fireworks—and it’s free! Snap a photo of your beloved framed by Akron’s unique skyline and the sumptuous colors of the setting sun.

Next, head up Glenwood Avenue until it almost intersects with Nevin St, near Tallmadge Avenue, for dinner at Louie’s Bar & Grille. Fresh-cut fries, huge half-pound burgers and complimentary popcorn will fill your bellies without breaking the bank. Afterward, head back down to North Main Street for dancing and karaoke at BG Bree’s, an Akron nightlife staple for some 40 years. For more info on Louie’s, call 330-535-5030. To check on karaoke and DJs at BG Bree’s, call 330-615-7753.

For the cozy couple looking to shake it up There are many options in North Hill to break a couple out of a boring routine. Start the evening with a glass of chianti at Dontino’s Ristorante, a North Hill fixture since 1930, directly across Cuyahoga Falls Avenue from the Carovillese Club. Soak up the old-world Italian ambiance and maybe sample some stuffed olives or sauerkraut balls while there.

Next, head down to East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue to the Nepali Kitchen for dinner. Expand your worldview with authentic Nepalese dishes, like Chicken Tikka or Vegetable Thukpa and a side of Bhatura, a traditional fried bread. Be sure to pick up a take-out menu for those nights when you want to stay cozy at home and still delight your taste buds. For more information, call 330-631-1112.

After dinner, head back up to Main Street for a nightcap at Dante’s Gameday Grille. It’s the perfect spot to relax and commiserate on all the new, exciting sights, sounds and flavors you’ve both just experienced in a sports bar atmosphere that might feel a little more familiar. No matter how long you’ve been together, this date night might just find you holding hands and making moon eyes again. Call 330-922-8344 for more information on Dante’s.

Elaine Woloshyn Executive Director of the International Institute of Akron Over the past five years, the International Institute of Akron (IIA) has resettled over 2,000 refugees in Akron, most from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq and Afghanistan.

From helping new arrivals learn English in the early 20th century to resettling the latest influx of refugees, IIA has spent 100 years making the process of adjusting to a new culture and home a little easier.

Elaine Woloshyn has been the Executive Director of IIA for three years. A native of Youngstown and a child of an immigrant family, Woloshyn has over 30 years of executive-level experience in government and nonprofit organizations.

Woloshyn understands the importance and value of engaging with IIA’s neighbors to create a vital, exciting North Hill that embodies IIA’s motto, “Many cultures, one community.”

What role does IIA play in North Hill?

EW: IIA has spent nearly half its 100-year history in its current location on Tallmadge Avenue in North Hill. From this vantage point, IIA works with the community’s residents, businesses and organizations to foster economic development and neighborhood improvement. By assisting the foreign-born to integrate into American society, IIA celebrates this multi-cultural neighborhood and is committed to making North Hill Northeast Ohio’s most inclusive community. Our employees speak over 15 different languages, and our contract staff offer interpreting and translation services in 30 languages. We also sponsor tours of the North Hill International District. w w w. akronlife.com

What value do immigrants bring to North Hill?

EW: Immigrants start businesses and companies at a significantly higher rate than their presence in the population. Additionally, IIA works with dozens of employers who are delighted to hire refugees and immigrants. In fact, recent research estimates that over 1,000 manufacturing jobs stayed in Greater Akron between 2000 and 2010 because of a ready pool of immigrant workers.

How is IIA commemorating its 100-year anniversary?

EW: We are celebrating with a series of events in the spring of 2016, the most important of which is the Welcoming Akron Initiative in collaboration with the City of Akron and Summit County. This one-day event will bring together our partners, ASIA, Inc. and Global Ties Akron, along with government and private sector leaders, employers, educators, nonprofits, entrepreneurs and community residents to talk about how we can work together to create a better community. Other special events will be listed on our website, www.iiakron.org.

How can readers help support local immigrants and IIA? EW: As part of our anniversary celebration, we are asking residents of Greater Akron who have immigrant family members or ancestors, no matter how recent, to consider a monetary donation to honor that journey to a new life in the United States. We hope that remembering our own families’ stories will inspire us to welcome and assist newcomers.

