Marriage is a deeply personal journey filled with love, passion and, hopefully, a little good humor. Actors Collaborative Toledo is putting matrimony under the microscope with its production of “Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays” at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at The Village Players Theatre.
The collection of monologues and short plays was penned by some of modern American theater’s best and brightest, including Mo Gaffney, Jordan Harrison, Moisés Kaufman, Neil LaBute, Wendy MacLeod, José Rivera, Paul Rudnick and Doug Wright.
The local production, which is a fundraiser for Equality Toledo, is being directed by Jeffrey J. Albright, Barbara Barkan, Joe Capucini, John Duvall, Carol Ann Erford and Jake Gordy. It features JD McIntyre, Matthew Gretzinger, Aggie Alt, Samanthia Rousos, Barbara Barkan, Jeffrey J. Albright, Kate Argow, Zac Gilley, Natalie Bostleman Brown, John Duvall, Jake Gordy, Carol Ann Erford and Joe Capucini.
“This show came about because my producing partners and I had heard about the original production and just decided that it was something that we really wanted to do. One of the things that I enjoy about this show is that while it addresses gay marriage, it doesn’t feel the need to beat its audience over the head with it,” Albright said. “It can be very easy for a lot of people in the gay and lesbian community to talk about equal rights, but with equal rights come equal responsibilities. My own partner and I got married a few years ago, and for us it wasn’t political, just simply a personal gesture that allowed us the opportunity to say ‘I do.’
“For hundreds of years most people’s idea of marriage has been a man and a woman and you have to expect that gay marriage is going to create a dialogue and just hope that people are open to the conversation. And that’s our hope with this production, that it at least opens people up to the conversation and gets them talking to one another.”
There will be a reception following the show with food, drinks, and music at the Mansion View Inn, 2035 Collingwood Blvd., at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 the for play only; $40 includes reception or $70 for two tickets to the play and reception. They may be purchased online at www.equalitytoledo.org. The Village Players Theatre is located at 2740 Upton Ave.
For more information, e-mail info@equality toledo.org.
Ottawa Hills High School graduate Cleveland O’Neal III is busy with several projects. Three weekly television shows will premiere their new seasons soon from Connection III Entertainment Corp., of which he is founder and CEO.
One of his shows, “Made In Hollywood,” is a behind-the scenes look at how new released movies were made. The show, which began in 2005, was created, written and executive produced by O’Neal and has featured stars like Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock and Johnny Depp.
O’Neal said the inspiration for the show was the entertainment media’s focus on controversy. Last week, outlets were discussing Miley Cyrus more than anything else, O’Neal said.
“Whatever it is, it generally has nothing to do with this week’s movie releases,” he said. “Gossip and tabloid have sort of overcome [the entertainment industry].”
O’Neal responded by making a series showing how movies are made. “Made In Hollywood” will begin its ninth season this week. It is available in more than 25 countries around the world.
“That’s been very exciting for us because of course American movies are global, and you really recognize that as you go around the world and watch international channels,” O’Neal said. “It’s just thrilling to us to see the brand grow globally and it’s thrilling to us to get out in the world and recognize how much the world appreciates American cinema.”
“Made In Hollywood” airs at 2 p.m. Saturdays on Toledo’s WT05 -TV (The CW) (12:30 p.m. Sundays on WKBD (The CW) Detroit).
A spin-off show, “Made In Hollywood: Teen Edition,” will begin its eighth nationally syndicated TV season on WUPW-TV (FOX) airing at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays (1 p.m. Saturdays on WKBD (the CW) Detroit), O’Neal said.
Another show, “Live Life and Win!”, will launch its third season on WT05 (the CW) airing at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays on WT05 (the CW) in Toledo (10:30 a.m. Saturdays on WJBK (FOX) in Detroit), according to a news release.
Together, the three shows are available in 107 million homes with a gross average audience of 5.5 million viewers, according to a news release.
“Live Life and Win!” is an informational weekly TV series with a goal to inspire young viewers with teen success stories. It includes segments focusing on the arts, school, sports, exercise, nutrition, health and wellness. O’Neal said he wanted to create after-school specials.
“Ironically, there are no after-school specials anymore. Once the Oprahs of the world and the Ellens of the world came, there was no more room for after-school specials,”he said.
O’Neal began Connection III Entertainment 15 years ago, writing a business plan while attending Boston University.
“As they say, ‘put it in writing, it happens,’” O’Neal said. Albeit, not overnight. He said he had plenty of day jobs along the way.
“We’ve come a long way but it wasn’t easy in the beginning.”
O’Neal’s company is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated multifaceted media company with licensees and sponsors including broadcast and cable networks (HBO, Lifetime, CBS, Starz, ABC Family), major studios (Lionsgate, NBC Universal) and local U.S. broadcast affiliates (ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CW).
His local roots are still strong. O’Neal was the first African-American to graduate from Ottawa Hills High School. He was inducted into the Ottawa Hills Hall of Fame as part of the first group of honorees.
“It was indicative to the time period, I think,” O’Neal said. “At the time, we were one of the first families to attend the elementary school and the high school. We’re talking mid-’70s, so things were racially in the early stages of progression.”
Toledo native Sam Mallette III describes his work as similar to “Date Doctor” Alex Hitchens, the character portrayed by Will Smith in “Hitch.”
Sam Mallette III will host a relationship workshop at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Maumee Indoor Theatre. Toledo Free Press photo by Joseph Herr
“I’m like him times 100 — mixed with a little Iyanla Vanzant, Oprah and Bishop T.D. Jakes or Dr. Phil,” Mallette said, laughing. “What I do really stems from what Will was doing in the movie. I’ve just really enhanced it.”
The self-taught relationship expert will offer a new workshop, “Secrets Every Man Should Know to Make His Woman Happy,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Maumee Indoor Theatre, 601 Conant St.
“I’m going to tell men in man language what women are trying to tell them in women language and it’s not working,” Mallette said.
Cost is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets are available at the offices of The Toledo Journal, 3021 Douglas Road; Promises Hair & Nail Salon, 3205 W. Central Ave.; or Powell’s Beauty Supply, 901 Nebraska Ave. Part of the proceeds will go to Project Genesis, a program of Family Service of Northwest Ohio, to fight domestic violence.
The workshop is open to all.
“The title of this one insinuates it’s just for men, but it’s for men and women,” Mallette said. “And it’s not just for couples either. A lot of this stuff will work in basic relationships with family or friends.”
Mallette regularly advises men to be students of their significant other.
“I’m a huge advocate of men studying who their woman is. You should be doing that all the time,” Mallette said. “You can’t be lazy to be in a relationship. You’ve got to want to master her. It’s fun. It’s just work.”
A woman needs to be seduced emotionally, intellectually, sexually, spiritually and physically, he said.
“If you can tap into all five of those areas at the same time, where you are feeding her mind, her emotions, all that, you become the greatest super-being that she’s ever met and vice versa,” he said, laughing. “It’s not as hard as people think.”
At the workshop, Mallette will address what he calls the Triple A’s.
“The most basic things you have to do for a woman on a daily basis — and it takes maybe one to four minutes per day — is you have to give her in some way affection, attention or appreciation,” Mallette said. “You don’t have to be doing all three, but you have to be doing at least one of those per day.”
The tendency of women to talk more than men will also be addressed.
“Most men, when women be blah blah blah, think, ‘Why is she just talking? Will you please shut up?’” Mallette said. “I’m going to explain to men how when a woman is talking to you she’s trying to connect with you and what that connection and that intimacy means.”
Samology
Mallette’s path to relationship expert was forged in an unlikely place — divorce. He and his wife of seven years split in 2003.
“Divorce is pretty rare in my family. There’s very few of us that ever got divorced. My parents just celebrated their 46th anniversary,” Mallette said. “Normally when people go through dramatic things like that they either say, ‘Well, I hate all women,’ or ‘Let me find out what really happened.’”
Mallette chose the second route.
“At first I had to do my own introspection. I examined me, I examined what she did, what I did and then what we did together, bad, good and ugly,” he said. “That’s what started me on this journey.”
Mallette followed with observation of and research on human behavior, both of which led to the development of the set of philosophies he now refers to as Samology. He calls his workshops the Sambition series.
The Oct. 4 presentation will be the third talk in the series. The first addressed why men cheat and the second was “Secrets Every Woman Should Know About Men.” During the second seminar, Mallette highlighted respect, ego and the visual.
