Ohio Magazine - March-April 2024

50 PLACES TO VISIT THIS YEAR FOR HISTORY, OUTDOOR ADVENTURE, INTERESTING EATS AND FAMILY FUN

See Works by Monet at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Local grains help keep our footprint small, but we specifically chose them because they are the best quality for our spirits.

Unique grains make unique whiskey and the grains grown in Ohio are unique because of the soil they are grown in.

There’s Ohio in every bottle. We invite you to taste the di erence as you Experience Ohio.

MAR/APR

84

Fran Taylor’s famous glassware company was nearly forgotten. Then, David and Jason Annecy revived it.

90 Surviving the Storm

In April 1974, a savage tornado ripped through Xenia, forever etching itself in the city’s memory.

DEPARTMENTS //

6 Connect

16 Editor’s Note

23 1803

Rock Salt Vintage finds beauty in nature, and naturalist Jim McCormac shares the merit of moths.

68

33 Datebook

See works by Claude Monet in Cleveland, and enjoy a globally focused outdoor festival in Athens.

39 Calendar of Events

57 Farm & Table

Chef Avishar Barua shares the inspiration behind Joya’s, and The Buckeye Lady puts a new spin on a classic treat.

61 LiveWell

Teach your kids about neurodiversity, and learn how to replace missing nutrients in your diet.

LONG WEEKENDS: 90

160 Milestones

In April 1942, the Ohio town where Ulysses S. Grant was born marked his 120th birthday with a celebration.

put-in-bay:

an every day island getaway

Since the early days of steamship travel, Put-in-Bay (South Bass Island) is the top Lake Erie destination. A year-round community and summer resort, Put-in-Bay is located in Ohio on South Bass Island in the western basin of Lake Erie. Most visitors and islanders refer to South Bass Island simply as Put-in-Bay. Put-in-Bay is a welcoming place that is one of the most visited, family-friendly vacation spots on the Great Lakes. The fun starts with your ferry ride!

BAYCATION

Come and spend a day, weekend, week, or the whole summer. Book an inn, hotel, resort, bed and breakfast, cottage, private home, suite, villa, or campground.

EXPLORE

Explore Put-in-Bay by golf cart, bicycle and kayak. You can rent any, or all, while visiting. Discover Lake Erie by chartering a boat for fishing, parasailing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, or kayaking! On Put-in-Bay, the chances to explore are endless. Enjoy golf, mini golf, wineries and caves, museums, and more. Put-in-Bay has beautiful parks, preserves and trails that you’ll enjoy discovering. While you’re here, you must visit Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, THE iconic peace symbol of Put-in-Bay. Whether you like an action-packed adventure or exploring at a more leisurely pace, Put-in-Bay is your destination!

FOODIE FUN

What’s a trip without sampling the local cuisine? Take a stroll down our Put-in-Bay Foodie Trail, on visitputinbay.com/eat-and-drink/foodie-trail/. Putin-Bay offers more than 25 great places to eat, all within walking distance from downtown. You’re in the Walleye Capital of the world, so why not try some fresh perch and walleye! Come relax and sip some great island wine at our two wineries. Eat, drink, and enjoy!

SHOP

While exploring Put-in-Bay, be sure to stop at our many unique shops. From nautical décor and island artwork, to children’s toys and Put-in-Bay clothing, our shops have what you need to remember your stay on the island. Many of the shops feature items by local area artists.

TRULY SPECIAL EVENTS

Throughout the season, Put-in-Bay has family-friendly art and music festivals, special events, and romantic getaways. Do you have a special event you’re planning? Give our office a call and we can help. For a full list of events, go to visitputinbay.com/events.

FIND YOUR ISLAND

Come on over and explore the island we call home. Visit us in person at our visitor center, 148 Delaware Ave. at The Depot, on the corner of Delaware and Toledo avenues. It’s where the downtown bus and the Island Tour Train are located. Connect with us on the web or give us a call at 419285-2832. Visit our website at visitputinbay.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@visitputinbay).

2024 events

april 8th

A MONUMENTAL ECLIPSE

View the 2024 solar eclipse in the path of totality on Put-in-Bay.

may 18th

ISLAND WIDE GARAGE SALE

Retail merchants and island homeowners join for one big, Island Wide Garage Sale.

may 24th – 27th

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Celebrate Memorial Day at Put-in-Bay, with the Salute to the Troops ceremony on Monday.

june 9th & august 18th

BENSON FORD SHIPHOUSE TOURS

Tours are open to the public, with limited tickets available. Check Online to purchase tickets.

june 10th

PUT-IN-BAY PRIDE

Show your PRIDE on Put-in-Bay and join us as we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community! All are welcome in the parade during the day and don’t miss The Round House Bar’s Annual Drag Show in the evening.

june 15th

50TH FOUNDER’S DAY

Celebrate the founding of Put-in-Bay by Hispanic merchant Jose DeRivera in DeRivera Park with many vendors and lots of fun! 11am–4pm.

june 22nd

OHIO’S ISLAND WINE FESTIVAL

Ohio wineries showcase their wines just for you at Heineman’s Winery from 11am-5pm.

june 28th – 30th

PUT-IN-BAY PYRATE FEST XVI

Avast, mateys! Set sail to Pyrate Fest XVI at Put-in-Bay! Go to pyratefest.org for a complete schedule of events.

july 4th

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

Put-in-Bay celebrates Independence Day with fireworks over the Lake Erie harbor at 10pm.

july 12th – 14th

PUT-IN-BAY JEEP INVASION

The 9th annual Put-in-Bay Jeep Invasion welcomes back all Jeeps to a weekend of fun!

july 31st – august 1st

AMPHICAR DAYS

Come see a gathering of these rare 1960’s swimming sports cars.

august 3rd – 10th

ISLAND GREEN WEEK

Enjoy the natural beauty, geology, and ecology of the islands during this week of events.

august 21st – 22nd

BASH ON THE BAY

Bash on the Bay returns to Put-in-Bay with megastars Jelly Roll and Hardy headlining the two-day music festival that takes place at the Airport!

august 30th – september 2nd

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Celebrate the unofficial end of summer at Put-in-Bay!

september 6th – 8th

HISTORIC WEEKEND

We celebrate the 211th anniversary of Oliver Hazard Perry’s defeat of the British fleet in The Battle of Lake Erie on September 10, 1813, and the enduring peace between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

september 7th

ART IN THE PARK

Regional arts and craftspeople display and sell their original works in many mediums.

september 14th

1/2 WAY TO ST. PATTY’S DAY

Dress in green for St. Patrick’s Day and join the annual golf cart parade at Hooligan’s.

september 17th – 19th

PUT-IN-BAY ROAD RACES REUNION

PIBRRR welcomes owners and drivers of vintage sports cars to come participate in events, activities and races. Viewing is FREE!

september 21st

BIG DAY AT THE BAY/CLAM BAKE/

MBL

september 28th

october 12th

OKTOBERFEST

The

october

HALLOWEEN

Indulge in Your Island Getaway

Escape the ordinary and indulge in the charm of Put-in-Bay with a stay at our cozy and picturesque boutique hotel. Enjoy relaxation and making memories that will last a lifetime.

•Impeccably clean and comfortable guestrooms each decorated with a touch of whimsey

•All King Beds, Luxury Linens, & Ensuite Bathrooms with Towel Warmers

•In-room Nespresso Coffee Makers, Mini-Fridges, and all the Amenities

•Each Room Enjoys a Private Balcony or Patio

•Chef-Prepared Breakfast Included Daily

•The hotel is for adults only, but families and pets are welcome in the Wee Anchor Cottage that sleeps up to six guests

Anchor Inn Boutique Hotel www.anchorinnpib.com reservations@anchorinnpib.com

419.285.5055

CONNECT

Wright Revival: The Westcott House was the talk of Springfield when it was completed in 1908. Yet as the decades ticked by, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home fell into disrepair that threatened its very existence. Here’s how a group of locals worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy to give the property new life. ohiomagazine.com/westcott

check out our newsletters:

Are you receiving our email newsletters? Learn about fun experiences throughout the state, get great food and drink ideas or plan for your next weekend getaway. Sign up at ohiomagazine.com/ newsletters

Famous Food spots: From downtown landmarks and small-town finds to old-school favorites and local legends that have been around for generations, these 30 restaurants should be on your Buckeye State bucket list Browse our menu of famous Ohio food spots and get our suggestions for what to order when you go. ohiomagazine. com/foodspots

A huge swath of Ohio will have an incredible view of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, as a 124-mile-wide band of totality stretches across our state. If you’re looking for a place to experience this incredible, once-in-alifetime event, learn more about what destinations across Ohio are planning for the big day by scanning the QR code here.

MAR/APR

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTIONS

8 TRUMBULL COUNTY

Take a road trip filled with retro fun, Amish Country finds and dogfriendly destinations.

97 HOMESTEAD FURNITURE

Work with the talented staff here to create incredible custom pieces for your home.

151 KENTUCKY

A Kentucky getaway offers an opportunity to escape the everyday world.

This Issue:

86

Corrections: On page 8 of our Jan./Feb. 2024 issue we incorrectly noted the year of Ohio University’s 1804 founding. On page 41, we misidentified the Rainbow Row Bellefontaine businesses Candy Craze and Eden Haus.

Ohio Magazine encourages you to recycle this magazine. Great Lakes Publishing supports the use of paper milled from replanted forests as a renewable resource and purchases paper from Sustainable Forestry Initiativecertified sources when available. We have also taken steps to reduce the amount of plastic used when mailing issues to subscribers.

ECLIPSE: ISTOCK; WRIGHT: ROD HATFIELD; FOOD: BRIAN KAISER

SWEET MEMORIES VINTAGE TEES AND CANDY, GIRARD

Retro Fun

Play the day away at Past Times Arcade in Girard with Rob Berk’s collection of over 600 vintage pinball machines and arcade cabinets. The entire building pays homage to the bygone days of arcade entertainment, from showcasing early iterations of pinball to classic consoles such as Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Asteroids and many others.

For more fun, make your way to Sweet Memories

Vintage Tees and Candy, also in Girard, where Linda

great ohio Road Trips

This month, we head to Trumbull County in northeast Ohio to find retro fun, experience pet-friendly destinations and enjoy Amish Country attractions.

For more information about these destinations and others throughout Trumbull County, visit trulytrumbull.com.

T-shirts that pay tribute to old-school sweets, starting with Ohio’s own Good Humor ice cream. The store sells these tees — now featuring dozens of recognizable candy brands such as Smarties, Pez and Dum Dums — as well as retro sodas, domestic and international candies, toys and boardgames.

Embrace a classic dining experience at Rhonda’s Emerald Diner in Hubbard, where you can enjoy homestyle meals as well as all-day breakfast and homemade desserts from inside a refurbished train car. The diner was restored in 2017 after sustaining serious fire damage and began operating in its current form in 2019.

To travel farther back into the past, head to Julia’s Bed and Breakfast, at the Pine Lakes Golf Club in Hubbard, where you can experience cozy overnight stays in a charming, early 1800s-era home. There are six unique, upper-level suites featuring a variety of amenities that range from builtin fireplaces to in-room jacuzzi tubs. On the first floor, guests will find an inviting dining room and great room.

Amish Country

Travel through this corner of Ohio’s scenic Amish Country on a 2.5- or 3-hour-long tour with Wayne Hershberger’s Scenic Buggy Adventures. Stop for a homecooked meal, enjoy a walk-through of Ohio’s oldest general store, observe an Amish schoolhouse and immerse yourself in the beauty and simplicity along the way. Tours run May through October depending on the weather and different tour options are available.

For another look at Ohio’s Amish culture, explore rural Trumbull County on a 3-hour bus tour organized by Ridgeview Tours Partake in a traditional, homemade Amish wedding feast, shop at unique Amishowned businesses and learn more about the community. For groups of 10 or more, tour experiences are customizable, and tour operator Sharon Grover will work with you to help create an unforgettable experience.

No tour of Amish Country would be complete without a visit to the End of the Commons General Store, which has been part of the community since 1840. It is the oldest operating general store in the state and houses a wide range of housewares and bulk food products as well as over 100 varieties of old-fashioned soda and penny candy. Be sure to grab an authentic, handmade Amish fry pie, which come in a variety of delicious flavors.

Just down the road from the general store, you’ll find the Old Stone Bed and Breakfast. Built entirely from sandstone collected from a nearby quarry in 1825, the house has undergone dramatic renovations, making for a quaint and comfortable place to stay. It offers long- and short-term renting options ranging from individual room rentals to the entire home.

Dog Days

For those looking to get away with their furry friends, The Grand Resort in Warren promises a luxurious stay. Amenities include a full salon and spa, a state-of-the-art wine bar, a heated Roman bath and much more. Your pet has access to the courtyard and outdoor spaces, while small dogs are even permitted to hang out with their owner poolside. Dogs are allowed in any overnight room (food and water bowls are provided), and two firstfloor rooms are designated pet rooms. When it’s time to explore, visit Cooperation Station Dog Park, a 5-acre dog park at Mosquito Lake State Park. The park recently added an agility course and diving docks so dogs can cool off with a dip in the lake. The park is divided into two fenced-in sections separating small and large dogs.

END OF THE COMMONS GENERAL STORE, MESOPOTAMIA

Another outdoor destination dogs are sure to love is the Western Reserve Greenway, which spans 50 miles across the farmland, fields, woodlands and wetlands of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. With three trailheads located in Trumbull County, the path is perfect for dog owners looking to take a walk away from busy streets.

To cap off the day, visit the family-owned-and-operated Elm Road Triple Drive-In Theater in Warren. Established in 1950, it is one of just 300 drive-ins left in the United States. The concession stand has an extensive menu, which includes both dinner and snack options such as homemade pizzas, hand-dipped ice cream, root beer floats and more. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners for a screening on one of the drive-in’s three movie screens.

PHOTOS

McConnelsville

VISIT BG OHIO

Wood County Museum Arch

THINK BOLD, THINK GENUINE, THINK BEER, THINK GREEN, THINK BEAUTIFUL, THINK BG

STAY IN BOWLING GREEN

All seasons in Bowling Green are gorgeous, but summers in BG are exceptionally beautiful. Enjoy breathtaking public art, museums, our pool and waterpark and gorgeous parks. With 5 wonderful hotels, there are plenty of places to make the most of your stay.

Think eat. Think shop. With plenty of restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, historical sites, local shops, parks, and more, there is always something here to explore.

Enjoy the fresh air at the Wood County Museum pictured above. Or sip on locally brewed beer at Juniper Brewing Company pictured to the right. There are numerous breweries and parks to enjoy in Bowling Green, Ohio.

To plan your stay, visit our website visitbgohio.org.

Road Ready

Nothing makes me eager to hit the road like finally getting to the end of the months filled with bare trees and gray skies. Winter has its own charms, but once March rolls around each year, I’m counting down the days until I can finally pack away the heavy coats.

It’s around this time of year that I also begin consulting the meme that outlines the “11 seasons” we experience in this part of the country. You know, the one where winter is followed by “fool’s spring” and “second winter,” which is in turn followed by “spring of deception” and “third winter” before the arrival of “mud season” and then “actual spring.” As my cabin fever reaches its limit, I start daydreaming about weekend getaways and summer vacations.

One of the best things about living in Ohio is the ability to hit the road and explore interesting places, be it for an afternoon, a day or a long weekend. Our state’s rich history and geographic diversity that ranges from Lake Erie beaches to Appalachian foothills provides the opportunity to break away from the Ohio you know and experience the one you don’t.

Road trips have long been a popular topic with our readers, and this month’s cover story offers 50 more destinations that invite you to embrace the beauty, adventure and fun that can be found across our state.

History buffs will want to make plans to visit both Chillicothe — our state’s original capital as well as the site of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park — and Dayton, where you can see the Wright brothers’ first practical airplane at Carillon Historical Park and learn about the evolution of military aircraft at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Those who enjoy spending time outdoors will find lots to explore in the wealth of trails, waterfalls and more found within the Cleveland Metroparks system and in the development that has opened Toledo’s waterfront to public use in new and interesting ways. But that’s just the start of the travel inspiration you’ll find in this issue, starting on page 68.

Yes, we know there is no guarantee the snow won’t fly again before spring really takes hold, but we can all rest assured that warmer days are on the way. Here is hoping this issue helps you put them to good use by making plans to create new memories with the people closest to you.

JIM VICKERS

Chairman Lute Harmon Sr. President & Publisher Lute Harmon Jr.

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL@OHIOMAGAZINE.COM

Editor Jim Vickers

Associate Editors Erin Finan, Gracie Wilson

Contributing Writers Chez Chesak, Hollie Davis, Nicholas Dekker, Vince Guerrieri, Kristen Hampshire, Nathan Havenner, Sarah Miller, David Nilsen, Emma Shinker, Kristina Smith, Damaine Vonada, Ilona Westfall

Digital Content Assistant Kelly Powell

Editorial Interns Sean Eifert, Brynn Meisse

Art Director Rachael Jirousek

Contributing Artists Megan Leigh Barnard, Cody German, Arthur O’Leary, Doug Hinebaugh, Charlee Ottersberg, Jeffrey Smith, Toledo Aerial Images

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Managing Editor Claudia Plumley

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Editorial Interns Riley Hernandez, Kienna Whitman

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INTERACTIVE MEDIA

Director of Digital Strategy Jacquie Chakirelis

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Chief Financial Officer George Sedlak

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Accounts Payable Coordinator Geli Valli Ohio Magazine is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited photographs, illustrations, manuscripts, books

other material submitted for possible publication. All photographs are courtesy of the event or organization listed, unless otherwise credited.

Take a journey to a hidden gem located between Cincinnati and Dayton. Events are happening all year in Oxford. Discover our historic Uptown brick streets and family fun events to suit any travel bug desires. Browse our shops and restaurants with a DORA cup, or explore over 20+ miles of trails and cool off at the pool on a hot day. Don't miss out on the vibrant tapestry of Oxford which offers a blend of cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, and academic charm for everyone to enjoy.

Day, May

Maple Syrup Festival March 2nd-3rd & 9th-10th

Wine & Craft Beer Festival June 1st

RBR - Porsche Car Show August 10th

Close to an hour from Cincinnati airport (CVG)

Home of the Miami University RedHawks

Picturesque locations for sharable memories

May 25th & 26th Plan Your Trip Now!

Experience historic Marietta by touring a variety of homes that make up the first established settlement of the Northwest Territory during the Historic Marietta Tour of Homes, sponsored by The Castle.

If you’re a collector, architect, historian, photographer, or just love old homes, this tour is sure to satisfy your interests! Tours take place May 25th and 26th. Different homes will be open each day for tours, so plan to make a weekend out of it.

Be sure to secure your tickets early to ensure that you don’t miss experiencing these amazing homes.

For more information, visit mariettacastle.org/events

for the SEARCH hidden

Some say that he is a myth or perhaps just a legend. Some claim to have seen him, but others say he is simply the hide-and-seek champion. You just never know what you may find hiding in the woods. But guaranteed, you are in for a Sasquatch-sized adventure on the Belmont County Bigfoot Geotour!

Crane Counting

ach year, in mid-April, volunteer birders across dozens of preselected counties in Ohio flock to their local wetlands to participate in the annual Midwest Crane Count, an event that helps document population numbers for the sandhill crane. This exotic-looking bird is one of only two crane species native to North America, and it was placed on Ohio’s endangered species list after returning to the state in 1987. Since the first count took place in 2021, the number of cranes counted has been steadily increasing, with over 300 reported sightings in 2023. This year, the count will be held on April 13. columbusaudubon.org

Classic Beauty: Rock Salt Vintage’s Katelin Reeser shares her love of the natural world through her handcrafted jewelry pieces that are lasting, durable and unique.

Sweep Spot: The story of America’s most famous vacuum company and the family that started it is shared at the Hoover Historical Center in North Canton.

Classic Beauty

Rock Salt Vintage’s Katelin Reeser shares her love of the natural world through her handcrafted jewelry pieces that are lasting, durable and unique.

Katelin Reeser graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s degree in fine art photography, and while she was comfortable behind a camera, she was also interested in working with her hands. After finding inspiration in a former classmate who was selling jewelry made from found objects, Reeser began collecting vintage items herself.

She started piecing together jewelry from her finds mixed with raw stones and crystals before pivoting to completely handmade lines created from polymer clay or beads. She finally landed on metal as her medium of choice, which is reflected in the jewelry she sells today under the name Rock Salt Vintage.

“I just feel like it’s very malleable, and you can dream up almost anything with it,” Reeser says. “And I also like that it’s lasting and durable — it can be recycled and repurposed. It can be handed down and really has some longevity that other materials might not have.”

She decided to go full-time with her jewelry business in 2020, producing a line of one-ofa-kind necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets that reflect her love for the natural world. Reeser started by hammering the pieces but eventually transitioned to joining them with a torch.

“It did take a couple of years for me to feel fully confident using the torch,” she says, “just knowing how the metal will react to the flame and the strength of the flame.”

Reeser has since nailed down her style, with a website full of rustic yet elevated products for lasting wear. One of her favorite offerings was the now-sold-out Sonoran Gold Radiate Earrings made up of triangles reminiscent of guitar picks and teardrops.

“I just remember dreaming that up and thinking, ‘This is the most complicated thing I’ve ever made, and I’m not sure if anyone’s going to want it or buy it, but I really want to make it,’” she says. “And then it sold.”

Other favorites include her Cleo earrings, Portal rings and Mesa necklaces, which are accentuated by Sonoran, Carico Lake and Hubei turquoise stones. Reeser has also started using agate in her pieces, such as the Dendritic Agate Cuff bracelet, where fissures in the rock create patterns resembling branches and leaves.

“Sometimes, if there are scraps lying around, I’ll mess around with those and come up with something that I never would have thought of,” she says. “It’s fun to flow with the process.” — Kelly Powell

For more information, visit rocksaltvintage.com.

Rustic Corks

BY GRACE BARNHART

| If you have been looking for a relaxing country getaway, check out these wonderful wineries that also serve as fully functioning farms.

Vineyard at Evergreen Farms in Coldwater is a family owned farm and winery known for growing or locally sourcing almost all of the fruits used in their wines. Founder Chris Dues started creating wine at a young age before teaming up with his daughter, Gina Dues, to create the artistic wines they feature today, ranging from dry pumpkin to sweet dandelion. The tasting room is located in a revamped chicken barn, providing visitors with a rustic escape.

Le Petit Chevalier Vineyard and Farm Winery in Creola has everything you need for a relaxing getaway. Stay in a loft right above the winery and wake up every morning to a view of the vineyard and its sprawling hills. After a long day of hiking in nearby Hocking Hills, relax with a glass of wine.

614-728-6438

If you are looking for some fun, the Winery at Wolf Creek in Barberton is an absolute must! They have live music almost every week, specialty crafting events and so much more. There is an excellent outdoor picnic space, and everyone is welcome — even your dogs. Bring your dog to “Yappy Hour” events that support charities and dine from a variety of local food trucks.

Find an ideal date night spot at Twenty One Barrels Hard Cider and Wine. This 21 and over winery, located in the beautiful countryside of Bradford, makes all their own ciders and wines on site. Take a stroll through the vineyards as you sip on their peach cobbler wine or enjoy a glass of their light, dry Marquette wine that has notes of cherry, vanilla and berry.

Twenty One Barrels

Winery at Wolf Creek

Sweep Spot

The Hoover Historical Center tells the story of America’s most famous vacuum company and the family that started it.

In 1978, the Hoover Co., celebrated its 70th anniversary by opening a museum in the former childhood home of the company’s founder, William “Boss” Hoover. It detailed the life of the family, which had become one of Stark County’s most prominent, as well as their eponymous company, which went from being a producer and seller of leather goods to the most well-known vacuum cleaner manufacturer and seller in the world.

Today, Walsh University oversees the Hoover Historical Center, which it received as a donation in 2004. The museum has become an integral part of the campus, not just as a place to visit but as an important teaching tool. The university is the only one in Ohio to offer an undergraduate major in museum studies.

“It’s the setting for us to tell the story of the company and the family,” says Megan Pellegrino, director of the Hoover Historical Center and of the museum studies program. “The museum is very much a formal part of the [university’s] program.”

Boss Hoover and his brothers were raised in the home situated on an 82-acre farm in Plain Township near what is now North Canton. When Hoover’s leather business began to decline in 1908, a janitor named James Murray Spangler offered to sell Hoover a patent for an electric suction sweeper. Hoover bought the patent and started producing and selling electric vacuum cleaners, which was a risk at the time because only about 10 percent of homes had electricity.

After finding success, the company branched out into other household products. The Hoover name, however, would end up becoming synonymous with vacuums, which were sold for many years by door-to-door salesmen, a tradition that lasted into the 1950s before the company began using television as an advertising medium.

More than three dozen vacuums are displayed throughout the museum. Pellegrino’s favorite is a 1956 Constellation model that uses exhaust air to make it hover slightly above the floor. The most popular vacuum on display is The Convertible, which was the bestselling upright vacuum in the United States for decades. Models were available with bags that came in various colors to complement a home’s decor and adjust to changing trends.

