Blarney to host two-day  St. Patrick’s tent event

The Blarney Irish Pub is the spot to be for the most happening St. Patrick’s Day party in town, pub employees say.

“We have the best food, the best music and the best location. We have the biggest party. We have the most fun,” said bartender Beth Golday.

The two-day Blarney Madness party expands on the restaurant’s usual pub space and adjacent BullPen to include a large tent on Huron Street.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. March 16 and runs until 2 a.m. March 18. The pop-rock band The Bridges headlines at 8 p.m. March 16. Dragon Wagon plays at 1 p.m. March 17, followed by Bangers & Thrash at 6 p.m. and Skoobie Snaks at 8:30 p.m. DJ Kyle Rickner will play between sets both days.

Bonnie Cosey and Fred Belintkos with Lauren at The Blarney.

The weekend includes other highlights like an ice luge for shots, bagpipers at 7 a.m. March 17 and firefighters in kilts.

The party benefits Toledo and Sylvania local firefighters charities. The Blarney frequently works with firefighters, Golday said.

“They’re always helping others and risking their lives for other people,” she said.

A portion of the proceeds also benefits the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish-American Catholic organization.

A $15 shirt will be on sale at The Blarney. By wearing the shirt, customers can get free entry March 17 and 10 percent off their bills during March.

A Jiggs Dinner with corned beef, potatoes, carrots and celery will be on sale for $9 in the BullPen in addition to a corned beef sandwich and chips for $7, bangers and chips for $6 and a half pound of Blarney Stones (chicken chunks) for $6.

A breakfast of eggs, Irish bacon, potato pancakes and soda bread is available in the pub starting at 7 a.m. March 17 for $7. And, of course, several Irish beers will be available, including Guinness, Killian’s and Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale.

Entry is $5. The Blarney is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. March 16 and from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. March 17. The tent is open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. March 16 and noon to 1 a.m. March 17.

The Blarney is located at 601 Monroe St., Downtown Toledo. Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of this event. Visit theblarneyirishpub.com for more information.

— Brigitta Burks

Claddagh’s Got Talent contest kicks off March 15

Claddagh Irish Pub will kick off a 10-week Claddagh’s Got Talent singing contest at 9 p.m. March 15.

Each week for nine weeks, 10 local singers or bands will perform at the Irish eatery at Westfield Franklin Park, 5001 Monroe St., before three judges. On the 10th week — May 31 — the nine winners will compete in a final round to determine the winner of the $5,000 grand prize.

Judges will include Claddagh general manager JaNeil Mesteller and Chris Hunt, who regularly MCs Claddagh pub trivia contests and other events. The third judge will rotate weekly among local celebrities.

Claddagh Irish Pub bartenders Kevin Powers, left, and Jake Bell with Jocelyn.

“Audience involvement is part of the judging, so the more people you bring with you to root you on, the better your chances to get through,” Mesteller said.

Entry is free and first come, first serve. Entrants can be solo singers or bands of up to three people. Participants must be 21 or older and must provide a photo ID, fill out an entry form and sign a copy of the rules to be eligible. Performances must be in good taste, and music must be submitted for approval before competing. The first week is full, Mesteller said.

“We want this to be a fun, true festival, where people are enjoying themselves,” Mesteller said. “We’ve never done anything like this with such a big purse at the end. It’s a pretty significant amount and it could really help out a person with recording or equipment. Toledo in general has so much talent it’s ridiculous. For such a small town, we really have a great market to pull from. It’s nice to have local people get a piece of the pie.”

For more information or to sign up to participate, call Claddagh at (419) 472-1414.

— Sarah Ottney

Companies offer safe rides home

Remember to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day. Area driving and cab services are available to make sure it’s easy for you and your friends to get home after going out to celebrate.

Granger’s Automotive, 329 1st St., in Toledo will take you and your vehicle home for $20 on March 16 and March 17 before 3:30 a.m. Call (419) 691-2962 for more information.

Locally owned Black & White Transportation offers a free application that can calculate your blood alcohol content and book you a cab ride home 24 hours a day. The app, B4UDRIVE, is exclusive to iPhone, BlackBerry and Droid, but the company’s mobile online reservation system is accessible by any Web-enabled phone.

