Downtown Toledo is growing.

That’s not an opinion; there is empirical proof on several streets. The residences, restaurants, arts activities and development announcements at the Marina District, Toledo Edison Steam Plant and elsewhere are easy-to-see evidence. The corner where Toledo Free Press is housed, where Monroe Street meets Huron Street next to Fifth Third Field, is particularly healthy. You can stand there in the shadow of one of the greatest minor league baseball stadiums in America and see Huntington Center, SeaGate Centre, restaurants such as The Blarney Irish Pub, Table Forty4, Cock ‘n’ Bull, PizzaPapalis and a new Italian restaurant. If you look far enough, you can see the Bronze Boar, Quimby’s and Grumpy’s, with Spaghetti Warehouse, Packo’s at the Park and Swan Creek Candle just out of sight around the corner.

One business that recently closed represents not a loss, but an opportunity. Marilyn’s on Monroe, an adult establishment, recently shut its doors at 715 Monroe St.

Toledo City Council, the Planning Commission and interested groups such as the Mud Hens, Destination Toledo and Downtown Toledo Improvement District should consider ways to prevent adult entertainment businesses from returning to this growing, family-friendly area of Toledo.

I understand this is contrary to Toledo Free Press’ general pro-development, leave-government-out-of-it philosophy. Everyone has a right to earn a living and the less government interference, the better.

But a sexually oriented business in the heart of an area trying to brand itself as a destination for families is a deterrent to growth and development. This is not an argument about morality; it’s a business outlook defined by the unquestionable guidelines of “location, location, location.”

Just steps from the home of the Mud Hens, a business that has been charged with everything from tax and workers’ compensation issues to solicitation, illegal drugs and alcohol handling issues detracts from the atmosphere of growth. It is not conducive to family foot traffic.

As a resident of the block, raising two small children, I am keenly aware of how visiting families perceive our corner of Downtown Toledo and the imaginary boundaries they draw in their minds as they experience Downtown.

715 Monroe St. is listed as being owned by George Stamatopoulus, who is reportedly from Illinois and does not reside in Toledo.

Toledo zoning laws state that sexually oriented business is not allowed “within 500 feet of any residential district, school (K-12), religious institution, public park, public playground, public library, pre-school, child day care, or other use established specifically for the activities of minors,” none of which apply here.

My understanding is that while Marilyn’s is closed, its permit to operate a sexually oriented business remains in effect for one year and it could reopen, as long as it meets code.

Could enough interested parties join to take over the lease and “wait out the clock” so that license expires? It seems unlikely that in this environment of renewal, the Planning Commission and City Council would want to see another such establishment take root.

The Downtown business community recently showed that it can band together, regarding intersection names, and with all due respect, that argument was about an issue with nowhere near the impact of allowing a red light business to operate in the heart of Downtown.

Yes, such businesses are legally allowed within the city and state but perhaps the city could create a sexually oriented business-free zone or establish that no sexually oriented business can operate within so many thousands of feet of a sports arena.

Trying to shut down an existing business is bad for the city. Trying to keep a closed place closed is less intrusive. It’s addition by subtraction; take away an element and watch the remaining participants benefit.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Bronze Boar, City of Toledo, Cock ‘n’ Bull, Destination Toledo, Fifth Third Field, Grumpy’s, Huntington Center, Mud Hens, Packo’s at the Park, PizzaPapalis, Publisher's Statement, Quimby’s, SeaGate Centre, Spaghetti Warehouse, Swan Creek Candle, Table Forty4, The Blarney Irish Pub, Tom Pounds

This entry was posted on Friday, June 1st, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Opinion, Publisher's Statement.
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Tired of being stuck in the house all winter? Escape the boredom and come out to WinterFest 2011.

Destination Toledo, Inc. has partnered up with area attractions to celebrate its second annual WinterFest Feb. 25-27.

Area attractions will be offering discounts during the weekend to boost sales this winter. Imagination Station, Toledo Zoo, Toledo Museum of Art, Valentine Theatre, Tam-O-Shanter Sports and Exhibition Center and local restaurants including Zia’s, Real Seafood, Maumee Bay Brew Pub and The Blarney are participating in this event.

Cathy Miller, director of tourism for Destination Toledo, Inc., said, “There are plenty of quality family activities in the winter, but we sometimes need a little added incentive to go out in the cold. WinterFest incorporates what is already available to families, but includes online coupons for special admission rates and discounts. Add great hotel discounts and packages to the mix and you are set for a great get-a-way weekend.”

Imagination Station will be offering buy one adult admission and get one free child admission.

Frozentoesen continues at the Toledo Zoo with half off admission. Activities include ice carving demonstrations, cabin fever feeds, indoor family games and magician Chris Clark.

Toledo Museum of Art is offering $1 off admission to The Egypt Experience: Secrets of the Tomb. Other activities include live music, presentations and public tours at no charge.

Tam-O-Shanter Sports and Exhibition Center in Sylvania is offering buy one, get one free admission during public skate.

Book your get-a-way to the Holiday Inn Splash Bay Indoor Water Park, Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center or the Hampton Inn Toledo South Maumee which are all offering special weekend packages.

Miller said last year was a huge success. “I think the big plus here is that we have some fantastic things in our own “backyard.” We had several replies from participates last year thanking us for the suggested discounted activities. We are happy to once again highlight member offerings with scheduled events over this weekend.”