“I don’t think women really understand how far that goes in a man,” Mallette said. “No. 4 would be sex.”
He said all his presentations are humorous and interactive.
“I like for my audience to talk back. Sometimes I might point you out. We have a lot of fun,” Mallette said. “I love to give people theory and then give them practical application. When you get up from the seat, you can immediately put this into practice.”
Mallette said he hopes attendees leave more hopeful than they arrive.
“Divorce rates are so high and women don’t believe there are good men out there and men don’t believe there are good women,” he said. “I want them to realize there is hope and then once you get it, you can really make it work and have fun doing it.”
Mallette, a graduate of Macomber-Whitney Vocational Technical High School, will soon debut a column for Toledo Free Press. He has a bachelor’s degree international business and business management from Lourdes College, a master’s in higher education administration from the University of Toledo and a doctorate of divinity from the School of Bible Theology Seminary and University in California.
TARTA debuted its new computerized bus-locating system on Sept. 24, allowing riders to pinpoint the real-time location of their bus and its estimated time of arrival at their stop.
TARTA General Manager James Gee introduces TARTA Tracker during at a press conference Sept. 24. Toledo Free Press Photo by Sarah Ottney
TARTA Tracker uses satellites and predictive computer software to generate the position of buses and predict arrival times, said Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) general manager James Gee during a news conference at Downtown Toledo’s Park Station.
“When you walk to a bus stop the first thing you think is, ‘When is my bus going to be here?’ and this answers that question,” Gee said. “It takes the uncertainly out of your bus ride.”
The tracker can be accessed from a computer, smartphone or mobile device by visiting
TARTATracker.com. Riders can view routes, locate nearby stops or search by street name or route number to view a list of stops and bus arrival times.
Those without Internet access can call TARTA at (419) 243-RIDE (7433) to speak with a representative using TARTA Tracker in the office. Riders can also sign up for alerts via text message, email or browser, letting them know, for example, when their bus is 15 minutes away from their stop, Gee said.
“The alerts were available before, but only with printed schedule information,” Gee said. “Now we’re providing real-time information, which is new.”
Tracking is currently available for a few hundred stops on TARTA’s busiest bus routes, but the goal is to eventually provide TARTA Tracker information for all 2,400 bus stops, Gee said.
“We’ve been tracking the buses with GPS technology for several years. What we’ve done now is taken our GPS information and overlaid on top of that real-time schedule information and predictive schedule information,” Gee said.
About 65 percent of TARTA’s passengers use smartphones, according to data collected during the past year of research and development leading up to the launch of TARTA Tracker. The bus line reports 12,000 passenger boardings per day.
“We are changing how customers interact with TARTA. All in all, we’re not the same old TARTA,” Gee said. “We’ll be able to provide better information to you and, as a result, you the customer will be able to make better decisions on how to use our service.”
Leading wave
The TARTA Tracker technology and website was developed by Clever Devices, a Woodbury, N.Y.-based company. The mobile website was developed by Maumee-based Hart.
“We’re not the first city to do this, but we’re on the leading part of the wave,” Gee said. “Around Ohio, Cleveland has a similar product, but I’m not sure if anyone else does yet.”
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority debuted a real-time tracker system called NextConnect last year.
About 300 transit systems in 41 states use one of Clever Devices’ transportation technology products, although not all use the bus-tracking technology, said director of marketing Amy Miller, who said the company is the largest of its type in North America.
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About 25 transit systems utilize real-time passenger information products similar to Toledo’s, including Chicago Transit Authority and the Ohio State University bus system, Miller said.
TARTA Tracker heralds a “new era” for TARTA, said Steve Atkinson, director of marketing, at the news conference.
“The TARTA Tracker is a totally new way of answering passenger questions, such as ‘Where is the nearest TARTA bus stop?’ ‘What bus should I take?’ ‘Is my bus on time?’ To answer these and many other questions is now as close as your computer, your mobile device or your phone.”
QR codes are being installed on TARTA buses, shelters and stations. The codes will automatically access the TARTA Tracker when scanned by a mobile device.
Rider reponse
Shaheed Rashad of Toledo said he normally doesn’t stress about bus schedules because he is self-employed and has a flexible schedule, but said TARTA Tracker will be handy when it gets cold.
“Especially in the winter season, you might not want to be out waiting for a long period of time,” Rashad said. “I can look on my computer before I leave and … I might wait for five minutes, but at least I know it’s coming and it’s not delayed or I missed it.”
Rashad’s fiancée, Shelly Taylor of Toledo, said she likes the idea of being able to track her son’s bus to and from school.
“It’s convenient for someone with kids. I wait for my son Downtown and we go home together so for me it’d be convenient to know about what time he’s going to come,” Taylor said. “It’s peace of mind. To me, it’s really beneficial.”
Owens Community College student Bryanna Simpson of Toledo said she would use TARTA Tracker to time catching her bus to and from school.
“Sometimes you don’t know if it’s going to be late, or like this morning, it was a couple minutes early, so if you don’t know that, you might miss it,” Simpson said. “If you knew that, it would be more helpful.”
TARTA Tracker is not available for Call-A-Ride or Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service (TARPS), which provide at-home pickup of riders. For more information, visit TARTA Tracker.com.
Riders who access TARTA Tracker via a computer will see this screen.
One-hundred-fifty years to the day Lucas County gained its first two Medal of Honor recipients, three more men were granted their rightful place on a courthouse plaque honoring the achievement.
Added to the plaque were Civil War veteran Christian Albert, Spanish-American War veteran Peter Johnson and World War II veteran Hulon Whittington.
Lucas County Commissioner Carol Contrada, left, with Linda Swartz, great-great-granddaughter of Civil War veteran Wilson Brown, and Roxanne Whittington Jones, daughter of World War II veteran Hulon Whittington with the Lucas County Medal of Honor plaque. Toledo Free Press photo by Sarah Ottney
The modified plaque was rededicated in a Sept. 17 ceremony attended by elected officials, leaders of local veterans organizations and two direct descendents of Lucas County Medal of Honor recipients. The original plaque was dedicated in 2003 during Ohio’s bicentennial.
The plaque, located on the second floor of the Lucas County Courthouse in Downtown Toledo, now lists 19 names of recipients who were born in, lived in, entered service in, died in or were buried in Lucas County.
The Medal of Honor is awarded by the military for “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,” said Lucas County Commissioner Carol Contrada.
The three missing names were brought to the attention of the commissioners by Marine Corps veteran Nick Haupricht, the chairman of Remembrance Inc., a local group dedicated to building and refurbishing war memorials in Northwest Ohio.
Albert, who died and is buried in Toledo, earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 22, 1863, during the siege of Vicksburg, Miss. Confederate surrenders at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, Pa., soon after are considered the turning point of the Civil War, Contrada said.
Johnson, who died in Toledo, was a fireman on board the USS Vixen in Cuba on May 28, 1898.
He responded to a boiler room explosion, saving the lives of those on board the ship, including future president Theodore Roosevelt, Contrada said.
Whittington, who married a Toledo native and died in Toledo, was serving in Grimesnil, France, on July 29, 1944, when his platoon came under enemy attack. According to his Medal of Honor citation, Whittington assumed command when his platoon leader and platoon sergeant went missing in action. He reorganized the defense and, while under fire, crawled between gun positions to check the actions of his men.
As a line of German tanks attempted to penetrate a roadblock, “Sgt. Whittington, completely disregarding intense enemy action, mounted a tank and by shouting through the turret, directed it into position to fire pointblank at the leading Mark V German tank. The destruction of this vehicle blocked all movement of the remaining enemy column consisting of more than 100 vehicles of a Panzer unit. The blocked vehicles were then destroyed by hand grenades, bazooka, tank, and artillery fire and large numbers of enemy personnel were wiped out by a bold and resolute bayonet charge inspired by Sgt. Whittington. When the medical aid man had become a casualty, Sgt. Whittington personally administered first aid to his wounded men.”
Whittington’s daughter Roxanne Whittington Jones of Bowling Green, and Linda Swartz of Perrysburg, the great-great-granddaughter of Civil War veteran Wilson Brown, spoke briefly at the ceremony.
Jones said her father regularly gave speeches about military service, but rarely spoke about the particulars of his own service.
“We are very proud. He would have been truly humbled by the recognition,” Jones said.
Swartz said the ceremony was “very moving.”
“It means a lot to us,” Swartz said. “It’s an honor. It’s great.”