You can also text the word “RIDE” to (419) 322-6772 or call the company at (419) 536-TAXI (8294). Cabs are first come, first serve, so there may be a wait. Rates are $2 to get in and $2.30 per mile.

If you know you will need a ride for St. Patrick’s Day, you can also book a sedan. The car service costs $60 per hour for a minimum of five hours.

For more information, visit www.blackwhitecab.com.

Another company, BeMyDD, offers a professionally dressed designated driver at an hourly rate. The driver will act as a personal chaufer, driving you and your friends where you want to go and then driving you home. The personal driver service costs $12.50 per hour in the Toledo area, according to BeMyDD’s website.

You can also call after you are already out and BeMyDD will send two drivers to drive you and your vehicle home. In the Toledo area, pickup service costs $25 plus mileage, which is $2.95 per mile for the first 10 miles and $1.50 per mile for each additional mile.

The service is available 24 hours a day, but reservations must be placed by 11 p.m. by calling 877-823-6933 (877-U-BEMYDD). For St. Patrick’s Day, advanced reservations are strongly suggested. For more information, visit www.bemydd.com.

— Sarah Ottney

Irish eyes turn to local festivities

Dressed in our greenest finery, Toledo Free Press Star fashion columnist Lauren O’Neill, Face of FOX Toledo Jocelyn Cruz and I hit the town for a pre-St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl to find out what Toledo has to offer for the upcoming holiday.

Along the way, we met with fellow Toledoans as well as some visiting out-of-towners, including a Marine on leave from Camp Lejeune and a Cleveland-area bowling team in town for a tournament, all enjoying food, drinks and live music at local bars. We also hung out with members of The Steve Mullan Band, Kentucky Chrome and Toast & Jam.

With a name like O’Neill, you know Lauren is Irish, but you might be surprised to learn Cruz, of Puerto Rican heritage, is 10 percent Irish. Not that it matters —

everyone is Irish on March 17!

Below is a list of area St. Patrick’s Day parties, music, food and drink specials to point you to the location that best draws out your inner Irish. Slàinte!

— Sarah Ottney

Arnie’s

3332 W. Central Ave., (419) 517-6037

Open: 6 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: Kegs and Eggs

Drinks: Ice luges, dollar power hour, 50-cent power hour

Music: Live bands and DJs

Leprechaun and magician

Dennis Kreuz, left, and Tommy Hutt cut loose with Jocelyn at The Bunker.

Bar 145

5305 Monroe St., (419) 593-0073

Open: 7 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: Irish breakfast (until 11 a.m.), Jiggs Dinner

Drinks: Irish car bomb specials, Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale

Music: 2-6 p.m.: Mike “Mad Dog” Adams; 10 p.m.: Fibbion Handful

Cover: $5 for in and out all day (starting 1 p.m.), 21 and older

BigZ Bar and Grill / 32 Degrees

2600 W. Sylvania Ave., (419) 720-9090

Open: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: $7.99 Jiggs Dinner

Drinks: $4 Irish car bombs, $3 Baby Guinness shots, $3 Killian’s Draft (you keep glass), $2 16-ounce Budweiser, $2 lemon drops

Joint party with new bar 32 Degrees (5122 Heath- erdowns Blvd.), featuring shuttle between locations, live DJs and covered patios at both locations and broadcast live on 100.7 The Vibe.

The Blarney Irish Pub

601 Monroe St., (419) 418-2339

Open: Two-day Blarney Madness: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. March 16; 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. March 17

Food: $7 breakfast (eggs, Irish bacon, potato pancakes, soda bread), $9 Jiggs Dinner, $7 corned beef sandwich and chips, $6 bangers and chips, $6 half pound Blarney Stones (chicken chunks)

Drinks: Ice luge for shots plus 19 beers on tap, including Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, Harp, Smithwick’s.

Music: March 16: 8 p.m.: The Bridges. March 17: 7 a.m.: bagpipers; 1-4 p.m.: Dragon Wagon; 6-8 p.m. Bangers & Thrash; 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: Skoobie Snaks. DJ Kyle Rickner will play between sets.