For a complete schedule of events, restaurant discounts, coupons and special hotel rates and packages, visit www.doToledo.org.

Tags: Destination Toledo, WinterFest

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 at 11:08 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Family Fun, Festivals.
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Two local hotel professionals recently assumed the leadership at Destination Toledo Inc. with Richard Nachazel being named president and Tony Vetter named director of sales.

Nachazel brings 30 years of experience in the hotel business to his new position.  He served on the organization’s board of directors for the past three years while working as general manager of the Crowne Plaza in Downtown Toledo.

“It was a pleasure to serve on the board and I am excited about the opportunity to lead Destination Toledo,” Nachazel said about his Jan. 31 appointment.

From left, Richard Nachazel and Tony Vetter of Destination Toledo.

Nachazel has been involved with the former convention bureau since the mid-1980s, working for it from 1985 to 1993. He said his new position is “different in a good way from running local hotels and being involved on the board.”

“We have such a variety of high-quality facilities for all types of events here in the region,” Nachazel said.

The venues include three crown jewels of Downtown Toledo with the SeaGate Convention Centre, Huntington Center and Fifth Third Field. He also cited the Maumee River, access to Lake Erie and other historical attractions in the region “that are affordable, accessible and other communities don’t have.”

“All events are important whether they bring people here for a day or longer to spend their tourism dollars,” said Nachazel, who also managed the Toledo Hilton and Holiday Inn Maumee.

Events range from local shows, such as the recent Greater Toledo Auto Show, to regional and international conventions and meetings. Destination Toledo has facilitated the recent hosting of the U.S. Volleyball Championships and American Bowling Conference national championship.

The largest group for convention business has been the Midwest Conferences of Jehovah’s Witnesses for the past several summers. It includes six conferences during six weekends in June and July, this year attracting 5,000 to 7,000 people per event.

The International Flying Farmers Association will host its convention in Toledo this summer. The Ohio Association of Community Action will meet here in June.

The U.S. Senior Open golf championship will be at the Inverness Club in July, drawing as many as 100,000 visitors to the area that week. National television coverage on NBC will benefit the region, Nachazel said.

The Biggest Week in American Birding took place in Northwest Ohio in May, attracting 55,000 vehicles from 38 different states with people who spotted 225 species of birds. It will return this year from May 5-15.

The YMCA National Gymnastics Competition will be here in June and draw 4,000 to 5,000 people, Vetter said.

Casey Koenig, director of gymnastics for the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, and her husband Rob were instrumental in bringing this event to Toledo, he said.

The Ohio County Auditors Association will host its statewide convention in Toledo in June 2012 due to the efforts of two local county auditors. Henry County Auditor Kevin Nye, president of the association, was instrumental in bringing the group here.

Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez worked behind the scenes to make sure auditors who came to review the site met the right people in the area.

“We wanted to make sure we brought our group to Toledo,” Lopez said.

It’s not unusual for local business people or government officials to help bring their professional groups to the area for conventions, Nachazel said.

Destination Toledo is conducting a contest, “Bring It Home Toledo,” to encourage local people to bring their convention, meeting or sporting event to Toledo with a chance to win $2,500 and other prizes in 2011.

The goal of the sales staff is to bring tourism to the Toledo region and sell hotel rooms, said Vetter, who has 20 years of sales and marketing experience for local hotels.

Nachazel said he is working with the branding committee that is developing a “brand” for the Toledo and Northwest Ohio region. The best tool is to tell tourism success stories about the region’s many assets, he said.

Tags: Destination Toledo, Downtown Toledo, Jehovah's Witness, Richard Nachazel, Tony Vetter

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011 at 4:01 pm and is filed under Community, Development, Downtown Toledo.
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Related story: “No misery in Toledo’s quality of life” by Michael Ashford

Related story: “Company loves misery” by Michael S. Miller

Toledo is miserable.

Well, at least according to Forbes magazine. Forbes ranked Toledo as the No. 12 of 20 U.S. cities on its “America’s Most Miserable Cities” list released Feb. 2.

This is the fourth year the magazine has rated miserable cities in the U.S. Last year, Toledo ranked No. 15 on the money magazine’s list. The first two years the list was limited to 10 cities and Toledo wasn’t ranked.

Also included in this year’s list are other Midwest cities: Chicago at No. 7; Cleveland at No. 10; Flint, Mich., at No. 11;  Youngstown at No. 14; and Detroit at No. 15. The list also includes eight cities in California, four from Florida and one from the East Coast.

Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes senior editor and author of the list, said he doesn’t believe there is any bias for or against one part of the country in the rankings. He said previous “most miserable” lists have included New York City, Philadelphia and Buffalo, N.Y. This year the magazine decided to look at the housing market for the first time, which negatively affected California and Florida, he said.

“All of the cities on this have lots of positive things for their residents to enjoy, but this list is focused on the hardships that they must endure,” Badenhausen told Toledo Free Press via e-mail.

Forbes has many different lists that highlight the positives and negatives cities have to offer and the idea is to spark conversation about the issues, he said.

To rank the most miserable cities, Forbes looked at the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the United States — with a minimum population of 249,000 to be eligible.

It ranked the cities based on 10 factors, including unemployment during the past three years, tax rates, commute times, violent crimes, weather and how a city’s professional sports teams fared, according to a Forbes article on methodology. Housing prices and foreclosure rates as well as convictions of public officials in each region were also considered.