Brown and fellow Lucas County Medal of Honor recipient Mark Wood met President Abraham Lincoln and became Lucas County’s first Medal of Honor recipients on Sept. 17, 1863. Both men took part in Andrews’ Raid, which commandeered a train in April 1862 and destroyed bridges, rails and Confederate supply lines between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tenn.
The plaque was modified by Columbus-based Columbus Art Memorial, the same company that cast the original plaque. The cost was $1,500, paid for by the Lucas County Commissioners’ miscellaneous fund. The commissioners declared Sept. 17 Lucas County Medal of Honor Day.
One name on the plaque, Civil War veteran Charles Thompson, is disputed by Haupricht, who believes Thompson was born in Perrysburg and has no connection to Lucas County. Haupricht has lobbied to remove Thompson’s name from the Lucas County plaque since he appears on the Medal of Honor plaque in Wood County, which was installed in 2012, but Contrada said records aren’t clear as to which county Thompson belongs and that it doesn’t hurt to honor him twice.
The first thing to know about TEDxToledo: It’s not named after a guy named Ted.
Will Lucas curated the inaugural TEDx event in Toledo last year. Toledo Free Press photo and cover photo by Joseph Herr
“A lot of people ask, ‘Who is Ted?’” said Will Lucas, curator of the Sept. 19 event, which will feature 23 speakers on topics ranging from art, music, science, business, politics and more.
TEDx events are local talks based on the global conference series TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design. Its slogan is “Ideas worth spreading.”
“We were looking for people who not only have good ideas or a perspective on how to reimagine Toledo, but are actually doing something,” Lucas said.
Lucas, who also curated Toledo’s inaugural TEDx event last year, said the idea is to “bolster our level of thinking” by bringing together people who don’t typically get to interact.
“It’s an opportunity to show people something outside of their box,” Lucas said. “There will be people who would never have had the opportunity to sit next to each other. That’s what I’m most excited about.”
Last year’s TEDxToledo sold out and Lucas expects this year’s event to as well. It’s set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19 at One SeaGate (the Fifth Third Bank building). Tickets are $75.
“We still hear ripples of positive feedback from last year’s event from people who said it changed their whole perspective on Toledo, even people who have been here for a long time,” Lucas said.
The title of this year’s event is reIMAGINE. Each speaker will have the stage for eight to 18 minutes.
“We want to reimagine what Toledo is,” Lucas said. “Historically we’ve been a manufacturing hub, which has kind of left over the past 10 years. We’re in the middle ground between what we were and what we could be. There’s a large group that wants to be what we were and a large group that wants to be what we could be. What is our history and how can we build on that for the future of Toledo?”
Speakers
An opportunity to think about the direction Northwest Ohio is headed is why City of Oregon Administrator Michael Beazley is most excited to speak at TEDxToledo.
“One of the things I want to really emphasize is there’s not one solution,” Beazley said. “We need to try a lot of things to move a community forward. The notion that we can just find that one thing and all our problems can be solved, I don’t think it’s realistic for most places.”
Mike Osswald, vice president of experience innovation at Hanson Inc., said his TEDx talk will focus on “making sense of marketing in the digital age.”
“All these rapid changes we’re seeing in technology, even just in the last three to four years of consumer electronics, websites and apps, the pace of it is like never before and it’s changing how people live and make decisions about what to buy and how they want to interact with companies,” Osswald said. “For marketers trying to keep up with all the new stuff, it’s like drinking out of a fire hose. It’s almost impossible. [But] as much as things have changed, a lot of it is the same. I want people who are in business to realize they know more than they think they do.”
Osswald spoke at a TEDx event hosted by Bowling Green State University in 2011.
“When you put all those different disciplines together in a room, synergy happens. It really creates new ideas and opportunities for all the different people involved,” Osswald said. “Creativity often comes when you’re not thinking directly at something but thinking around it, and that’s what TEDx does.”
Artist Jefferson Nelson said he plans to discuss the utopian ideal of choosing “autonomy over profit,” with the goal of getting his listeners to think about the value in doing the things they don’t get paid for.
“My biggest goal is to get people to do the things they are passionate about and not just think about making money,” said Nelson, who sculpts, draws, paints and works on art installations. “In an ideal world, I’d basically take making money out of the equation for everyone and have us function in a way that’s about the greater good.”
FREEPRETEDX
Nelson is partnering with a few other TEDxToledo presenters, including Toledo Museum of Art Director Brian Kennedy, Launch Pad Cooperative Co-director Crystal Phelps, musician Dean Tartaglia, architect Paul Sullivan and Instagrammer Ben Morales, to offer their talks for free at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Ottawa Tavern, 1817 Adams St. For more information, check out FREEPRETEDX on Facebook.
“It’s a chance for us to practice and also a less formal chance for people who can’t afford the tickets to come out and hear a few of the talks,” Nelson said.
For the past two years, Morales has collected historical Toledo photographs and photographed them in front of the modern-day locations. He calls the series Toledo Rephotography.
“It was the juxtaposition of old and new that really grabbed me,” Morales said. “Hopefully learning and connecting to the past will enable people to take ownership of the community and be involved in it, therefore helping to control its future path.”
Adam Mahler, owner of Ampelography Fine Wine Sales and Marketing, said he hopes TEDxToledo inspires attendees to look at Toledo differently.
“The wine business isn’t something you think about being in Toledo,” Mahler said. “I hope [attendees] realize that Toledo’s unique limitations are no greater than any other city’s unique limitations and if you are smart and assertive about it you can figure out how to make any place work for you and turn what could be a perceived negative into something you can use to your advantage.”
Before Mahler founded Ampelography in 2009, he listened to a lot of TED talks.
“I really got inspired,” Mahler said. “It helped me recalibrate the way I thought about business and how to build an enthusiastic community for a product. Over the years, every time I had a question I’ve gone back to it.”
Morales and others said they are excited to hear the other speakers.
“I love to watch people talk about stuff they are passionate about,” Morales said. “Plus, I like that they are short and sweet. They get right to the meat of the talk, not a drawn-out lecture.”
Other speakers include Ballard Architectural Studio owner Andre Ballard; Great Lakes Institute founder Dave Beckwith; ex-atheist and University Church pastor Julian Davies; Blade crime reporter Taylor Dungjen; Toledo Public Schools Interim Superintendent Romules Durant; University of Toledo President Emeritus Dan Johnson; Toledo historian and North Shore Strategy Managing Principal Tedd Long; ProMedica President and CEO Randy Oostra; Root Learning co-founder Randy Root; Leadership Toledo Executive Director Dave Schlaudecker; political strategist Gabrielle Seay; Bowling Green State University biology professor Karen Sirum; foodie Molly R. Thompson; and Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Director Robert Torres.
For more information, visit the website www.tedxtoledo.com.
WTOL-11 news anchor Chrys Peterson is among the local women photographed without makeup for This is Me, a Sept. 13 fundraiser to benefit Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio. Photo by Lee Bates
They are advocates, entrepreneurs, elected officials, media personalities, mothers, musicians, cancer survivors and more, and they are joining forces for a common purpose — to help women feel more confident and raise money for a local nonprofit that works with young girls.
An upcoming fundraiser, This is Me, will feature portraits of nine barefaced women to be sold by silent auction to benefit Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Northwest Ohio.
Those featured will be Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates, Toledo City Councilwoman Lindsay Webb, WTOL-11 news anchor Chrys Peterson, 101.5 The River morning radio host Mary Beth Zolik, Project iAm founder Nicole Khoury, The Josh Project founder Wanda Butts, Hannah’s Socks founder Hannah Turner, two-time cancer survivor and Susan G. Komen for the Cure honoree Kelli Andres and Toledo Police Sgt. Anita Madison of the Toledo Community Initiative to Reduce Violence.
Organizer Jeremy Baumhower, a Toledo Free Press columnist, said he wanted to feature women who are diverse in age, background, occupation and the ways they impact Northwest Ohio.
“Everyone has a story and their own reason for doing it,” Baumhower said. “The night will be a celebration.”
The “makeup optional” event is set for 7-11 p.m. Sept. 13 at The Blarney Event Center, 601 Monroe St. Light refreshments will be served and a cash bar will be available. A portion of profits from a signature drink, the This is Me-tini, will also be donated to GOTR of Northwest Ohio. Performing will be Kristi Marie, Carmen Miller and The Rivets. Tickets are available at thisismetoledo.com for $20 or at the door for $25.