“When we’re on a tour,” Pellegrino adds, “most people say they had one of these.”

— Vince Guerrieri

As Midwestern winters lingered, rural folks often used the time to complete household chores such as sharpening tools and mending tarps. However, early 20th-century artist Earl Hastings Beymer, like many others, also used the time to pursue creative endeavors. Perhaps it was while waiting for spring that he carved this wooden squirrel.

Beymer was born in 1890 in Guernsey County and spent most of his years on the family farm. During his lifetime, Beymer created a sizable volume of work, using historic events, farm life and the surrounding nature as his subjects. A selftaught artist, he used materials that he had on hand, such as leftover house paint and scrap wood. He would often construct the frames for his artwork himself, hand-carving decorative elements for them.

While most of Beymer’s portfolio consists of paintings, he also made several wood carvings throughout his life. His work sadly languished after his death, tucked away in one of the outbuildings on the family farm, until it was recently rediscovered and offered at auction.

— Hollie Davis

Hollie Davis is a co-owner of Meander Auctions in Whipple, Ohio.

WOODEN FOLK ART SQUIRREL

5-inch figurine carved from walnut

The Hoover Historical Center houses displays showcasing the evolution of floor care.

See our Social Side.

Fuzzy Flyers

Many gardeners don’t think too deeply about moths. Here’s why naturalist Jim McCormac says they should.

Moths might not be the first things that come to mind when the sub ject of gardening arises, but that’s exactly what author, photographer and naturalist Jim McCormac wants to change.

The lifelong Ohioan’s own interest in moths was sparked during his time work ing as a field botanist for the Ohio De partment of Natural Resources. While collecting plant specimens, he found a caterpillar that belonged to a rare species of moth known as Bagisara gulnare.

This chance encounter eventually led to McCormac co-authoring Gardening for Moths: A Regional Guide with fellow naturalist Chelsea Gottfried. With over 600 photographs, most of them taken by McCormac, and profiles on hundreds of moth and plant species, the book serves as a guide to Midwestern gardeners on how to conserve moth populations through native gardening and the importance of doing so.

“Everyone appreciates plants on some level,” McCormac says. “And native plants are what drive the whole train when it comes to conserving our native animal life.”

We talked with McCormac about why he wrote the book, the significance of regionality for moths and how we can better understand these fuzzy, flying creatures. — Erin Finan

Your book opens with the quote, “The bottom line is all butterflies are moths, and there’s no such thing as butterflies.” Why did you choose that?

A: Butterflies have gotten all the limelight. They’ve gotten 99% of all the press of the lepidoptera, yet moths have been around for much longer. We’re probably approaching 200,000 species of lepidopteran so far described in the world, and 80% to 90% are moths. That’s why we like that quote. It got to the issue that moths are an overwhelmingly larger group, but butterflies get all the good publicity.

Your book is focused on moths in the eastern Midwest. What was significant about this area for moth study?

A: The flora is very similar throughout the region. Once you start to get out of that range, the plant life starts to shift dramatically, and that’s ultimately what affects moths. Moth cat erpillars are really specialized to certain plants. If you went out to the Pacific Northwest or Florida, it would be very different.

How are myths about moths tied to our understanding and opinions of them?

A: It’s just based in superficialities. I’ve talked to people about this book who don’t know anything about moths, and it opens eyes to how important they are. One of the reasons the introduction of the book is fairly robust is that we knew your average gardener is probably going to look at it and go, “Who cares?” So, we really try and elucidate that case for them.

For more information, visit jimmccormac.blogspot.com.

Jim McCormac’s caterpillar discovery was one of only three other recorded sightings and the first ever recorded in Ohio.

Create Your Own Adventure

Beautiful waterfalls. Scenic train rides. Historic airplanes. Immersive experiences.

We have something for everyone in Greater Akron/Summit County!

Explore Cuyahoga Valley National Park, climb aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, see over 1,000 animals at the Akron Zoo and much more! Create your own adventure and start planning your trip today!

visitakron-summit.org

PRESENTED BY

Over 30 participating restaurants across Stark County

Special 3 course menus start at $25!

Sign up for the Savor Stark Restaurant Pass to redeem special offers. Enter to win over $600 in gift cards to local restaurants with each redemption.

Sign Up!

A VIP TOUR OF COSHOCTON COUNTY

Sip and shop your way through Coshocton County on the Three Rivers Wine Trail. This VIP package includes a two-night stay at Coshocton Village Inn & Suites, along with tastes or small plates at each wine trail stop. Winner also receives tickets to Historic Roscoe Village and JohnsonHumrickhouse Museum along with gift cards to Coshocton Supply Co., RUST Pop-in-&-Paint, Indian Bear Cork & Coffee, and Roscoe Village Sweets & Treats. Good through Dec. 31, 2024.

ENJOY A WEEKEND IN HOLMES COUNTY

Say goodbye to cabin fever and hello to an unforgettable journey in Ohio Amish Country. Enjoy a weekend stay in one of our cozy lodging establishments, engage in a variety of activities, from scenic hikes to local artisan visits. Delight your senses with farm-fresh cuisine and immersive cultural encounters.

A TRIP FOR TWO TO PARKERSBURG, WV

The winner will receive a two-night stay at the Historic Blennerhassett Hotel, along with a visit to Blennerhassett Island State Park (includes sternwheel transport to and from the island). During the visit, you will also receive two tickets each to Henderson Hall, the Oil & Gas Museum and the Parkersburg Arts Center. Then you will top it all off with a box of Holl’s Chocolates to share.

GETAWAY FOR TWO IN STREETSBORO, YOUR ROAD MAP TO FUN!

This giveaway includes a two-night stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Streetsboro, a visit unlike any other to Pure Passions Farm, some fun and excitement at TimberBeast Axe Throwing, a delicious meal at Wild Eagle Steak and Saloon, shopping at Rooted Oaks OH and the opportunity to explore and enjoy the abundance of parks and outdoor activities.

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Area CVB

46. Martinsburg-Berkeley County, WV CVB (WV)

47. Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau

48. Miami County VCB

49. Middle West Spirits

50. Morgan County Ohio Community & Business Development

51. Mount Vernon Arts Consortium

52. Nationwide Realty Investors

53. Noble County Convention & Visitors Bureau

54. North Market Bridge Park

55. Ohio Amish County | Holmes County Chamber & Tourism Bureau

56. Ohio Grape Industries

57. OhioGuidestone

58. Orchard Culinary & Hospitality Group

59. Oxford Visitors Bureau

60. Perrysburg Area CVB

61. Pike County Chamber of Commerce

62. Portsmouth & Scioto County Visitors Bureau

63. Put-In-Bay Chamber of Commerce

64. Reynoldsburg VB

65. Riffe Gallery

66. Roscoe Village Business Association c/o Coshocton CVB

67. Ross Chillicothe CVB

68. Rossford Visitors Bureau

69. Sauder Village

70. Shores & Islands Ohio

71. Sidney Visitors Bureau

72. Streetsboro Visitors & Convention Bureau

73. The Inns at 8th & Main

74. Toledo Zoo

75. Travel Butler County, OH

76. Trumbull County Tourism Bureau

77. Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau

78. Visit Bowling Green (KY)

79. Visit Canton

80. Visit Cincy

81. Visit Dublin Ohio

82. Visit Findlay

83. Visit Gahanna

84. Visit Greater Lima

85. Visit Grove City

86. Visit Southern West Virginia (WV)

87. Visit Westerville

88. Visit Wheeling West Virginia CVB (WV)

89. Wayne County Convention & Visitors Bureau

90. Youngstown Live | Mahoning County Convention & Visitors Bureau

91. Zanesville/Muskingum County CVB

26.

DATEBOOK

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

March 9, Dublin

Gear up in green and head to the Columbus suburb of Dublin for the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Grab a spot on the sidewalk in Historic Dublin and watch as more than 100 groups that span bagpipers, marching bands and more — all led by the Grand Leprechaun — pass by beginning at 11 a.m. Before the parade, enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the nearby Sells Middle School beginning at 7 a.m. Afterward, a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area, which operates from 1 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, allows paradegoers to stroll the neighborhood while enjoying a drink from one of the local bars or restaurants. visitdublinohio.com

Illuminating Artistry: “Monet in Focus” at the Cleveland Museum of Art features five paintings by Claude Monet that show the different ways he captured light in his work.

Calendar of Events: Your spring plans start here. Check out our guide to exhibitions, shows and other festivities scheduled between now and the end of April.

ROBB MCCORMICK PHOTOGRAPHY

DATEBOOK

“ROUEN

Illuminating A rt istry

“Monet in Focus” at the Cleveland Museum of Art features five paintings by Claude Monet that show the different ways he captured light and atmosphere in his work.

By Ilona Westfall

The towers and arches of France’s Rouen Cathedral are instantly recognizable. The Gothic structure is where the kings of France were crowned in the Middle Ages and has been painted by several famous artists, but none captured it quite like Claude Monet.

The French impressionist’s “Rouen Cathedral at the End of the Day, Sunlight Effect” is part of “Monet in Focus” on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art from March 31 through Aug. 11. The exhibition includes three oil paintings on loan from the Musée Marmottan Monet, a museum in Paris dedicated to the artist’s works, and two from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s permanent collection. All five were painted later in Monet’s career and examine how he used light in various ways in his work.

For “Rouen Cathedral,” Monet painted on as many as eight different canvases in a day, each designated for different times as the sun moved through the sky.

“He used the famous Gothic cathedral, through his own very personal lens, to look at the way light plays across the surface as the hours go by in a particular day,” says Heather Lemonedes Brown, deputy director and chief curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The result is a unique view of the cathedral that shows the upper portion of the building illuminated in late-afternoon sunshine while the lower third is in shadows. The painting contrasts with Monet’s “Gardener’s House at Antibes,” a piece from the museum’s collection that depicts a slant-roofed house surrounded by vivid greenery under a blue sky. The scene was painted under a bright southern sun and has a softer, warmer light.

The exhibition also includes a pair of contrasting water lilies paintings: “Water Lilies” from Paris and “Water Lilies (Agapanthus)” from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. Both works depict close-ups of flowers and reflections on the pond at Monet’s home in Giverny, but with different lighting.

Also borrowed from the Musée Marmottan Monet is “The Japanese Bridge,” which shows a span arching over the pond at Giverny. Painted when the artist had cataracts, it has what Brown describes as a “moody” appearance.

“It doesn’t give you a great sense of space but instead a dense accumulation of paint and very intense colors,” Brown says. “He’s painting it both from what he’s able to see and also from memory and the feeling that the bridge and this site conjure for him.”

11150 East Blvd., Cleveland 44106, 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

“THE JAPANESE BRIDGE”

DATEBOOK

Ohio University International Street Fair

April 6, Athens

Colorful flags wave in the breeze at Howard Park on Ohio University’s campus as the scents of pani puri, spring rolls and Thai curry chicken draw visitors to tents across the grounds. Live music fills the air, and students from around the world highlight traditions of their home countries.

The Ohio University International Street Fair began in the 1990s when a group of students informally assembled on Court Street. Today, the university formally hosts the daylong celebration that shines a light on cultures spanning the globe. The festival is free for the public and includes family-friendly activities such as games, henna artists, tea-ceremony demonstrations and more.

“They try to do things that are fun for kids but actually have an international tint,” says Diane Cahill, director of international student and scholar services at Ohio University. “[They] also try to help kids understand that people all over the world are kind of similar. They have dogs. They have families. They play games.”

Attendees can purchase food on-site to support international-student groups at Ohio University, and the festivities include live music performances and spoken-word poetry during an event that aims to unite the campus and city.

“It gives [students] an opportunity to remind the community how important it is to welcome others,” Cahill says, “and to welcome them in such a way that they become our friend or part of our community.” Howard Park is located at the corner of East Union and South College streets, Athens 45701, ohio.edu — Gracie Wilson

event

Chocolate & Wine Walk April 27, Vermilion

Support small businesses during this annual event that invites participants to savor samples of chocolates and wine while shopping and dining locally. This year’s theme is Derby Hats, so don your best headwear and make a stop at each shop on the map to earn a chance for the grand-prize basket. vermilionohio.com

event

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars

March 7–10, Cincinnati

The magic of Disney takes to the ice as beloved films come to life during seven performances at Heritage Bank Center. Characters from “Frozen,” “Encanto,” “Aladdin” and “The Princess and the Frog” are featured in this production, where each tale begins with a wish and delivers the uplifting message of embracing the dreams each of us holds within our hearts. heritagebankcenter.com

theater

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical April 9–14, Dayton

Experience the inspiring musical journey of the Queen of rock ’n’ roll as the touring Broadway production of “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” takes the Schuster Center stage. From overcoming obstacles to winning 12 Grammy Awards, Turner’s remarkable story is told through her legendary catalog of music. daytonlive.org

CALENDAR

MARCH

Central Festivals

MAR 9 2024 Columbus Brew Festival

Raise a glass to this after-hours gathering featuring over 50 breweries, 150 beers and access to all COSI exhibits. The lineup includes brews from Saucy Brew Works, Nocterra Brewing Co., Crooked Can Brewing Co. and more. COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/228-2674. cosi.org. 8–11 p.m. Early admission $70, general admission $55.

Museums + Exhibits

THRU APR 5

In Touch

This exhibit from the Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery was curated by Megan Young and features 13 Ohio artists exploring themes of interpersonal connection and togetherness through sensation and physicality in art. Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery, 77 S. High St., Columbus, 614/644-9624. riffegallery.org. Tues.–Fri. Noon–5 p.m. Free.

MAR 1–23

20th Annual Bryn Du Art Show

This annual juried exhibition held at the beautiful Bryn Du Mansion is celebrating 20 years of bringing outstanding art to Granville. Bryn Du Mansion, 537 Jones Rd., Granville, 740/5877053. bryndu.com. Tues.–Wed. & Fri. 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Thurs. 4–8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. Noon–4 p.m., Mon. closed. Free.

Music + Theater

MAR 12–17

Mamma Mia!

Travel to a Greek island paradise for this classic tale of love, friendship and identity told through ABBA hits. This feel-good show, enduring for nearly 25 years, tells the story of one daughter’s quest to discover who her father is with help from her mother’s past. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. Tues.–Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 21

Shayna Steele

Come for this Stage Door Cabaret performance and sit on stage at a table of four with the artist just feet away. Shayna Steele dove headfirst into music in her teen years, and today, the songstress has a sound influenced by Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and The Temptations. Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/345-5483. midlandtheatre.org. 7 p.m. $35.

MAR 22–23

Columbus Symphony: Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 1

Gifted violinist Elina Vähälä is featured in this performance of Jean Sibelius’ violin concerto. The evening also showcases the overture to Mozart’s masterful opera, “Don Giovanni,” and concludes with Rachmaninoff’s powerful Symphony No. 1. Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony. com. Fri. & Sat. 7:30 p.m. $10–$88.50.

MAR 24

Black Violin: The Experience Tour

Hear the music of this mystifying duo, who bring a fusion of exquisite classical sounds and exhilarating hip-hop beats. The performance merges centuries of music, creating an immersive sound transcending genre and celebrating ambition. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. 7 p.m. $25.50–$155.50.

Other Events

MAR 9

March Chihuly Night

See 18 of artist Dale Chihuly’s installations

State Regions

Because dates, times and locations are subject to change, please call ahead to confirm all details before traveling. For a more complete listing of events, visit ohiomagazine.com/events.

To submit event information, visit ohiomagazine.com/submit. Events must be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance. Include the date, time, cost, address, phone number, website and brief description of the event. (Events that do not meet our requirements may be deleted.) Print events are published on a space-available basis. Events submitted 8 weeks in advance appear on ohiomagazine.com/events.

Listings with photos are paid for by advertisers. For more information on enhanced listings, email us at adsales@ohiomagazine.com.

in a whole new light against the backdrop of the interior conservatory. Visitors can explore the gardens and plant collections, as well as purchase Chihuly merchandise at the conservatory’s gift shop. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614/715-8000. fpconservatory.org. 7–10 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 13

Mad Hatter Planter Party

Dress the part for this delightful gala where visitors can have tea with the Mad Hatter. Families can learn proper tea etiquette, pot their own plant or paint their own flowerpot. Grove City Visitor Center, 3995 Broadway, Ste. 100, Grove City, 614/539-8747. visitgrovecityoh.com. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Northeast Festivals

MAR 1–30

Ice Wine Trail 2024

Visit up to seven wineries, including Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards and Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, to sample ice wine and delicious appetizers. Grand River Cellars, 5750 S. Madison Rd., Madison, 440/2989838. grandrivercellars.com. Noon–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 9–10

2024 Rocky River Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show

Head to this large annual show featuring artists and crafters selling original handmade items. Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, 440/227-8794. avantgardeshows. com. Sat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults and seniors $3, children free.

MAR 16–17

Railfest Train Show

View several operating model-railroad layouts and displays and meet a large number of modelrailroad dealers. Train lovers of all ages can enjoy historical information, a flea market and a test track. Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland, railfest.org. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Let Your Spirit Roam Free!

Having a hard time deciding between a beach vacation, boating adventure, a cabin nestled in the woods or shopping a charming downtown? You don’t have to choose! We’re home to Salt Fork State Park, Seneca Lake, The Wilds, Deerassic Park Welcome Center and a world away from typical overcrowded vacation destinations.

TOP TEN “Squatchiest” places in the country!

Come see why USA TODAY lists Salt Fork State Park among the “Top 10 Sasquatchiest Places in the Country!”

Order Your FREE Travel Guide at VisitGuernseyCounty.com or call 800-933-5480!

50th Season | The Living Word Outdoor Drama

Ohio’s ONLY Outdoor Passion Play is celebrating its 50th season! Be transported to Old Jerusalem for a dramatic retelling of the later years of Jesus of Nazareth on a 400-ft. panoramic set. Performances every Friday June 14-Sept. 27.

LivingWordDrama.org

Rocky Fork Ranch

Come camping and enjoy the abundance of amenities and activities for everyone. Horseback trail rides, indoor and outdoor pools, paintball course, disc golf, miniature golf and more await your family!

740-498-4134

National Museum of Cambridge Glass

From April through October, visitors flock to marvel at more than 10,000 pieces of glassware made by the Cambridge Glass Company (1902-1958), with an interpretive area that demonstrates how glass was made. Gift shop available.

CambridgeGlassMuseum.org

Seneca Lake Park & Marina

Enjoy camping with waterfront panoramic views of the lake! Speed things up with skiing or tubing, or slow down to enjoy fishing, swimming, or hiking. The marina has boat rentals, fuel, bait, tackle and waterfront dining. mwcd.org

Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival | Aug. 9-11, 2024

For more than 50 years this festival has showcased the finest artisans and craftspeople from across the U.S. with Appalachian Heritage exhibits, craft classes, entertainment and more. Enjoy shopping for one-of-a-kind treasures and gifts.

FREE Admission.

SaltForkFestival.org

Enjoy a full day of experiences that include self-guided living history tours, conversations with costumed interpreters and a hands-on activity center where kids of all ages can try their hand at canal-era crafts. The village is filled with locally owned shops and lively pubs and restaurants, all of which are housed in the restored historic buildings along Whitewoman Street. RoscoeVillage.com1740-622-7644

Celebrate Spring

Museums + Exhibits

THRU MAR 24

RETOLD: African American Art and Folklore

This exhibit features art from the Wesley and Missy Cochran Collection and focuses on four curation themes. More than 40 artists share their stories of joy and struggles in the African American experience. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330/376-9186. akronartmuseum.org. Visit website for times and prices.

THRU APR 14

New Narratives: Contemporary Works on Paper

View contemporary prints and drawings utilizing people, history, events, biographies of the known and unknown alike and various media juxtapositions to layer the past and present. The two featured galleries that make up the exhibition are anchored by large-scale, multipart works. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216/421-7350. clevelandart. org. Visit website for times. Free.

THRU APR 27

Beyond Camelot: The Life and Legacy of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Through intimate letters, awe-inspiring reproduction dresses and vintage ephemera, this exhibition explores Jackie’s life, from her role as a mother to her position as first lady. National First Ladies Library, 331 S. Market Ave., Canton, 330/452-0876. firstladies.org. Tues.–Sat. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.

THRU APR 28

The Girl in the Diary: Searching for Rywka from the Lodz Ghetto

Discover this exhibit from the Galicia Jewish Museum in Krakow, Poland, that centers around a diary found in the ashes of a destroyed crematorium in the liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp. The journal documents the life of Rywka Lipszyc and her time spent in the Lodz Ghetto. View excerpts from her writings as well as commentary from experts. Maltz Museum, 2929 Richmond Rd., Beachwood, 216/593-0575. maltzmuseum. org. Visit website for times and prices.

Music + Theater

MAR 10

Jerry Popiel: The Classic Songs of Folk-Rock

Enjoy a “Live at the Library” performance by this local multi-instrumentalist. In an intimate solo guitar setting, Popiel explores the music of classic singer-songwriters. Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 419/8536016. ormaco.org. 2–3 p.m. Free.

MAR 13

Rachel Brown: Songs of American’s Favorite Female Singers and Songwriters

Hear this South Euclid-based keyboardist in celebration of women’s history month. Presented by the Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach and the Medina County District Library, Brown will perform various songs and stories by great American female artists. Medina County District Library, 210 S. Broadway St., Medina, 419/853-6016. ormaco.org. 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free.

Other Events

MAR 6

Vino Musica at The Cave

Join Gervasi Vineyard for an artful wine-tasting experience that guarantees to be diverse each month. At Vino Musica, guests can enjoy music selections performed by Rolando based on four wine selections. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard.com. 6–7 p.m. $34.

Northwest Festivals

MAR 23

Annual Market Day & Fiber Fair

Stay awhile at this market chock-full of spinning and weaving supplies, yarn, roving, fleeces, exotic fibers, dyes and handcrafted items. Food from the Toledo Chuck Wagon and Detroit Mini Donuts will be provided. Wood County Fairgrounds, 13800 W. Poe Rd., Bowling Green, facebook.com/blackswampspinners. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $1.

Museums + Exhibits

THRU APR 14

The Brilliance of Caravaggio: Four Paintings in Focus Gaze upon four Caravaggio paintings in conversation with works from the museum’s permanent collection. The display marks the first time in over a decade that four pieces by the Italian artist have been on display together in the United States. Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo, 419/255-8000. toledomuseum.org. Wed.–Thurs. & Sun. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. $10.

THRU DEC 31

Chasing Totality: The History and Science of Eclipses

Explore this exhibit that looks at the science and history behind eclipses as well as astronomy’s attempts to understand them. Learn about the solar eclipse that drove Americans across the country to western territories during Rutherford B. Hayes’ presidency. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. Visit website for times and prices.

Music + Theater

MAR 14

Toledo Symphony Concert

Enjoy a spectacular performance in the village’s Founder’s Hall. This event marks the Toledo

Symphony’s 34th year performing at this location. Sauder Village, 22611 St. Rte. 2, Archbold, 800/590-9755. saudervillage.org. 7:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 17

John Mellencamp: Live and In Person 2024

For one night only, see this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee play songs from his latest album, “Orpheus Descending,” as well as standout tracks from the other 24 studio albums he has made. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419/381-8851. stranahantheater. com. 8 p.m. $49.50–$349.

Other Events

ONGOING

Sandusky County Historic Barn Mural Trail

Take a drive through Sandusky County to enjoy the Historic Barn Mural Driving Trail featuring incredible murals painted by Scott Hagen, the “Barn Artist.” Driving maps are available at the Sandusky County Visitors Bureau weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and online. Various locations throughout the county, 712 North St., Fremont, 419/332-4470. sanduskycounty.org. Trail can be driven year-round. Free.

MAR 23

Oak Harbor Easter Egg Hunt

Start at the log cabin to search for Easter eggs, join in on a candy hunt downtown and enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny himself. Adolphus Kraemer Park, 125 N. Church St., Oak Harbor, 419/898-0479. oakharborohio.net. 2 p.m. Free.

Southeast Festivals

MAR 15–16

River City Blues Festival

Jam out at this annual event featuring several American blues, jazz and folk performers, as well as a special free performance by the High Schools That Rock music program. The Lafayette Hotel, 101 Front St., Marietta, bjfm. org. Fri. 5–11:15 p.m., Sat. 12:30–5:30 p.m. & 7:30–11:15 p.m. Weekend pass $100, Sat. night $40, Fri. night & Sat. afternoon $35.

MAR 16

St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Celebration

Celebrate the luck of the Irish with a visit to Portsmouth for the 18th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which features bagpipe players, dancers as well as plenty of candy and potatoes. Downtown Portsmouth, 424 Chillicothe St., Portsmouth, 740/353-1116. facebook. com/7nationscelticclub. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Free.

IF YOU THINK IT LOOKS GOOD IN BLACK & WHITE

You should SEE it in color...

Museums + Exhibits

THRU APR 28

From Struggle to Strength

Through stunning photographs and stories, meet a group of Ohio residents who have found hope and resilience in the face of adversity after being forced to flee their homes. Discover how these individuals endured and found a place to rebuild their lives. Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, 145 E. Main St., Lancaster, 740/681-1423. decartsohio.org. Wed.–Fri. 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. 1–4 p.m. Free.