While only the top few cities had much mention in the article, the magazine said this about Toledo in its slideshow: “A recent economic analysis of the Toledo metro forecast that employment would not return to pre-recession levels until after 2025. Unemployment has averaged 10.6% during the past three years.”

Toledo’s outlook

Some in Toledo believe Forbes’ ranking to be inaccurate, some believe the ranking shouldn’t be given any attention at all and others feel Toledo has earned its designation.

On Toledo Free Press’ Facebook page and website, several individuals commented about the state of the city’s psyche. Comments shared here are unedited.

One reader commenting under the name Concerned said, “Let’s face it! Forbes got it right. The only way this city is going to succeed it for belt tighting. Making sure our tax money goes where it should and we need to stop letting outside media sources run this city into the ground. Lot’s  of mistakes made over the last 20 plus years. Now we must pay for it and find a way to make things right.”

Others who agree with the ranking said it was Toledo’s own fault for continually voting for the same people again and again.

However, in general many of the comments received were positive about Toledo.

“I moved here from Pasadena, CA. In Toledo we have no earthquakes, low crime, low smog, a great lake.4 seasons, great schools, parks, a great zoo & museum. Don’t listen too closely to others. Just poke your head out the window and enjoy the positive attributes of our city!” wrote Bill Steele.

“I have no complaints. Lack of major sports teams? We’re within 4 hours of major cities, hell I went to the Wings game last night,” wrote Jeremy Pellek.

“There’s plenty to do, a small but vibrant arts and music community, real estate is cheap, gridlock is almost nonexistent, crime is relatively low and people are mostly pleasant. Everyone but our PR department seems remarkably devoid of misery,” wrote Keith Bergman.

Rachel Richardson, a local activist and musician who considers herself “a product of Toledo,” said she’s not upset about the ranking, but upset that it’s getting press. Richardson said she believes Toledo is a “magical” place and doesn’t tolerate any rhetoric to the contrary.

Richardson, a contributor to Toledo Free Press Star, said the city has many artists and activists including traditional artists, musicians, ballet and theater troupes.

“We shouldn’t have to answer to the people who say negative things about Toledo,” she said. “We shouldn’t have to stop doing what we’re doing to defend what a wonderful place we live in.”

Rich Nachazel, president of Destination Toledo, said Forbes’ assessment was mostly related to economics and real estate, which will improve as the economy does. Nachazel said residents are fortunate to live in this market.

“If Toledo is miserable, then I love miserable. The Toledo area is a great area to be involved in,” he said. “I can’t think of too many places that have the big city amenities — great sports, the arts, universities — within an eight-to-10-minute commute.”

There is no question people in Toledo are hurting, but there is also no question people in Toledo are willing to help, said Bill Kitson, United Way of Greater Toledo president and CEO.

Collins

“When a community surpasses a United Way campaign goal as this community did this year — and so close on the heels of an economic downturn; when more than 3,500 people raise their hand to volunteer in just one week following devastating tornadoes; when we see people start exploring what it really means to advocate for something they’re passionate about … that’s a community I am proud to be a part of,” Kitson said.

Area politicians said the ranking is an incorrect portrayal of Toledo.

“We ought to extend an invitation to the editors of Forbes to come to Toledo; I think they’d change their mind in a hurry,” said Councilman Mike Craig.

Craig said Toledo may be suffering economically, but so are a lot of other cities in the Rust Belt and those cities don’t have anything over Toledo.

“There’s a lot of value to living in Toledo and I think [Forbes] is misinformed,” he said.

Councilman Joe McNamara thinks the methodology Forbes uses to rank cities is flawed.

“We shouldn’t be rated or compared to other cities on factors we can’t control; like weather and the presence of a pro sports team,” he said.

McNamara said the methodology also doesn’t factor in the positive things happening in Toledo, like the number of cultural entities in the city and its push to be a hub of alternative energies.

Councilman D. Michael Collins said he’s disappointed Forbes did not appropriately define Toledo.

“I’m not questioning their integrity, but I do think Toledo, and Northwest Ohio, has been and remains a city to live in that has far more advantages than disadvantages,” he said.

Collins said Toledo has a brilliant future and if public education and confidence in the municipality is fixed, the sky is the limit for Toledo.

“I believe both of these are doable,” he said. “If we have a sustained effort to correct both of these, not only our reputation of Toledo but the quality of life will be looked upon by the nation as a very desirable place to live.”

What now?

Some in the community believe Forbes’ ranking is a result of the failure to get Toledo’s story to other parts of the country.

Wendy Gramza, executive vice president of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, said she disagrees with the ranking and if Forbes had the current data on the city, Toledo wouldn’t make the list. Gramza said the ranking proves why the “Toledo Region Story,” a branding initiative for the region started last year, is so important.

“[Forbes] has a thought in their heads about the Midwest and probably did much of their research through an Internet search engine,” she said. “We haven’t presented our story in those venues and they’re looking at old data and old story. It’s our responsibility to let them know the good things in the region.”

The City of Toledo agrees with Gramza that if Forbes had more current information it wouldn’t think the city was miserable.

“We have a number of tremendous assets that would prove to the contrary. If they looked at current data they would see our efforts to make a more vibrant regional community and see we’re far from miserable,” said Jen Sorgenfrei, public information officer for Toledo. “We think the efforts of the regional branding initiative, its partners such as the Toledo Chamber of Commerce, Destination Toledo and the University of Toledo, are incredible because Toledo has a good story to tell. I think we need to step up our efforts to get that good word out.”