Attorney and Arctic Clam lead singer Nicole Khoury is among the local women photographed without makeup for This is Me, a Sept. 13 fundraiser to benefit Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio. Photo by Lee Bates
Baumhower come up with the idea after seeing “Game of Thrones” actress Emilia Clarke and singer/actress Demi Lovato post photos of themselves without makeup to social media sites, encouraging others to do the same.
“I just woke up and saw in my head, ‘What if we did it locally with beautiful, powerful women?’” Baumhower said.
Girls on the Run
Soon after, he approached GOTR of Northwest Ohio, a 10-week program that combines running with an interactive curriculum to inspire self-respect and healthy lifestyles in preteen girls. Topics discussed include bullying, peer pressure and healthy body image with a focus on positive physical, emotional, mental and social development.
The organization has chapters in more than 200 cities in the United States and Canada. Northwest Ohio’s chapter started in 2012 and hosted 13 teams of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at 11 sites during its spring season. More local sites will be added this fall.
“The message we’re teaching our girls is to be proud of yourself, respect yourself and you’re beautiful just the way you are, so to showcase some of the successes and awesome impacts adult women are having on the community that have nothing to do with their looks is great,” said Lindsay McKibben, council director of GOTR of Northwest Ohio. “We loved the idea and the message that he is trying to share.”
Baumhower said he was in awe of the strength each woman displayed while being photographed by local photographer Lee Bates.
“I was mesmerized how comfortable and confident [Peterson] was while getting her picture taken, even without makeup. Her TV station was there shooting it for a news story and she had zero fear. Her authenticity and genuineness really came out in her pictures,” Baumhower said. “[Andres’] energy and positivity is beyond infectious. She laughed almost the entire time she was being photographed. Even discussing her numerous battles with cancer —losing a leg at age 12 and a breast at the age of 45 — was done with a smile on her face. She glows when she talks about her sons and was transparent when she describes how scared she was battling her second bout of cancer, having two small boys.”
Bates said she finds it frustrating that society has a double standard for men and women.
“Men are so lucky,” Bates said. “A few wrinkles and a few gray hairs on a guy is just fine and charming. It’s just a different way society views the gray at the temples on a man — that’s distinguished, sophisticated, mature, wise. Women get the dye out at the first sign of gray.”
She said times have changed since she went to law school, but it’s still important for girls to develop the self-confidence to excel in whatever arena they choose.
“Men are different to women today in the workplace than they were when I first started. To our kids, it’s just accepted you can be anything. You can be a stay-at-home mom or you can be an astronaut,” Bates said. “For me, it was ‘You’re going to be a lawyer? That’s not really a place for women.’ I got that a lot. Then of course, it was like, ‘OK you can be a lawyer, but you’re going to be a prosecutor? Like try cases? Murder cases? What are you going to do when they say dirty words?’ So I think times have changed a great deal in that respect.”
Webb said she was drawn to This is Me because it reinforces the example she’s trying to set for her stepdaughters.
“I believe combating the message that you have to be what society deems as perfect is crucial to their self-
esteem and well-being,” Webb said in an email. “If women who are successful can demonstrate they are comfortable in their own skin without makeup, it may send the message to girls and other women that what really matters is how you feel about yourself. Your inner beauty and your other abilities are what matter most.”
“If you personally feel better in makeup, by all means wear it, but if you are doing it because you feel it’s expected, it may be time to rethink things because all of the time spent on worrying about superficial looks could be better spent on what truly makes you happy,” Webb said. “I’m beautiful in the eyes of my husband and my family, at the end of the day, that is really what matters most.”
Social media
Dozens of local women, including the University of Toledo women’s soccer team and members of the WTOL-11 and FOX Toledo newsrooms, have shared photos of themselves without makeup on social media sites using the hashtag #thisismetoledo.
Instagram user @Bethaknee22 captioned her photo: “In the past week, my skin has broken out worse than it ever has in my entire life. I’ve cringed looking in the mirror & bowed my head when talking to people so they wouldn’t look at me. I haven’t even wanted to leave the house. Then tonight, I looked in the mirror & my thoughts turned to my daughter. I’ve been given one of the most amazing blessings possible, and I’ve got a pretty serious job to do in return. Part of my responsibility is to raise a confident, loving, honest & strong woman that loves the skin she’s in & knows beauty is much deeper than the surface. So, I decided to post this picture (which of course was the best of 32 shots ) of me before bed. Four eyes, blemished skin with no makeup…this is me…the real me. I love you so much, baby girl”
Facebook user Jacqueline wrote: “I love your campaign for This is me! I have had 19 surgeries since 2001 and I have many scars all over my body! At first I was embarrassed of them and very insecure! I felt ugly very ugly I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror! I now have learned to love myself and to feel beautiful! I realized these scars made me who I am today and that’s a stronger woman!”
GOTR of Northwest Ohio Volunteer Director Renee Stack said the social media shares exemplify what This is Me is all about.
“We want everyone to feel good and beautiful in their natural state and let them showcase who they are without feeling the need to conceal,” Stack said. “I think makeup is beautiful and it’s definitely something I choose to wear, but I’m also feeling empowered to go bare as well.”
Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of the event. For more information, visit thisismetoledo.com.
Her four sons haven’t donned a Perrysburg jersey for more than 30 years, but June Sweede can still regularly be found in the fan section at school sporting events — especially the home football games at Steinecker Stadium.
Sweede, 78, of Perrysburg has a Senior Stinger Pass issued by Perrysburg Schools, which offers free admission to middle school and high school home regular season sporting events, plays and musicals for district residents age 60 and older.
Toledo Public Schools (TPS), Maumee City Schools and Washington Local Schools are among the other area districts that offer senior passes.
June Sweede
“I got one as soon as I was eligible,” said Sweede, who has lived in Perrysburg for 45 years. “They made it very easy to receive it.”
Although her children and grandchildren live outside of the district, Sweede said she enjoys going to school events to visit with old friends and support current students.
“It’s just a nice thing for the school district to offer for folks,” Sweede said. “Whether they’re our own [children or grandchildren] or other people’s, we want to encourage them all.”
Football is her favorite, but Sweede also enjoys baseball, basketball and wrestling.
“I’ve really gone to all of them at one point,” Sweede said. “Of course, the plays and musicals are absolutely wonderful, too and I get in on those when I can.”
The passes are popular, said Rachel Johnson, coordinator of institutional advancement with Perrysburg Schools, which has issued the passes for more than 20 years.
“It’s a great program,” Johnson said. “Just in the last two weeks I’ve had three appointments from folks hearing about it and coming in. A lot of them are alumni or current grandparents, but it’s open to anyone as long as they live in the district. They all love it.”
The district organizes community events a couple times a year at senior housing facilities, senior centers or libraries to spread the word about the program.
“Pretty much whenever we hold an event out in the public, we get about 30 people signed up,” Johnson said. “We do about one pass a week on average.”
Sweede said she encourages other seniors to get their passes.
“They take very good care of the older folks,” Sweede said. “There’s special parking. You feel comfortable going to the games. Between good school friends, school officials and boosters, there’s always someone there to watch out for you. You feel safe when you go to the events. I feel good about going. If you need it, there’s quick help and lots of kindness. It’s a good feeling.”
TPS
TPS offers its Golden Apple Card to district residents 60 and older or retired TPS employees of any age.
“The biggest thing is when people come in when it’s their grandson or granddaughter playing in a big game and they get to cheer them on,” said TPS spokesperson Patty Mazur. “It’s just a thing the district does to give back to the community.”
The cards can’t be used for all-star games, city championships, state tournament events or the Shoe Bowl. Admission to plays and musicals is decided by each school, Mazur said. When filling out an application, seniors are also asked about their interest in volunteering.
“We’re always looking for volunteers so that works out nicely,” Mazur said. “We can pass it on to the principals.”
Maumee
Maumee City Schools has offered its Golden Panther Card for more than a decade, said district spokesperson Nancy Sayre.
“We do it to thank our community and encourage them to come out and support the students,” Sayre said. “The kids who are participating love to have people in the stands and we love it. We have lots of grandparents who are residents. We love to have them come out and support our students.
“We get an excellent response from the community,” she said. “The program is well-received and well-used.”
Among those who regularly use their Golden Panther cards are Sayre’s parents, Dave and Gail Lindsay, who have lived in Maumee for 45 years. The Lindsays particularly enjoy attending track meets and volleyball and basketball games to watch their grandchildren. They occasionally go to football games with friends.
“It’s wonderful to get to go to plays and athletic activities,” Gail said. “There’s just a whole lot of stuff that’s available to us at no charge. It’s great.”