Cost: $5 cover to benefit Toledo/Sylvania Firefighters Local Charities and  Ancient Order of Hibernians

Heated tent on Huron Street (starting 6 p.m. March 16 and noon March 17)

Firefighters in kilts

Bobby V’s American Grill

Lauren with Doc Watson’s employees Joy Billmaier, center, and Carey Parker.

8165 Airport Hwy., (419) 491-1795

Open: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Food: Kegs and eggs until 11:30 a.m., then Jiggs Dinner

Drinks: $1 green beer and Killian’s until 9:30 a.m., then $2 rest of the day. Also Guinness, Jameson.

Entertainment: Leprechaun

Caper’s Restaurant and Bar

2038 S. Byrne Road, (419) 389-9900

Open: 11 a.m.-midnight

Food: Jiggs Dinner, $9.99

Drinks: Irish car bombs, Guinness, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, $3 16-ounce aluminum Bud Light and Miller Lite

Prizes and gift card for craziest outfit

Chucks on Monroe

4477 Monroe St., (419) 720-3370

Open: 8 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $6.95 eggs and hash breakfast (until 11 a.m.), $8.95 Jiggs Dinner (11 a.m.-12:30 a.m.)

Drinks: Green beer, Guinness, $3.50 Irish car bomb station, $1.50 green Coors Light draft, $2 cherry/grape bombs (until 9 p.m., $3 after 9 p.m.),

happy hour until 9 p.m. ($1 off drinks)

Music: 6 p.m.: DJ Todd Delicious

Claddagh Irish Pub

5001 Monroe St., (419) 472-1414

Open: 7 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: Irish menu (until midnight)

Drinks: Guinness, Killian’s, bomb specials, draft specials, jello shots, aluminum bottle specials Music: Two stages: Noon: DJ, 2 p.m.: The Steve Mullan Band, 5 p.m.: Road Kilt, 9 p.m.: The Bridges.

Plus, 3,000-square-foot heated tent (starting 10 a.m.),  Irish dancers, bagpipers, promo girls and giveaways

Cover: $10 (starting at 3 p.m.), or $20 VIP passes (no lines, T-shirt, beads, coupons, $5 off Claddagh’s Irish Carvery Sunday Brunch on March 18). 21 and older only after 3 p.m.

Doc Watson’s

1515 S. Byrne Road, (419) 389-6003

Open: 5:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: Breakfast (green eggs and ham); Jiggs Dinner with authentic Irish soda bread

Drinks: Green beer, Irish drink specials, green jello shots, Killian’s (beer of month), Guinness, Smithwick’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, Harpoon Celtic Ale, Magners Irish Cider

Music: 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Jeff Stewart; 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Meaghan Roberts; 6:30-8:30 p.m.: DJ Chris; 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.: DFR

Giveaways all day (hats, shirts, necklaces)

Megan O’Hearn, left, and Julia Bonk with Lauren at Doc Watson’s.

Cover: $1-3 (starts at 12:30 p.m.)

Four Horsemen

4452 Lewis Ave., (419) 476-3900

Open: 9 a.m.-2:30 a.m. (Specials also apply March 14 and 16.)

Food: $8.75 Jiggs Dinner, $7.50 corned beef sandwiches (dine in or carry-out).

Drinks: $1 Green Demon shot, Irish car bombs, Guinness, Killian’s, beer specials

Delaney’s Lounge

309 W. Alexis Road, (419) 476-2883

Open: 9 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: Corned beef sandwiches

Drinks: Jello shots, green beer, Guinness, Killian’s, kamikaze tooters

Music: DJs all day including Mark Sheppard.

Raffles, giveaways, “I survived St. Patrick’s Day” T-shirts ($12-$15)

Manhattan’s

1516 Adams St., (419) 243-6675

Open: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

Food: Jiggs Dinner, fish and chips, Irish stew

ODrinks: $5 Irish car bombs, $4 Jameson, $3 Feckin’ Irish whiskey, green beer, Guinness, Killian’s, Harp

Music: 9 p.m.: Raq the Casba

Mickey Finn’s Pub

602 Lagrange St., (419) 246-3466

Open: 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $10 Jiggs Dinner, $5 corned beef sandwich and chips

Drinks: Irish car bombs, Guinness, Killian’s, Harp, all Irish whiskeys

Jocelyn Cruz

Music: 4:30-6:30 p.m.: Paddy Murphy, Don Binkley, Bobby May; 7-9 p.m.: Minglewood Labor Camp; 9:30-11 p.m.: The Swamp People; 11:30 p.m.-close: Decent Folk. Plus bagpipers.