The Toledo Region Story is an effort by both public and private organizations to develop a unified brand for the region. Last year, the group hosted public events to develop Toledo’s story.

Now that the story is developed, organizations involved are working toward getting out Toledo’s message of a new manufacturing economy.

To see Forbes’ rankings, visit www.forbes.com/2011/02/02/stockton-miami-cleveland-business-washington-miserable-cities.

Tags: Bill Kitson, D. Michael Collins, Destination Toledo, Forbes, Joe McNamara, Mike Craig, Miserable cities, Rachel Richardson, United Way, Wendy Gramza

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 5:53 pm and is filed under Community, Development, Featured.
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A “Bucket List,” popularized by the 2007 Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman film of the same name, is a list of life experiences you hope to accomplish before you, you know, kick the bucket.

Thousands of websites compile lists for local communities, states and entire countries.

What should be on the Toledo Bucket List? Toledo Free Press interviewed dozens of local residents and sought Twitter and Facebook feedback to compile the following list. There will no doubt be some places left off that will cause us to smack our foreheads, so help us finish the list with your suggestions, e-mailed to news@toledofreepress.com or posted on our Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/toledofreepress.

The Hall of Fame

Nearly every person we spoke to agreed on four experiences: The Toledo Zoo, a Mud Hens game at Fifth Third Field, the Toledo Museum of Art and Tony Packo’s. These are all things that say “Toledo,” but there’s more to the Glass City than the big four. So we began by placing those local superstars in the Bucket List Hall of Fame, saluting with great respect, and taking a look at less well-known nominees.

After polling City Council members, artists, writers and Toledo enthusiasts, 11 experiences emerged as the most consistently endorsed out of all those submitted. Compiled into a random-order “Bucket List,” the following places, events and foods lend a perspective on a city that embraces a thriving, creative  … thriftiness.

Wildwood Preserve

Seven trails spanning approximately 500 wooded acres in the midst of Toledo make Wildwood Preserve Metropark an overwhelmingly popular destination for walkers and runners. Cathy Miller, interim president of Destination Toledo Inc., suggests taking the green trail.

Wildwood

“Less foot traffic than other trails and you may spot a deer in the middle of the day,” Miller said.

The Manor House at Wildwood also attracts many visitors, like Sauder Village director of sales and marketing Jeanette Smith, who said she likes seeing it decorated for the winter holiday celebrations. Fifteen-thousand people are expected to attend the Holidays in the Manor House event during the first week in December, according to Scott Carpenter, media relations manager for the Metroparks.

“It is definitely the busiest of the 10 metroparks,” Carpenter said of Wildwood. “In face-to-face surveys in the park, we have learned that people like Wildwood because it is clean and safe.”

But there’s another reason Wildwood is special: “The park exists today because of the determination of the community to preserve the property as public land. Lucas County residents approved a special property tax levy in the 1970s to purchase the property, which was destined to be sold for a private residential development. It is ‘the people’s park,’ and I think that is part of its popularity today,” Carpenter said.

Wildwood is located at 5100 W. Central Ave. and is open daily from

7 a.m. until dark.

Old West End Festival

Toledo’s Old West End has the largest collection of Victorian, Edwardian and Queen Anne homes in the nation, according to Dan Schmitt, Old West End Association president. The eclectic mix of architecture, families, religions and socio-economic groups makes the neighborhood the “little bohemia of Ohio,” Schmitt said. Bordered by the Toledo Museum of Art, Collingwood Boulevard, Central Avenue and Glenwood Avenue, the Old West End hosts events throughout the year.

The Old West End Festival takes place in June and attracts 12,000 to 15,000 people, Schmitt said. Encompassing all 850 homes in the 25 city blocks of the Old West End, the festival has everything from food to art vendors, a 5K run and tents for children, entertainment and beer.

“It’s the core. The founding fathers of our city raised their families in the Old West End,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt recommended festival-goers visit the house tours, the art fair under the canopy at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion, see the King Wamba parade and check out the numerous food vendors.

“It’s one of the few events that’s family-friendly and you don’t have to spend anything,” Schmitt said. “The parade is on the level of the Greenwich Village Halloween parade: Art cars, fire-eaters and the Glass City Rollers.”

Rachel Richardson, local activist, musician and Toledo Free Press columnist, recommended camping out in the Old West End during the weekend of the festival. City Councilman Steve Steel said that he has resided in the Old West End for 22 years, and definitely recommends the festival.

“Arts, architecture, music and food, all in the most eclectic neighborhood in town,” Steel said.

Sponsored by the Women of the Old West End, the 2010 Tours de Noel offers a glimpse into five to six of the historic homes decorated for the holidays. Both Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. and Amy Adler of the Frogtown Froggy Museum agreed on the beauty of the homes in this annual event. This year, the tours begin Dec. 5 and include the Ferris Copeland-Shull home, the Mallow Lange home, the Rorick Phipps home and the Geleerd Clymer-Wishart Home, all on Scottwood Avenue. Also in the tour are the Mansion View Inn on Collingwood Boulevard and a gift boutique at the Park Lane Luxury Apartments on 23rd Street.

Main Public Library

With Vitrolite murals circling the lobby’s vaulted ceiling, the main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is home to half a million books on the first floor alone. An 85,000-square-foot addition in 2001 helped modernize the facility to meet the needs of the public. According to Nancy Foth, manager of library branch services, the main library saw almost 700,000 visitors in 2009.