The cards are helpful for seniors on fixed incomes, Gail said.
“My granddaughter played volleyball twice a week. At $6 a game, $12 a week, $50 a month — that can add up,” Gail said. “So it gives them a way to get out there rather than stay at home because they can’t afford to do things. It also helps them realize how much the schools are doing for the kids. So it benefits the seniors and I think also helps the schools. I just wish more seniors knew about them.”
For more information or to make an appointment to get a pass, contact Maumee City Schools at (419) 8933200, Ext. 201; Perrysburg Schools at (419) 874-9131, Ext. 2156; TPS at (419) 671-8263; or Washington Local Schools at (419) 473-8433.
Seniors will need to bring proof of age and proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or other photo ID and a piece of mail with their address. In most cases, school staff will take their photo and produce a photo ID card while they wait. The passes are valid for life.
Local nonprofit Food for Thought and the Toledo Farmers’ Market recently formed a partnership aimed at providing more nutritious food to local families in need.
Starting July 27, Food for Thought will have a booth at the Downtown farmers market, located at Erie Street Market, 525 Market St., every Saturday. The group will accept donations of produce purchased from local farmers at the farmers market. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
“Essentially the idea is it will be a reverse farmers market,” said Sam Melden, Food for Thought’s chief thought officer. “It’s a way for local patrons to buy from local farmers and support a local food pantry. It’s just like this clean circle and we can take it back and integrate it into our food pantries the very next day.”
Food for Thought operates a pantry out of New Harvest Christian Church in Oregon as well as a mobile pantry that visits 11 sites. The group will soon acquire a second mobile pantry and expand service to six to eight new sites, thanks to a grant from ProMedica, Melden said.
“Part of feeding people in a thoughtful way is offering nutritious food. It’s not just about volume, it’s also about quality,” Melden said. “We want people to actually increase their health and increase their access to healthy food, so this is obviously a huge opportunity.”
The idea for the partnership came last year, after Melden was introduced to Westgate Farmers’ Market manager Liz Bergman through a mutual friend.
“We started talking about how both our organizations are really good and how we can help each other,” Bergman said. “Sam’s group does such a good job. We get thousands of people every Saturday so it’s a really great place to meet a broad spectrum of people. Maybe people who could qualify for the food pantry and didn’t know it was in the area. Or people who are excited to give their time or a little of their hard-earned money to people in need.”
Bergman also expects farmers who know they won’t have another chance to sell leftover produce to donate it to Food for Thought so it won’t go to waste.
“It just makes sense,” Bergman said. “A lot of other farmers markets all throughout the country do this. We don’t have a full-time person working for the farmers market, so these are the extra things that take a while to get going. But hopefully it works out.”
If the partnership is successful Downtown, it may expand to other farmers markets, Bergman said.
“The people at the farmers market often are interested in two things: They are interested in health and they are interested in the local food economy,” Melden said. “All our table is there for, all we are doing in that space, is saying we agree and we believe even if someone isn’t here shopping they should have access to this quality of food and so we want them to help us pull that off. I think it’s going to be great.”
The Toledo Farmers’ Market is open year-round: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays May through November and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. December through April.
For information, visit feedtoledo.org or toledofarmersmarket.com.
1.Toledo Museum of Art This internationally renowned museum recently expanded its Thursday hours and is now open until 9 p.m. on both Thursdays and Fridays. With free admission to most exhibitions, TMA also offers art classes, demonstrations, free docent-guided tours and more. Circle 2445 regularly hosts social events geared toward young adults, including Art in the Dark, a drinks and flashlight tour on Sept. 26. 2445 Monroe St. toledomuseum.org
2. Toledo Symphony About to enter its 70th season this fall, one of the symphony’s most popular series is the annual free summer Music under the Stars concert series at the Toledo Zoo. toledosymphony.com
3. Toledo Opera The opera strives to make its performances accessible to all with translations provided above the stage like closed captioning. This season’s offerings will include “Aida” and “Faust.” toledoopera.org
4. Theater and stage Northwest Ohio is full of opportunities to catch a theater performance, including “Wicked” at the Stranahan Theater (Aug. 14-Sept. 1). There’s also Valentine Theatre, Toledo Repertoire Theatre and Edgy Rep, Village Players and The Upton Players and regional community theater productions, not to mention high school and college performances.
5. Drink and Draw The Art Supply Depo offers life drawing sessions 7-9 p.m. on fourth Tuesdays. The shop provides the model and music while participants (18 and older) bring their own drinks and art supplies. The next date is July 23. $10 or $7 with a friend. 29 S. St. Clair St. artsupplydepo.com
6. Uncork the Artist Bring drinks (or don’t) and let a local featured artist guide your group through creating a painting. All supplies provided. $35 per person/$60 for two. 5228 Monroe St. uncorktheartist.com
7. Create glass art Let artists at Gathered Art Gallery & Studio, 23 N. Huron St.; Firenation Glass, 7166 Front St., Holland; or Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., help you try your hand at the art that put Toledo on the map. Options include a flower, paperweight, cup and more. gatheredartgallery.com, firenation.com, toledomuseum.org
8. Art Walk Featuring street performers and locally made crafts from Handmade Toledo vendors, the Art Walks include nearly 30 arts-related venues in the Warehouse District, UpTown, Downtown, Old West End and more. Free and held on second Thursdays June through September. theartscommission.org
9. Artomatic419! It won’t be back until 2015, but mark your calendars because Artomatic419! has grown into one of the biggest creative displays in the area, featuring work from more than 500 local visual, performing and literary artists. theartscommission.org
Artomatic 419! Toledo Free Press Photo by Sarah Ottney
10. Make It Indie Crafter Fair This ain’t your granny’s craft show. The one-day alternative craft fair organized by the UpTown Association is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at 1717 Adams St. makeitindie.com
11. Maumee Photo Walk Local photographer Eric Shanteau (hobbes2485 on Instagram) organized a photo walk to raise money for the medical bills of 19-year-old Bowling Green State University student Tori Jennings, who is fighting lymphoma. Cost is $25 and includes coffee, snack, T-shirt and lunch at Dégagé, 301 River Road. Participants are asked to donate at least one print to be sold at the Maumee Summer Fair. Deadline to register is July 22, but those who show up on the day of are welcome to participate (minus the T-shirt and food). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 27. maumeephotowalk.eventzilla.net
12. Black Swamp Arts Festival Bowling Green’s annual festival featuring art vendors, performing artists and more is set for Sept. 6-8. blackswamparts.org
13. Crosby Festival of the Arts Northwest Ohio’s premier fine arts festival takes place every June at Toledo Botanical Gardens and features the work of more than 200 artists from across the country. toledogarden.org
14. Nature Photography The National Center for Nature Photography features photo exhibits, contests, demonstrations and classes. Free and open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. At Secor Metropark, 10001 W. Central Ave., Berkey. metroparkstoledo.com
Community
15. Tent City With the likes of John Mellencamp and ZZ Top lending support in recent years, this longtime homelessness awareness event aims to help Toledo’s unhoused population connect with resources like food, clothing, medical screenings, haircuts and more. Oct. 25-27. 1matters.org
16. Hunger Awareness Festival The highlight of this event benefiting Feed Lucas County Children is a lottery with winners chosen by fruit dropped from a helicopter onto a half-acre grid of squares. 2-9 p.m. July 27 at Centennial and Brint roads in Sylvania. Free but donations accepted. feedlucaschildren.org
17. Toledo Soup Several local projects present their work, with all getting exposure and one getting funding toward their idea as voted on by attendees of this crowd-funded microgrant dinner series. The next one is 5-9 p.m. Sept. 8 at Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St. toledosoup.com
18. TEDxToledo Themed “ReIMAGINE Toledo,” the conference is planned for Sept. 19. TEDx events feature video and live speakers with the aim of sparking deep discussion and connection in small groups about “ideas worth spreading.” tedxtoledo.com
19. Jam City The inaugural Jam City was held in May and featured creative peanut butter and jelly-inspired dishes from a dozen local restaurants, including Mancy’s Steaks, Swig, Burger Bar 419 and many more. The event is a fundraiser for Food for Thought, a local nonprofit that makes and gives away sack lunches containing PB&J sandwiches. Next year’s date is TBD. feedtoledo.org
Day Trips
20. Cedar Point Featuring 16 roller coasters, including the brand-new GateKeeper, tons of shows and other attractions, Sandusky’s Cedar Point has been voted the “Best Amusement Park in the World” for 15 consecutive years. Water park Soak City is next door. cedarpoint.com
Cedar Point’s Gatekeeper. Toledo Free Press Photo by James A. Molnar
21. Sauder Village Ohio’s largest living history village features more than 40 historic homes and shops, costumed guides and working craftsmen who help visitors experience daily life in the rural Northwest Ohio of the past. New this year is a traveling exhibit of knitted presidents wearing period clothing. Open April to October. $8-15, active military and children 5 and younger free, children 16 and younger free on Sundays. 22611 State Route 2, Archbold. saudervillage.org