Music + Theater

MAR 2–3

Statehood Day Celebration

Celebrate Ohio becoming the 17th state of the union in Chillicothe, the Buckeye State’s first capital, with tours of historical sites and special exhibits. Ross County Historical Society, 45 W. Fifth St., Chillicothe, 740/702-7677. visitchillicotheohio.com. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.

MAR 6

An Evening with Lúnasa

Listen to the sounds of this Irish music dream team, made up of a bassist, guitarist, rhythm section, fiddler, flutist and piper. Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 740/753-1924. stuartsoperahouse.org. 7:30 p.m. $23–$33.

MAR 9

Winter Concert Series: Jimmy Mowery

Witness a moving live performance at this historic theater. Jimmy Mowery, a guitarist who appeared on season 16 of “The Voice,” uses music as a way of releasing otherwise bottledup emotion. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe. net 7:30–9 p.m. $10–20.

MAR 17

Texas Guitar Quartet

Hailed as “impeccable in every respect” by Classical Guitar Magazine, the Texas Guitar Quartet has dazzled audiences around the world with daring musical programs, virtuosity and joyful music-making. Secrest Auditorium, 334 Shinnick St., Zanesville, 740/588-0871. zanesvilleconcertassociation.org. 3–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 21

From the Hills and Hollers: October Sky with Dr. Amy Wolfe

Attend this series fostering a deeper connection between Athens and Ohio University through regional films examining life in Appalachia. The

film tells the story of four young men who grew up in coal fields of West Virginia in the late 1950s and witnessed the world-shaking launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite, inspiring them to start building their own rockets. Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., Athens, 740/592-5106. athenacinema. com. 7–9 p.m. Free.

Other Events

MAR 2–10

Hocking Hills Comfort Food Cruise

Cruise through the Hocking Hills and visit 12 local restaurants as they serve up their most comforting specialties. Begin with breakfast and continue into the evening for decadent pastries, grilled wings, homemade soup and hot chili. For more information about the cruise and a list of participating restaurants, visit explorehockinghills.com. $20.

MAR 9–10

Maple Sugaring in the Hills

Take a step back in time to see how maple sugar production has looked over the years. Meet local producers selling their delicious goods. Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center, 19852 St. Rte. 664 S., Logan, 740/385-6841. explorehockinghills.com. Noon–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAR 23

Thought Leaders: A Women’s History Tour

Journey to the past and hear stories of women’s adventures in higher education on a guided tour of Ohio University’s campus and Uptown Athens. Ohio University Heritage College of Os-

Medina County Visitors Guide

visitmedinacounty.com/plan-your-visit/visitors-guide

teopathic Medicine, 191 W. Union St., Athens, 740/593-2500. ohio.edu. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. $10–$60.

Southwest Festivals

MAR 2–3

Old Town Trade Faire

Peek into the past at this indoor living-history show. Talk to dealers and demonstrators dressed in pre-1890s-style clothing and see how our forefathers lived. Greene County Expo Center Assembly Hall, 120 Fairground Rd., Xenia, 937/857-9745. Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Adults $4, children under 12 free.

MAR 7–9

Cincinnati International Wine Festival

Indulge in a five-course meal paired with beautiful wines, and enjoy a tasting event that includes sampling, a keepsake glass, food and access to industry representatives and experts. Duke Energy Convention Center, 525 Elm St., Cincinnati, 513/241-3434. winefestival.com. Visit website for times and prices.

MAR 21–23

Industrial Strength Bluegrass Festival

Hosted by Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, this lively event features the best in bluegrass and American roots music. Hear nationally known acoustic music and a sampling of upand-coming bands in the genre. Roberts Cen-

tre, 123 Gano Rd., Wilmington, 937/372-5804. somusicfest.com. Thurs. 6 p.m., Fri.–Sat. Noon. Visit website for prices.

Museums + Exhibits

THRU MAY 12

Accessible Expressions Ohio

In partnership with Art Possible Ohio, this juried statewide exhibition features work from Ohio artists of all ages with disabilities. The exhibition highlights panelists’ favorite pieces in three categories: Youth, Emerging and Professional. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, 513/721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum. org. Tues.–Wed., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.

THRU MAY 12

The Artistic Life of Aka Pereyma

View this artist’s unconventional and visionary work, which weaves folk art traditions with modern artistic styles, expressing strong ties to Pereyma’s Ukrainian culture. The works span her career from the early 1960s to the 21st century. Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N., Dayton, 937/223-4278. daytonartinstitute.org. Visit website for times and prices.

THRU MAY 19

African Modernism in America

See nearly 80 dynamic and vivid works of art created in Africa during the 1950s and ’60s. The exhibit expresses relationships formed between African artists and American patrons, cultural organizations and more amid interlocking his-

tories of civil rights, decolonization and the Cold War. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, 513/241-0343. taftmuseum.org. Wed.–Mon. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $12, seniors $10, members, military and children under 18 free.

THRU MAY 19

A Breath of Fresh Air: Nature Inspires Rarely Seen Works from the Taft Collection Look at artworks that invite contemplation of the natural world due to their colorful petals, rippling waters and cloudy skies. The immersive exhibit helps viewers swim alongside ducks or stroll through a pocket-sized garden. Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Cincinnati, 513/241-0343. taftmuseum.org. Wed.–Mon. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $12, seniors $10, members, military and children under 18 free.

THRU MAY 26

Whitfield Lovell: Passages

Contemplate the ordinary lives and extraordinary journeys of the African American experience with more than 80 multisensory installations, conté crayon drawings and assemblages. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Dr., Cincinnati, 513/721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum. org. Tues.–Wed., Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Music + Theater

MAR 10

Cecilia: The Music of Paul Simon Part of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra’s Big Band series, saxophonist and

On-Roading

Wakeboarding

Camping

Choose your own adventure

Paddling

Cycling

Drag Racing

Shopping

Horseback Riding

Mountain Biking

Hunting

Surrounded by pristine forests, lakes and rivers, crisscrossed by miles of trails at the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, London is where adventure begins. Ride some wild Class IV white water one day and float serenely down a scenic flat-water river on a kayak the next. Go skiing on beautiful, cliff-lined Laurel River Lake or scuba diving in its clear, deep water. And with year-round fishing, boating and paddling, it’s an angler’s and recreational water lover’s paradise. VisitLondonKY.com

Adventure’s Beginning!

flutist Steve Hoskins joins the Phil DeGreg Trio to bring Paul Simon’s melodies to life in a jazz setting. Listen to new interpretations of some of the singer-songwriter’s most popular hits such as “America,” “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “Still Crazy After All These Years” and “Cecilia.” First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton St., Cincinnati, cincinnatijazz.org. 2–4:30 p.m. Adults $20, children $10.

MAR 10

Madcap Puppets: The Wonderful World of Oz

Delight in this refreshingly funny take on a classic family-friendly story, showcasing Dorothy’s adventure down the yellow brick road and the cast of characters she encounters such as the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 2728 Short Vine St., Cincinnati, 513/497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org. 11 a.m. $10.

MAR 16

The Drowsy Lads

Enjoy the sounds of this critically acclaimed Irish American folk powerhouse. The band features five members, including Ohio brothers John and Daniel McKewen, who act as multiinstrumentalists, playing a button accordion, tenor banjo and a bouzouki, among other instruments. The Murphy Theatre, 50 W. Main St., Wilmington, 937/382-3643. themurphytheatre. org. 7:30 p.m. $25.

Other Events

MAR 31

41st Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Join in on this tradition held rain, snow or shine and packed with more than 10,000 eggs. The event is made up of three separate hunts for children of different ages and includes an opportunity for photos with the Young’s Jersey mascot, Barnabe. Young’s Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd., Yellow Springs, 937/3250629. youngsdairy.com. 2 p.m. Free.

APRIL

Central Festivals

APR 11–14

Equine Affaire

Head to North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering. Enjoy a weekend of celebration, highlighting 30 years of all things horse. Ohio Expo Center, 717 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, 740/845-0085. equineaffaire. com. Tues.–Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $16, children $10, children 6 and under free.

APR 20–21

Earth Day Weekend

Join the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium for a roaring good time at this eco-celebration like no other. The two-day event features live entertainment, activity booths hosted by local environmentally focused organizations and Character Ambas-

sador meet and greets, among other opportunities. Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Rd., Powell, 614/645-3400. columbuszoo.org. Visit website for times and prices.

APR 27

Earth Day Columbus

Make your way to the largest volunteer-driven service event for Earth Day in the country, with cleanups, beautification, tree plantings and much more happening throughout the month. The hard work culminates in an eco-friendly celebration. Genoa Park, 303 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/645-3800. earthdaycolumbus. org. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Free.

APR 27–28

Ashville Viking Festival

Embrace your inner Viking at this annual celebration featuring a craft market, three stages of entertainment, historic encampments and youth activities. Plus, enjoy plenty of opportunities for feasting. Make sure to visit Heimdall’s Horn a’ Plenty and Thor’s Feast Hall. Ashville Community Park, 165 Walnut St., Ashville, ashvilleoh vikingfestival.com. Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAY 1–4

COSI Science Festival

Discover Ohio’s largest STEAM event, with several community gatherings, like the Bioblitz Citizen Science Series, happening during the first three days. The final day brings COSI’s Big Science Celebration with over 100 exhibitor stations from STEAM professionals, researchers and experts. COSI, 333 W. Broad St., Columbus, 614/228-2674. cosi.org. Visit website for times and prices.

Music + Theater

APR 5

Open Mic with Austin Finley

Enjoy live tunes from this Ohio singer-songwriter playing original music and covers. Discover some new local favorites during the open-mic portion and make sure to grab some craft cider. Seek-No-Further Cidery, 126 E. Elm St., Granville, seeknofurthercider.com. 6:30–9 p.m. Free.

APR 5–6

Columbus Symphony: Beethoven, Mozart & Haydn

Join the Columbus Symphony for performances of Haydn’s Symphony No. 82 and Mozart’s Symphony No. 31, both of which share a connection to Paris. Solo pianist Sara Davis Buechner will be performing Beethoven’s first piano concerto. Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony.com. Fri. 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 p.m. $10–$88.50.

APR 9–14

Clue

Was it Colonel Mustard in the study with the knife? See the ultimate whodunit based on the cult 1985 movie and classic Hasbro board game that puts audience members on the edge of their seats. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. capa.com. Tues.–

Thurs. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 1 & 6:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.

APR 10

Home Free Crazy(er) Life Tour

Head to this historic theater for a performance by this all-vocal country group. The quintet has garnered massive success in the music scene and across social media by performing upbeat, Nashville-dipped pop hits in incredible a cappella harmony. Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/345-5483. midlandtheatre. org. 7 p.m. $39–$89.

APR 18

Craig Cardiff

Make plans to check out a performance by this prolific songwriter, whose voice has been described as “warm, scratched, sad and sleepy.” Cardiff’s music exposes the human condition and puts a magnifying glass over our more shameful moments. Midland Theatre, 36 N. Park Place, Newark, 740/345-5483. midlandtheatre. org. 7 p.m. $35.

APR 19–20

Columbus Symphony: Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev

Hear Columbus Symphony’s concertmaster

Joanna Frankel as she performs Prokofiev’s hauntingly beautiful second violin concerto. Also on the program are Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 that deals with themes of fate and Caroline Shaw’s “Entr’acte.” Ohio Theatre, 55 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. columbussymphony. com. Fri. 10 a.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 p.m. $10–$88.50.

APR 26–28

Romeo & Juliet

Witness these Shakespearean star-crossed lovers communicate through dances accompanied by daring sword fights, ballroom grandeur and romance. The performance features Rossen Milanov conducting the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., Columbus, 614/469-0939. balletmet.org. Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Visit website for prices.

MAY 4

The Central Ohio Symphony May Concert “Francesca da Rimini” is Tchaikovsky’s dramatic telling of the life that inspired the Divine Comedy. The Rachmaninoff is considered one

of the most difficult piano concertos. OWU Gray Chapel, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware, 740/3621799. centralohiosymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Other Events

APR 6

April Chihuly Night

See 18 of artist Dale Chihuly’s installations in a whole new light against the backdrop of the interior conservatory. Visitors can explore the gardens and plant collections, as well as purchase Chihuly merchandise at the gift shop. Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus, 614/715-8000. fpconservatory.org. 7–10 p.m. Visit website for prices.

APR 13

Harding Presidential Annual Waffle Breakfast

Experience former first lady Florence Harding’s waffle recipe with a breakfast prepared by chef Jon Andersen. Top your waffles with blueberries, strawberries and maple syrup, or try President Harding’s favorite topping of chipped beef and gravy. Harding Presidential Library and Museum, 355 E. Church St., Marion, 800/600-6894. hardingpresidentialsites.org.

7:30–11 a.m. $7–$10.

APR 20

Flowers, Fashion and Fun Luncheon and Fashion Show

Enjoy this annual spring gathering put together by the Assistance League of Metro Columbus. Visitors can enjoy a cash bar, silent auction, 50/50 raffle, fashions by local boutiques and a notable moderator. Makoy Center, 5462 Center St., Hilliard, 614/580-4255. alcolumbus.org. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. $55.

Northeast Festivals

APR 3–13

Cleveland International Film Fest

Embrace your inner cinephile at this annual event founded in 1977, intended to educate, entertain and celebrate an inclusive human experience through film. Be one of 100,000 film enthusiasts joining screenings across 10 days. Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 877/304-3456. clevelandfilm.org. Visit website for times and prices.

APR 4–6

Ohio PinBrew Fest

Pinball enthusiasts, unite at this event featuring craft beer, arcade games, food and, of

course, lots and lots of pinball. If you’re feeling brave, make sure to sign up for a tournament in advance. Metroplex Expo, 1620 Motor Inn Dr., Girard, 419/989-3790. pinbrewfest.com. Visit website for times. Three-day pass $60, Fri. & Sat. $25, Thurs. $20, children 11 and under free.

APR 6–8

Total Eclipse Festival 2024

Join the science center, as well as the NASA Glenn Research Center and the Cleveland Orchestra, for this three-day celestial celebration. The weekend features hands-on science activities, a free community concert, food, entertainment and free eclipse-viewing glasses. Chat with NASA experts about their studies of the sun, then enjoy watching the eclipse on April 8. Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, 216/694-2000. greatscience. com.10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free.

APR 20

SpringFest 2024

Stop by the park to celebrate Earth Day, Arbor Day and the beginning of spring. Shop from craft and food vendors and enjoy a plant swap, kids activities and a community clean up. Longwood Park, 1566 E. Aurora Rd., Macedonia, 330/468-8300. macrec.com. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Visit website for prices.

APR 25–28

Geauga County Maple Festival

Since 1926, this festival has drawn maple syrup lovers to Geauga County to enjoy sweet treats and learn about the history of maple syrup production in the region. The event is jam-packed with a craft show, parade, stir booth and live entertainment. Make sure to sample delicious local syrup while you’re there. Chardon Square, Main E. Park, Chardon, 440/332-7055. maplefestival. com. Visit website for times and prices.

APR 27

Medina Beer Fest

The 11th Annual Medina Beer Fest features a selection of over 70 craft beers from more than 25 regional breweries as well as local food vendors, a photo booth, live music and raffles. Medina County Fairgrounds Community Center. 735 Lafayette Rd., Medina, 330/722-6186. mainstreet medina.com. 5:30–10:30 p.m. $15–$100.

Museums + Exhibits

THRU JUL 28

A Material World: Janice Jakielski’s Impossible Objects

This insightful exhibition highlights the casting and manipulation of ultra-thin porcelain sheets into beautiful objects. The meticulous work coaxes audiences to draw near to each piece,

closing the gap between viewer and form. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, 330/453-7666. cantonart.org. Visit website for times and prices.

THRU JUL 28

Ginny Ruffner: Reforestation of the Imagination

Head to this traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which features one artist’s work combining traditional sculpture and augmented reality technology. Canton Museum of Art, 1001 Market Ave. N., Canton, 330/453-7666. cantonart.org. Visit website for times and prices.

THRU OCT 12

Korean Couture: Generations in Revolution

Look through approximately 30 works that share a compelling story about the history and legacy of Korean fashion. Pieces span excavated 17th-century aristocratic garments to contemporary Korean designs. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216/421-7350. clevelandart.org. Tues., Thurs., Sat. & Sun. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Weds. & Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Free.

Music + Theater

APR 4

The Hoppers in Concert

Explore the timeless harmonies and unmatched musical excellence showcased by The Hoppers at this distinctive concert event presented by Hartville Kitchen. Enhance the overall experience further with a delicious homestyle meal and pie. Hartville Kitchen Restaurant & Bakery, 1015 Edison St. NW, Hartville, 330/877-9353. hartvillekitchen.com. 7 p.m. $50–$82.50.

APR 7

Erin Nicole Neal

Enjoy the music of this blues and jazz singer at this Live at the Library concert put on by Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach and the Wadsworth Public Library. Erin Nicole Neal will take the audience back to the height of the Vietnam War, encouraging them to perform numerous protest songs and discuss their inspirations. Wadsworth Public Library, 132 Broad St., Wadsworth, 419/853-6016. ormaco.org. 2 p.m. Free.

APR 21

World Tour of Music: Fire & Grace

Listen to this collaboration between guitarist William Coulter and violinist Edwin Huizinga as they explore the musical elements of classical, folk and contemporary traditions from around the world, played with a sense of discovery and commitment to the elements of passion and virtuosity found in these traditions. Akron-Summit

Timeless Charm with a Vibrant Spirit

Medina County located in Northeast Ohio is packed with postcard-perfect communities where everyone feels like they are home. Each town is filled with one-of-a-kind attractions, timeless shopping experiences, and adventures for both the indoor and outdoor enthusiasts. Top this off with the world’s melting pot of flavors, from our variety of tantalizing dining options to our array of spirits, you will find yourself transported every meal!

What is stopping you from booking your next trip to Medina County?

County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron, 419/853-6016. ormaco.org. 2–4 p.m. Free.

APR 27

At Last: An Evening with Etta James Experience this musical performance that brings audiences into the tumultuous life story of legendary, award-winning singer Etta James through the songs she made iconic. Renaissance Theatre, 138 Park Ave. W., Mansfield, 419/522-2726. rentickets.org. 7:30 p.m. $15–$39.

Other Events

APR 5–7

Total Eclipse Wine Trail in the Grand River Valley

Celebrate the total solar eclipse in the Grand River Valley, which will be a totality viewing area. Purchase a package including a bound passport booklet, one official Total Eclipse Wine Trail shirt and $5 off the price of one trail package at each location with your passport. Enjoy eclipsethemed appetizers paired with wine samples at 14 wineries, many of which are releasing new, limited-edition wines for the eclipse. Debonné Vineyards, 7840 Doty Rd., Madison, 440/4663485. debonne.com. Noon–5 p.m. $10.

APR 8

White Timbers Winery Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

White Timbers Winery is in the direct path of totality for this year’s solar eclipse happening on April 8. Visit this scenic venue to enjoy and evening of wine and food and to get an incredible view of this rare natural occurrence. White Timbers Winery, 10036 Rittman Rd., Wadsworth, 330/331-7383. thewhitetimbers.com. Noon–5 p.m. $10.

APR 15–20

Customer Appreciation Days

Head to Keim Home Center and enjoy savings, woodworking demos, giveaways, refreshments and more all week long. Don’t miss the free pancake and sausage breakfasts running Thursday through Saturday. Keim Home Center, 4465 St. Rte. 557, Millersburg, 330/893-2251. keimlumber.com. Mon. 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Tues.–Fri. 7 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.–noon. Free.

APR 17

Vino Versity at The Cave

For those looking to take their wine education to the next level, Vino Versity at The Cave will provide guests with a hands-on, interactive and educational experience utilizing Gervasi’s diverse wine portfolio. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, 330/497-1000. gervasivineyard.com. 6–7 p.m. $29.

APR 26–27

Cupcake Tour

This spring celebration takes guests on a delicious tour through Wayne County, stopping at eight local businesses and collecting cupcakes along the way. Lehman’s, 4779 Kidron Rd., Kidron, 800/438-5346. lehmans.com/events. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $17.

APR 26–28

Mohican Wildlife Weekend

Observe the night sky and learn about a variety of nocturnal animals through programs and activities at this three-day, family-friendly event. This year’s theme is Wild Nights. Various locations in Richland and Ashland counties, 800/642-8282. mohicanwildlifeweekend.com. Visit website for times and prices.

Northwest Festivals

APR 11–14

Holy Toledo Polka Days

Dance the night away at this popular gathering featuring some of the top polka bands in the industry. The event includes the Opening Night Polka Party, the Hot American Polka Party

and Holy Toledo Sunday Dance. Holiday Inn & Suites Ballroom, 27355 Carronade Dr., Perrysburg, 419/351-5031. holytoledopolkadays.com. Visit website for times and prices.

Music + Theater

APR 5

Kansas: Another Fork in the Road 50th Anniversary Tour

Hear songs spanning the half-century career of the rock band Kansas. The act is known for hits such as “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Dust In the Wind,” “Point of No Return” and more. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419/381-8851. stranahantheater.com. Visit website for times. $49–$304.

APR 5–7

Toledo Ballet: Sleeping Beauty

Witness the story of Princess Aurora told through dance. Cursed the day she was born, Aurora pricks her finger on her 16th birthday and falls into a deep sleep. With the help of the Lilac Fairy, Prince Desire awakens her with a kiss in order to break the spell. Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St., Toledo, 419/242-2787. valentinetheatre. com. Visit website for times and prices.

APR 10–20

Frozen

Watch this unforgettable musical experience full of special effects, stunning sets and costumes, as well as powerhouse performances based on the award-winning Disney film. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419/381-8851. stranahantheater.com. Visit website for times. $29–$149.

Other Events

APR 5

Spiegel Glow

Prepare for the eclipse with a night of spaceand eclipse-themed activities. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and participate in a hydro-dipping activity with take-home art opportunities. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. 7–9 p.m. Visit website for prices.

APR 6–8

Great North American Eclipse

Are you ready to experience this rare natural phenomenon? Enjoy extended museum hours, guided museum tours, space-themed kids activities, food, drink and, of course, a viewing of solar eclipse totality on April 8. Armstrong Air & Space Museum, 500 Apollo Dr., Wapakoneta, 419/738-8811. armstrongmuseum.org. Sat. 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Mon. 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Visit website for prices.

APR 8

Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Celebrate the eclipse at this historic drive-in theater. Claim a space for an unobstructed view of the sky. Plus, tailgate with on-site food and stay for a free fan-favorite, classic movie showing. Parkside Drive-In, 4500 Navarre Ave., Oregon, 419/635-7575. parksidedrive-in.com. 8 a.m.–8 p.m. $100 per car.

APR 26

Arbor Day Sunrise Tree Tour

Enjoy an early morning stroll while learning how wassail was used to “wake up” apple trees and scare away bad spirits in the Victorian era. Afterward, enjoy cider drinks and breakfast sweets on the veranda. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont, 419/332-2081. rbhayes.org. 7:30 p.m. Non-members $12, members $10.

Southeast

Music + Theater

APR 5

Jake Xerxes Fussell & Joan Shelley

Hear the music of two uniquely Southern songwriters. Shelley hails from Louisville, Kentucky, and Fussell is based in Durham, North Carolina. Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, Nelsonville, 740/753-1924. stuartsoperahouse.org. 8 p.m. $25–$35.

APR 5

Kathleen Madigan: The Potluck Party

Throughout a 34-year career, comedian Kathleen Madigan has risen from performing in comedy clubs to performing in marquee theaters with sold-out shows. She has garnered dozens of appearances on late-night talk shows and comedy specials airing on Amazon, Netflix, Comedy Central and HBO. Now, Madigan takes the Peoples Bank Theatre stage to bring audiences a night of laughter and enjoyment. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/760-8592. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 8–10 p.m. $36–$66.

APR 12

Kings of Queen

Rock out to the energy, look and feel of Queen with this cover band, whose performances have led to them being considered one of the nation’s top-rated Queen tribute bands. The fierce foursome is fronted by Emo Alaeddin replicating the signature sound of Freddie Mercury. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/760-8592. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 8–10 p.m. $33–$83.

APR 13

McGuffey Lane

Enjoy tunes from this country rock band that hails from central Ohio. The band was founded in 1972 and is still going strong with three original members: Steve George Reis, Terry Efaw and John Schwab. Majestic Theatre, 45 E. Second St., Chillicothe, 740/772-2041. majesticchillicothe.net 7:30–9:30 p.m. $20–$25.

APR 16

Whose Live Anyway?

Laugh along with the current cast members of the hit television series, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” on their new, national improv tour. The event is 90 minutes of comedy and song based solely on audience suggestions. Make sure to bring your suggestions as you might be invited to join the cast onstage. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/760-8592. peoplesbanktheatre.com. 8 p.m. $47–$77.