7

Shop Local with International Flair

Rohan Jewelry For the past three years, Rohan Jewelry has been creating and selling fine jewelry at 155 E. Tallmadge Ave. The proprietors, brothers Bhakti and Khagen Gajmer, are both immigrants from Nepal with a passion for metallurgy and an eye for design.

They create dazzling necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings and traditional Nepali adornments, as well as do appraisals. Learn more by calling 716-816-8859.

Crest Bakery

The Namaste Market

Since 1939, Crest Bakery has been filling North Hill with the aroma of fresh baking. Still using original recipes for donuts, cookies, pies and more, this staple also does special order cakes. Try their authentic German Beehive cake for an old-world twist on a birthday or anniversary celebration. Find them where they’ve always been, at 880 North Main St., as early as 6 a.m., 7 days a week. For more information, call 330-762-7669.

This shopping destination is located at 212 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave. and combines convenience shopping and cultural discovery with colorful flair. Find what you didn’t know you needed at this kitschy, hidden gem of a market. Stop in between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., or call: 330-805-4605.

The Himalayan Bazaar A vibrant, fun, eclectic mix of international style, the Himalayan Bazaar is a great place to pop into for both men’s and women’s clothing, handmade bags, hats, home décor and more. The Bazaar is one of many newer immigrant-owned shops in North Hill where you’ll find unique gift items that simply aren’t available anywhere else. Take your time soaking up the bright colors and music from the home of the world’s highest mountains. Trek to 260 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., and check their hours at 330-631-5742.

We are North Hill was made possible with support from the Knight Foundation.

6321625(' &217(17

Innovative Technique Uses Biologics to Improve ACL Repair

OrthoAdvice

By Paul R. Fleissner, Jr., MD

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) occur when the knee is hyperextended, twisted or bent side-to-side. In most cases, such an injury is often associated with athletes. But it can occur as a result of a sudden and severe accident or from less obvious contact injuries.

Without proper treatment, an ACL injury can develop into a chronic condition, which can lead to an unstable knee, pain and swelling.

Over the last several years, there have been a number of medical advances in ACL reconstruction and repair. Much of the focus has been on improved surgical implants and techniques, but these have not always met with long-term success.

Some patients do not achieve good bony ingrowth or revascularization of the ligament. Others develop early osteo-arthritis.

To address these concerns, I have developed the FlashFixTM technique, which relies on biologics to improve the outcome. Thanks to this new, cutting-edge ACL repair and reconstructive technique, we’re seeing greater success. Our research and results from our patients have proven that biologics significantly improve the healing process.

Biologics include a wide range of products such as vaccines, blood and blood components, gene therapy and tissues that are synthesized from living organisms or their products. They are then used as preventive or therapeutic agents.

The FlashFix™ technique uses a collagen-platelet-rich-plasma composite (CPC). The composite serves many functions including aiding the adhesion of tendons and ligaments to bone. The collagen of the CPC protects a clot from being deteriorated by specific enzymes in the knee joint, and this protection promotes soft tissue healing. Plateletrich-plasma (PRP), prepared by centrifugation of the patient’s blood in the operating room, is composed of high concentrations of platelets and growth factors. They are known to enhance the healing of bone and soft tissues including tendons, menisci, and ligaments, as well as to promote blood vessel ingrowth at the injured area, which is a critical biological response for the healing process. These mechanisms are documented in numerous published studies, which conclude that PRP turns on the body’s biological healing response that occurs after a musculoskeletal injury. With the FlashFix™ technique, patients experience improved outcomes including a dramatic reduction in recovery time while also reducing the retear rate after ACL reconstruction surgery.

Fortunately, for those of us living in Northeast Ohio, the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center is one of the few places in the country offering this procedure.

Paul R. Fleissner, Jr., MD, is a board-certified pediatric orthopedist who specializes in pediatric and adolescent sports medicine, with an interest in sports injuries and fractures.

He is a graduate of Marquette University and The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Dr. Fleissner belongs to a number of national, state and local medical associations and is a clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). He practices at the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center locations in Montrose, Green and Medina.