22. Spangler Candy Co. Founded in 1906, Spangler manufactures Dum Dums lollipops, candy canes, circus peanuts and more. Museum and store are free. Factory tour on a trolley is $3-$5, children 5 and younger free. 400 N. Portland St., Bryan. spanglercandy.com
23. Hayes Presidential Center The Fremont site includes the home, library, museum, tomb and 25-acre estate (Spiegel Grove) of the 19th U.S. president. Entrance to the property is through one of six sets of original White House gates. Sleigh rides are offered in the winter. $3-$13. GroveFest, featuring a dog parade, kids activities, demonstrations and an auction, is set for July 27. A Civil War re-enactment is set for Oct. 5-6. rbhayes.org
24. Port Clinton About an hour from Downtown Toledo, this Lake Erie shoreline town calls itself the Walleye Capital of the World. Liberty Aviation Museum, which opened in July 2012, features a collection of aircraft, vehicles and other historical artifacts, including World War II-era Jeeps and “Georgie’s Gal,” a refurbished flyable B-25. All proceeds from the vintage 1950s Tin Goose Diner go back to the museum. The Great Lakes Popcorn Company features unique flavors like Wild Walleye, Bubble Gum and Bacon and Cheese. The African Safari Wildlife Park is open March to November. There’s also the Mon Ami Winery and putt-putt golf, go-kart racing, beaches and access to Put-in-Bay ferries. The city drops a Walleye on New Year’s Eve. portclinton.com, libertyaviationmuseum.org
25. Put-in-Bay Put-in-Bay offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a museum tour, a winery, a jet ski rental, a climb to the top of Perry’s Memorial, a chocolate museum or just a cold drink and live entertainment by the pool. Accessible by ferry (one-way fares $1.50-$14.99). putinbay.com
26. Kelleys Island The largest American island in Lake Erie, Kelleys Island offers one of the nation’s best examples of glacial grooves, left as a heavy glacial wall moved over the island’s soft limestone. Campgrounds, wineries and Inscription Rock State Memorial featuring Native American petroglyphs are other draws. kelleysisland.com
27. Maumee Bay State Park This lakeshore destination features a hotel, rental cabins, campground, golf course, fishing, birdwatching, nature center, paths for walking, biking or rollerblading and more. 1400 State Park Road, Oregon. parks.ohiodnr.gov/maumeebay
Festivals
28. Ethnic festivals Birmingham Ethnic (Aug. 17-18), German-American (Aug. 23-25), Greek-American (Sept. 6-8), Latino, Polish — so much ethnicity to celebrate! Food, drink, music, dancing, contests: What’s not to love?
29. Whitehouse Winterfest The annual event typically features a parade, cardboard sled races, horse and carriage rides, ice sculptures, chili cook-off, music, snowman building and snowball throwing contests, a 5k, dancing and more. whitehouseoh.gov
30. Old West End Festival Held the first week of June, the OWE Fest features the King Wamba Parade, house tours, art fair, live entertainment, kids activities, 5K, yard sales, antique car show, craft vendors and more. toledooldwestend.com/owe-festival
31. Dia de los Muertos Local residents create altars featuring photos, candles, decorations, favorite foods and more on the day Latin American culture believes spirits of the dead come back to visit the living for one day. Nov. 2 at Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center, 1225 Broadway St. sqacc.org
32. Toledo Pride The fourth annual LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and allied) event is set for Aug. 24 at Promenade Park. The event, which has grown each year, features a parade, live entertainment, drag queen performances, a night glo 5K on Aug. 23 and a family fun day Aug. 25. toledopride.comToledo Auto Show The annual winter show features hundreds of cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles. toledoautoshow.org
Toledo Pride. Toledo Free Press Photo by Joseph Herr
33. Toledo Auto Show The annual winter show features hundreds of cars, trucks, SUVs and motorcycles. toledoautoshow.org
34. Antique and Classic Boat Show Set for Aug. 24-25, this show is an “extravaganza of antique, classic and historical watercraft through the ages,” featuring local maritime vendors and artisans, live entertainment, food and more at the Toledo Yacht Club, 3900 N. Summit St. toledoboatshow.com
35. First Friday and Rock the Dock These two Perrysburg events feature live entertainment, food and more. First Fridays are free and family-friendly, held the first Fridays of the month June-September (Aug. 2 and Sept. 6). Rock the Docks (Sept. 21) is $5 and for age 21 and older. Facebook.com/DowntownPerrysburg
Food/Drink
36. Iconic Toledo Food Culinary quests for residents and outof-town visitors alike include hot dogs from Tony Packo’s, chili dogs from Rudy’s, steak from Mancy’s, pizza from Jo-Jo’s or Inky’s, an everything bagel from Barry Bagels, ice cream from Mr. Freeze, doughnuts from Wixey Bakery, a garbage salad from Grumpy’s or a great view of the Toledo skyline from a patio at The Docks.
37. Restaurant Week Toledo Support locally owned restaurants while raising money for local nonprofit Leadership Toledo by ordering off specially created menus during this annual weeklong event. restaurantweektoledo.com
38. Farmers Markets Local markets include Downtown at Erie Street Market (8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays May through November, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays December through April), Perrysburg (3-8 p.m. Thursdays May through mid-October, including Music at the Market 7-8:30 p.m. June through August), Westgate Village (3-7 p.m. Wednesdays May through October) and Whitehouse (9 a.m. to noon Saturdays May through early October). toledofarmersmarket.com or perrysburg-farmers-market.com
39. Glass City Café The eatery at 1107 Jackson St. features music every Saturday at 10 a.m.: First Saturdays feature acoustic Americana group Old State Line, second Saturdays are called OWE’ver Easy featuring Jason Quick, third Saturdays offer Americana and classic rock favorites and fourth Saturdays are bluegrass. “Glass City Café” on Facebook
Glass City Cafe
40. Boyd’s Retro Candy Store Features penny candy, old-fashioned taffy, retro soft drinks – and plenty of nostolgia. 954 Phillips Ave. boydsretrocandy.com
Boyd’s Retro Candy. Toledo Free Press Photo by Sarah Ottney
41. Pizza Palooza Local pizza joints will vie for the title of best judges’ choice and people’s choice July 26-27 at Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Road, Sylvania. Admission $3-$5, children 4 and younger free. Pizza $1.50-$2 per slice. sylvaniachamber.org/PizzaPalooza.aspx
42. Brewery tour Tours of Toledo’s Maumee Bay Brewery Co., located inside the Oliver House, 27 Broadway St., are available by appointment. Beers brewed include Buckeye Beer, Glass City Pale Ale, Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout and more. The Maumee Bay Brew Pub overlooks the brewing floor. oh-maumeebaybrewingco.com
43. Food-themed fests Area food-themed fests include Whitehouse’s Cherry Fest, Swanton’s Corn Festival (Aug. 17), Oak Harbor’s Apple Fest (Oct. 12-13), Grand Rapids’ Applebutter Fest (Oct. 13) and more. whitehouseohiochamber.com/ cherryfest.htm, swantoncornfest.com, oakharborohio.net, applebutterfest.org
44. Taste of Maumee Set for Aug. 16-17 during Maumee’s 175th anniversary celebration, Taste of Maumee features more than a dozen local restaurants serving food from around the world, including Sidelines, Jacky’s Depot, El Salto, Fricker’s, Pizzaroma, Rib Cage and La Fiesta. maumeeuptown.com
History
45. Sylvania Historical Village The complex features an 1840s log home, schoolhouse, blacksmith and carpentry shop, railroad depot (the oldest in Ohio) with locomotive engine and caboose and museum. It hosts art camps for kids in the summer and the popular Fossil Fest in September. 5717 Main St., Sylvania. cityofsylvania.com
46. Wolcott House Current exhibit is “Patriotism, Petticoats and Progress: A Tribute to the Early Settlers of the Maumee Valley.” Will offer a Paranormal Tour, featuring a night tour of the house where unexplained events have been documented over the years, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 26. Guided tours available Thursday-Sunday, April through December. $2.50-$6. 1035 River Road, Maumee. wolcotthouse.org
47. Fort Meigs Featuring costumed historical interpreters, War of 1812 re-enactors, third Thursday lecture series, “Life in Early Ohio” event Aug. 24-25, Miniature War Gaming Day on Nov. 2 and more. $4-$8, children 5 and younger free. 29100 W. River Road, Perrysburg. fortmeigs.org
48. Lighthouse tours The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society offers trips to the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse during its annual festival in early July. Lighthouse cruises are offered aboard the Sandpiper on select Sundays during the summer. In Ottawa County, Marblehead Lighthouse Festival is Oct. 12. Cost to climb lighthouse is $2, children 6 and younger free. toledoharborlighthouse.org, marbleheadlighthouseohio.org
Holidays
49. Tours de Noel Featuring tours of historic Old West End homes decorated for the holidays plus a gift boutique, Tours de Noel is a fun way to kick off the holiday season. $10-15, children 13 and younger free. womenoftheoldwestendinc.com/tours
50. ‘The Nutcracker’ Approaching its 73rd year, the Toledo Ballet’s “Nutcracker,” performed at Stranahan Theater, is the longest-running performance in the nation and a holiday tradition for many. toledoballet.net
51. Lights Before Christmas Another holiday staple for many, the Toledo Zoo lights up with animation displays and more than a million lights, including 350,000 on the 85-foot Norway Spruce alone. Mid-November through Dec. 31. toledozoo.org
52. Christmas in July Need a fix of Christmas music, Christmas movies and Christmas ales? Find all that and more at the Santa Shuffle Pub Crawl, hosted by The Blarney Irish Pub, Bronze Boar, Home Slice Pizza, Table Forty4, Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull and Ye Old Durty Bird starting at 6 p.m. July 25. Drink and food item at each location. $30.