APR 19

Kansas: Another Fork in the Road 50th Anniversary Tour

With a legendary career spanning five decades, Kansas has firmly established itself as one of America’s iconic classic rock bands. This garage band from Topeka released its debut album in 1974 after being discovered by Wally Gold, who worked for Don Kirshner, and have gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide. Peoples Bank Theatre, 222 Putnam St., Marietta, 740/371-5152. peoplesbank theatre.com. 8–10 p.m. $68–$188.

APR 20

The Met: Live in HD: Puccini’s La Rondine Watch this bittersweet love story between Magda, a French courtesan, and Ruggero, an idealistic young man offering her an alternative to her life of excess. The story transports audiences from the heart of Parisian nightlife to a vision of the French Riviera. Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., Athens, 740/592-5106. athenacinema. com. 12:55 p.m. $8–$20.

MAY 14

Chamber Singers Spring Choral Concert

Listen to this musical showcase featuring the Zanesville Civic Chorus Chamber Singers. Ann Lillie Briggs will be acting as the Chamber Singers music director, closing out the 114th season of free community music events. Central Trinity United Methodist Church, 62 S. Seventh St., Zanesville, 740/453-1210. centraltrinityumc. com. Visit website for times. Free.

Other Events

APR 5

Downtown Lancaster’s Chocolate Walk Indulge in chocolate treats from local businesses. Plus, take advantage of Lancaster’s designated outdoor refreshment area. Downtown Lancaster, 128 N. Broad St., Lancaster, 740/277-6607. destinationdowntownlancaster. com. 4–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Southwest

Festivals

APR 19–21

Sugar Maple Festival

Have a sweet time at this event that features a beer garden, pancake breakfast, dog show, 5K race and parade. Downtown Bellbrook, N. Main St., Bellbrook, sugarmaplefestival.com. Fri. 5–10 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.

APR 21

ARTeBRATION

This family-friendly festival celebrates the vibrant world of creativity. Explore art galleries, studios, shops and boutiques showcasing a diverse array of works from talented local artists, from contemporary sculptures to one-of-a-kind paintings. Peruse the outdoor market while listening to live music, or enjoy the live art demonstrations happening around town. Front Street, 1001 E. Second St., Dayton, 937/331-9061. frontstreet.art. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free.

APR 27

Greater Cincinnati Earth Day Celebration

With over 100 exhibitors, local music, beer and vegetarian food options, this festival is one of the biggest and best environmental education events in the region. People of all ages are invited to take part in Earth Day activities and presentations promoting environmental education. Summit Park, 4335 Glendale Milford Rd., Blue Ash, 513/260-9025. cincinnatiearthday. org. Noon–5 p.m. Free.

APR 27–28

Asian Food Fest

Head to downtown Cincinnati for a sampling of the Queen City’s best Asian and Asian-inspired cuisines. Enjoy crafts, beer and entertainment while you’re there. Court Street Plaza, E. Court St., Cincinnati, asianfoodfest.org. Sat. 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Visit website for prices.

Music + Theater

APR 18

The Look of Love: Mandy Gaines Sings

Burt Bacharach

The Phil DeGreg Trio is joined by fan-favorite vocalist Mandy Gaines to pay tribute to the musical genius of Burt Bacharach. This series wraps by putting its own touch on classics such as “A House is Not a Home,” “Close to You” and “The Look of Love.” The Redmoor, 3187 Linwood Ave., Cincinnati, cincinnatijazz.org. 7–9:30 p.m. Adults $25, children $10.

APR 20

Raul Midón

Relax with the music of the singer, songwriter, guitarist and engineer who became blind as an infant after spending time in an incubator without adequate eye protection. Music has been integral to the artist’s life since his father introduced him to the drum at age four. Holland Theatre, 127 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, 937/5929002. theholland.org. 7:30 p.m. $29–$39.

APR 28

April in Paris featuring Valérie Agulhon Graschaire

French vocalist Valérie Agulhon Graschaire brings some pieces from home to perform alongside American classics with the Phil DeGreg Trio. This series finishes strong with a lively, engaging and interactive vocal performance by Graschaire, who sings with a precise and swinging ease. First Unitarian Church, 536 Linton St., Cincinnati, cincinnatijazz.org. 2–4:30 p.m. Adults $20, children $10.

Other Events

APR 19–21

Vintage Market Days of Dayton-Cincinnati

Shop for treasures at this upscale vintage market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, home decor, furniture and more. This three-day event is held multiple times each year in different communities across the country, providing a unique opportunity for both shoppers and vendors. Greene County Fairgrounds, 120 Fairground Rd., Xenia, vintagemarketdays.com. Visit website for times and prices.

FARM & TABLE

Mom Knows Best

Chef Avishar Barua named Joya’s in Worthington after his mother and borrowed plenty of inspiration from her when crafting his menu.

Before he opened Joya’s in the summer of 2022, chef Avishar Barua was well-known to central Ohio diners through notable eateries like Veritas and Service Bar. But he was introduced to the rest of the country with his appearance on season 18 of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” where he wowed the judges with dishes like his creative interpretations of a buckeye dessert.

Following his stint on “Top Chef,” he had the momentum to open his own Columbus restaurants, starting with Joya’s in late 2022 and Agni, a live-fire, tasting-menu spot in early 2023. Since its opening, Joya’s has been an immediate hit. Barua and his team went back and forth on a name until the chef decided to name it for his mother, Joya. “I didn’t tell her about the name until we reviewed the logo,” Barua says. “Now we ask, ‘What would Joya do?’ That’s our model now. We didn’t have to write a mission statement.”»

Flavor Fusion: You think the classic buckeye candy can’t be improved? You haven’t tried the stuffed versions from Columbus’ The Buckeye Lady.

Noble Beast Brewing Co.: This spot serves up award-winning beers and great food in a welcoming former steel warehouse on the eastern edge of downtown Cleveland.

Joya’s took over a former bakery in charming Old Worthington, making the most of the narrow storefront by adding a long counter and building out a back kitchen. Barua credits his mother’s cooking, which he describes as “Bengali American,” as helping build his palate. She often cooked large meals for guests and friends.

“As I got older, I’d sometimes bring in my mom’s food [to the restaurants], and people would say, ‘Why don’t you make that?’ ” Barua says.

When Joya’s opened, the restaurant’s namesake showed up every Saturday, checking on customers and serving tea to people in line. Many of the drinks on the coffee menu, including the latte and chai, all use her recipes and bear her name.

First-timers should try the Joya’s Breakfast Sandwich. It’s one of the first dishes Barua designed for the cafe. He took inspiration from his time cooking at the renowned wd~50 in New York City, when he used to snag bodega breakfast sandwiches to start the day. Like everything at Joya’s, the breakfast sandwich is thoughtfully composed and loaded with flavor. It layers soft and cheesy scrambled eggs, two types of bacon, a special sauce and a creamy herb salsa on a soft potato pav, a type of Indian roll.

“It really has everything, and it looks small but it’s three eggs,” Barua says. “I can only eat half.”

Another must-try is the Kati Roll, a long, crispy paratha flatbread brimming with flavorful components: tender lamb kebab, egg, pickled red onion, maple chaat yogurt, a house-made apple chutney and herb salsa. As if the dish didn’t stand out enough on its own, Barua appeared on “Beat Bobby Flay” in 2023 and bested the host with the Kati Roll.

Joya’s is open for breakfast and lunch, and along with the Breakfast Sandwich and Kati Roll, diners will find a full coffee bar, baked goods, fried rice, a burger, a chicken sandwich and one more Barua signature: the Taco Bell-inspired Cheesy Double Crunch. — Nicholas Dekker

657 High St., Worthington 43085, 614/468-1232, eatatjoyas.com

FLAVOR FUSION

You love buckeye candies. What if we told you they get better?

Some people think you can’t improve on the peanut-butter-and-chocolate mix of Ohio’s buckeye candy. We’re guessing they haven’t delved into the 75-plus flavors of stuffed buckeyes Alicia Hindman sells online and at her shop in Columbus.

“No one has really played around with the classic buckeye before and taken it further,” says Hindman, better known as The Buckeye Lady.

Working as a school counselor during the pandemic, Hindman donated proceeds from buckeyes she made and sold to help those in the service industry. When people wanted to keep buying the candies, she wondered how to make buckeyes a full-time business.

The answer was stuffing them. Her first version featured M&Ms and is one of her bestsellers as well as a gateway for those reluctant to dig into exotic flavors like honey lavender or carrot cake. Hindman offers 13 year-round varieties and dozens of seasonal flavors, and yes, they all have a peanut-butter-and-chocolate base. (There is also a charitable component supporting dog rescues.)

“There are some people who might argue it’s not a buckeye if it has extra ingredients in it,” she says. “We’re just making it better.” thebuckeyelady.com

— Jim Vickers

Joya’s serves breakfast and lunch offerings shaped by meals that Avishar Barua’s mother would make for guests as well as eats that have stuck with the chef over the years.

JOYA’S: COURTESY OF JOYA’S; BUCKEYES: TYLER MILLS WITH THE PLATED CREATIVE

Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland

This spot serves up awardwinning beers and great food in a welcoming former steel warehouse on the eastern edge of downtown.

The concrete and brick building Noble Beast Brewing Co. calls home on the east side of Cleveland’s downtown started as a steel warehouse well over a century ago. If you’ve never visited the brewery’s taproom, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s the typical industrial-chic space with few comforts. But you’d be mistaken.

Noble Beast has done the work to make the place feel intimate and alive with a blend of natural and soft electric lighting, hanging plants and distinct seating areas allowing for private conversations.

“This place was a total disaster when we got it,” says co-founder and head brewer Shaun Yasaki, explaining that the building had suffered a fire several years prior. They sandblasted the walls down to the original brick, ground down the concrete floors to a gloss and added windows and a skylight. A forest of greenery surrounds the latter.

“Tending them is a weekly project on an extension ladder for me,” he quips.

Yasaki credits Noble Beast’s location for

part of its appeal as a destination. While it’s located downtown and is walkable from the major sports arenas, it also has ample nearby parking and easy access from the highway.

Noble Beast has made a name for itself on the backs of traditional European lager styles and modern IPAs, among other specialties. Yasaki has won many awards for his beers, including multiple Great American Beer Festival medals for Murder Ballads Baltic Porter and Evil Motives IPA. Even the brewery’s name is intended to be nod to both historical traditions and the rule-breaking spirit of American craft beer. The brewhouse is fully visible to visitors, and Yasaki designed it to be able to do laborious decoction mashes, a time-consuming brewing technique traditional to many classic European lager styles.

Cleveland is awash in good beer, but Noble Beast also distinguishes itself with an excellent food program run by chef James Redford. The kitchen offers upscale, approachable bar food, and all ingredients are sourced locally from small farms, with all baked goods coming from local bakeries.

“Our veggie sandwich is one of the few things that has never left the menu,” Yasaki says. “It has a bit of a cult following. Our food menu punches way above what people expect.”

—

David Nilsen

1470 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland 44114, 216/417-8588, noblebeastbeer.com

Sauder Village has it all. from lively history to unique shopping. dining and lodging to engaging events. Historical Village opens for the season May 1. Visit our website at sauderv illage.org for all our rates. dates and hours.

Make memories to Last a Lifetime at Sauder Village.

LIVEWell

Beyond Labels

Teaching your child about neurodiversity encourages acceptance and educates them about the different ways humans experience the world.

He winces at a crackling noise from the classroom speaker, clapping his hands over his ears. She always takes laps during math. We’re all different, and teaching children about neurodiversity helps them understand that we don’t all relate to the world in the same way.

“The idea of neurodiversity is to say, ‘We are all humans, and there is space for all of us,’ ” explains Dr. Elizabeth Diekroger, who specializes in developmental-behavioral pediatrics at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.

Often, the first place a child encounters neurodiversity is among their peers at school, so Diekroger shares advice for how parents can encourage their kids to be inclusive. —

Kristen Hampshire

Model Acceptance. “The most important thing for parents to do is lead by example,” Diekroger says. “If you are telling your child to be kind and you are not doing the same

when you talk to your own friends, they pick up on that.”

Set the Tone. “Be careful with your tone when you say, ‘different,’ ” Diekroger says. Don’t be afraid to be open either. “If you shy away from talking about it, even if you are not labeling, you make a difference seem like a problem or secret you can’t talk about.”

Be Curious, Not Critical. If your child remarks on another’s behavior, ask a question like “I wonder why he reacted that way?” Then steer your child into sharing their perspective.

Don’t Give Up. If your child invites a neurodiverse friend to play and doesn’t get the expected reaction, advise them to try again, Diekroger encourages. “Explain, ‘Maybe there will be days when he is interested in playing and days when he is not, and that’s okay,’ ” she says.

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Fuel Better

If you’re missing out on these six essential nutrients, fill your plate with readily available foods and skip the supplements.

Looking for a way to improve sleep, boost immunity and sharpen your focus? There’s a supplement for that, but a colorful, balanced plate works harder for your health, and you don’t have to stock up on fancy foods that you’d never find in regular grocery store aisles.

“A majority of our health issues would be significantly improved with better nutrition,” says Margaret Tonkovich, a certified nurse practitioner at OhioHealth Physician Group in Athens. “A lot of people want to take a pill or try various herbal products, but if we eat right, we can get the vitamins and nutrients we need that way.”

Here are six essentials your diet is likely lacking. — Kristen Hampshire

Calcium: Swap out soda for milk to help regulate blood pressure and maintain bone health. Adults should aim for three daily servings and children up to four. After all, bone growth tapers off around age 40 Tonkovich says. Not into dairy? Reach for almonds, salmon, canned sardines, seeds, beans, lentils, leafy greens and tofu. Tonkovich doesn’t discourage supplements, but she warns that they can create deposits in coronary arteries.

many food products like cereals, and natu rally available in leafy greens, beans, whole grains and eggs.

Iron looked when symptoms like fatigue and headache arise, but there are many reasons why people develop anemia, from blood loss to nutrient-absorption issues, Tonkov ich explains. “Focus on high-iron foods like lean meat, nuts, eggs and green leafy vegeta bles,” she advises. “Be sure to couple those with foods containing vitamin C to increase absorption.”

Magnesium: plaints of muscle cramps, and low magne sium levels are often responsible. “Magne sium can also help with soreness. It helps regulate blood sugar and may improve sleep,” she says, pointing to food sources such as nuts, spinach, avocado, black beans, bananas, grains and seeds.

Vitamin B12: and neuropathies like tingling fingers are some signs your body is low on B12, which plays a vital role in the function of the cen tral nervous system. It’s a common defi ciency, especially in vegetarians and those with gastrointestinal absorbtion issues. Fish, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy are rich in vitamin B12, as are fortified cereals.

Start your search at ohiomagazine.com/events.

Folate: Also known as vitamin B9, folate helps form the RNA and DNA in cells. It’s most important for pregnant women, who need it to prevent neural tube birth defects in the brain and spine. Folic acid is added to

Vitamin D: Many patients screen low on vitamin D since it primarily comes from sunlight, and we don’t get enough from sun alone. “We also know that low D levels are associated with anxiety and depression, and it’s good for our immune systems,” she says. While vitamin D is not found in many food sources, eggs are a win, along with salmon and oily fishes like mackerel, red meat and fortified cereals.

Eat. Sip. Shop.

Celebrating Seasonal Flavors, Inspired by our Farm

Ørchard is the perfect gathering spot for both locals and visitors alike, featuring a steak and seafood restaurant, farm stand café, premium spirits chicken coop bar, private event space, and an upscale farm market with local seasonal produce, bakery, homewares, and kitchen goods, all nestled within 24 lush acres of fruit orchards, vineyards, gardens, and beehives. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 days a week.

Always in Season? IT’S A SHORE THING

You received our 2024 Play + Stay Guide with this magazine! Use it to plan your visits all year long to Shores & Islands Ohio.

Immerse yourself in culture through a variety of diverse community events. Indulge in local cuisine, from upscale to casual, even dine lakeside. Take a ferry ride to a Lake Erie island, explore miles of natural beaches and trails, enjoy quaint downtowns and museums, and experience the beauty of the changing seasons in Shores & Islands Ohio.

Make memories that’ll last a lifetime. Find your Lake Erie Love yearround at SHORESandISLANDS.com.

On April 8, 2024, a Total Solar Eclipse will be visible from Shores & Islands Ohio. This rare celestial event happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk culminating in total darkness, or totality, which in Shores & Islands Ohio will occur for approximately four minutes, one of the longest durations in the path. The last total solar eclipse visible in Ohio was in 1806. The next total solar eclipse in Ohio will be in the year 2099.

The anticipation for this once-in-a-lifetime experience is already building, as astronomy enthusiasts and nature lovers from around the world plan their trips to witness this awe-inspiring event. Shores & Islands Ohio is perfectly situated to offer breathtaking views of the eclipse, with its quaint coastal towns, serene islands, and views from Lake Erie.

The eclipse might be over in a flash, but the celebrations, viewing parties, and events throughout our area will last for days…and the memories will last a lifetime. For more info on events, discounts, plus other solar phenomena, visit SHORESandISLANDS.com/solar-eclipse

SPEND YOUR NEXT WEEKEND IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

Within a three hour drive or less from almost any city in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky you’ll find great food, amazing parks, world class antique shopping, and nationally recognized attractions. A perfect road trip destination and a region on the rise. As the capital of active leisure in Ohio, you’ll be able to #findyourunwind at your own pace.

Road Trips

Whether you want to explore one location or check some boxes by visiting points of interest across the state, gas up with our guide to dozens of spots to see this year.

By

Nicholas Dekker, Erin Finan, Sarah Miller, Kelly Powell, Jim Vickers, Damaine Vonada and Gracie Wilson

Looking out across the boat-filled Maumee River and the Toledo skyline on the Fourth of July

Road Trips Food

Gourmet Getaway

Cincinnati is home to a wealth of restaurants, and a tour of these spots shows the range, variety and creativity that the Queen City’s food scene has to offer.

Cincinnati has long enjoyed a great food scene, and it has the national accolades to prove it. The most recent came in the form of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S. for 2023 (generated by examining statistics from those who use the app), which had only Cincinnati restaurants among the six Ohio spots on it. Here are five Cincinnati restaurants we love.

MITA’S: Mita’s is the second restaurant from James Beard Award semifinalist chef Jose Salazar. He named the eatery for his Colombian grandmother and draws menu inspiration from Spain and Latin America. Mita’s focuses on tapas paired with wines, which are served in waves, so guests can enjoy a continuous feast of artfully composed small bites, from a rich variety of cheeses to arepas with chorizo and Spanish octopus with fingerling potatoes to fried plantains with crushed avocado. 501 Race St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/421-6482, mitas.co

PEPP & DOLORES: One of OpenTable’s Top 100 restaurants for 2023, Pepp & Dolores is inspired by heartwarming family Sunday suppers. Brothers Joe and John Lanni and their friend and business partner Alex Blust opened the eatery in 2019, and the corner space manages to be airy and open, and cozy and intimate at the same time. The best seats in the house are at the marble-top bar or in the plush booths, and the restaurant’s beautifully crafted, house-made pastas go perfectly with meatballs or veal cutlets. 1501 Vine St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/419-1820, peppanddolores.com

NOLIA KITCHEN: Chef and James Beard Award semifinalist Jeff Harris draws on his upbringing in New Orleans and his travels throughout the American South to craft the menu for Nolia Kitchen (also on OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants 2023 list). This intimate Over-the-Rhine eatery has three sections: a 26-seat dining room, a five-seat raw bar looking into the kitchen and an eight-seat back bar. 1405 Clay St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/384-3597, noliakitchen.com

KIKI: Chefs and owners Hideki and Yuko Harada jointly earned a 2023 James Beard Award semifinalist spot for their College Hill neighborhood eatery, Kiki, that offers a creative, Tokyo-inspired menu. The restaurant is decorated in natural woods, warm creams and calming blues, and its focused menu features brilliantly executed dishes loaded with character. First-timers should try the crispy curry pan stuffed with potatoes, onions and carrots; the grilled eel skewers; or the brimming-with-flavor shio ramen. 5932 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati 45224, 513/541-0381, kikicincinnati.com

ABIGAIL STREET: The Mediterranean-focused Abigail Street artfully blends old and new with its white brick walls, subway tile and handsomely restored wooden floors. Owners Dan and Lana Wright, along with their culinary team, draw on fresh produce to craft a Mediterranean menu that deftly weaves bold, new techniques with traditional flavors. Think grilled octopus served with merguez sausage or seared bay scallops with spiced pears. 1214 Vine St., Cincinnati 45202, 513/421-4040, abigailstreet.com

Clockwise from opposite page top: Spread of food at Mita’s; monk crab dish from Nolia Kitchen; woodgrilled octopus from Abigail Street

Track Stars

Train collections come in all sizes, from handcarved masterpieces to a roundhouse that holds one man’s classic steam engines.

Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens, Dover: Carver Ernest Warther’s trains depicting the age of steam engines are impressive. Then you learn he crafted each from thousands of individual pieces he fashioned himself, and you begin to understand the depth of his genius. This museum bearing his name features 64 of his trains as well as his famous Plier Tree, which has 511 interlocking sets that all open and close and were carved from a single piece of wood. thewarthermuseum.com

The Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum, Sugarcreek: When Jerry Jacobson sold his 525-mile freight railroad in 2008, he kept some of the old equipment, including the steam engines. To protect them, he bought land in rural Tuscarawas County and built a roundhouse with a 115-foot train turntable and 2 miles of storage tracks. Today, visitors can tour his collection of more than 20 steam locomotives that span from 1897 to 1948 ageofsteamroundhouse.org

MITA'S: GINA WEATHERSBY; ABIGAIL STREET: ANTHONY TAHLIER; NOLIA AND TRAIN: COURTESY OF DESTINATIONS LISTED

Northwest Ohio Railroad

of the railroad

and

to our nation. Adding to that atmosphere is a relocated train depot and full-size rolling stock as well as a building that houses model train displays — all of it overseen by a dedicated group of volunteers. Open seasonally, nworrp.org

EnterTrainment Junction, West Chester: Don Oeters created what he bills as the largest model train display in the world — a massive 25,000-squarefoot layout that is the centerpiece of his EnterTrainment Junction entertainment destination. More than 1,200 computercontrolled G Scale model trains cars (each about the size of a loaf of bread) roll through the immersive scenes that begin in 1890 and continue to present day. entertrainmentjunction.com

Ohio Railway Museum, Worthington: Founded in 1948, this outdoor attraction in suburban Columbus offers train enthusiasts the opportunity to walk among and, at times, climb inside railroad cars that volunteers have cared for and restored. The collection spans electric trolleys, steam engines, a caboose, a postal car and more, and train rides are regularly offered on the Ohio Railway Museum’s 2 miles of track. Open May through December, ohiorailwaymuseum.org

Preservation, Findlay: The quarter-scale train rides that take visitors in a large loop around the Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation’s campus are the big draw here, but the whole place is a celebration

era

its importance

Road Trips Parks

Emerald Explorer Emerald Explorer

Cleveland Metroparks is a guardian of green space in northeast Ohio. A tour of some of its most popular reservations highlights the beauty it protects.

The Cleveland Metroparks system spans 18 reservations across Cuyahoga County and beyond. The first parks were set aside over a century ago and have collectively become known as the Emerald Necklace for the ring of green they create across the region. From urban parks to suburban forests, there are opportunities to hike, bike, fish and swim. For those who want to sample what the 25,000acre system has to offer, these five reservations make for a satisfying tour. clevelandmetroparks.com

ROCKY RIVER RESERVATION: This 2,582-acre reservation that stretches between the border of Lakewood and Rocky River south to Berea is where the Cleveland Metroparks’ first plot of land was purchased in 1917. Following the flow of the Rocky River, the park draws adventurers for on-the-water activities like boating, kayaking and paddleboarding, and the area is known for its steelhead trout fishing. The Emerald Necklace Marina here offers paddleboat rentals and a launch for motorized vessels, as well as the chance to grab a scoop of ice cream. Marina: 1500 Scenic Park Dr., Lakewood 44197

BEDFORD RESERVATION: The sounds of Deerlick Creek’s rushing waters accompany hikers on their way to Bridal Veil Falls, a popular attraction that sits at the end of a 0.4-mile, out-and-back hike, which includes a boardwalk and steps. The reservation is home to other waterfalls as well, such as the Great Falls of Tinkers Creek, a 20-foot-tall cascade that has become a favorite stop for waterfall seekers. A network of more than 10 miles of hiking trails runs through the wooded reservation. Gorge Parkway, off Egbert Road in Bedford 44146

BRECKSVILLE RESERVATION: Covering 4,290 acres, Brecksville is the largest of the Cleveland Metroparks reservations and one of its most scenic. (It’s also located next to Cuyahoga Valley National Park.) A popular feature is the Chippewa Creek Gorge Trail, which leads hikers along the edge of a gorge carved by the glaciers that moved through this part of Ohio. Other favorites include the Brecksville Nature Center as well as Deer Lick Cave. One of the reservation’s newer trails is My Mountain, a 2-mile route with a scenic overlook. 9000 Chippewa Rd., Brecksville 44141

Clockwise from above: Cleveland Metroparks Lakefront Reservation; Brecksville Reservation; Squire’s Castle at North Chagrin Reservation

LAKEFRONT RESERVATION: Composed of five public parks and one beach, the Lakefront Reservation is a summer favorite for locals and visitors alike. Formed in 2013, the noncontiguous, 484-acre reservation includes piers perfect for fishing, a place for kayakers to shove off at Rivergate in The Flats, and Edgewater Beach, a sand-covered swimming area that contains a space set aside for dogs, a Beach House with concessions and unrivaled views of Cleveland’s downtown skyline. Edgewater Beach: 7600 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland 44102

NORTH CHAGRIN RESERVATION: Squire’s Castle in Willoughby Hills is often what first draws travelers to this reservation, and the 1890s structure modeled after German and English castles offers a perfect picnicking spot with its large lawn. This park is also full of natural wonders, like the 30-foot Buttermilk Falls, which is accessible from a 0.8-mile trail, and the A.B Williams Memorial Woods. The forest is home to centuries-old trees as well as hiking and horseback-riding trails. Squire’s Castle: 2844 River Rd., Willoughby Hills 44094

Heavenly Brews

These beer-makers have given former churches a second life as places for friends and family to gather and raise a pint.