M.T. Loonies

6648 Lewis Ave., Temperance, (734) 847-7222

Open: 9 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: $12 Jiggs Dinner (8 ounces unsliced corned beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage), $8 corned beef sandwiches (to-go orders taken until 8 p.m.)

Drinks: Green beer, Irish shots, Irish margaritas, 20-ounce Guinness, Killian’s, Irish car bombs

Music: Irish drinking music played all day. 7:30 p.m.: DJ Smoot.

Free beads, Irish dancers (4:30 p.m.)

Mulvaney’s Bunker Irish Pub

4945 Dorr St., 419-534-9830

Open: 9 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $7.95 breakfast brunch buffet, Jiggs Dinner, various Irish food and appetizers

Drinks: Green beer, green shots, $4 Bloody Mary bar, homemade pudding shots, Guinness, Smithwick’s, Great Lakes Conway Irish Ale, 26 beers on tap

Music: Noon-4 p.m.: Kyle White; 5-9 p.m.: Breaking Ground; 9 p.m.-2 a.m.: DJ Exel (with light show and video).

Tent in patio. Three bars. Promo girls throughout day. Cash prizes for best-dressed Mr. and Mrs. St. Patty’s Day (7 p.m.)

Cover: $5 starting at noon

Pat & Dandy’s Sports Bar and Grill

3340 W. Laskey Road. (419) 474-1189

Open: 10 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $8.95 Jiggs Dinner, $6.95 corned beef on rye with swiss, $6.75 leprechaun stew (chicken stew) in sourdough bread bowl

Drinks: $1 10-ounce green beer, Guinness, Killian’s, Irish car bombs, Jameson shots

Music: 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m.: Streetwize

Quimby’s At The Park

25 S. Huron St., (419) 244-7222

Open: Noon-2:30 a.m.

Food: Rueben special

Drinks: Guinness, Killian’s, Irish car bombs

Music: 9 p.m.: Man Down and DJ E.

Official Glass City Rollers afterparty

Shawn’s Irish Tavern

Grand Opening of new location on St. Patrick’s Day: 7436 Bancroft St. (at King Road), Sylvania, (419) 724-7981; plus, 4400 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo, 419-381-1281; and 105 S. Third St., Waterville, (419) 441-1081

Open: 10 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: $8 Jiggs Dinner, $6.75 hot shredded beef sandwiches, $6.75 corned beef sandwiches

Drinks: Beer specials all day, green beer, Irish car bombs, Guinness, Killian’s

Music: 9 p.m.: The Villains (Waterville), 9 p.m.: Johnny Rodriguez (Toledo)

Swig

219 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg, (419) 873-6224

Open: 6 a.m.-2 a.m.

Food: Irish breakfast, Jiggs Dinner, Guinness-braised lamb shanks, bangers and mash

Drinks: Irish whiskeys and Irish craft beers, including Three Flloyds, Great Lakes and Dark Horse

Music: Noon-3 p.m.: Old State Line; 4-7 p.m.: Jeff Stewart; 8-midnight: Local Delivery.

Heated tent on patio

Trotters Tavern

5131 Heatherdowns Blvd., 419-381-2079

Open: 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $10.99 Jiggs Dinner, $10.99 bangers and mash, $7.99 corned beef sandwich, $10.99 combo plate

Drinks: Green beer, Guinness ice cream float, mini Guinie, Irish car bombs, Irish shots, Irish whiskeys including Feckin Irish Whiskey, Tullamore Dew, Michael Collins, Powers, Celtic Crossing, Bushmills Irish Honey

Music: 4:30-7:30 p.m.: Chris Brown and Candice Coleman; 9 p.m.-1 a.m.: Nine Lives