53. HalloWeekends Cedar Point isn’t just for summer. The “Best Amusement Park in the World” also features 10 haunted houses, plenty of “screamsters” and more. cedarpoint.com
54. Zombie Bar Crawl Thousands of costumed “zombies” hit the streets and bars of UpTown Toledo the Friday before Halloween. Hosted by the UpTown Association in partnership with the bars, restaurants and businesses of the Adams Street corridor. uptowntoledo.org
Literature/Film
55. Authors! Authors! Hosted each spring and fall by the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, this series has brought famous authors such as Anna Quindlen, Nicholas Sparks, Bob Woodward, John Updike and more to Toledo. toledolibrary.org
56. Sundance Kid Drive-in One of the only drive-in movie theaters left in the area, the business across from Pearson Park offers two screens of double features April through October plus a concessions stand. 4500 Navarre Ave., Oregon. $3.75-$8.75 per person, children 5 and younger free. greateasterntheatres.com
57. Book clubs Book clubs are offered at Birmingham, Heatherdowns, Oregon, Point Place, Sanger, Sylvania, Washington, Waterville and West Toledo branch libraries as well as Way Public Library in Perrysburg. toledolibrary.org or waylibrary.info
58. Banned Books Week The annual event hosted by the University of Toledo each fall features speakers, raffle prizes and a banned books vigil. “banned books — University of Toledo” on Facebook
59. Featured Lines Each month, Launch Pad Cooperative hosts a different writer or poet to present an extended reading at the Downtown gallery, 911 Jefferson Ave. Upcoming speakers include Carl Dietrich in August, Michael Kocinski in September and Patricia Clark in November. 8 p.m., free. launchpadcooperative.com
Music
60. Robinwood Concert House October will be the five-year anniversary of this Old West End house’s first concert. The home at 2564 Robinwood Ave. hosts two to three shows per month for international, national and regional experimental or avant-garde musicians. toledobellows.wordpress.com
Robinwood Concert House
61. Community Drum Circle All are welcome to a drum circle that forms 1-3 p.m. Sundays in the Old West End’s Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum, 2510 Robinwood Ave. Bring your own hand drum, percussion toy or other musical instrument if you have one. Some extras are usually available. Kids and beginners welcome. Organizers say it’s a form of art therapy, as the rhythms melt away the stress of daily life and promote spontaneity, creativity, cooperation, community building, empowerment and cultural awareness. “Community Drum Circle of Toledo” on Facebook
Community Drum Circle of Toledo
62. SoundTrek A wristband lets you hop between 11 UpTown Toledo venues hosting nearly 40 local acts performing a diverse array of live music on July 19 for $15-$20. theartscommission.org/programs/ soundtrek
63. Ice Skating With DJs The all-ages event features ice skating to the sounds of DJ-spun tunes at Ottawa Park Ice Rink, 2200 W. Bancroft St. $6-$10 includes skate rental and a drink at the afterparty.
64. Jazz On The Maumee Hear local and national artists perform 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Best Western Premier Grand Plaza Hotel, 444 N. Summit St., hosted by the Art Tatum Jazz Society. $5-$15. arttatumsociety.com
65. Grugelfest Traditional jazz festival set for Sept. 13-15. grugelfest.com/Grugelfest2013
66. Spotlight Summer Nights There’s more to Hollywood Casino Toledo than gambling. Upcoming acts in the casino’s inaugural outdoor summer concert series along the riverfront include Wynonna Judd on July 20, Chevelle on July 26 (story on page 30), Ronnie Dunn on Aug. 2 and Travis Tritt on Aug. 24. 777 Hollywood Blvd. hollywoodcasinotoledo.com
Museums
67. Blair Museum Toledo is home to the largest collection of lithophanes and the only museum worldwide dedicated to the art. Lithophanes are etchings made in translucent porcelain that can only be clearly viewed when lit from behind. The museum is home to more than 2,300 lithophanes and has about 750 lithophanes on display. Featuring “Captured in Porcelain” through Oct. 27. Toledo Botanical Gardens, 5403 Elmer Drive. Free and open 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday May-October with special group tours for 10 or more available year-round for $5 a person. lithophanemuseum.org
A lithophane at the Blair Museum
68. Great Lakes museum The National Museum of the Great Lakes is scheduled to open in spring 2014 along with the Col. James M. Schoonmaker museum ship. In the meantime, check out the new Maritime Park, featuring an inlaid outline of the Great Lakes as well as Lakes-themed poetry by local artists stamped into the sidewalk. 1701 Front St. inlandseas.org
69. Firefighters Museum Features vintage firefighting uniforms, memorabilia, photos and equipment, including the city’s first fire pumper from 1837, a horse-drawn steamer, a Willys Fire Jeep and more. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday or by appointment. 918 Sylvania Ave. toledofiremuseum.com
Toledo Firefighter Museum
70. Toledo Police Museum Visitors can get locked up in a jail cell, have their mug shot taken by the original TPD mug shot camera, check out interactive displays or peek inside a replica 1948 police wagon. Free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. At Ottawa Park, 2201 Kenwood Blvd. toledopolicemuseum.com
Nature/Science
71. Free Mondays at Toledo Zoo Lucas County residents get free admission on Mondays between 10 a.m. and noon (except holidays) and $2 off admission rates every day with proof of residence. Highlights include the new Australian exhibit, Wild Walkabout, the largest crocodile in North America and twin polar bear cubs. Active military and veterans also get free admission with military ID. toledozoo.org
Lucas the elephant at the Toledo Zoo. Photo Courtesy Lynn Lyons
72. Hit the trails or river Take advantage of about 150 miles of walking/running/dog-walking/horseback-riding trails spread over nine Metroparks of Toledo Area parks. The longest is the 15-mile hiking trail at Oak Openings Preserve. Don’t forget the Maumee River. Farnsworth Metropark along the Maumee River in Waterville has a ramp for small boats and personal watercraft. The park overlooks Missionary Island, a popular destination for paddlers to explore. Cartop boats can be launched under the I-475 bridge at Side Cut Metropark. metroparkstoledo.com
73. Imagination Station Featuring more than 250 hands-on exhibits, including “Grossology” through Sept. 2, this science center is fun even for adults. Closed Mondays and holidays. $7.50-$9.50, children 2 and younger free. Two Lucas County kids (12 and younger) per paid adult free on Saturdays. Teachers and active military free. imaginationstationtoledo.org
74. Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory Ritter Planetarium features the first projection system of its kind in the world. “Two Small Pieces of Glass,” tracing the history of the telescope, 8:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 30. $5-$7, children 4 and younger free. www.utoledo.edu/nsm/rpbo
75. Fossil Park at Olander Search for fossils in a handicapaccessible 5-acre rock quarry, one of only a handful of such parks in the nation. Free and open April to November. 5675 Centennial Road, Sylvania. olanderpark.com/pages/Fossil.htm
76. The Butterfly House This wheelchair-accessible greenhouse is filled with tropical plants and more than 1,000 butterflies from all over the world. Open May-October. Admission $7-$9, children 3 and younger free. 11455 Obee Road, Whitehouse. butterfly-house.com
The Butterfly House
77. Grow something Working in partnership with community organizations and neighborhoods, Toledo GROWs serves more than 165 community gardens, which are planned and cared for by neighborhood residents. Toledo GROWs is the community gardening outreach program of Toledo Botanical Garden. Find one near you by emailing [email protected]