Father John’s Microbrewery, Bryan: Inspired by the philosophies of St. Francis of Assisi, John Trippy opened his microbrewery in a 19th-century former church, preserving touches like the sanctuary and original pipe organ. Several of the brewery’s rooms are themed around places Trippy has visited, such as Italy and Nepal, and even contain bits of history themselves, like a 600-yearold camel wagon turned table. The brewery serves a diverse range of food, including bison meat from Trippy’s buffalo preserve in Indiana. facebook.com/fatherjohns

Holy Moley Brewing Co., Dennison: After homebrewing for over 25 years, Gary McCullough turned his passion into a full-time business when he founded this brewery in a former Methodist church. Wood from the renovation was repurposed to build the bar and pew backs are now used as tabletops for taproom seating. McCullough also makes a lineup of wines, and pizza can be ordered from a place down the street. Special-event nights include live music, trivia and more. facebook.com/holymoleybrewing

Bell Tower Brewing Co., Kent: This college-town spot named for the original bell tower of the built-in-1858 church it occupies, opened its doors with the goal of bringing fresh, local beer to Kent. The brewery has up to 18 different varieties on tap at a time, and serves cocktails handcrafted with

house-made juices and syrups. Visitors can also enjoy a stay at Hop House, an Airbnb located in a historic, 1,400-square-foot home next-door to the church. belltowerbrewing.com

Noble Creature Wild Ales & Lagers, Youngstown:

This 19th-century former church in Youngstown’s Smoky Hollow neighborhood found new life as a brewery that makes fruited sours, German-inspired pilsners and Belgian lambic-inspired drinks. During the building’s transformation, many historic elements were preserved, including its stained-glass windows, while the pews were repurposed into cozy booth seating. The food menu is based in Belgian and German gastropub fare, offering house-made bratwurst, smoked kielbasas and currywurst. noblecreaturebeer.com

Urban Artifact, Cincinnati:

Since 2015, Urban Artifact has been brewing its sought-after, fruit-based beers from the former St. Patrick’s Church in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood. The building’s exterior was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1978, but many of the building’s interior elements were taken out in the 1990s. Urban Artifact’s beer menu features tart fruit flavors, from the strawberry-flavored Squeezebox to the more tropical Teak to the award-winning mixedberry-flavored Gadget. artifactbeer.com

Road Trips

Dayton

Food Feats

If you have the appetite to take on some of Ohio’s biggest food challenges, these meals will test your mettle.

Spirit Inventive Inventive

The airplane is the most famous invention from Dayton, but the city’s legacy of innovation makes it a wonderful place to explore the rich history stemming from such ideas.

Dayton proudly calls itself the birthplace of aviation because it’s Orville and Wilbur Wright’s hometown — the place where the brothers not only invented the airplane but also figured out how to make it useful. From Carillon Historical Park to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the city is home to museums and historic sites that celebrate Dayton’s role as a place of innovation that shaped the world as we know it today.

WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MUSEUM: This museum at Carillon Historical Park showcases the world’s first practical airplane, the 1905 Wright Flyer III, in a sunken exhibit space Orville Wright himself designed. Following their initial 1903 flight, the Wright brothers spent two years developing an airplane capable of controlled flight, and because their Flyer III was a groundbreaking invention, it’s the only airplane designated a National Historic Landmark. Orville’s ingenious exhibit design affords fine views of the plane’s details like the bicycle chain connecting the engine and propellers. 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton 45409, 937/293-2841, daytonhistory.org

The Thurmanator, Columbus and Delaware:

Featuring two 12-ounce patties topped with ham, sauteed mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, banana peppers, mayonnaise, bacon, and mozzarella, cheddar and American cheeses, this towering burger can be found on the menu at The Thurman Cafe in Columbus’ German Village and Son of Thurman in Delaware. There is no time limit for finishing it, and those who do so in one sitting can immortalize the feat by hanging a signed dollar bill on the wall. thethurmancafe. com, sonofthurman.com

Melt Challenge, Five Ohio Locations: What started as a “what-if” in the kitchen at Melt Bar & Grilled’s original Lakewood location now stands as a 5-pound grilled cheese featuring 12 cheese varieties. There’s also a pile of fries and slaw to finish off. With a mere 9% completion rate, this challenge (available at all full-service locations if you email or call ahead) rewards its conquerors with a T-shirt or pint glass and a $10 gift card along with bragging rights. meltbarandgrilled.com

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE: The Air Force’s free museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base features a massive collection of aircraft, spacecraft and missiles that delivers an incomparable trip through national aviation history. Among its wow-worthy exhibits are the 1909 Military Flyer that the Wright brothers built for the Army; World War II’s legendary Memphis Belle; and SAM 26000, the Air Force One that brought John F. Kennedy’s body back to Washington and took Richard Nixon to China. 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton 45433, 937/255-3286, nationalmuseum.af.mil

WOODLAND CEMETERY & ARBORETUM: History rests peacefully at one of the nation’s oldest “rural” cemeteries, where 200 acres harbor towering trees and the tombs of illustrious and influential Daytonians. Within its hills and dales, you’ll find the final resting places of Orville and Wilbur Wright, National Cash Register Co. founder John H. Patterson, Black poet laureate Paul Laurence Dunbar and housewife humorist Erma Bombeck. Guided tours are available year-round and spotlight the gravesites and stories of the lives remembered here. 118 Woodland Ave., Dayton 45409, 937/228-3221, woodlandcemetery.org

AMERICA’S PACKARD MUSEUM: Ohio’s Warren G. Harding was the first president to ride to his inauguration in an automobile, and the vehicle for that 1921 trip was a Packard. Such was the prestige of this luxury brand that sold for thousands of dollars when Fords cost hundreds. Housed in a restored Packard dealership, this museum’s historic showroom exudes Roaring Twenties style, and the 50 dazzling Packards on display include a 1928 Speedster Charles Lindberg drove and singer Perry Como’s 1953 Caribbean convertible. 420 S. Ludlow St., Dayton 45402, 937/226-1710, americaspackardmuseum.org

OREGON HISTORIC DISTRICT: Dating to 1815, Dayton’s first neighborhood is also its most eclectic, combining gentrified Victorian homes (including a grand Eastlake-style abode built by John H. Balsley, who invented the folding stepladder) with a lively mix of clubs, quirky shops and indie restaurants serving food and drinks with a side of history. The Oregon Express is known for pizza, live music and its century-old commercial building. Jay’s Seafood, a district mainstay, was once a gristmill, while The Trolley Stop offers locavore tavern fare in an 1839 building. theoregondistrict.org

The Goliath, Alliance: Named for the giant that David defeated in the Bible, Almost Heaven Ice Cream’s food challenge is an equally tall feat to achieve. The Goliath consists of five banana splits, 15 scoops of Neapolitan ice cream, whipped cream and five cherries all coated in pineapple, strawberry and chocolate toppings. Those who complete the challenge in under 30 minutes earn a free T-shirt, a refund and a photo on the shop’s website. almostheavenicecream.com

Sweet

Matilda

Challenge, Bellefontaine: The fare at Don’s Downtown Diner spans a variety of burgers and sandwiches, but it’s also the home of the Sweet Matilda Challenge, which stacks 2 pounds of burgers between eight grilled cheese sandwiches on Texas toast layered with ham and bacon and served with a pound of French fries. Those who eat it all in an hour or less get a T-shirt and the $64.99 meal price waived. facebook.com/donsdowntowndiner

No Freakin’ Way! Challenge,

Blue Ash: Blue Ash Chili’s Cincinnatistyle chili challenge tops 2.5 pounds of spaghetti and 2.5 pounds of chili with 2 pounds of shredded cheese and 1 pound of jalapeno caps. Once you see it assembled, a few choice words come to mind: “No Freakin’ Way!” Finish it in 60 minutes and you get a T-shirt, a free meal and a photo in their Hall of Fame. Fail and you get added to the Wall of Shame and a bill for $39.99. blueashchili.com

Carillon Historical Park (opposite page); Bockscar plane at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (above left); main gate at Woodland Cemetery & Arboretum (above right)

Road Trips

Waterfront

Waterfront Waterfront Wonders Wonders

Located where the Maumee River meets Lake Erie, Toledo makes for a great place to explore outdoor recreation and maritime history.

Whether you want to head out on a boat or stay along the shore, Toledo’s waterfront has lots to experience. Maritime history mingles with on-the-water dining, while public parks hug the banks of the Maumee River, which flows through the city and into Lake Erie. These waters were vital to the lives of the Indigenous people who once called this area home and later boosted the region’s agriculture and industry, making a visit to Toledo’s waterfront an exploration of both history and recreation.

GLASS CITY METROPARK: Part of a $225 million riverwalk project, Glass City Metropark spans 93 acres on the Maumee River. Summer 2023 brought Kayak Cove and Adventure Boardwalk, which provide a starting point for paddling excursions. Kids will love the park’s Mini-Maumee Discovery Play Area and the Grosbeak Discovery Play Area with its 41-foot-tall tower. When it’s time for a bite to eat, the park’s Market Hall houses the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, The Garden by Poco Piatti. 1505 Front St., Toledo 43605, metroparkstoledo.com

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE GREAT LAKES: Dive into maritime history at the National Museum of the Great Lakes, which includes a main building with six exhibit galleries, plus the 617-foot long Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship and the Museum Tug Ohio (ships open May through October). Dedicated to highlighting the influence of the Great Lakes on the region and the nation, self-guided tours illuminate nautical adventures with shipwreck tales and historic artifacts. A museum expansion is bringing more exhibit space and an education center. 1701 Front St., Toledo 43605, nmgl.org

J&M CRUISE LINES: The Sandpiper — an open-air vessel that departs from Promenade Park — offers laid-back, breezy jaunts that include one- and two-hour discovery

excursions. Daytime cruises pass by grand homes along the Maumee River, while sunset cruises dazzle with sights of city lights. Themed cruises like the Glass City River Wall Tour get close to the largest mural in the nation, which stretches across multiple grain silos. The elegant Glass City Pearl offers trips on the Maumee River and out onto Lake Erie. 1 Jefferson Ave., Toledo 43604, jmcruiselines.com

REAL SEAFOOD

CO.: Feasting on fresh seafood along the water offers a culinary vacation of its own. The Real Seafood Co. has been here since 1999 as part of The Docks, a collection of waterfront restaurants. Order freshcaught seafood from the coasts of New England, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. Fish, lobster, oysters, shrimp and more are offered in a variety of preparations. Take a seat in the expansive, nautical-themed dining room, complete with raw bar, or dine al fresco on the patio. 22 Main St., Toledo 43605, realseafoodcorestaurant.com

RENAISSANCE TOLEDO DOWNTOWN HOTEL:

This Marriott-brand hotel is the only one in Toledo that sits directly on the riverfront. Just a short walk away from the Seagate Convention Center, it also connects to Imagination Station, a hands-on science museum. Head to the 12th floor to reach The Heights, a rooftop bar and restaurant with great views, while The Brim House Restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hotel decor pays homage to the Glass City with a made-in-Toledo military Jeep and glass art in the lobby. 444 N. Summit St., Toledo 43604, marriott.com

Film Scores

Glass City Metropark (opposite page); The Heights at the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel (top right); Real Seafood Co. on the waterfront (bottom right)

From classic theaters with long histories to newer spaces that offer places to congregate once the credits roll, these movie houses are winners.

Studio 35 Cinema and Drafthouse, Columbus: This two-screen spot was the first movie theater in the nation to obtain a liquor license in the early 1970s. It shows first-run flicks, independent movies, showings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and series like Saturday Cinema Classics. Beer tastings happen once a month, with a two-hour sampling followed by a roughly two-hour film. studio35.com

The Nightlight, Akron: This one-screen downtown Akron spot shows documentaries, foreign films and arthouse movies. It also has just 42 seats, making for an intimate environment to enjoy its curated lineup that includes events like the Oscar-Nominated Short Films series in which moviegoers vote for their favorites for a chance to win a year of free popcorn. Concession-stand offerings include Jeni’s ice cream, Norka soda and nut mixes from the Peanut Shoppe of Akron. nightlightcinema.com

By-Jo Theatre, Dayton: Family is the focus at this one-screen movie house in Dayton’s Germantown neighborhood. Founded in 1920, the By-Jo

was first a silent movie theater with a piano player up front and its old-timey interior is almost entirely intact, down to the original fold-down seats. The 185-seat theater offers kidfriendly classics and commercial movies. Plus, if it’s a child’s first time at the cinema, they get a certificate to prove it. facebook.com/thebyjo

Gateway Film Center, Columbus: This eight-screen theater in Ohio State University’s Gateway University District shows commercial, independent and international films. It also hosts series such as Pioneers of African American Cinema, which showcases Black filmmakers of the past. The theater also has three spots for snacks and drinks: Craft Services, a walkup bar for popcorn, cocktails and candies;

The Torpedo Room, a members-only speakeasy; and The Festival Lounge, a bar and restaurant offering elevated movie night classics. gatewayfilmcenter.org

Esquire Theatre, Cincinnati: Opening as the Clifton Opera House in 1911, this Queen City landmark operated until 1983 when the building fell into disrepair. The city proposed knocking it down and building a fast-food restaurant, which ultimately led to a court battle that resulted in the building being saved. In 1990, the venue reopened with renovations as The Esquire and now has six screens that show currently running, arthouse, foreign and independent films. The theater also hosts director Q&As and topical forums. esquiretheatre.com

Past Past Lives Lives

Chillicothe is steeped in history, from the earthen mounds that served as a place of ceremony for Indigenous people to the city’s role as Ohio’s first capital.

Chillicothe was the capital of the Northwest Territory (from 1800 to 1803) and later the capital of Ohio (twice actually, from 1803 to 1810 and 1812 to 1816). Yet the history that courses through this city extends back nearly 2,000 years to the earthen mounds built by people of the Hopewell culture. Add to that a historic downtown that embraces Chillicothe’s rich past and beautifully cared-for old homes, and it is easy to see why history buffs love to visit.

HOPEWELL CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK: The Indigenous people who thrived in Ohio nearly 2,000 years ago built elaborate earthen mounds that are believed to have been places of ceremony, including the ones located in what is now Chillicothe. This National Park Service site, which was named to the UNESCO World Heritage list along with other Ohio mound sites in 2023, provides the chance to learn about these people — known as the Hopewell culture — by way of ranger-led tours and a small museum that displays artifacts. 16062 St. Rte. 104, Chillicothe 45601, 740/774-1125, nps.gov/hocu

Earthworks at Hopewell Culture National

Park

Historical

(above); Atwood House Bed and Breakfast (left); sandwich from Old Canal Smoke House (opposite page)

ADENA MANSION & GARDENS: The father of Ohio statehood, Thomas Worthington was one of the state’s first U.S. senators and its sixth governor. He lived on this hilltop, first in an earlier home, and later in this Federal-style sandstone mansion designed by famed architect Benjamin Latrobe. Guided tours of the home are available April through October. A marker on-site notes the property’s view of Mount Logan, which is said to have inspired the vista depicted on the Great Seal of Ohio. 847 Adena Rd., Chillicothe 45601, 800/319-7248, adenamansion.com

ROSS COUNTY HERITAGE CENTER: Founded in 1896, the Ross County Heritage Center is one of the oldest in Ohio, and its large collection includes artifacts from Ohio’s early governors as well as the table the Ohio constitution was signed on. But that’s just a glimpse of all there is to explore across the society’s seven buildings, which include a museum center, house museum and pioneer-style cabin. The historical society reopens each March with Ohio Statehood Day special programming. 45 W. Fifth St., Chillicothe 45601, 740/772-1936, rosscountyhistorical.org

THE ATWOOD HOUSE BED AND BREAKFAST: Bill Hirsch’s 1843 Greek Revival home has four rooms to choose from, including the President’s Room, which is decorated with personal mementos from the innkeeper’s time working for President Richard Nixon. Hirsch makes breakfast for his guests each morning, which is enjoyed at a beautifully set table in the dining room. Afterward, he is happy to share tales of the home’s history or bits of trivia like how President Woodrow Wilson spent summers as a boy at a home down the street. 68 S. Paint St., Chillicothe 45601, 740/774-1606, atwoodhousebandb.com

OLD CANAL SMOKE HOUSE: Chillicothe was one of the cities along the Ohio & Erie Canal, a trade route that flourished before the Great Flood of 1913. Old Canal Smoke House sits where the waterway once ran through town, and in keeping with that historic vibe, cooks its hickory-smoked meats in a renovated 1850s-era forge. The menu spans brisket, pulled pork, chicken, salmon and even smoked meatloaf, but those who visit Friday and Saturday evenings can order smoked prime rib. 94 E. Water St., Chillicothe 45601, 740/779-3278, oldcanalsmokehouse.com

Game On

Whether you love the kinetic thrill of pinball or the beeps and blips of ’80s arcade favorites, these spots are loaded with retro fun.

Past Times Arcade, Girard: Past Times Arcade owner Rob Berk’s lifelong passion for collecting pinball machines manifested as a more than 600-game arcade he opened inside a former grocery store in 2023. Visitors can play the hundreds of machines — ranging from retro arcade games of the 1970s and ’80s to classic pinball machines as well as favorite versions from the ’90s such as The Simpsons and The Addams Family — for only $20 a day. pasttimesarcade.com

Superelectric Pinball Parlor, Cleveland: A love for pinball spurred three artists to move their collection of classic machines from Cleveland’s 78th Street Studios to a corner building in the Gordon Square Arts District in 2015. Superelectric Pinball Parlor has since become a spot where people can enjoy a drink while playing casual or competitive pinball. The owners’ art backgrounds are a clear influence on the place, evidenced by the fun decor and shuffleboardtable bar top. superelectric.tv

Pinball Garage, Hamilton: While looking for a warehouse for his digital-pinball-machine manufacturing business, Pinball Garage owner Brad Baker decided to open an arcade in this former Goodyear tire store. Since 2020, the all-ages entertainment venue has welcomed parents and kids alike to

enjoy a selection of over 40 pinball machines and arcade games. The arcade has a full bar for the 21-andover crowd as well as food-menu choices sure to please the little ones. facebook.com/pinballgarage

Old North Arcade, Columbus: In 2015, Benjamin Morgan opened Old North Arcade in Columbus’ Old North neighborhood, hoping to re-create the the arcade boom of the ’80s and ’90s. The collection here includes retro arcade cabinets, pinball machines, rare Japanese rhythm games and digital consoles like Nintendo and PlayStation — all of which are free to play while enjoying a drink. The 21-and-over venue serves a variety of craft beers and cocktails with playful names such as Save the Princess. oldnortharcade.com

Toledo Pinball, Toledo: Northwest Ohio-based amusement company Toledo Pinball began in 2019 with just a few pinball machines and a partnership with the local pub The Basement Today, the company has joined forces with other local businesses and added dozens of games to its collection, which is shared among The Basement and four other locations. Toledo Pinball’s goal was to bring a competitive pinball scene to the region, and it regularly hosts tournaments and leagues. toledopinball.com

OLD CANAL SMOKE HOUSE: LAURA WATILO BLAKE; PINBALL GARAGE: COURTESY OF TRAVEL BUTLER COUNTY

MILLCREEK METROPARKS

@JBRUNIEHALLIDAY’SWINERY

MILLLANTERMAN’SMILLCREEKMETROPARKS

Whether you’re looking for a place to catch up with friends, a weekend getaway, or somewhere to just to have a break, Findlay has you covered. Meet up at one of our local coffee shops or grab a beverage to-go as you enjoy all that Findlay and Hancock County has to offer. Attend an event, take in a show, visit a museum, get outside, pose on the Mural Trail, shop for something special, enjoy a dinner to remember, and more - all while experiencing small-town charm and friendly faces around every corner. Plan your trip at VisitFindlay.com

ArtWalk

The Urban Market

The Mural Trail

GLASSWARE DESIGNER FRAN TAYLOR SHATTERED EXPECTATIONS IN THE 1940s BEFORE HER STORY WAS SWEPT AWAY BY TIME. NOW, HER LEGACY IS GETTING A SECOND ACT THANKS TO DAVID AND JASON ANNECY, WHO BROUGHT HER BRAND BACK TO LIFE IN LANCASTER.

Story by Gracie Wilson Photography by Megan Leigh Barnard

David (left) and Jason Annecy; Inset: Gay Fad Studios art director Bill Butcher (left) and founder Fran Taylor (right)

The Ohio Glass Museum’s oak display cases are filled with precious glass objects admired not only for their aesthetic beauty but also the bits of history held within their elegant, flowing shapes. The colorful collection celebrates Anchor Hocking, the glass company that opened in Lancaster in 1905 and still operates there today, as well as other glassmakers tied to the state of Ohio.

A large ball made of more than 600 individual blown-glass orbs is displayed in the museum during the year and hoisted above downtown each December for the city’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Glass Town Countdown. In the back of the building, a glassblowing studio hosts regularly scheduled demonstrations for visitors. The museum tells the story of how the glass industry shaped Ohio, but it also gives residents of Lancaster an appreciation for the place they call home. It was one of the first stops Jason and David Annecy made when the couple moved to the city in 2016, and

during that visit, four specific pieces of glassware captured Jason’s attention.

“The only decorated glass they had in the whole museum was marked Gay Fad Studios, and the fact that it was decorated caught my eye, but I was also like, ‘that’s a peculiar name,’ ” he says. “Years went by, and I never thought about it again.”

Life went on, with Jason working in downtown Columbus for Nationwide Insurance, where he still works today, and David employed by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Then in 2020, the local Rotary club asked Jason, who has a master’s degree in fine arts with a focus in design research from Kent State University, to create a concept for a new community mural to brighten the walls that line Center Alley in downtown Lancaster.

Having just helped complete a large mural honoring

military veterans for the side of the Fairfield County Visitation Center along East Main Street, the Annecys were excited for another chance to help bring public art to the community and did the project pro bono. While sifting through potential themes that reflected local history, Jason recalled those pieces of decorated glass he had seen four years earlier and the unusual name of the company that made it: Gay Fad Studios.

As Jason and David delved into the business’ history, their research uncovered a largely forgotten piece of Lancaster’s past in the story of the company’s pioneering founder, Fran Taylor. Months after the mural’s completion, the research evolved into an ambitious plan, one in which the Annecys proposed reviving both the name and legacy of the business that last produced its glassware designs when John F. Kennedy was in the White House.

“We knew walking into this [that] this is a pretty bold idea,” David says. “It’s pretty bold to say we are going to take something that closed 60 years ago and figure out a way to resurrect it.”

Fran Taylor beams with confidence, dressed in dark-colored business attire with her hair perfectly coiffed, hands folded in front of her, bright eyes looking off to her right. The photo was taken in 1947 when Taylor was in her thirties, during the height of Gay Fad Studios, the business she started with just $30 in her pocket.

Fran Taylor (above); original Gay Fad Studios glass collection (left); David and Jason Annecy (opposite page top); original Gay Fad Studios glasses (opposite page bottom)

Between its founding in 1939 and closure in 1962, Gay Fad Studios was known for its artful, mid-century modern glassware adorned with colorful geometric patterns as well as caricatures and imagery that not only broke new ground in design but became highly sought after by collectors. The popularity of her glassware launched Taylor on a road to success — one that carried her far away from the poverty she experienced in her youth but also one fraught with challenges.

The daughter of a Pennsylvania coal miner who immigrated to the United States from Poland, Taylor was the oldest of five children, and the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings often fell to her. After her 2-year-old sister died of pneumonia in her care, an 11-year-old Taylor was sent to live with her aunt in Detroit. When a mining accident put her father out of work, the rest of the family packed up and moved to Detroit as well — all of them sharing the same home.

Taylor graduated from Cooley High School before completing a degree in art and painting at Detroit’s Wayne University in 1938. After not being able to find a job out of college as a dress designer, her original dream, she began hand-painting her own designs.