Village Inn

4984 N. Holland-Sylvania Road,

(419) 882-0338

Open: 7 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: $7.99 Jiggs Dinner

Drinks: Green beer, Guinness, Killian’s, Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale, Dundee Irish Red Lager, Great Black Swamp Mosquito Red Ale, mini-Guinie shots. Happy Hour (7-11 a.m., 4-7 p.m.): $1.75 Bud Light/Miller Lite/Labatt/Yuengling Light

Music: 7-11 p.m.: Watson Street Loft

Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar and Grill

3150 Navarre Ave., Oregon, 419-691-8880

Open: 9 a.m.-2:30 a.m.

Food: Kegs and Eggs, Jiggs Dinner (starting at noon)

Drinks: Green beer, $3 Irish car bombs

Music: 3 p.m.: Big Ticket; 9 pm.: Brave Youngster

Tags: Ancient Order of Hibernians, Arnie's, Bar 145, BeMyDD, BigZ Bar and Grill, Blarney Bullpen, Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Caper’s Restaurant and Bar, Chucks on Monroe, Claddagh Irish Pub, Delaney's Lounge, Doc Watson's, Face of FOX Toledo, Four Horsemen, Glass City Rollers, Granger’s Automotive, Guinness, Jiggs Dinner, Jocelyn Cruz, Lauren O’Neill, M.T. Loonies, Manhattan's, Mickey Finn's Pub, Mulvaney’s Bunker Irish Pub, Pat & Dandy’s Sports Bar and Grill, Quimby’s At The Park, Shawn’s Irish Tavern, St. Patrick's Day, Swig, Trotters Tavern, Village Inn, Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar and Grill

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Featured, St. Patrick's Day, Star, Uncategorized.
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I think I was away at Kent State when my dad sent me a copy of a quote by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe that has made it onto every refrigerator in every place I’ve lived since.  That is a lot of refrigerators.

But the now creased and tattered piece of paper is a prized possession. It is the “Begin It Now” quote that I give all the credit for everything I’ve ever tried.

To paraphrase, it suggests that once you commit and begin to make moves toward creating something, avenues open and people materialize with just the right connection or advice to lead you perfectly to the next step.

I absolutely swear by this.  I’ve seen it work too many times to not be completely convinced that what the Universe wants from us is to make something that is uniquely ours while we’re here, and for it to contribute to the betterment of the world around us. It wants it so badly that it will do whatever it can to aid in the process of creation. On a related note, it insists on hearing our music, but that’s for another day.

So indoctrinated am I that I can barely stop myself from practically forcing this concept on my friends and fellow creatives.

Luckily, they mostly know that pushiness is my way of showing love and they still let me hang around.  I have two friends right now who I’ve set my sights on pretty squarely.  Much to my delight, neither one of them is fighting me on it as much as I had anticipated.  In true Toledo form, my initial admiration of each of their talents only led me to find out that they had several others. Talents that lend themselves to art and activism, no less.

You know her as Betty Floored, The Glass City Rollers’ most glamorous, lovable and brutal blocker and pivot. I know her as my friend Jessica Crossfield, who cracks me up and is an extremely talented and now accomplished seamstress/crafter/fashion creator.   “Dresses by Betty” is a brand that Toledo will boast about in time. It is already supplying brides and their bridesmaids in Nova Scotia and beyond with custom designs due to online sales.

As soon as I get my way, its headquarters and retail boutique will be on Adams Street in Uptown Toledo. She’s beginning to bend.  Keep an eye out for her storefront no later than mid-2012.  (She will be mad at me for saying that.)

Hopefully much sooner than that, another very exciting development will take place in the way of adding to the action on Adams Street.

Recently, my friend (and now band mate in Ben Langlois and the Might of Band, another of his multi-talents) Alan Leizerman was forced to excuse himself from the stifling world of the corporate food business. Just like an activist, Alan was fighting for relationships with local business and quality organic ingredients as a chef who truly cared about his product.

This led to creative differences and Alan made a move in favor of integrity.  When I heard this, I couldn’t help but think of the day I departed corporate victim advocacy land in honor of my professional conscience and went to the courthouse the very next day as an “Independent Advocate.”