Library

Lisa Renee Ward, Toledo Free Press columnist and Glass City Jungle blogger, said the best part of the main library is its Local History and Genealogy Library Department for its wealth of information and knowledgeable staff.

The library is trying to attract teens back to the library with the game room specifically for 13 to 18-year-olds, Foth said. With an Xbox 360, a Playstation3 and a Wii, the room sees more than 100 different visitors a month, Foth said. The children’s section also includes numerous Vitrolite murals, and there are trained librarians available to assist kids learning to read. The main library offers services to the public to aid with job searches, small businesses and computer programs. Foth said the computers are the most-used service in the library.

“What we’re doing is expanding our role to meet the needs and interests of people in the community,” Foth said. “We’re trying to reach out, whether you’re fixing your car, writing your resume, learning how to read, reading a good book or watching a movie.”

Art Walks

Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. calls the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo’s Art Walks a “must for anyone who has yet to experience one.”

The Thursday Art Walks, sponsored by the Arts Commission, feature approximately 20 participating Downtown galleries that open their doors for several hours to allow fellow artists and patrons to mingle, peruse and purchase art. Street performers provide entertainment between galleries, including poets, fire-eaters and belly dancers. Richardson said she recommends stopping by Bozarts Fine Art and Music Gallery, owned by Jerry Gray, at 151 S. St. Clair St. Other galleries included in past Art Walks are Sur Saint Clair, Homeslice Pizza, Downtown Latte, the Ford Gallery, the Secor Studios and Madhouse Gallery.

Warehouse District

The shops, restaurants and bars with live music, the historic buildings in the warehouse district and the seasonal farmers markets all earned Downtown Toledo a spot on the bucket list. In walking distance from Tony Packo’s and the Spaghetti Warehouse, there are numerous art galleries and storefronts that beg to be visited. South St. Clair Street is home to many small businesses, including Swank Gifts, which vends one-of-a-kind jewelry and Downtown Latte, an inviting coffee shop.

Steel said he would recommend live music at Downtown venues.

“GoLab! at the Ottawa Tavern, Polka Floyd at Mickey Finn’s, Jeff Stewart at Wesley’s, Jason Quick and Vytas at Manhattan’s, Kyle White at PizzaPapalis, Patrick Lewandowski and Bobby May anywhere … you get the idea,” Steel said.

Richardson lent her support for Wesley’s Bar’s Old School Friday nights and suggested Murphy’s Place Jazz Club with Claude Black and Clifford Murphy.

Another Warehouse District gem is the Toledo Farmers Market at 525 Market St., open Saturday mornings in the spring, summer and fall. Ward and Steel both said the fresh, local produce and home made goods make the farmers market a great destination.

Tailgating for UT football

Tailgating a Rockets football game at the University of Toledo is a popular pastime for many Toledoans. Miller suggests parking yourself in Lot 10, the closest lot to the north side of the stadium.

“Everyone enjoys the camaraderie, grilling out and seeing old friends. Top it off with a night game under the lights at the Glass Bowl and you have a great Saturday locked down,” Miller said.

Tailgating the UT game versus rival Bowling Green is an event that City Councilwoman Lindsay Webb said she doesn’t want to miss.

Toledo Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

Located at 5403 Elmer Drive between Reynolds and Holland-Sylvania roads, the Toledo Botanical Garden is open 365 days a year, dawn until dusk and always offers free parking and admission. The garden opened in 1964, when George Crosby donated the initial 20 acres of land to the city of Toledo. The present-day 60 acres of gardens, landscapes and outdoor sculptures host many events, including the upcoming Heralding the Holidays festival Dec. 3 to Dec. 5. Roaming musicians will accompany displays of artwork by local artists and the botanical garden’s resident art and horticultural organizations during the holiday festival.

Melissa Shaner, public relations coordinator for the gardens, noted the Crosby Festival of the Arts as the signature event for the garden. More than  200 artists from across the country participate in the juried arts summer festival that attracts almost a quarter of the 120,000 visitors the garden will see in an entire year. The next Crosby Festival will be June 25-26.

‘The river runs through it’

The Maumee River is host to a multitude of events, from summer festivals and fireworks on the Fourth of July to fall color cruises on the Sandpiper. A 100-passenger cruise boat, the Sandpiper leaves from its Jefferson Avenue dock at Promenade Park for public rides, sunset cruises and private parties six months out of the year. It sees approximately 10,000 visitors per year, according to Sandpiper agent and tour guide Mary Dalby.

Miller of Destination Toledo Inc. recommended packing a cooler to bring on the boat ride.

“Bring a lunch and a bottle of wine. The best-kept secret is you can bring your own food and drink,” Miller said.

The Sandpiper has been running continuously since it was built in Maumee at the Anderson Fabrication shop in 1984. Venturing as far upriver as the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse and as far downriver as the Toledo Country Club, the Sandpiper travels by some of the most defining parts of Toledo.

“We are a connecting point,” Dalby said. “The river runs through it. We’re always going past places where people and their families have worked.”

While some may enjoy cruising the Maumee, like City Council member Webb, others may aspire to experience the city from a different angle, like Councilman Ludeman.

“I’d like to go to the top of the pylon on the Veterans Glass City Skyway Bridge, in the daytime and at night,” Ludeman said.