“She wanted people to enjoy art in the everyday,” David says. “She especially loved to entertain, and even as a young adult, she was looking for fun, artistic items to entertain with, and she couldn’t find them, so she started decorating her own pieces.”

Taylor began by painting her designs on the side of metal waste bins. When they began to sell, she launched Gay Fad Studios in 1939. The business’ name came from her desire to bring about the joyous (gay) and the trendy (fad) using bright designs featuring nature motifs like florals, bees and landscapes to create products that stood out in a saturated market.

When World War II began, factories switched over to wartime production, making metal scarce, and Taylor needed a new plan. She learned glass was cheap and being produced in abundance in Lancaster and its surrounding cities, so she moved there in 1945. Her company operated out of a 46,500-square-foot headquarters and production facility on Pierce Avenue, and she created a unique company culture. Communal workspaces

inspired employees to get to know one another during work hours, while the facility’s basement had both a bar that served after-work cocktails and a space where kids could play while their parents relaxed. Taylor would often come downstairs to read to the children before heading home. She even went as far as arranging buses to pick up female artists from more than an hour away and bring them to work.

The more than 100 factory employees produced the designs created by Taylor, Bill Butcher (the company’s female art director) and their team. When Taylor made the switch to using glass for her products, she had simply cold painted the designs on the surface, let them dry and sold them. After a while, customers began to complain that the designs were coming off, so she needed to find a new approach.

After working with an engineer for a year, Taylor found a way to make the designs permanent. Her employees used ceramic paint and pigment to hand-paint the glasses before placing them in an oven that heated the ceramic chips in the paint. The glasses were then cooled slowly, which made the designs adhere to the glass. After that, production soared, and by the late 1950s, Gay Fad Studios was a name known not just in Lancaster, but around the world. Taylor’s company was grossing $500,000 per year, equivalent to roughly $6.5 million today.

As they were developing the mural at the end of 2020, the Annecys worked with local historian Joyce Harvey to ensure the patterns were true to the Gay Fad Studios originals.

Then, in 1962, Continental Can Co., a giant in the food-packing industry at the time, visited the factory on the cusp of a merger deal with Gay Fad Studios. Soon after, it began producing designs that Taylor and her employees believed had been stolen from them. From there, the troubles began to stack up.

Gay Fad Studios’ employees had already begun to unionize and went on strike in 1958, but by 1962, they were threatening to do so again. After multiple court battles, Taylor had a fire sale of her products, laid off her employees, closed her showroom in New York City and shuttered Gay Fad Studios in the summer of 1962. Following its demise, Taylor was in meetings to close out business matters. On the way home from one, she got into a car accident, which led to later health issues. Taylor never worked again and died in California in 1996.

Astunning royal blue background adorned with bright white starbursts and geometric patterns fills one wall along Center Alley in downtown Lancaster. On the opposite side of the bricklined walkway, the procession of alternating patterns in a variety of vibrant colors are inspired by designs that adorned Gay Fad Studios’ glassware. The space is a popular spot for visitors to snap a selfie and, ideally, it makes them curious to learn more.

“I had helped them research the history for their house, so that’s how they knew of my interest in researching things,” says Harvey, who searched through old newspapers and local library resources. “They said ‘Can you see what you can find about Gay Fad?’ … that’s how I got into the project.”

After exchanging emails with Donna McGrady, a former resident of Lancaster who wrote a book about Gay Fad Studios, Jason learned that Taylor’s only daughter, Stephanie Taylor, lived in California and planned to come to Lancaster that summer for a family reunion. When she did, the Annecys met with her to share what they were doing to honor her mother’s legacy.

When the mural project was finished in October 2021, David and Jason were not ready to let go, fearing the legacy of Taylor and her business would once again fade into the past. At home, while watching a movie, Jason put together a rendering of what a revived Gay Fad Studios storefront could look like. David loved the idea but coming off a four-month mural project and having full-time jobs, it seemed like a lot to handle.

The original idea to keep the momentum behind Gay Fad Studios alive was to do a monthlong pop-up shop selling glassware items that went along with the new mural. In trying to find a space to host it, the Annecys went to Lancaster’s Park National Bank in February 2022 to discuss a long-vacant downtown building that happened to be located next to Center Alley. After a five-minute pitch outlining their vision — and getting

Jason and David Annecy (above) have become avid collectors of original Gay Fad Studios glassware. The Gay Fad Studios showroom in Lancaster (bottom) honors Fran Taylor’s legacy.

Stephanie Taylor’s blessing — they secured the space for the project, receiving the keys in April 2022.

They were ready to reintroduce Gay Fad Studios to Lancaster with new glassware designs by Jason that honored the originals produced more than 60 years earlier. The Annecys papered over the building’s doors and windows and kept what they were doing a closely guarded secret, telling just three friends of their plans.

As preparations for the pop-up continued through the spring, the Annecys realized that with the amount of work they were doing on the building’s interior, it seemed natural to try to make the space a permanent retail destination. In July 2022, the building’s exterior was painted, and the new Gay Fad Studios opened as a complete surprise to the public two days later.

“It was, to us, pretty remarkable that we even got the opportunity,” Jason says. “I think it speaks a lot about the community for how much they believe in this.”

Custom cabinetry creates a minimalistic and clean backdrop for Jason Annecy’s continuation of the types of designs Gay Fad Studios originally made famous. Sunburst glass patterns in teal, pink, black and gold line the shelves, while wooden tables in the center of the showroom are full of colorful plates, bowls and glasses sourced from women-led companies throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Behind the counter, a deep-blue and white back wall with polished gold accents alludes to the 1957 Gay Fad Studios design “Snowtrees,” and a row of elegant and ornate glass figures made from repurposed chandelier pieces rises to meet the name Gay Fad Studios, presented in a style reminiscent of the one Fran Taylor used on her products. While Jason takes inspiration from the company’s original portfolio, the designs that adorn the shelves in the present Gay Fad

Studios era all come from his mind, using Fran Taylor originals as well as the Lancaster community as his muse. The free-spirited nature of Taylor’s designs are still present in the modern-day styles Jason creates, which keep the tone of the originals alive while never being an exact copy of them.

“[One] camp is where we are taking the essence of something and then finding ways to reimagine it,” explains Jason. “It might mean taking pieces and parts from a wide variety of different glasses and then coming up with a new composition. Other times, it’s looking at a glass and saying, ‘I like that color. I like that motif. Let’s come up with something that looks like a sister to it.’ ”

The store space is rich with history. It even houses a small museum just off the main showroom, which opened in July 2023 and serves as a testament to the Annecys’ desire to reignite the once-forgotten story of the hometown glassware pioneer. The museum’s shelves brim with original Gay Fad Studios pieces and historic photographs. Some of the artifacts came from the children and grandchildren of Gay Fad Studios employees, including the descendants of Butcher, who worked alongside Taylor for more than 30 years.

Not surprisingly, the Annecys have become the leading experts on Gay Fad Studios as well as avid collectors of its original glassware, having acquired more than 4,000 pieces in just shy of two years. They have also built an impressive collection of original catalogs, advertisements and photos. Although they do not feel the need to have every piece, they encourage those who might have a Gay Fad Studios original to contact them so they can catalog it. Since the store’s opening on July 20, 2022, they have received many emails and social media messages leading them to people who have glass to donate.

“To find the glassware has taken a community of — we like to call them ‘Fran-atics’ — people that we have befriended across the entire country that are focused on helping us find the glassware,” Jason says. “We kind of view ourselves as caretakers. It’s like, ‘How do we preserve it for more generations?’ ”

These days, the elegant shop draws curious travelers and locals alike, who often visit because they were drawn to the mural that adorns its exterior wall. The building’s inviting facade seems to indicate something special is happening there too. The Annecys are, of course, always happy to share the story of Fran Taylor, a woman who shattered barriers and pioneered her industry, with those who step through the front door.

“She graduated high school, put herself through college, got a degree in art and painting, started her own company, became a multimillionaire … [she] lived the American Dream,” David says. “[Fran was] decades ahead of her time and was just so fearless and so determined.”

137 W. Main St., Lancaster 43130, 740/277-6883, gayfadstudios.com

In April 1974, a tornado that was part of a string of deadly storms in the U.S. ripped through the Ohio community of Xenia.

It left a trail of destruction that is still remembered in and associated with the city to this day.

SURVIVING THE STORM

By Vince Guerrieri

This photograph by T. W. Blackburn depicts Trumbull Street in Xenia after the tornado hit.

It was raining hard when Billie Cummings started her shift at the front desk at the Greene County Library in Xenia at 4 p.m. April 3, 1974. She called her husband Marv around 4:30 p.m. to have him pick up their son Brian at preschool as she was afraid the storm might scare him. Not long afterward, a man came rushing into the library warning of a tornado.

“He was so scared and panic-stricken … I just took his word for it,” she recalled in a personal account written for the library.

Library staff herded people into the basement when Cummings checked the children’s reading room and found two little girls, blissfully unaware. She quickly took them downstairs and ran for shelter. The sound started like a swarm of bees, she recalled, before becoming a deafening roar comparable to a freight train. With the rest of the people crowded into the library basement, she recalled hearing glass breaking and items crashing above her.

The tornado raging overhead was one of 148 that struck a total of 13 states in what was later termed a “super outbreak” of tornadoes. It remains one of the worst tornado outbreaks in history and included six tornadoes rated F5 — the most devastating — on the Fujita scale. One of those F5 tornadoes hit Xenia, decimating the town and leading to a tragic loss of life and property.

What had seemed like an eternity to Cummings as she waited out the tornadoes in the Greene County Library basement was over in just moments. She tried to break the tension, asking if anyone knew any good tornado jokes. Everyone went upstairs, and she opened the door to look at the damage.

“It seemed the whole world had been broken by an angry child having a temper tantrum,” she wrote.

Xenia, declared a national disaster area after the tornado struck, as seen from above

As the calendar turned from March to April in 1974, President Richard Nixon was fighting for his political life after a grand jury named him as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Watergate break-in, “The Sting” won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and baseball teams were getting ready to play, with the Atlanta Braves’ Hank Aaron opening his season in Cincinnati, just one home run away from tying Babe Ruth’s career record of 714.

And on April 2, a cold front came south from Canada toward the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys. At the same time, a warm front was coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. Atop both was a jet stream with winds estimated at 140 knots. Circumstances were ripe for tornadoes, which are typically caused when warm air is trapped under a cold front — the hot air raises and the cold air settles.

It was a different era for weather research. Radar was more limited and less utilized. Still, meteorologists of the time saw enough to be concerned and issued dozens of weather watches and warnings — including nearly 150 tornado warnings — throughout the Midwest.

The first tornado briefly touched down in Indiana the morning of April 3. At 3 p.m. local time, tornadoes hit Bradley County, Tennessee, and Gilmer County, Georgia. About 10 minutes later, tornadoes were spotted 450 miles away in Illinois. A little after that, another was seen in Indiana. At one point, at least 15 tornadoes were moving simultaneously across the Hoosier State.

Around 4:30 p.m., three tornadoes formed into one super twister, more than half a mile wide in the sky above southwest Ohio. It touched down approximately 50 miles southwest of Columbus, near Bellbrook, and headed straight for Xenia, part of an area that the Shawnee who lived there generations earlier referred to as the land of the devil winds.

The twister was traveling at a rate of 50 mph. (It was estimated that the wind inside the tornado was moving at 318 mph, one of the fastest speeds ever recorded.) It leveled a 300-home development on the outskirts of town and then cut a path of destruction as it traveled northwest through the city, moving into Clark County, before lifting and touching down again around South Charleston before dissipating.

The tornado had blown through town in about nine minutes, but the damage it left

Her home had been untouched by the storm. A temporary morgue was set up, and in the first 24 hours, more than 21 bodies were processed.

Churches were reduced to rubble. A semi-trailer was found on the roof of a local bowling alley, and the tornado had picked up school buses and dropped them onto the high school. (City leaders noted the tornado struck after school hours; had children been in school, the casualties could have been even greater, as a total of seven of the city’s 12 public schools had been hit.)

Two historically Black colleges in nearby Wilberforce, Central State and Wilberforce universities, also sustained heavy damage. The city’s newspaper, The Xenia Daily Gazette, had to print at its sister paper in Middletown after the storm ripped the roof of its building off.

“Gazette’s [a] little late,” a headline said in the next day’s edition, a masterful understatement. (The paper would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage in the tornado’s aftermath.)

was momentous, estimated at the time to be $100 million — more than $600 million today.

“Conservatively speaking,” police chief Roy Jordan remarked, “I’d say Xenia is about 50 percent leveled.”

A total of 33 people were killed in the storm, and two National Guardsmen died in a fire at a furniture store during the cleanup three days later. The stories were tragic: An A&W Root Beer stand was flattened in the storm, killing five. A woman giving birth died in the storm, her newborn fighting for its life. The first funeral held for a tornado victim was for Irene Pagett, who died while doing volunteer work at the town’s cancer center.

The stools at the front of a local doughnut shop still stood, but the building itself was gone, ripped off its moorings by the tornado. Canceled checks from Xenia banks picked up by the tornado were found as far away as the northeast Ohio communities of Chagrin Falls and Richfield. Veterans of World War II and Vietnam likened the destruction to a bombing.

But the city and its residents soldiered on. Xenia billed itself as the City of Hospitality (in fact, the Greek word Xenia literally translates to hospitality), and stories soon emerged of friends and neighbors helping one another. Restaurants that had survived opened their doors to the workers digging people out of the rubble and cleaning up the damage, offering them food and drinks, and National Guardsmen distributed Easter baskets.

Gov. John Gilligan visited the site within hours of the tornado, pledging immediate state assistance to the cleanup and recovery. The day after, Vice President Gerald Ford, who had been in Cincinnati to watch Aaron and the Braves take on the Reds, flew over the area.

“The destruction, the devastation is unbelievable,” Ford said.

The destruction at a Kroger (above) and a car buried under a pile of bricks at the corner of Greene and Main streets (left); Aldine Printing Co. distributed “Xenia Lives” bumper stickers following the devastating tornado (below).

The following week, President Richard Nixon visited the area. He flew into Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton and surveyed Xenia from a helicopter before driving into town and meeting with residents. The damage shocked him.

“They raised my spirits.” Nixon said of the people of Xenia. “This is the worst devastation I’ve seen in a small area, and I’ve seen the earthquake in Anchorage [Alaska], the devastation of hurricane Camille and hurricane Agnes in Pennsylvania.”

Nixon promised to cut through federal red tape to bring aid to Xenia as well as the other states cleaning up damage. The wave of tornadoes led to wholesale changes in meteorology as well. There are now more than twice as many National Weather Service stations keeping an eye on conditions, and the federal government upgraded its warning system, using Doppler radar, which was in its testing phase when the tornadoes hit. The federal government also adopted the Fujita scale, standardizing measurement of tornadoes based on wind speed, from F0 to the most severe, F5. (Scientists considered categorizing the Xenia tornado as an F6, literally off the chart.)

A sports fan, Nixon compared the resilience of Xenia to Hank Aaron, who’d hit his record-break-

“A great emptiness is left in the wide-open spaces.

Still, Xenia does live and will go on living for the future; not grieve for the past.”

ing 715th home run the night before his visit.

“The spirit of the city is great,” he said while visiting Xenia. “It will come back.”

It was already on its way. The day after Nixon’s visit, the gong in the clock tower rang at 5 p.m. — the first time it had worked since the tornado struck.

Within weeks of the tornado, bumper stickers started to appear around town, reading simply, “Xenia lives.” The town rebuilt, slowly and in some instances unevenly (some African American residents, as well as Wilberforce and Central State universities, said they didn’t see recovery efforts like those present in other parts of town). Chainsaws roared as felled trees and utility poles were cut up. Buildings beyond saving were torn down and ultimately replaced.

“The rubble has been hauled away and so much is gone now,” Cummings wrote in her account for the Greene County Library. “A great emptiness is left in the wide-open spaces. Still, Xenia does live and will go on living for the future; not grieve for the past.”

The American Red Cross, as well as several hundred Ohio National Guard troops, moved into Xenia for several weeks to assist with the rescue and clean up.

Morgan County, The Front Porch to the Great Outdoors, is one of Ohio’s hidden gems. Situated along the scenic Appalachian Byway of Ohio and tucked into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, it’s one of Southeastern Ohio’s premier outdoor destinations.

Meandering country roads will lead you to four charming historical villages with unique lodging, delicious dining and quaint shops. Historic sites, covered bridges and the beautiful countryside will ease away the stress of your daily life, leaving you relaxed and recharged.

Three state parks and three wildlife areas will satisfy outdoor lovers and nature enthusiasts with hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and camping opportunities. The alluring scenery of rolling hills, green forests and flowing waterways will lead you to an adventure around every corner, where memories to last a lifetime will be made. Morgan

Big Muskie Bucket

Muskingum River

Helmick Covered Bridge

Family Fun around the campfire

SPRING INTO AMISH COUNTRY

AMISH COUNTRY

The parts of our state that Ohio’s Amish and Mennonite communities call home are infused with hard work and self-reliance. These destinations embody that do-it-yourself spirit. By Jim Vickers

LEHMAN’S, KIDRON

CREATE YOUR OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

Explore Amish Country

Harvest Ridge

Harvest Ridge provides a unique and expansive setting for both indoor and outdoor special events. With multiple buildings and spaces, we can help you create a memorable experience for your guests. Attentive staff and additional services all help to ease the stress of planning a gathering. Contact us for booking your special occasion! harvestridgeohio.com

LONE qui t shop Star

Lone Star Quilt Shop

Lone Star Quilts offers a great selection of fabrics, patterns, books and notions as well as Juki sewing machines and sergers. The store also stocks many handmade items such as quilts, wall hangers, table runners and much more. Stop in or call and we’ll be happy to help you.

facebook.com/LoneStarQuiltShop

Hummingbird Hill Flower FarmThe Wilderness Center

This 6-acre flower farm with a retail greenhouse offers an annual Sunset Dinner, lodging options, you-pick flowers, workshops and education, and proposal-planning services. It also hosts tour buses, private groups, weddings, parties and business retreats. Rent the farm and the 1951 red truck for photography.

hummingbirdhillflowerfarm.com

Connect with nature. Located in Amish Country, The Wilderness Center has over 12 miles of hiking trails, a nature center, nature playscape and gift shop for you to explore! wildernesscenter.org

Harvest Ridge

Hummingbird Hill Flower Farm

Lone Star Quilt Shop

The Wilderness Center

LET’S GO THERE!

LET’S GO THERE!

When it’s time for you, we’ll be ready.

When it’s time for you, we’ll be ready.

When it’s time for you, we’ll be ready.

You don’t come here for the new fangled or same old, same old. You come to recharge yourself. We’re happy to share our heritage, craftsmanship and carbs worthy of the calories with you. Come, step out of the mundane and plug into the peace of this place.

You don’t come here for the new fangled or same old, same old. You come to recharge yourself. We’re happy to share our heritage, craftsmanship and carbs worthy of the calories with you. Come, step out of the mundane and plug into the peace of this place.

You don’t come here for the new fangled or same old, same old. You come to recharge yourself. We’re happy to share our heritage, craftsmanship and carbs worthy of the calories with you. Come, step out of the mundane and plug into the peace of this place.

You don’t come here for the new fangled or same old, same old. You come to recharge yourself. We’re happy to share our heritage, craftsmanship and carbs worthy of the calories with you. Come, step out of the mundane and plug into the peace of this place.

330-674-2412

330-674-2412

• historicdowntownmillersburg.com

• historicdowntownmillersburg.com

330-674-2412

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• historicdowntownmillersburg.com

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AMISH COUNTRY

Keim Home Center

Nestled in Charm, this home-improvement center includes a gallery of woods that has become a destination for woodworkers.

Step through the front door of Keim Home Center in the tiny Holmes County village of Charm, and it’s immediately obvious that this store is different than the usual, big-box home-improvement retailer. The beautifully crafted stairways that lead to the store’s second level is just one of those indications.

So is the sign near the door noting that the store closes at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays (so its employees can get home to their families for dinner). The 125,000-square-foot showroom is only open until noon on Saturdays and closed on Sundays, which also

reflects the company’s values and how its employees are at the core of what makes Keim unique.

“I’ve worked in other companies and had a family business of my own, and it is just amazing how the people here care so much about taking care of everybody that comes in,” says Jim Smucker, who became president of Keim in 2019. “A lot of people will say when they walk in the door they can feel it, and you can.”

Robbie and Karen Keim are fourth-generation owners of the business, which Robbie’s great-grandfather founded in 1911. Robbie and his father, Bill Keim, were integral to the company growing into what it is today. The 50-acre campus in Charm not only houses the home center that stocks 65,000 individual products but also an onsite mill that produces lots of custom wood

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KEIM HOME CENTER

The Woodshed at Keim Home Center (top) offers a wealth of materials to create with.

AMISH COUNTRY

products, including molding and trim. Often, lumber from the mill goes to local craftsmen who create products that are in turn sold at the home center.

“One of the things that is important to us is being an important part of this community and marketing products that are made in this community,” Smucker says.

One of the most intriguing aspects of a visit to Keim Home Center is exploring the Woodshed, a section filled with specialty woods ranging from reclaimed barnwood to blocks of exotic species that grew in other parts of the world.

It is a destination for woodworkers and carvers alike and includes items such as long, rounded pieces of wood that can be turned into baseball bats and templates for popular guitar shapes available to those shopping for raw materials to craft their own musical instrument. The Woodshed, however, is not only the territory of the expert craftsman. It also includes tools and materials suited for smaller projects such as whittling and other entry-level forays into working with wood.

“We staff it with people who are woodworkers themselves,” Smucker says. “We have guys there who know what they’re talking about. People really appreciate that because they’re going to get expert advice.” 4465 St. Rte. 557, Millersburg 44654, 330/893-2251, keimhome.com

Jack-Pot Pottery & Ceramic Supply

This downtown Millersburg spot offers classes for those who want to get creative, as well as clay and other supplies for at-home potters.

Downtown Millersburg offers one of the few traditional main-street experiences travelers find while exploring Ohio’s Amish Country. Businesses along Jackson Street range from antique stores and a brewery to an ice cream shop and a farm-to-table restaurant. Tucked among them is Brittany Lee Sinnema-Jackson’s Jack-Pot Pottery & Ceramic Supply.

An experienced potter who graduated from Bluffton University with a degree in ceramics, Jackson operates an art studio that offers classes for those who want to take a spin on the pottery wheel. She is also a supplier of clay and glazes.

“We’re fully functional back here, from the clay and glaze all the way up,” Jackson says, motioning to the back of her downtown space, where a thin layer of dried clay is visible on the floor from a class earlier in the day. “Even if they decide to buy their own wheel or buy their own kiln, which they can from me, they can still get their supplies from me as well. We are the only clay distributor

in northeastern Ohio right now.”

There are classes offered for beginners and more experienced potters alike.

She offers five series of classes throughout the year that last six weeks each. A beginner’s class covers bowls, plates, cups, vases and more during its run.

“The last two weeks are self-guided, they get to work toward whatever they’d like to make,” Sinnema-Jackson explains, “which a lot of times has to do with making mugs and learning how to put handles on things and glazing.”

There is also a class suited to those who have been through the beginner course and just want to keep working on their craft. The studio also offers memberships that allow 24/7 access to the studio space.

Sinnema-Jackson adds that there are valuable lessons to be learned from the trial and error required as you begin to throw pottery on the wheel, including keeping a positive attitude when things don’t work out quite as expected.

“A lot of it is just sitting down, not beating yourself up and practicing,” she says. “If something flops, you can always reuse the clay. … with every little failure in life, you can learn something from it. That’s what ceramics is.” 144 W. Jackson St., Millersburg 44654, 419/792-0111, jack-potpottery.com

Beautifully crafted products show the possibilities when creating with wood.

AMISH COUNTRY

Lehman’s

Founded in 1955 as a store that served the Amish community, Lehman’s is now a destination for nonelectric items and homesteading supplies.

The original hardware store opened by the late Jay Lehman in 1955 is still part of Lehman’s today. You can tell where it was by the wood-plank floors that creak underfoot on the east side of what is now a 35,000-square-foot destination for those seeking nonelectric items and ways to embrace a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle.

When it opened in the Wayne County community of Kidron, the store focused on serving the local Amish community. Today, Lehman’s has a vast selection of nonelectric items, from small lamps that run on oil to refrigerators that run on gas, but it has also

grown over the years to stock kitchen items, pantry staples, toys, camping gear and more — all arranged into sections that make a visit an exploration as well.

Whether someone is just curious about starting their own garden or has progressed to the point where they’re ready to embrace living off the power grid, Lehman’s can assist them — as well as everyone in between.

“We want to help people take that next step … If you have no idea what you are doing, or you have 20 acres, and six cows and eight horses,” says Glenda Lehman Ervin, the store’s marketing director and the daughter of its founder. “When people come to us at the beginning of their journey, we want them to succeed.”

Those seeking to produce their own food frequently turn to Lehman’s for guidance. Ervin explains that between simple gardeners (who grow a little bit of food for

themselves) and hobby farmers (who grow enough to sell some to others), there are homesteaders, who produce enough food to feed their families with only the occasional trip to the grocery store. Because of the way they live, their need for cash is less than many families.