So, naturally, I was geeked to find out that Alan didn’t let this snag stop him from gazing ahead in the direction of a Do-it-Himself catering/late night food vendor business on Adams Street. During a conversation at the Robinwood Concert House where Alan played music last week, we talked about food vendors’ licenses and Alan wondered aloud why no one had ever tried to be a night-time street food vendor before.

I could only respond with, “The scene hasn’t been there to support such an effort until just this very moment.”  So, welcome to your new role in improving our corner of the world, Alan. I can tell you from experience that your contribution will enrich your existence and reward you in ways you never imagined. And let me thank you in advance for heeding Goethe’s advice that “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” And to, “Begin it now.”

Rachel Richardson is an activist, musician, co-founder and co-director of Independent Advocates, and a product of Toledo, Ohio. E-mail her at star@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: ACT, Glass City Rollers, Rachel Richardson

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 4:23 pm and is filed under ACT, Star.
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Camaraderie is where it’s at! There is strength in numbers! United we stand! Divided, we can’t get squat done! The more the merrier! Kumba-freakin’-YA!

Perhaps you’ve heard that Toledo is the coolest and most revolutionary city in the Midwest? If not, you haven’t been hanging out Downtown with the world changers, which means you may not know that in some of the particularly happening spots, you will always find several people wearing Toledo gear (I’m wearing my Shine 419, “Portland doesn’t need you” shirt as I write this), drinking out of pint glasses emblazoned with logos of local nonprofits (designed by talented, long-time friends), or fantasizing about buying (better yet, actually buying) the local art on the walls.

We’re shouting it from the rooftops! Well, actually, from our Facebook pages … but still, this place has some serious spirit. And do you know why? Because it is very easy to get behind and show support for people and places that are trying to improve the state of things, and who are really good at it, and who are having a really good time doing it. Here are some examples. The Ottawa Tavern on Adams Street has live bands six out of seven nights a week for free. They also hold regular fundraising events for things like teachers trying to supply their classrooms or community members with outrageous medical bills. Wesley’s Bar and Grill, also on Adams Street, hosts the best weekly dance party you’ve ever seen and also hosts regular fundraisers for friendly politicians and nonprofits.

The Glass City Rollers are a team of athletic personalities who are easy to love, even if you don’t think you like sports. They also donate half of their 50/50 raffle winnings to local nonprofits at each of their home bouts. Old West End Records represents so much musical talent that I could write an entire column about the different combos it turns out to play each week.  They also donated sound equipment and know-how to a memorial celebration of the life of Dr. Robert Brundage during the summer.

Toledo GROWs is creating community gardens and teaching urban populations about sustainability.  The Center for Choice is providing women with reproductive choices  and quality care. My organization, Independent Advocates, is working to change the community’s response to domestic violence. Some of my dearest friends are working on campaigns for Carol Contrada and Marcy Kaptur.

This is important work and we’re all running full speed ahead into our duties to leave this place better than we found it.  It’s a big job, no doubt. But we’re leaning on each other and getting an awful lot done.

If you’re paying really close attention, you’ll notice something else. The staff at the Glass City Cafe is wearing Glass City Flamingos T-shirts (a very new softball team coached by none other than Star columnist and everyone’s favorite hippie, Stacy Jurich), and Independent Advocates’ staff are wearing Glass City Rollers T-shirts. I bet the next time you see local artist Anthony McCarty, he’ll be wearing a Devicious T-shirt (the one with the sunglasses seems to be his favorite).

Cross promotion does not begin to describe what is going on here.  We are all so proud of each other and are so moved by each other’s work that we can’t help ourselves but to gush over and laud what everyone else has going on, which buoys the spirit that much more.

The hope that we are making our contemporaries proud has become a certain fuel that we run on. Productivity seems to be growing exponentially. It’s as if we were all born at the exact right time to do this very thing.

And of course we were.

So, what’s your cause? You have one. We all do. I know a woman who recently lost a dear friend to breast cancer. In the six months or so since her friend passed away, she has established a memorial fund and built and raced a team in her honor during this year’s Race for the Cure. She could not help herself but to answer a problem with something positive and powerful.  It’s in the water in Toledo!

