Saturday I came home expecting to go to the movies. Instead, I found myself lacing up bowling shoes and lobbing balls down a bowling alley an hour later. I haven't been bowling in years and it was a blast. The secret to good bowling has to do with the bumpers. My five year old and his friend beat the three adults since gutter balls don't exist when there are rubber bumpers that fill those pesky gutters. One kid won each game.
The reason for the bowling outing is because my friend read an article about cheap family entertainment. Bowling was on the list. For two games and my shoe rentals it was $12. For two hours of fun, I say it's not bad, particularly since Saturdays at Capri Lanes 70s and 80s rock music is played the whole time. It was a "do you remember that song" kind of experience and made me think I should haul out some of my albums. Yes, I still have some.
What I discovered with this bowling night out was the Zen of bowling. The point is clear. Knock as many of the pins down as you can. Keep your hand steady and straight and your eye on the arrows. I'm not all that good at it, but it was great having a night out with friends where we could visit and play. We liked it so much we plan to make this a monthly outing. Next time, I'll look in our Entertainment Book since there are several coupons for bowling discounts.
Here is a website link I found to help you find a bowling site in your area of Ohio. And here is another one to the Ohio Bowling Leagues and Bowling Center homepage.
There was an article in a magazine about Utah artist, Kaziah Hancock that caught my eye about a month ago, and I've been thinking about it lately, Particularly, with the war in Iraq being such a subject of discourse. Regardless of whether one thinks we should send in more troops or not, or what one should do about one's thoughts, there are some people like Hancock who are moved by current events to creative expression and pay tribute in some way.
The short version of the story is that Hancock started painting portraits of American soldiers who have died in active duty since September 11, 2002 as a way to honor them. Other artists have joined in the effort. People can send the photo they want to be copied to the project and then, when finished, the oil painting portraits are given to the soldier's family free of charge. The paintings are listed on Project Compassion's website. I was able to find some Ohioans among them.
This is a spread the word kind of endeavor. The website contains the portraits of the soldiers, plus information about them. If you know of anyone who fits the parameter for a tribute (check the website for more details) you can contact Project Compassion to commission a portrait. There is a handy questions and answers section on the website that explains the process in detail.
Here are the Ohioans I found in the website's gallery. Click "Read" for another article about the project.
I'm fairly sure I went to this last year. From the auditorium to the gallery to the hallways, The King Arts Complex in Columbus is turned into a multi-venue celebration of Martin Luther King Jr's life and spirit. The scope of the Remembering Martin: MLK Open House performances last year was impressive and I remember wishing that we had come earlier since there was a lot we missed. The auditorium, for example, had a full schedule of various singing and dance groups that were first rate.
One of my most favorite things, though, was the mural installation Cargo: Middle Passage that is made to look like the holdings of a slave ship. This is a permanent installation that has nothing specifically to do with the Martin Luther King open house but the open house what got me to the King Arts Complex. Visitors pass through this section when they go from one part of the building to another. There are interpretive writings about slavery and props that capture the essence of what it was like to travel on such a ship.
With the building that surrounds this installation bursting forth with creative forces and energy on the day that Martin Luther King Jr.s' life is celebrated seems like the most fitting of tributes. Cargo: Middle Passage is a dark spot of human history that also represents survival. The activities on January 15 are the essence of human glory. The gorgeous clothes some people wear to this event are also a sight to behold.
When I mentioned to someone this weekend that there was going to be new roller coaster ride at Cedar Point this summer his reaction ran towards the incredulous. He wasn't sure where they would put it or what might be different about it from all the other roller coasters. Good point, I thought, so I looked it up. I'm sure the Maverick roller coaster will be terrific, but I'll miss the ride it is replacing.
Here's the scoop: The Maverick is going to be in Frontiertown. The website makes it look like it's connected to the Wild West era but it's certainly going to be speedier than the Pony Express and use modern roller coaster advancements to keep it in motion. The first hill is 105-ft and the drop down is at a 95 degree angle. Before you reach 5 feet above the ground, you'll have reached a speed of 57 mph. After that, expect hairpin turns, eight more hills, three inversions and a tunnel. At the highest speed you'll be going 70 mph. That sounds like some brain rattling ride. (Hint: to protect your neck on a rollercoaster, clasp one hand behind you neck with the palm at the back and fingers curled toward the front. I don't know if this really works, but it sure feels better to me.)