“They tend not to have credit, tend not to have fancy cars, tend to barter … and trade with the neighbors,” Ervin explains. “Think ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ In a way, it’s new and exciting and, in a way, it’s not, because that’s what people were doing 200 years ago. What has been lost is that legacy knowledge.”

Lehman’s can help fill in those gaps, but it also knows that most people who visit for the first time are beginners. For them, Ervin suggests things like cheesemaking, candle-making and growing small plants in a raised-top garden. The latter doesn’t require much space and offers a way to take those satisfying first steps toward getting closer to your food.

“In my house, we grow a salsa garden,” Ervin says. We have tomatoes separately, then we have cilantro, chives, basil, rosemary and we make fresh salsa. So, that’s our step.” 4779 Kidron Rd., 44618, 800/4385346, lehmans.com

Lehman’s in Kidron offers lots to explore (left). Raised garden beds are often a first step in growing your own food (above).

AMISH COUNTRY

Weaver Leather Supply

A long-established leather supplier, this business opened a store in 2023 that also offers classes, take-home kits and leather-working machines.

Cowhides in a variety of colors and textures fill the tables inside Weaver Leather Supply’s store in Millersburg. For leatherworkers, it offers the chance to see and feel the raw materials available, but the space was a relatively recent move for the company founded in 1973.

The business started by selling to manufacturers and businesses who used the leather to make products of their own, but within the past decade, Weaver Leather Supply found more individuals becoming interested in leathercraft.

Carlisle Antiques and More

Those searching for vintage finds to create unique looks for their homes should carve out some time to explore this treasure-filled spot tucked away just off state Route 39.

If you’re looking for interesting items to decorate your home, a trip to Carlisle Antiques and More promises a fun treasure hunt. You also just might find something you can’t leave without.

The antiques warehouse sits on a hilltop along state Route 39 between Berlin and Walnut Creek. So set your GPS and keep an eye out for the metal buffalo sculpture tucked back from the road with the businesses’ name on it and an arrow pointing up the hill. Once you wind back to the hilltop parking lot, which also serves an adjoining manufacturing business, you’ll see an assemblage of furniture, buggy wheels and more just under the overhang of one of the buildings that let you know you’re in the right place.

What sets Carlisle Antiques and More apart is the quality of what you’ll find inside and the experience of exploring it. The 25 to 30 vendors who sell their wares here set up areas that invite deeper browsing, and the themes can vary greatly as you walk from one part to the next. One minute you’re in an area filled with vintage soda signs, the next

“We’ve really seen a change in folks who are wanting to do more DIY. We talk about it as the Pinterest and Etsy era, but that’s truly what it’s become,” says Mae Miller, director of customer experience for Weaver.

Although it had long offered instructional videos and customer support via social media, the store, which opened in 2023, took that relationship to a new level.

“We developed a vision for being able to create a space where folks can come in and they can touch and feel these products,” Miller says. “[We wanted] to be able to have classes and host people here on-site.”

The inviting space inspires a curiosity about creating using leather. An adjoining room filled with tabletop machines — most made by the Weaver Master Tools brand — are available for purchase by those taking their leathercraft to the next level, but the store also serves novices looking to get started.

Kits with instructions line one wall, while folks can make their own belt in the store. A side room hosts classes of various skill levels in which participants complete a project they take home with them that day.

“We have found there are some people taking these classes who are somewhat experienced and looking to level up their game,” Miller says, “We’ve also found people who are bringing their mom out and looking for an experience.” 7540 County Rd. 201, Millersburg 44654, 800/9328371, weaverleathersupply.com

you’re passing by a collection of antique hand tools. Owner David Hershberger selects the vendors with a focus on those who have experience and are motivated to sell.

“I didn’t know anything about antiques when I started,” says Hershberger, who runs the business with his daughter. “I was at a crossroads in my career and this place was open for rent, and I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give it a whirl.’”

The store makes it easy to spend a couple hours exploring the range of eras and finds. The item I couldn’t leave without was a 1966 Snoopy aviator figure complete with pilot cap and goggles. There’s a good bet you’ll find something you like here too. 3205 St. Rte. 39, Millersburg 44654, 330/473-7215, facebook.com/carlisleantiques

Carlisle Antiques and More has items from 25 to 30 quality vendors.

Weaver Leather Supply’s store offers a hands-on experience for customers.

COLUMBUS

From revisiting “Titanic” at COSI to taking in a game at Huntington Park to exploring the outdoors, our capital city offers plenty to experience this spring and summer. By Emma Shinker

“TITANIC: THE ARTIFACT EXHIBITION” AT COSI

COLUMBUS

S AVE DATE

Check out these performances, festivals and events happening throughout Columbus.

ARNOLD SPORTS FESTIVAL

Feb 29–March 3

The Arnold Sports Festival returns to the Greater Columbus Convention Center and Ohio Expo Center. The festival, founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger, celebrates its 36th anniversary in 2024 with a diverse lineup of events such as strength and Olympic sports, seven IFBB Pro League contests and the Arnold Strongman Classic. arnoldsports.com

“Titanic” at COSI

As the clocks spring forward, visitors to Columbus’ Center of Science and Industry can travel back in time with “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” Opening March 9, the 10,000-square-foot exhibition runs through Sept. 2 and shares the captivating tale of the famous ship that met its tragic end after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic in 1912.

“It’s a really immersive experience that’s telling you the story of the ship from the beginning to the end,” says Kelli Kinzig, senior project manager at COSI.

The exhibition focuses on bringing vis-

itors into the stories of Titanic’s crew and passengers, from the construction of the ship and the excitement surrounding it all the way to its final moments in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912.

“There’s a lot of dramatic room re-creations, including the iconic grand staircase,” Kinzig notes.

Not only will the exhibition include re-creations of the luxurious rooms for first-class passengers but also those of third-class passengers that bring to light the disparities in the treatment of the different classes of people the ship carried. As with all exhibitions at COSI, this one has hands-on components for all ages, such

CHIHULY NIGHTS

March 9, April 6, May 4

Light up the evening at one of three Chihuly Nights scheduled this season at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This unique experience provides visitors with the chance to see illuminated installations of 18 works by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly set amongst the flora of the gardens. fpconservatory.org

COLUMBUS

as an iceberg that visitors can touch to feel how cold the water would have been the night the ship sank.

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” lives up to its name with over 200 artifacts from the shipwreck on display. Visitors can see a megaphone that may have been used to issue commands on the ship’s final night as well as a cut-glass light globe that would have illuminated passenger rooms and a telephone stand used for communication throughout the ship. Although this exhibition is curated by the same group that owns the permanent Titanic exhibitions in Las Vegas and Orlando, COSI’s version has artifacts from all classes of passengers that are not on display anywhere else. If a Titanic exhibition at COSI sounds familiar, it’s because the museum has hosted it twice before, in 2005 and 2010.

“It is being brought back by popular demand,” says Kinzig, who is part of the team that chooses and manages COSI’s traveling exhibitions. “It was very successful when we

had it in the past, and people always ask for it to come back.”

While at COSI, don’t forget to check out the rest of the exhibits. “The Nature of Color,” a collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, opens April 13 and runs through Sept. 2. COSI’s planetarium and permanent exhibits are consistent favorites, and the center’s live science demonstrations are a must-see during your visit.

This year also marks COSI’s 60th an niversary, so keep an eye on the museum’s website for updates about special events and activities throughout 2024. “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” comes at an additional $10 charge to a general admission ticket for COSI members, and an additional $15 charge for nonmembers. Pur chasing tickets online in advance is recommended as it will get you $5 off general admission. 333 W. Broad St., Columbus 43215, 614/228-2674, cosi.org

MAMMA MIA!

March 12–17

The touring production of “Mamma Mia!” takes the Ohio Theatre stage. The musical featuring the songs of Swedish pop group ABBA is set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi and follows the story of a daughter who is trying to find her real father before her wedding day — and without her mother’s suspicion. capa.com

OLIVIA RODRIGO

March 22

Grammy Award winner Olivia Rodrigo takes the stage at Nationwide Arena as part of her “Guts World Tour.” Expect Rodrigo to perform hits like “Good 4 U” and “Drivers License” from her four-time-platinum debut album, “Sour,” as well as “Vampire” from her 2023 release, “Guts.” nationwidearena.com

FALL OUT BOY

March 29

Fall Out Boy brings its “So Much For (2our) Dust” tour to the Schottenstein Center. Special guests Jimmy Eat World, Hot Mulligan and Carr open the show before Fall Out Boy performs songs from the band’s eighth album, “So Much (For) Stardust,” and other fan favorites. schottensteincenter.com

EGGS, PAWS AND CLAWS

March 29–30

Hop into the season with Eggs, Paws and Claws at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The two-day event on Easter weekend features a chance to snap pictures with the Easter Bunny and Eggbert as well as participate in Egg-Splore-NFind, an Easter egg hunt for the whole family. columbuszoo.org

A fan-favorite traveling exhibition returns to COSI and features stunning Titanic room re-creations as well as hands-on display pieces and more than 200 genuine artifacts from aboard the ship.

COLUMBUS

Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks

For a free, fun way to spend some time outside, the Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks have activities and attractions at 20 different parks scattered throughout the region.

In the heart of downtown Columbus, check out Scioto Audubon Metro Park. This 100-acre park boasts a playground, sand volleyball courts and paved paths along the Scioto River. For teenagers and adults, the park’s obstacle course (complete with monkey bars, a log run and a cargo climb) is a great way to get moving after a sedentary winter. Visitors can also stop by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center for programs focused on birds and migration as well as information about the park, which the National Audubon Society has designated an Important Bird Area.

On the west side of the city, Quarry Trails offers paved paths ideal for strollers and bikes as well

UPPER DECK GOLF AT THE SHOE

April 19 –21

Ohio State football fans have the opportunity to make a drive at The Horseshoe, taking their swing from the upper deck of the stadium toward greens on the field. While waiting for their tee time, golfers can visit the clubhouse to enjoy live music, golf challenges, food and drinks. schottensteincenter.com

OHIOANA BOOK FESTIVAL

April 20

Spend a day among fellow book lovers and discover the next great book for your reading list during this annual event at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s

main branch. Visit with your favorite Ohio authors during this free festival that features over 100 writers from across the state. ohioana.org

EARTH DAY COLUMBUS

April 27

Celebrate and give back during this celebration at Genoa Park in downtown Columbus. The event tops off a week of service such as tree planting, beautification, cleanups and more done by community volunteers. Help commemorate the week of hard work at this gathering that includes vendor booths and food trucks. earthdaycolumbus.org

OUTDOOR

UNIQUE

COSI SCIENCE FESTIVAL

May 1–4

Bring the kids to explore the COSI Science Festival. This four-day, fun-forward learning event features community STEAM programs cross central Ohio that culminate in the Big Science Celebration on May 4 that hosts more than 100 exhibitor stations focused on hands-on science experiences for kids. cosi.org

SONIC TEMPLE

May 16–19

This loud and larger-than-life festival makes its return to Historic Crew Stadium this spring, with 2024 passes and camping accommodations now available. The four-day outdoor art and music festival has four separate stages featuring a heavy-hitting lineup of performers that includes Disturbed, Slipknot, Machine Head and more. sonictemplefestival.com

COLUMBUS ASIAN FESTIVAL

May 25–26

Founded in 1995, the Columbus Asian Festival promotes diversity and inclusivity during a two-day celebration of culture at Franklin Park. Attracting more than 100,000 visitors each year, the festival includes events such as a dragon boat race and ping-pong tournament as well as live performances. asian-festival.org

as a variety of short trails. Be sure to take the one that leads to the park’s 25-foot Millikin Falls. Other popular activities include a mountain-bike course and free kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard programs. For something more advanced, try tackling the urban via ferrata, a course that features rungs and cables and is the first of its kind in the nation.

Another highlight of the county’s Metro Parks family is the 44-acre Homestead in Hilliard.

“It’s what a lot of people might refer to as a pocket park,” says Jill Snyder, visitor en gagement manager for Columbus & Frank lin County Metro Parks.

Despite its relatively small size, Home stead contains plenty of memorable attrac tions. Take the kids to peek inside the blue train caboose or watch the fish in the lake before heading to one of two playgrounds. For more information about these and other Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks, visit metroparks.net.

PHOTO BY ALLI MULLIKIN FOR ROBB MCCORMICK PHOTOGRAPHY; ASIAN FESTIVAL: COURTESY OF COLUMBUS ASIAN FESTIVAL; PARKS, TOP: K

Scioto Audubon Metro Park (top) is in the heart of downtown Columbus and features sand volleyball, an obstacle course and a nature center. Enjoy one of two playgrounds at Homestead Metro Park in Hilliard (above).

It would be easy to tell you to pick a season to visit, but that wouldn't be fair to the other three because they all hold an appeal that is best experienced by being here when it's happening. Like all good things, each season ends, leaving us to wonder if we'd made the most of it. Don't leave it to chance or regret. Lace-up the boots or tennis shoes and pick a month. All twelve of them are spectacular in Licking County. | EXPLORELC.ORG/SEASONS

Columbus Clippers Baseball

Cheer on the Columbus Clippers, the city’s Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, at Huntington Park this season. Opening Day is April 2 against the Omaha Storm Chasers. The season also kicks off with the Tuesday home-game staple, Dime-A-Dog night, where you can feed the family for just 10 cents a hot dog. That’s just the start of the fun though.

“We have things going on all season long for families,” says Steve Kuilder, the team’s director of marketing and in-game entertainment. Sunday home games are Family Days, with an early 1:05 p.m. start time, special ticket promotions and a post-game fun run around the bases. Puppypalooza days also return this year, where fans can register to bring their dogs along and take a lap around the field together prior to the game.

For anyone worried about their kids’ ability to sit through the length of a baseball game, the ballpark offers inflatables and a splash pad (once the weather is warm enough) that provide places to play that can entertain even the most energetic kids. Little ones will also have fun searching the ballpark for the team’s mascots, Krash and LouSeal.

Frequent attendees can join the Clippers’ MVP Kids Club. In addition to discounted tickets, members get the opportunity to stand along the baselines during the national anthem at each Sunday home game. Kuilder recommends buying tickets online, but they can also be purchased over the phone or in-person at the Huntington Park box office. 330 Huntington Park Ln., Columbus 43215, 614/462-5250, clippersbaseball.com

CHICKEN & BEER FESTIVAL

June 1

The combination of chicken and beer just screams summer, and Dodge Park will be serving up both all day long during this favorite annual festival that features food vendors, breweries, merchants and artists. A portion of proceeds benefit Use Your Ears, a local nonprofit that provides music resources to youth in Columbus. chickenandbeerfestcolumbus.com

GUY FIERI’S FLAVORTOWN FEST

June 1–2

Bring your appetite to The Lawn at CAS for Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Fest, a two-day mix of food, music and fun. The flavorful experience includes live music from Greta Van Fleet, Bret Michaels and Kane Brown as well as classic carnival rides and stacked plates of food. flavortownfest.com

June 3–8

Every day is Taco Tuesday during Columbus Taco Week. What started as an effort to support local businesses in 2020 has become a weeklong, fiesta-forward event that invites locals to enjoy $2 tacos in support of Feed the Kids Columbus. A full list of participating restaurants can be found online. columbustacoweek.com

THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

June 3–9

See some of the PGA’s biggest names during The Memorial Tournament at Columbus native Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin. The tournament raises money for charities in Ohio and beyond, and members of the community can purchase tickets to watch the action on one of the state’s best courses. thememorialtournament.com

COLUMBUS ARTS FESTIVAL

June 7–9

The Columbus Arts Festival returns to the downtown riverfront for its 62nd year. This visual and performing arts festival draws more than 500,000 people annually to browse works by a diverse lineup of over 225 artists. The event also includes food and drink, live music, dance, theater and more. columbusartsfestival.org

COLUMBUS

STONEWALL COLUMBUS PRIDE FESTIVAL

June 14–15

Franklin Park

Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

A visit to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is the perfect way to celebrate the coming of spring. Bring the whole family to explore the beautiful gardens and the main conservatory building.

Seventy-five of the conservatory’s 80 acres are accessible without admission, and the Children’s Garden — included with the purchase of a general admission ticket — is designed especially for little ones to explore.

Inside the conservatory, there are different biomes to walk through, from the desert to the rainforest. March 16 brings a new bonsai display that will remain on view throughout the summer and fall.

Spring also brings the conservatory’s annual “Blooms & Butter-

Columbus is a welcoming, LGBTQfriendly city, a fact exemplified in this annual march and festival presented by Stonewall Columbus that is one of the largest of its kind in the Midwest. This two-day event at Goodale Park celebrates inclusivity and identity with food, performances, community resources and more. stonewallcolumbus.org/pride

COLUMBUS AIR SHOW

June 14–16

The United States Air Force Thunderbirds make their return to our capital city for yet another exhilarating

appearance. This three-day event held at Rickenbacker International Airport also includes appearances by historic aircraft, such as the B-25 Mitchell Bomber Rosie’s Reply and the B-17 Flying Fortress Yankee Lady, as well as a variety of aerobatic performers. columbusairshow.com

JUNETEENTH OHIO FESTIVAL

June 15–16

Celebrate the commemoration of the end of slavery following the Civil War during this festival that returns to Genoa Park for its 27th year. The annual event

flies,” which runs from Feb. 24 to July 7 and is included with admission. Beloved across generations, 2024 marks the 30th year of the event in which visitors are invited to meander among up to 2,000 live butterflies in the Pacific Island Water Garden biome.

“A crowd favorite is the blue morpho,” says Bonnie DeRubertis, the conservatory’s associate director of exhibitions. “That one has these really vibrant, beautiful wings that are almost a cobalt blue color.” Most of the species in the exhibition are not native to the United States, so “Blooms and Butterflies” offers visitors the chance to see butterflies that they wouldn’t find in their backyard.

Children and adults alike will also enjoy learning about and seeing the lab where chrysalis hang until the new butterflies are ready to emerge, take flight and be released into the biome. 1777 E. Broad St., Columbus 43203, 614/715-8000, fpconservatory.org

features food, music and more, while promoting ethnic diversity with an emphasis on cultural unity. Proceeds from the event benefit factual-literacy initiatives. juneteenthohio.com

BUCKEYE COUNTRY SUPERFEST

June 22–23

Grab your cowboy hats and head for The Horseshoe as a showcase of country music acts returns to Columbus for the seventh summer. Zach Bryan headlines both nights with other acts on the bill during the two-day event including Billy Strings, Turnpike Troubadours, Charley Crockett, Levi Turner and 49 Winchester. schottensteincenter.com

Visit the Toledo Zoo and come closer to adventure! You don’t have to roam very far to come face-to-face with fun!

Visit toledozoo.org to purchase tickets.

TOLEDO

See paintings from renowned Italian painter Caravaggio, celebrate the legacy of the Jeep and explore the diversity of the Glass City’s culinary scene. By Kristina Smith

TOLEDO JEEPFEST

An Insta-Worthy Food Scene where you can experience everything from Food Truck Row on Thursdays to a steakhouse that’s worthy of a pic or two. Award-winning Market Days, free live music, classic car shows, ice carving competitions, and many community events and parades will keep your newsfeed fresh with content all year long.

Celebrate History! Visit the largest reconstructed wooden fort on the continent at Fort Meigs and learn about Ohio’s role in the War of 1812, or explore local history and a vast array of local Native American artifacts at the Spafford House Museum. Discover historic gems throughout the city with the Best of the Burg geocache mobile experience. It’s free, fun, and educational.

Take Advantage of the Entertainment District and grab a show at the comedy club, try your skill at vintage pinball, take in a first-run movie, or stroll the Levis Commons DORA and check out the local and national retail brands, all just a quick commute to high-caliber lodging that also offers conference and ballroom rental spaces.

Get Outside, Get Into Nature and enjoy public fishing, kayaking, biking and hiking trails, or grab a bench at one of the 11 city parks to people watch, play pickle ball, or experience the stunning sunset panorama at Riverside Park. Stroll or drive the free Sculpture Walk at Woodlands Park, comprised of 14 sculptures within eyesight of the all-inclusive playground Fort Imagination.

The Picturesque Historic District boasts a local shopping scene you’re sure to love, and enjoy DORA while you stroll. You’ll also discover amazing eateries and a candle-making experience like no other. Enjoy a salt cave or a massage while you’re here and take time to relax & fully experience what makes Perrysburg so photobook memorable.

Toledo Museum of Art

See an exhibition of four paintings by renowned Italian painter Michelangelo da Caravaggio this spring.

Four masterpieces by an Italian painter who changed the way people viewed artwork and the techniques painters used for generations after him are part of a highly anticipated special exhibition this spring at the Toledo Museum of Art. “The Brilliance of Caravaggio: Four Paintings in Focus” features pieces from the 1500s by Michelangelo da Caravaggio, a late-Renaissance painter who used dramatic, theatrical light and shadow to emphasize the themes in his work.

Caravaggio asked everyday people who had irregular or rough features to serve as models representing saints and Biblical figures, which was unheard of at that time, says Lawrence W. Nichols, curator emeritus at the Toledo Museum of Art, who has been working on this exhibition for the past six years.

“He said, ‘I’m going to paint what I see and feel from the streets,’ ” Nichols says.

On display at the museum through April 14, the exhibition high-

lights Caravaggio works on loan from other institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and four works in the museum’s collections from painters influenced by Caravaggio’s style. This is the first time since 1951 that a Caravaggio work has been on display at the Toledo Museum of Art and the first time in 11 years that this many Caravaggio paintings have been shown together in the United States.

Caravaggio’s “The Cardsharps” is the work that made the artist famous and propelled him into commissions of religious paintings for churches in Rome. In this painting, three men who look like average people of the time are playing cards, and it is evident two of them are working together to cheat the third. The painting represents people doing something wrong, and it challenges the viewers to think about their own lives, Nichols says.

“It’s the immediacy of the imagery,” he says. “[Caravaggio] also lets us into the scene. People did and do see themselves in this kind of imagery.”

In addition to “The Brilliance of Caravaggio: Four Paintings in Focus,” the Toledo Museum of Art has two other special exhibitions travelers can see during their visit. The ongoing “Expanding Hori-

CARAVAGGIO (MICHELANGELO MERISI), “SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI IN ECSTASY;” THE ELLA GALLUP SUMNER AND MARY CATLIN SUMNER COLLECTIO

“SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI IN ECSTASY”

TOLEDO MUSEUM OF ARTTOLEDO, OHIO

TOLEDO, OHIO

TOLEDO ZOO & AQUARIUMTOLEDO, OHIO

GLASS CITY METROPARK

TOLEDO

zons: The Evolving Character of a Nation” features American art from the museum’s collections and is an experiment to reimagine how the museum displays its art, says Adam Levine, director and chief executive officer at the Toledo Museum of Art. By 2027, the museum plans to completely reinstall its works, effectively creating a new museum within the current one.

Levine explains that “Expanding Horizons: The Evolving Character of a Nation” focuses on two themes in American art: myth-making and religion.

“This is an exhibit about exploring what makes us American,” he says. “It’s complicated.”

It allows the museum to expand the story the collections tell and consider the whole breadth of American history. Combining pottery created by Native Americans, glasswork, paintings, sculpture and textiles, the exhibition looks at origin stories in mythology and religious influence.

Another special exhibit “Beth Lipman: ReGift” features a large-scale glass work created in the museum’s Glass Pavilion hot shop. Lipman re-created the parlor of the Toledo home of Florence and Edward Libbey, who used their wealth to help establish the museum. Using white and transparent glass, Lipman created the chairs and table, vases, wall art and other features of the room. “Beth Lipman: ReGift” is on display through Sept. 1.

Toledo JeepFest

This annual celebration embraces the city’s pride as the birthplace of the Jeep.

Each summer, 1,500 Jeeps in a wide range of models, colors and custom designs line up and parade through downtown during Toledo JeepFest’s signature event. Highly customized Jeeps as well as those seen on the road every day from Cherokees to Patriots to Wranglers gather to pay homage to the city’s role as the birthplace of the beloved vehicle.

“It’s really meant to be for everybody, whether you’re a mom who goes in your Jeep to get groceries or an off-roader,” says Whitney Rofkar, Toledo JeepFest event director. “It’s a huge spectacle and a huge source of pride.”

After the Jeep parade, which covers five city blocks, vehicle owners park downtown, where festival attendees can see the different models, unique paint jobs and customizations. The parade is the centerpiece of the three-day event, which runs Aug. 2 through

4, and includes vendors, an exhibitor hall of historic and custom Jeeps at Glass City Center, food trucks, speakers on a variety of Jeep-related topics and a kids zone with a remote-controlled Jeep course. Concerts are scheduled downtown throughout Toledo JeepFest, including a performance by country music star Jordan Davis on Aug. 2 at the Huntington Center.

Since 1941, when Toledo companies teamed up to produce the Jeep for the United States military during World War II, the city has had a deep connection to the vehicle. The Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are still assembled in Toledo today.