Lagrange St. Polish festival

A ton of kielbasa, 40,000 pierogies, 300 kegs of beer and hundreds of pounds of sweet and sour cabbage, all consumed in one weekend at the Lagrange Street Polish Festival. An annual event since 1984, the summertime festival features polka bands, arts and crafts, food vendors, dancing and a pierogi-eating contest. Proceeds from the festival go toward neighborhood improvements and scholarships.

City Council member Webb recommended visiting on Sunday afternoon for the contests. Ward said the festival is special to her because of ties she has to the community there.

“My great-grandmother and other family lived in the Lagrange neighborhood,” Ward said. “Great food and memories.”

The Lagrange Street Polish Festival started after area business owners and residents met 30 years ago to address neighborhood concerns and the festival was produced as the solution. Initially a one day event, the festival now spans a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in July.

Mancy’s and The Beirut

Mancy’s Steak House has served aged, hand-cut steaks in Toledo since 1921, Mancy’s is undoubtedly a city favorite. City Councilman George Sarantou said his personal favorite is the New York Strip Steak, although his fellow council member Ludeman said he would dine out every night just to try every item on the Mancy’s menu. Located at 953 Phillips Ave., Mancy’s comes as highly recommended as another institution of Toledo cuisine, The Beirut.

Founder and owner of The Beirut, Labib Hajjar, immigrated to the U.S. from Lebanon in the 1970s and opened a bakery. As the bakery’s popularity and opportunities grew, Hajjar turned his pita bread enterprise into a Middle Eastern restaurant in 1977.

Although it has seen several locations, The Beirut is now at 4082 Monroe St.

The menu features traditional Lebanese staples of lamb, grains, lentils, parsley, herbs, olive oil, lemon juice and spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and mint. The Beirut also has an extensive wine menu with Californian, Italian and Lebanese varieties. Open for lunch, the restaurant takes reservations for dinner and has three private rooms available for parties.

Hajjar said he spends 60 to 70 hours a week in the restaurant, and learned everything he knows from his mother.

“I used to watch my mother cook,” Hajjar said. “She never wrote any recipes down and tried to hide things from me.”

Fresh pita bread is still homemade at the restaurant for in-house menu items, as well as several Italian dishes like lasagna, pizza and ravioli Hajjar included for the customers who might not be comfortable with Lebanese food.

“People travel and come back and say ‘We’ve never seen anything like this,’” Hajjar said. “We’ve got over 150 years of experience in the kitchen.”

Toledo Symphony Orchestra

With nearly 80 professional musicians, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra has been bringing music to the region for 67 consecutive seasons.

In its 2010-2011 season, the orchestra will conduct more than 400 performances across Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

Councilman Steel recommended seeing the symphony perform in the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle for a special experience.

The next special event for the symphony will be a collaborative performance of Handel’s “Messiah” with the Toledo Choral Society and the Bowling Green State University Choral Society on Dec. 4 and 5.

In May, the orchestra plans a special trip to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

What about BG? A Bucket List for Wood County (by Hannah Nusser)

While Bowling Green has much to offer, here’s a list of must-sees for everyone before they kick the bucket.

Cla-Zel Theatre

Whether it’s to admire a historical landmark, catch a concert or work your way through its extensive beer list, the Cla-Zel has earned its name as a legendary must-see spot in Bowling Green. The Cla-Zel was first built as a movie theater in 1926. Its original movie screens still intact, this multifaceted venue offers something for adults seeking an unforgettable experience in Bowling Green nightlife.

The Cla-Zel is now a popular movie house, wine bar and banquet facility; it also serves as a concert venue for many blues and jazz fans.

“By far it is hands-down the classiest place in town,” said Mike Thurau, a senior at Bowling Green State University.

It is located at 127 N. Main St.

Snook’s Dream Cars

The No. 2 tourist attraction in Bowling Green, Snook’s Dream Cars is gleaming with countless age-old treasures. The museum and event venue houses a collection of 1920s-1960s cars, all in working condition, said Amanda Ter Doest, museum director.

With more than 60 years worth of memorabilia, the museum is not just for car fanatics, Ter Doest said.

“We’ve had a lot of [different] people, like the wives that are drug along with their husbands, and truthfully they always find something that they like,” Ter Doest said.

Snook's Dream Cars

Patrons can admire old slot machines, jukeboxes, paintings of historical BG storefronts and even old theater seats from the Cla-Zel.

“It’s not just a bunch of cars shoved somewhere,” Ter Doest said. “There’s quite a bit of history.”

Admission is $4-6.

Wind turbines

Bowling Green goes green with this monumental wind farm. Standing as tall as a 30-story building, no wonder the wind turbines are the No. 1 tourist attraction in Bowling Green.

The wind farm is popular with out-of-towners because it is the only one of its kind in the state, said Wendy Stram, director of the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The four massive white turbines produce enough electricity for about 3,000 Bowling Green residents.

“Anybody that lives in BG has probably seen them from afar but they might want to take a few minutes to see them up close and personal. It’s the wave of the future,” Stram said.

For those who would like to visit this must-see up close, there is a free informational kiosk located at the base of the turbines, on the corner of State Route 6 and Tontogany Road. Group tours are free and can be arranged by contacting Wendy Stram at (419) 353-9445.

Portage Quarry

The Portage Quarry may be one of Bowling Green’s best-kept secrets.