Together, we really are changing our corner of the world. We cannot help ourselves.

Rachel Richardson is an activist, musician and a product of Toledo. E-mail her at artcornertoledo@gmail.com.

Tags: ACT, Carol Contrada, Glass City Rollers, Independent Advocates, Marcy Kaptur, Rachel Richardson, Shine 419, Stacy Jurich

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 5th, 2010 at 10:38 am and is filed under ACT, Star.
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The Glass City Rollers prove women can play full-contact sports.

Toledo’s roller derby team is set to  compete against the Scream Puffs from the Fox City Foxz league in Green Bay in their first home bout 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at the SeaGate Convention Centre, said Michelle “Vod-Killah” Atkinson.

Vod-Killah has been a member of the team since late 2007.

Mark Moffat worked with the Detroit Derby Girls, while chairing the Old West End’s King Wamba carnival and parade. He said he started recruiting for the Toledo team soon after.

The journey to the first home bout has not been an easy one, Vod-Killah said. First, a core group had to build the business from the ground up.

Glass City Rollers photographed by Eric Eggly

“We’ve really pulled ourselves up from our bootstraps,” she said.

They are still facing their next challenge: Finding suitable practice space. The Swanton Coliseum Skating Center where they practice is too small and the floor is concrete, making skating much easier than sports-cork-floored competitions, Vod-Killah said.

Team members pay for everything themselves, so rental pricing is an issue, she said.

The players donned their four-wheel speed skates, some for the first time, in 2008. The team follows the guidelines of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), which states they can not be owned by a corporation, Vod-Killah said.

“We are skater-owned, skater-operated,” said Cheryl “No-Holds Barbie” Murphy. In addition to skating, members sit on committees. They market, recruit and raise funds, among other things.

Two nights a week, 23 women break out their best roller derby practice attire, fluorescent leggings and fishnets optional, to hone their skating skills and practice strategies picked up from other teams or the Internet.

For those introduced to roller derby through previews for Drew Barrymore’s movie “Whip It”—- shot in Detroit and featuring Vod- Killah as an extra — Vod-Killah explained the premise.

Each team has four blockers who form a pack and one jammer, who starts behind the pack. As they race around the rink, the pack tries to help their jammer break through, while preventing the other team’s player from passing.

“That’s the simple version,” Vod-Killah said. “There’s about 10 million other things that can happen out there.”

Vod-Killah was hooked to the sport after seeing a Columbus bout. For No-Holds Barbie, it was the Detroit Derby Girls.

Another challenge is picking derby names. No-Holds Barbie said there is a national roster of taken names and rules dictate there can be no duplicates.

“They can’t even be similar or you have to ask the other player for permission,” she said.

The new team is gaining popularity. They have so many potential members they have instituted a “fresh meat” program.

Alexis Mohr is “fresh meat,” she said. New recruits have to sit out for 90 days before making roster. During that time, they must attend 75 percent of practices and meetings or start the process over.

After watching three practices, and with proper equipment and insurance, recruits can practice with the team.

The Glass City Rollers are excited to host a team in Toledo.

“I wanna show Toledo we’re bringing in people from out of town, buying food and buying gas, and we’re doing this all on our own,” Vod-Killah said.

Rental for one night at the SeaGate Centre is about $3,000, so they are relying on ticket sales.

The first bout will highlight Wake up Youth, a charity founded by EleSondra DeRomano, a survivor of teen prostitution who goes out every night between midnight to 5 a.m. and helps girls on the streets. Proceeds from a 50/50 raffle will go to Wake up Youth.

There will be a costume contest for all ages, a disc jockey and candy for kids, Vod-Killah said. They will be collecting winter clothes for the girls DeRomano helps.

The bout versus the Scream Puffs is the first of five home bouts scheduled at the SeaGate Centre this season. Tickets are $11 and available from any derby girl and at all Anderson’s locations, Culture Clash, RamaLama Records, Shakin’ Street Records and Full Circle Salon . Children 12 and under are free.

Visit www.glasscityrollers.com for more information.

Tags: Glass City Rollers, Roller Derby, Whip It

This entry was posted on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Sports.
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