Auto workers helped drive the creation of Toledo JeepFest in 2016, the 75th anniversary of Jeep. Last year, an estimated 72,000 people came from 40 states (including a participant who brought his Jeep from Hawaii) and three countries for the festival.

“It’s been wildly successful,” Rofkar says. “There’s a really emotional tie to Jeep. It’s just a huge source of pride that Toledo makes Jeeps that are known around the world.”

See Caravaggio’s “The Musicians” at the Toledo Museum of Art (above). Toledo Jeepfest has fun for all ages (right).

Food Festivals

From German fare to the city’s best pizzas, plan a visit around one of these events.

Throughout the summer, Toledo-area food and drink festivals celebrate barbecue from across the country, authentic German fare and some of the area’s best pizza. The food and drinks are accompanied by live entertainment and family-friendly activities and make for fun events to include as part of a visit.

Celebrating its 40th year in 2024, the annual Northwest Ohio Rib Off brings pitmasters from throughout Toledo and across the country to compete for the title of local favorite, national favorite and judges’ favorite from July 26 through 28 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds in Maumee. Entertainment during the event includes rock and country music concerts and a kids zone with inflatables, face-painting and laser tag.

American organizations in Toledo continue the tradition with their children and grandchildren, says Mike Willinger, the festival chairman whose father got him involved in the annual celebration at age 12. The day before the event begins, dozens of volunteers peel potatoes to make the festival’s renowned homemade German potato salad.

A tradition started in 1966 and continued by generations of families, the German-American Festival offers three days of authentic German food, beer, traditional dancing, music, games and more Aug. 23 through 25 at Oak Shade Grove in Oregon, just east of Toledo, where the event has been held each year since 1987.

Bands from across the country perform, beer gardens serve imported German beer and craft brews, and volunteer cooks dish up potato pancakes, brats, sauerkraut and other German favorites. Festivalgoers can even pick up German garb, such as lederhosen, from some of the vendors, and there are rides for kids.

With nearly six decades of experience, many of the families who started the festival with a group of German

“We peel upwards of 2,000 pounds of potatoes,” Willinger says. “We have a potato salad chairman, and her job is to follow the recipe we’ve followed for years. It seems to be the most popular recipe we have. Everybody raves about it.”

In Sylvania, the 12th annual Pizza Palooza, which is planned for July 19 and 20, offers pizza by the slice or a whole pie, with choices ranging from simple favorites like pepperoni and cheese to specialty pizzas made by restaurants across northwest Ohio. Attendees can sample different varieties and styles and vote for their favorite while listening to live music at Centennial Terrace, which partners with the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce each year to host the event. A kids zone gives families and young ones plenty of activities to enjoy between slices.

The Northwest Ohio Rib Off celebrates all things barbecue at a fun-filled three-day event held in late July.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BLADE; TOP LEFT: REBECCA BENSON;

TOP RIGHT: KURT STEISS

TOLEDO

Dining Scene

From upscale dining to casual fare, the city’s culinary offerings span a world of flavors.

Toledo offers cuisines that span the globe and dining offerings that range from upscale to casual fare. Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar serves dishes inspired by those chef Moussa Salloukh grew up eating from his mother’s and grandmother’s kitchens.

“I took everything I grew up on, all the authentic stuff and put kind of a hip twist on it,” says Salloukh, whose family emigrated from Lebanon to Toledo when he was 3. “We’re able to hit every nook and cranny of the Mediterranean. It gives me the latitude to kind of explore and do what I want to do and be myself and show Toledo some stuff it normally wouldn’t see.”

Inside the cozy, exposed-brick building, diners sip on Souk’s signature cocktails, such as the Turkish old-fashioned or Turkish coffee made from beans roasted in-house, and dine on seasonally changing dishes such as hummus, lamb shanks and grilled octopus diavola.

Kengo Sushi & Yakitori brings another flavor to downtown Toledo with its 26-seat bar for sushi and yakitori. A popular experience is the reservations-required Omakase, which means “leave it up to the chef.” For upscale dishes in a casual environment, Registry Bistro serves modern fare with a Midwestern flair that changes seasonally. The Scotch olives and the Midwestern meatloaf burger are available all the time, as are vegan and gluten-free offerings.

Just outside Toledo in Perrysburg, Rosaria’s on 3rd Street offers an upscale option for Italian dining. The spot serves gourmet pizzas, strombolis and higher-end dishes such as filet mignon, lamb chops and chicken marsala with a Sicilian flair.

Brunch and lunch are the specialty at Focaccia’s in downtown Toledo. Patrons can enjoy mimosa flights with juices made by Focaccia’s head bartender and drinks that use herbs from the garden located next to the restaurant’s outdoor seating.

“People know our reputation of fresh, made-fromscratch food,” says owner Ed Beczynski. “We make everything in house.”

LEARN MORE

To find out more about these destinations and events, visit these websites.

Brunch options include chicken and waffles with bourbon pecan syrup and the ever-popular The Cure All, a potato pancake with sausage, ham, eggs, mushrooms, cheese and more. Saturday and Sunday brunches feature music ranging from polka to pop.

For Irish fare, The Blarney offers beer-battered fish and chips, house-made corned beef and traditional Irish boxties (potato pancakes with corned beef or salmon), as well as 24 taps of beer. The Adams Street Cafe smokes all its meats, from salmon to turkey to brisket. A popular stop for burgers and sandwiches, the cafe also has standout entrees such as poutine, baked mac and cheese and ramen bowls.

Toledo Museum of Art toledomuseum.org

FESTIVALS

Toledo JeepFest toledojeepfest.com

German-American Festival germanamericanfestival.net

Northwest Ohio Rib Off nworiboff.com

RESTAURANTS

The Adams Street Cafe theadamsstcafe.com

The Blarney theblarneyirishpub.com

Focaccia’s focaccias419.com

Registry Bistro registrybistro.com

Rosaria’s on 3rd Street rosariason3rd.com

Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar soukkitchenbar.com

Pizza Palooza centennialterrace.org

Kengo Sushi & Yakitori kengotoledo.com

Scallop dish (above) and pizza (left) from Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar

Home to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve; hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails; a conveniently located ski resort and some of the best rock climbing and whitewater rafting on the East Coast, Southern West Virginia is a mecca for adventurers and families alike. With every season comes something new to enjoy. From spring wildflowers and summertime watering holes to fall foliage and snow-covered slopes, Southern West Virginia is the perfect destination for any forecast.

Start planning your trip now.

“One of the

most beautiful places to see in the USA”

WEST VIRGINIA

By Chez Chesak

These mountain towns serve as great bases for exploring the wealth of outdoor adventures,

WEST VIRGINIA

Beckley

Browse a market that showcases works by artists from across the state, visit a former coal mine and embrace outdoor adventure outside of town.

As southern West Virginia’s largest population center, Beckley is a major shopping and entertainment area for the region. To start, Tamarack Marketplace art gallery displays more than 20,000 works by some 2,800 juried artists from all 55 West Virginia counties.

Nearby, the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine provides travelers the opportunity to explore a former working mine, complete with the experience of riding in a “man car” that holds 35 people. Veteran miners guide the tours, which last about 35 minutes. (Be sure to bring a light jacket as temperatures in the mine hover around 58 degrees year-round.) Additionally, the Coal Camp, which has a museum and gift shop, offers the chance to step inside a restored coal-camp house, one-room miner’s shanty and school.

Just minutes from downtown Beckley, the 613acre Piney Creek Preserve & Rec Area has two waterfalls on the Piney Creek Trail that are check-in points for the state’s West Virginia Waterfall Trail. Those who want to venture out a little farther should check out the peaceful Grandview area about 12 miles outside of Beckley, which offers sweeping vistas of the New River. Head to the Main Overlook to take in outstanding views of New River Gorge National Park & Preserve from 1,400 feet above the roaring waters.

Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine beckley.org/coal-mine

The Chocolate Moose chocolatemoosewv.com

Grandview is also home to Theatre West Virginia, which stages outdoor plays and concerts from June through August.

Part of the Raleigh County Parks and Recreation Authority, Lake Stephens, located about 10 miles west of Beckley, has a park of more than 2,300 acres and a 272-surface-acre mountain lake for boating, fishing and swimming. There’s a marina, concession stand, beach, water park and splash pad, disc golf course, RV and tent camping, and cabin rentals.

While you’re in Beckley, don’t miss The Chocolate Moose coffee shop. Not only does it offer freshly roasted coffee, hand-scooped ice cream and healthy fruit smoothies, it’s also home to a shaded, 18-hole miniature golf course as well as the Outside-In Gym, which offers bouldering and top-rope climbing.

Grandview nps.gov/neri

Lake Stephens raleighcountyparks.org/ lake-stephens

Piney Creek Preserve & Rec Area wvlandtrust.org

Tamarack Marketplace tamarackwv.com

Theatre West Virginia theatrewestvirginia.org

Grandview, about 12 miles outside Beckley (top); visitors at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (above)

WHERE ALMOST HEAVEN BEGINS

Harpers Ferry Bolivar Charles Town Shepherdstown

In Je erson County, historic trails lead you along majestic rivers, through a national park, and to endless outdoor adventures. Our welcoming towns make you feel at home and sometimes a voice from the past will echo in the breeze. Je erson County is your rst step to exploring West Virginia. Take it and you will quickly realize this is Where Almost Heaven Begins.

WEST VIRGINIA

Elkins

Take a train ride into the mountains, visit the Monongahela National Forest and explore the heritage festivals tied to this part of the state.

In Randolph County, you can explore the lush Monongahela National Forest, enjoy museums and historic sites, or immerse yourself in the culture of a small Swiss village.

The dense Monongahela National Forest (or “Mon Forest,” as locals call it) encompasses more than 919,000 acres. There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain and gravel biking, fishing and cross-country skiing.

Head to the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad in Elkins for scenic train excursions through the national forest that include an “S” curve tunnel, a bridge crossing and rolling mountain views. The four-hour, 48-mile trip culminates at the High Falls of Cheat, an 18-foot-high, 150-foot-wide waterfall.

Originally built in 1893 as a senator’s summer retreat, Graceland Inn in Elkins is poised on the hillside of the campus of Davis & Elkins College and commands a 20-mile scenic view of the surrounding area. This beautifully restored Victorian mansion offers five rooms and fine dining at its Yonder restaurant.

In the summer, plan your trip around the West Virginia Wild and Wonderful Celtic Festival and Highland Games, which offers traditional Scottish feats of strength, dancers and entertainment, a longbow competition, activities for children, Celtic foods, pipe and drum bands, and local crafts. The Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins hosts its Summer Workshops, a threeweek festival celebrating arts such as bluegrass, blues and zydeco music; Cajun, Irish and contra dance; and stone, wood and metal working.

Swiss and German settlers founded the Randolph County town of Helvetia, located roughly an hour’s drive southwest of Elkins, in 1869, and the community embraces its Germanic culture. Just before Fat Tuesday each year, the mountain town celebrates the end of winter during Fasnacht. The event encompasses a parade, musicians, artistic masks and square dancing, all of which culminates in the burning of an effigy of Old Man Winter in the evening. Summer travelers can stop in at The Hütte Restaurant to partake in authentic fare such as bratwurst, sauerbraten, and rösti. Be sure to save room for the peach cobbler.

Augusta Heritage Center augustaartsandculture.org

Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad mountainrailwv.com

Graceland Inn & Yonder gracelandinnwv.com

The Hütte Restaurant facebook.com/ TheHutteRestaurant

Monongahela National Forest fs.usda.gov/mnf

West Virginia Wild and Wonderful Celtic Festival and Highland Games wvcelticfestandgames.com

Top to bottom: festival at Augusta Heritage Center; Monongahela National Forest; The Mossy Merchant in Elkins

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ELKINS-RANDOLPH COUNTY TOURISM

Family Time

From exploring history to the science of tomorrow, your family can discover the world right here in the Greater Parkersburg, West Virginia area.

At Discovery World on Market, learning is anything but a spectator sport. Get hands-on with three floors of fun, kid-friendly activities and experiments that spark the senses and ignite the imagination.

Kids and adults will love a visit to Blennerhassett Island State Park . The whole family will enjoy the scenic sternwheel riverboat trip, the horse-drawn covered-wagon ride, and a tour of the beautifully reconstructed mansion.

An afternoon bike ride on the North Bend Rail Trail is a great way to get some exercise and take in the scenic beauty of the area.

SPEND QUALITY TIME IN GREATER PARKERSBURG AND RECONNECT WITH YOUR FAMILY.

WEST VIRGINIA

Cathedral Cafe

Historic Fayette Theater

The Hobbit Hole facebook.com/thehobbithol

Love Hope Center for the Arts lovehopearts.org

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve nps.gov/neri

Southside Junction Tap House facebook.com/ SouthsideJunction

TapHouse

Wild Blue Adventure Co. wildblueadventure company.com

Wood Iron Eatery woodironeatery.com

The 304 facebook.com/ The304deliciouslysinful

Fayetteville

Visit New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, choose from a variety of outdoor excursions and enjoy great food when your adventures are done for the day.

Fayetteville offers great local shopping, entertainment venues and a rich mix of recreational activities, but there is also a surprising array of eateries located in this southern West Virginia town of fewer than 2,900 residents.

The Cathedral Cafe offers all-day breakfast and a lineup of lunch options that includes a variety of paninis (just be sure to get there early on the weekends), while The 304 offers great sandwiches, wings, burgers, and other fare. Arrowhead Bike Farm prepares German street food with a twist, creating dishes that are ready to pair with a lineup of various craft beers. There are picnic tables and firepits, a mountain bike shop, camping opportunities and even a pump track for the little ones.

Part of the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail, the Historic Fayette Theater hosts a variety of performances throughout the year. Travelers can also

enjoy live music and participate in trivia nights at Southside Junction Tap House or opt for the fromscratch breakfast menu at Wood Iron Eatery.

Many of Fayetteville’s boutique stores are walkable in the historic downtown and offer everything from outdoor gear to handcrafted collectibles. Find vintage knickknacks at The Hobbit Hole or take in local artwork at the Love Hope Center for the Arts.

Encompassing more than 72,000 acres, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve presents a swath of recreational opportunities. There are spectacular and spine-tingling catwalk tours beneath the 876-foot-high New River Gorge Bridge, one of the longest single-span arch bridges in the world. The renowned Bridge Day celebration held on the third Saturday in October brings daredevils from around the globe to BASE jump off the bridge.

Local outfitters in the area provide opportunities for whitewater rafting, zip-line and aerial adventures, mountain biking, rock climbing and stand-up paddleboarding. To really get above it all, Wild Blue Adventure Co. offers scenic and stunt flights in a vintage Stearman biplane.

Arrowhead Bike Farm arrowheadbikefarm.com

thecathedralcafe.com

fayettetheater.com

New River Gorge Bridge (top); aerial view of Fayetteville (above); Cathedral Cafe (right)

WEST VIRGINIA

Morgantown

Enjoy a mix of downtown restaurants and breweries, explore Coopers Rock State Forest and delve into history in the nearby community of Arthurdale.

Situated on the Monongahela River and home to West Virginia University, Morgantown is not only brimming with gold-and-blue school spirit but also vibrant nightlife, well-regarded restaurants and a cornucopia of shopping and art.

Downtown is a mix of retail businesses, residential units and some 35 restaurants, cafes, clubs and taverns, most of which are located in turn-of-thecentury buildings. Highlights include the 83-room historic Hotel Morgan and the equally historic The Metropolitan Theatre. Founded in 1924 and billed as “West Virginia’s most beautiful playhouse,” the venue hosts nationally touring performers and local artists.

When it’s time to eat, The Iron Horse Tavern and Table 9 both offer gastropub fare, while Mountain State Brewing Co. and Morgantown Brewing Co. both have taprooms in town that serve food. Other dining options include the steakhouse Bourbon Prime and the Italian fare of Oliverio’s Ristorante. The 400-acre Mylan Park complex in Morgan-

town contains 14 different indoor and outdoor fa cilities, including athletic fields and some 180,000 square feet of indoor sport, recreation and event venues. There is an aquatic center, track-and-field complex, cross-country course, community center, event center and RV parking.

Bourbon Prime bourbonprime.com

For outdoor adventure, head to local favorite Coopers Rock State Forest, which spans nearly 13,000 acres. Located off Interstate 68 and just a short drive northeast of Morgantown, the state forest includes canyon overlooks, historical sites, picnic areas, 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, sandstone cliffs for climbing and bouldering, a trout-filled lake and a nearby river. Be sure to take in the 360-degree views from the Coopers Rock overlook.

If you want to explore history, head to Arthurdale, located about 15 miles southeast of Morgantown. Established in 1933 as the nation’s first New Deal Homestead Community, it provided a new life for many who were suffering during the Great Depression. The New Deal Homestead Museum showcases a forge brimming with original tools, a period service station, the original administration building and a restored homestead. The Craft Shop offers Appalachian crafts and quality gifts.

Coopers Rock State Forest wvstateparks.com

Hotel Morgan hotelmorgan.com

The Iron Horse Tavern ironhorsetvrn.com

The Metropolitan Theatre morgantownmet.com

New Deal Homestead Museum arthurdaleheritage.org

9 dinetable9.com

Oliverio’s Ristorante oliveriosristorante.com

Table

The college town of Morgantown offers restaurants and more to explore.

STONEWALL LAKE & RESORT

LAMBERT’S WINERY

STONECOAL LAKE

APPALACHIAN GLASS

Where Legends are Made

Boyhood home of Stonewall Jackson . The best musky fishing in the state. The largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America. Home to West Virginia’s most scenic and delicious winery 18 championship holes designed by Arnold Palmer Handcut glass demonstrations at Appalachian Glass Destination for your next legendary get-away. It’s Stonewall Country.

CREATE LEGENDARY ADVENTURES AT STONEWALLCOUNTRY.COM

WEST VIRGINIA

Davis & Thomas

Make a trip to Blackwater Falls State Park, explore a portion of the expansive Dolly Sods Wilderness and enjoy the food and drink these twin mountain towns offer.

Nestled in the heart of Tucker County, the tiny mountain town of Davis (population 588) is perched on the edge of the Monongahela National Forest and provides a perfect gateway to outdoor adventures. Nearby Blackwater Falls State Park is known for its namesake waterfall, a 57-foot beauty that runs with amber, tannin-tinted waters. There are 20 miles of hiking trails, disc golf, a snack bar and a cozy lodge.

Within the Monongahela National Forest, the 17,371-acre Dolly Sods Wilderness is known for its unique ecosystem, wideopen spaces and fantastic sunrise views. The Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge is the largest wetland complex in the state at 8,500 acres. Travelers can explore 31 miles of trails for hiking and 23 miles for biking or horseback riding and see nearly 200 species of birds throughout the year.

Food finds in Davis include the hearty, West Virginia-inspired burritos at Hellbender Burritos, where the namesake offering, The Hellbender, features shrimp or chicken in a spicy garlic Buffalo sauce with rice and homemade blue cheese dressing. Housed in a former steamship office, Sirianni’s Pizza Cafe churns out piping-hot pies as well as pasta dishes, hoagies and salads. Head to Milo’s Cafe and Restaurant at the Bright Morning Inn to enjoy poke bowls, a half-pound burger, soups and starters.

After a day spent exploring the outdoors, a refreshment at Stumptown Ales in Davis may be in order. Lauded as one of the state’s best breweries, it is known for its hop-centric offerings. Head to the town of Thomas, located 3 miles from Davis, to visit Mountain State Brewing Co., which has the distinction of being one of West Virginia’s oldest distributing microbreweries. It poured its first beers in 2005 and is known for its easy-drinking session ales and wood-fired flatbread pizzas.

Music lovers should not leave Thomas without a visit to the Purple Fiddle, which hosts more than 300 live music performances each year and has a casual, cafe-style restaurant that serves beer and wine.

Blackwater Falls State Park wvstateparks.com

Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge fws.gov/refuge/ canaan-valley

Hellbender Burritos hellbenderburritos.com

Sirianni’s Pizza Cafe facebook.com/ TheSiriannisPizzaCafe/

Bright Morning Inn brightmorninginn.com

Stumptown Ales stumptownales.com

Mountain State Brewing Co. mountainstate brewing.com

Purple Fiddle purplefiddle.com

Top to bottom: Blackwater Falls State Park near Davis; people walking down the street in Thomas; Stumptown Ales in Davis

WEST VIRGINIA

Riverside Finds

These West Virginia cities along the Ohio River offer opportunities for summer exploring.

Parkersburg

This river town is your access point to Blennerhassett Island State Park. Travelers board a sternwheeler for the trip to the Ohio River island, where they can tour the grounds via horse-drawn wagons and visit the historic mansion. Complete the Greater Parkersburg Historic Mansion Trail by strolling past the 126 19th-century homes in the city’s Julian Ann Square Historic District, before proceeding to the Henderson Hall Plantation in Williamstown, West Virginia, and finishing the route at The Castle in Marietta, Ohio. For little learners, Parkersburg’s Discovery World on Market offers a children’s museum with three floors of interactive exhibits. For more information, visit greaterparkersburg.com.

Huntington

In “H-Town,” Heritage Farm adventure park gets you moving via zip lines, an aerials course, UTV rides, a bouldering wall and mountain bike park. Meanwhile, the farm’s historic village includes multiple museums, an artisan center, blacksmith shop, gift shop, soda fountain and seasonal Christmas village. You can chow through the Huntington Area Hot Dog Trail to sample dogs from the area’s nine hot dog stands. Lodging includes a variety of bed-and-breakfast options as well as rustic cabins nestled into the hills. Many are close enough to enjoy downtown dining but far enough away to bask in the solitude of star-filled night skies. For more information, go to visithuntingtonwv.org.

Wheeling

Once the state capital of West Virginia, this historic town was situated on the National Road and served as a gateway to the west. Delve into its rich history by taking a self-guided tour of West Virginia Independence Hall, visit the Museums of Oglebay Institute to learn about decorative arts or explore an Adena burial mound at Grave Creek Mound. You can also get active with Grand Vue Park’s 2,300 meters of dual zip lines, enjoy hands-on exhibits and gardens at Oglebay Resort’s Schrader Environmental Center or cruise the Heritage Trail System’s 18-mile riverside rail-trail for plenty of great views. For more information, go to visitwheelingwv.com.

AN OHIO MAGAZINE BEST HOMETOWN!

The place we call home is special. It shapes who we are. It makes us think about who we want to be and the type of community we want to build for our families, our friends and the future.

Each fall, we recognize communities across Ohio with our Best Hometown honor. These are towns that support local, work together and collaborate to forge a strong future while honoring the past. Each has a unique and interesting story to tell.

We’d love to learn more about the place you call home.

MILESTONES

Ulysses S. Grant’s 120th Birthday Celebration

In the spring of 1942, residents of Point Pleasant joined the Boy Scouts of America and the Sons of the American Revolution to recognize the life of Ohio native Ulysses S. Grant.

It had been less than six months since the United States’ entry into World War II, but in April of 1942, the state of Ohio still set aside a day to honor one of its most famous sons. Two decades earlier, a 100th birthday of the former Civil War general and U.S. president brought about commemorations across the country, including in Grant’s hometown of Point Pleasant, which spearheaded the 120th birthday celebration on April 27.

“Plans for a pilgrimage, April 26, to the birthplace of President U.S. Grant at Point Pleasant, Ohio, in observance of the one hundred and twentieth anniversary of that event have been announced by Justin A. Rollman, Chairman of the Ohio Development and Publicity Commission,” The Cincinnati Enquirer reported in its April 17, 1942, edition.

The report added that Rollman would lead a party of people making their way to Point Pleasant by way of the Island Queen steamship. Further details about the event were reported in the newspaper’s April 26, 1942, edition.

“A memorial service will be held at Grant Memorial Church, near the house in which Grant was born,” the article noted. “A parade will be staged by the Clermont County Boy Scouts and members of the Sons of the American Revolution.”

Notable guests that day included 96-year-old Civil War veteran Frederick Pfeister and the former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court Hugh L. Nichols of Batavia. Judge John W. Haussermann of New Richmond served as the event’s principal speaker, referring to the worldwide conflict the United States was engaged in throughout his remarks.

“The difficulties today are not unlike those of Grant’s days,” Haussermann said. “Our enemies were better prepared than we were, and we need the spirit of Grant to overcome the obstacles.”

“I hope that when the time comes, we will be as broadminded as Grant in the making of peace,” he continued. “When we get rid of the foe’s leaders, we must deal with the mass of humanity in a civilized manner.”

— Nathan Havenner

Boy Scouts take part in the April 27, 1942, celebration in honor of Ulysses S. Grant’s birthday.

This spring, explore all Columbus has to o er. Whether you’re reliving favorite traditions or making new memories, our city is full of adventure for visitors of all ages. Check out the Columbus Museum of Art’s kidfriendly spaces, or fascinate the whole family with COSI’s extensive and hands-on STEM exhibits and dinosaur displays. See if you can spot all 10,000 of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s animals, or walk through clouds of live butterflies at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Plan it all at experiencecolumbus.com/springbreak.