Located just a mile outside of town at 12701 S. Dixie Hwy. and isolated from the road by trees, this recreation center offers all kinds of fun in the sun for all ages. The Portage Quarry serves as a campground, swimming and scuba diving hole, concert spot and all-around summer hangout.

Owner Jeff Rice offers scuba diving lessons, too; certified divers can explore a sunken speed boat, school bus, grain silo and even an airplane in the depths of the quarry.

“Who doesn’t love water, sun and sand?” said Meredith Burge, a quarry lifeguard. “It’s a comfortable beach, pretty mellow surroundings and it’s like being at the beach in the middle of Bowling Green.”

The Quarry is open from Memorial Day until Sept. 13.

City Park

Ride a bike. Take a stroll. Walk the dog. Have a picnic. Relax with a book. The possibilities are endless at the Bowling Green city parks.

Bowling Green Mayor John Quinn said the city’s many parks range from beautiful to functional, and everyone should visit at least one in their lifetime.

“They’re great places to visit and they’re free 365 days a year,” Quinn said.

The City Park is an all-purpose playground and picnic spot for the whole family. Simpson Garden Park, 1291 Conneaut Ave., has more than 10 gardens, including sensory gardens, sculpture areas and walking trails. Wintergarden Park, 615 S. Wintergarden Road., offers a nature center and two miles of biking and walking trails.

Tags: Art Walks, Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Bucket List, Cathy Miller, City Park, Cla-Zel Theatre, Destination Toledo, Fifth Third Field, George Sarantou, Glass Bowl, Lagrange Street Polish Festival, Lisa Renee Ward, Mancy's, Maumee River, Metroparks, Mud Hens, Old West End Festival, Portage Quarry, Rachel Richardson, Rob Ludeman, Sandpiper, Snook's Dream Cars, Steve Steel, The Beirut, Toledo, Toledo Botanical Garden, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Zoo, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Tony Packo's, UT football, Warehouse District, Wildwood Preserve, Wind turbines, Wintergarden

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Featured, Local Attractions.
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The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) is hosting its last Art Walk Series event of the season Sept. 23.

The Art Walk is aimed at showcasing the creativity that happens in Toledo, said Michelle Carlson, program coordinator for ACGT.

“It’s a great opportunity once a month to meet artists and visit galleries and see that there is a lot of culture here in Toledo,” she said.

Each Art Walk features different galleries and exhibits so no two Art Walks are the same, Carlson said. In addition to exhibits, many street performers will be performing between locations, she said.

More than 21 galleries have participated in the Art Walk series, including, 20 North Gallery, Madhouse Gallery, Studio M Printmakers as well as Gallerie 333 at Toledo School for the Arts.

The walk is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Downtown Toledo.

The ACGT will also host its fall Gallery Loop from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 15. The Gallery loop is similar to the Art Walk but provides individuals with transportation from venue to venue.

“It’s nice when it gets a little more chilly,” Carlson said. “It shakes it up and makes it a little different. It also allows new guests to attend different venues that may be a little farther out.”

The ACGT is working to have more performing arts as part of its Gallery Loop, Carlson said.  On Sept. 14, Toledo City Council passed a resolution recognizing the ACGT’s contribution to Toledo through the Art Walk.

For more information and a list of all participating galleries, visit www.acgt.org.

Scrap 4 Art teaches tricks

Scrap 4 Art will host a two Halloween crafts workshops, “Make Your Own Halloween &Fall Decorations” and “Tricks for Making Halloween Costumes,” on Oct. 2.

Make Your Own Halloween & Fall Decorations is from 10 a.m. to noon. Those in attendance get to construct two crafts during the workshop.Crafts include pop bottle bats, monster hands and candle stick holders. Tricks for Making Halloween Costumes is from noon to 2 p.m. During that time individuals will learn techniques that make creating a Halloween costume easy and then be able to make their own costumes.

Scrap 4 Art is a nonprofit arts center that reuses supplies donated by members of the community in arts and crafts projects. Scrap 4 Art is located at 1501 Adams St. Each workshop is $12 a person.

For more information, call (419) 720-2978.

Destination Toledo Arts Escape

Destination Toledo will offer special deals on theater, symphony and opera tickets as well as special hotel packages as part of its Arts Escape.

“The reason we’re doing this we want to remind people what a great art community this is,”

said Cathy Miller, interim president of Destination Toledo. “It’s a great way to remind locals and draw visitors in from surrounding communities.”

From now until Dec. 11 individuals can take advantage of two-for-one ticket pricing on performances by the Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony, Toledo Repertoire Theatre as well as shows at the Valentine Theatre. In addition, area hotels are offering special romance packages, which include champagne and breakfast for two.

The Destination Toledo website also lists exhibits at the Toledo Museum of Art so individuals can dedicate a whole weekend to the arts, Miller said.

For more information and to take advantage of special deals, visit www.dotoledo.org.

Rhythm on the River features singer Sir Charles

The Grand Rapids Historical Society will present singer Sir Charles, Charles A. Ewing, as part of its Rhythm on the River series Sept. 26.

“People can come out and hear all their favorite old tunes and enjoy the beautiful setting there,” said Lynne Long, board member for the Grand Rapids Historical Society.

Sir Charles, a “crooner,” sings music from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole, Long said.

The performance begins at 4 p.m. at the Wright Pavilion, located between the canal and the Maumee River at the end of Lincoln Street.

The event is free and open to the public. Those who attend are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs, as the pavilion has no seating.