78. Sandpiper cruise The Sandpiper is a 100-passenger cruise vessel available for private and public rides on the Maumee River from May through October. Cruise options include picnic lunch, Friday Night Family, sunset and city lights, fireworks, musical dinner, fall color and Halloween. $7-$40. sandpiperboat.com
79. Go birding Ottawa County recently drew visitors from 46 states and 13 countries for “The Biggest Week in American Birding,” a 10-day birding event held each May. Destinations that can be enjoyed yearround include Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area and the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. biggestweekinamericanbirding.com
80. Park(ing) Day Various organizations bring in sod, plants, turf and other installations to create temporary green spaces along Adams Street. The third annual event is set for Sept. 20. Free. uptowntoledo.org
81. Schedel Arboretum Located in Elmore, the 17-acre site has more than 13,000 annuals, around 100 tree species and more than 100 beds, along with plant species and collectibles from more than 110 countries. It’s also home to a collection of more than 100 bonsai trees. Admission $6-$10, children 5 and younger free. Open May through October. Closed Mondays and holidays. 19255 W. Portage River South Road. schedel-gardens.org
Schedel Arboretum in Elmore. Toledo Free Press Photo by Joseph Herr
Offbeat
82. Free Comic Book Day Free Comic Book Day. First Saturday of every May, including JC’s Comic Stop, 5239 Hill Ave.; Monarch Cards & Comics, 4400 Heatherdowns Blvd.; The Game Room, 3001 W. Sylvania Ave.; and Seann’s Anime and Comics, 5805 Monroe St. monarchcomics.net, toledogameroom.com, seannsanimeandcomics.com
83. Go antiquing Whether buying or just browsing, some amazing pieces can be found at local antique shops, including Adams Street Antiques & Art, 1500 Adams St.; Great Finds in Maumee, 1414 Reynolds Road, Maumee; Maumee Antique Mall, 1552 Reynolds Road, Maumee; Leffler’s Antiques, 2646 W. Central Ave.; Toledo Architectural Artifacts, 20 S. Ontario St.; and more. maumeeantiquemall.com, lefflersantiques.com, coolstuffiscoolstuff.com
84. Record Store Day Featuring in-store performances, meet-and-greets with artists and special deals on merchandise, Record Store Day is observed across the country, including locally at Allied Record Exchange, Culture Clash Records, RamaLama Records, Shakin’ Street Records, B-Bop Records and more. recordstoreday.com
85. Bird’s Eye View Circus Space Bird’s Eye View Circus Space is a new studio offering lessons in aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, contact staff, hooping, acro yoga, yoga and partner yoga at Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Ave. facebook.com/BirdsEyeviewCircusSpace
86. BASHCon Whether you’re into video games, card games, board games or role-playing games, you’ll find something for you at BASHCon, featuring tournaments, costume contests, vendors and more. Hosted by the University of Toledo student gaming group BASH, the convention is the largest student-run gaming event in the Midwest. Feb. 14-16, 2014. ut-bash.com
87. Live comedy Catch a comedian at Funny Bone at Fat Fish Blue or Connxtions (closed for remodeling but slated to re-open in the fall). toledofunnybone.com, connxtionscomedyclub.com
Sports
88. National Tractor Pulling Championships Set in Bowling Green since 1967, this annual event is one of the largest in the nation, drawing an estimated 60,000 people. Aug. 16-18. $20-$44 for a single session pass, three-day passes start at $100, children 10 and younger free. Wood County Fairgrounds, 13800 W. Poe Road, Bowling Green. pulltown.com
89. Toledo Speedway Owned by ARCA Racing, which has been a starting point for many NASCAR and other professional drivers over the years. 5639 Benore Road. arcaracing.com
90. Raceway Park Live harness racing every Saturday and Sunday April through September. 5700 Telegraph Road. racewayparktoledo.com
91. Mud Hens and Walleye Catch baseball at Fifth Third Field and hockey at Huntington Center for year-round minor league sports — sometimes even on the same night. mudhens.com, toledowalleye.com
92. Marathon Classic See the top women golfers in the world at Toledo’s annual LPGA golf tournament. Let loose a little at Club 14, a chance to cheer and interact with golfers at hole 14 followed by an afterparty with live entertainment. marathonclassic.com
93. Glass City Rollers Toledo’s roller derby team will kick off its season Oct. 5 with other home bouts scheduled for Nov. 9, Dec. 7, Jan. 11, March 29 and May 3 at the SeaGate Convention Centre. glasscityrollers.com
94. Support a local sports team Several local high school and college teams have won state and national titles in recent years. (The University of Toledo’s women’s soccer team has a player who played for Colombia in the World Cup.) The Great Black Swamp Frogs of Sylvania play baseball by vintage 1860s rules, complete with vintage uniforms. UT and Bowling Green State University have quidditch teams in the spirit of the “Harry Potter” books. There’s also Toledo Celtics (men’s rugby), Toledo Reign (women’s pro football team), Cherokee Hockey, Toledo Crash (wheelchair football via The Ability Center) and more. sev.org/GBSFrogs, toledorugby.com, theetoledoreign.blogspot.com utoledoquidditch.tumblr.com, bgsuquidditch.tumblr.com
95. Join a community sports league Get-active options range from touch football, indoor soccer, ultimate Frisbee and broomball to “bar games” like euchre and cornhole via Toledo Sport and Social Club, Gold Medal Indoor Sports, Tam-O-Shanter, CedarCreek Church and more. toledosportandsocialclub.com, gmisports.net, playsylvania.com, cedarcreek.tv/get-connected/sports
96. Extreme Fort Meig-ing If going to the gym’s not your thing, join this group that stays fit by meeting at Fort Meigs to run, climb and engage in intense exercise sessions together outside. 29100 W River Road, Perrysburg “Extreme Ft. Meig-Ing” on Facebook
97. Hit the local bike trails Miles of bike trials, including the Jermain Park Trail built for off-road mountain bikes. thebikeworks.com/cycling-community/local-trails
98. Centennial Quarry Deep-water, spring-fed swimming facility in Sylvania, featuring sandy beach, diving platforms, water toys like an aqua-bobber, a water teeter-totter, log roller, swim rafts and more. Gate pass $6 or $90-$165 season membership. Noon to 7 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. centennialterrace.org
99. Golf Pick up a Toledo Traditions of Golf Trail Pass, which includes six rounds of golf at Detwiler Park Golf Course, Collins Park Golf Course, South Toledo Golf Club and Ottawa Park Golf Course for $179. Or hit the virtual links at Tamaron Country Club’s Indoor Golf Center and play Pebble Beach, The Old Course at St Andrews or Spyglass without ever leaving town. $10-$25 per hour. tamaroncc.com
100. National Rifle and Pistol Matches More than 6,000 military and civilian shooters from across the country come to Camp Perry in Port Clinton each summer. Several matches include expert instruction for beginners and watching the competitions is free. Dozens of vendors are set up at commercial row the whole month. July 8-Aug. 14. odcmp.com/NM.htm
101. Fun runs Upcoming themed fun runs and mud runs include Run or Dye (Aug. 10, Toledo), Color Run (Aug. 17, Toledo), Dance Dash (Aug. 24, Perrysburg), Color Me Rad (Sept. 22, Toledo), Survival Race (Sept. 28, Holland), Zombie Race (Sept. 29, Holland). runordye.com, thecolorrun.com, dancedash5k.org, colormerad.com, thesurvivalrace.com, zombierace.co. Find more races at ToledoRoadRunners.org
Compiled by Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star Managing Editor Sarah Ottney. What did we miss? Let us know at [email protected].