CAC celebrating its 25th anniversary at Raceway Park

The Collingwood Arts Center (CAC) celebration fundraiser at Raceway Park on Sept. 25 will feature live music, painting, art auctions and more by some of the area’s most celebrated talents.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $40 for singles and $70 per couple. All proceeds will go directly to the facility’s operating costs. The Collingwood Arts Center is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. Tickets for the fundraiser may be purchased by calling (419) 244-2787 or by visiting the CAC business office weekdays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.  For more information, call (419) 476-7751 or visit www.racewayparktoledo.com.

Tags: Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Collingwood Arts Center, Destination Toledo, Raceway Park

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 10:02 am and is filed under Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Star.
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Tulsa World is reporting that Destination Toledo President Dave Nolan will leave NW Ohio to take a job as “senior vice president of VisitTulsa, the convention and visitor program at the Tulsa Metro Chamber.

Nolan said he took the job for a combination of reasons.

“Opportunity knocked and this was an opportunity to be an executive in a city with a dedicated funding stream. I enjoyed my time in Toledo. I tried to make an impact while I was here,” he said, describing the decision as “bittersweet.”

Nolan told the Toledo Free Press he was proud to be part of Toledo and enjoyed UT sports and the Mud Hens. Nolan will continue to monitor what is going on in Toledo as years progress, he said.

“I will always be a fan of Toledo and I think the future of Toledo is bright,” Nolan said.

“Dave has been offered a great opportunity with Tulsa. He has done a lot for Toledo in the time he has been here. Most recently with the branding committee for Toledo,” said Rich Nachazel, board member of Destination Toledo. “He’ll definitely be missed. He reorganized and reenergized the staff at Destination Toledo and we’ll be looking for someone to replace him who can do the same.”

Nachazel was a member of the search committee that brought Nolan to Toledo and has been appointed to a search committee to find Nolan’s replacement. Nachazel said the process is up to the board chairman, but the board will probably go through a search agency again.

Nolan has served as president and CEO for Destination Toledo since January 2009. He is scheduled to begin his position as senior vice president of VisitTusla on Aug.2.

Tags: Dave Nolan, Destination Toledo, Tourism

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 9:03 am and is filed under Community.
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Since he became president of Destination Toledo Inc. about a year ago, David Nolan has worked to revitalize Northwest Ohio.

In his first few months at work, Nolan decided to change the name from Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau to Destination Toledo to better describe the corporation’s mission, he said.

“It connotes much more of what we do and what we’re about than the longer version and it gets us away from a consumer kind of implicit view that we’re a government agency filled with bureaucracy,” he said, adding that the name also allies Destination Toledo with

David Nolan

other businesses.

The new name provides more opportunities because a destination can be for meetings, conventions, tourism and much more, said Cathy Miller, the director of tourism at Destination Toledo. Nolan has changed Destination Toledo greatly since he arrived in January 2009, said Miller who has worked there for almost 10 years.

“He is a visionary. I think that he has taken us just in one year where I haven’t seen us go in 10 years,” she said, adding that Nolan sees the “big picture.”

Issue 3

Destination Toledo’s position on Issue 3, the amendment to Ohio’s constitution to allow casinos into the state, was significant for Toledo’s economy, Nolan said. The office supported Issue 3, but only if casino owner Penn National Gaming Inc. would not build a hotel on the site, unless Toledo-area hotels reach 70 percent occupancy. The hotels currently have 45 percent occupancy, he said.

Destination Toledo did not want the casino to become an “island” with its own hotel and attractions.

Nolan also worked with Penn National to provide a shuttle from hotels in Downtown Toledo to the casino for three years, he said.

Meeting campaign

To bring more business to area hotels and to area attractions, Destination Toledo launched a marketing campaign worth about $357,000 this month to encourage meeting planners to bring their events here, Nolan said.

The campaign will feature ads in national magazines for meeting planners such as Meetings and Conventions Magazine. The campaign also includes agreements by hotels and other meeting spaces to attract meetings and conventions, he said.

Upscale hotels with meeting spaces agreed to eliminate cancellation fees in 2010 and offer up to 50 percent off rooms among other benefits to meeting planners

Hotel manager Brenda Fey said she usually provides benefits, such as eliminating cancellation fees on a case-by-case basis so making that a set rule was not a problem. Fey manages the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg, which has meeting space for 700 people and has 299 rooms, she said.

“We’ve got a lot of space to fill and … we hope this initiative does just that,” she said.

The ad campaign should reach about 1.3 million people, Nolan said.

Along with providing incentives the campaign will highlight Toledo’s tourist attractions, art community and strengths over other cities.

Arts and entertainment

Destination Toledo has worked with the Toledo Symphony to have it play during the fireworks Downtown. The corporation also works with the jazz society, the Valentine Theater and the Toledo Museum of Art along with other entities, Nolan said.

River festivals like Rally by the River again and promote amateur and professional sports in the region.

The Lucas County Arena and the Mud Hens Stadium already are helping Downtown, he said.

Experience

Nolan also served as the president of the convention and visitors bureaus in Milwaukee, and Cleveland, he said.

“I think that it’s a vibrant industry; it’s a fun industry,” Nolan said.

He has high hopes for Toledo.

I think that Toledo has the opportunity and it can be and will be a preferred destination and I think it has the ingredients for success,” he said.

For more information, visit the Web site www.dotoledo.org.

Tags: David Nolan, Destination Toledo

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Community, Development, Downtown Toledo, Economy.
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