The Maverick is being built to the tune of 21 million in the spot where the White Water Landing used to be. Shoot! I liked that ride. One of the reasons I liked it was because this was a great ride for multiple age groups. Last summer when we went to Kings Island with friends of ours, plus my mother we rode a similar ride. The youngest of our raft group was 4. The oldest was 68. We got soaked (the oldest and the youngest the most) and had a blast. I hope Kings Island keeps its raft ride. That's what the picture is of. For more family rides at Kings Island you can look at the family rides page and scroll down to see all of them. Each has a tidy description. While they all look good, the water raft ride is certainly one of the most involved.
Anyway, the Maverick will be the park's 17th roller coaster. I guess with 17 roller coasters that ought to spread the lines out a bit so waits won't be so long. Hah! Wishful thinking. If you go to Cedar Point's website you can see more Maverick details and keep up with its construction.
The Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio has opened a space called "The Outreach Gallery", which features art created by children and young adults and their mentors in the surrounding area. The gallery is divided into three sections: The Youth Gallery, The Professional Gallery, and the Youngstown State University Student Print Gallery.
Almost all of the art is for sale, even the children's, which was vibrant and alive with a lot of creative energy when I visited the gallery over the holidays. The space is large, well-balanced and brings a warm feeling to the rest of the commercial hallways in the mall. Sponsors of the Outreach Gallery are: the Eastwood Mall, the Warren Junior Women's League, and the Fine Arts Council of Trumbull County.
These days Art has been reduced to an irregular status in our schools, and because of that it's been reduced to an irregular status in the lives of not only our children, but our own. If you happen to be visiting the Eastwood Mall, stop in the Outreach Gallery and make it a part of yours and your family's day. It may just bring a warm feeling to your own life as well as to the commercial halls of the Eastwood Mall.
This past summer I went on the roller coaster, the Son of a Beast, at Kings Island and almost heard my brain rattle. That seemed like the ultimate but here is a virtual video of the new roller coaster that, according to the person who posted the video, is to open at Cedar Point this summer. The coaster is called The Maverick. It's fun to "ride" this video just to see the other rides in the background and to see what the drops and turns are called. Graphic names pop up once in awhile. First, you get the version as if you are just watching The Maverick then, after awhile, you're in the front seat.
Every once in awhile an email ends up in my junk mail that looks interesting. Today there was one from Americantowns.com announcing that Columbus is part of this on-line venture designed to let folks know what is happening in the cities and towns where they live. My email was about Columbus specifically. When I went to the website Columbus is the city that appeared but that must be because somehow this site knows this is where I live. If you go to the part that lets you switch to other towns, you can pull up various towns and cities around Ohio. I went to Willoughby to see if the linked worked and Willoughby happenings showed up.
But, about Columbus. Mainly there is a list of activities happening at the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Columbus Public Library, the Columbus Symphony and the Columbus Museum of Art. I imagine the list will get bigger as time goes on and organizations know that this venue for getting the word out is available. One useful piece of information I also saw was the reminder that Columbus Public Schools is closed on the Martin Luther King Jr birthday holiday.
When I browsed down the list I saw a few things I knew were happening before but forgot ,and some things I didn't know. There's a Family Fun Day at the Columbus Museum of Art, for example, this Saturday. It's part of the gubernatorial festivities. When you see an activity listed, you can click on it for more information. Along the left side of the page there's a textbox style column with specific highlights.
Americantowns.com is also a place where you can find out realtor information, movie times and get maps to find out how to get to all the neat places there are to go. Personally, I liked that I could scroll down the list to see what was happening in the order that it's happening, then click on links to the sponsoring organization to find out more. It seems like this will be a good place to go to not loose track of the neat things there are to do in Columbus and the best way to schedule them in. It's a website where you could do some serious browsing.
Sometimes life imitates art. Here is an example. Recently I wrote a blog that mentioned the emergency room at Riverside Methodist Hospital. I'm also writing an article about Riverside for something else. This morning I was at Riverside Methodist Hospital's emergency room on an unplanned visit. Not my personal emergency but a family member's. That turned out fine and in the process I found out a few things worth sharing that made this emergency room visit run smoothly.
If you are taking medication, write down what you're taking and what the dosage is on a 3 X 5 card. Have that with you in a wallet or a purse at all times. This makes it easier for the ER in-take person. Instead of you having to recall everything, hand him or her the card and he or she can easily put in the data. Also, have the name of your primary care physician written down. These are things asked for when you visit an emergency room. If you have this written down, the person who is with you, even if he or she is family won't have to worry about this information. A lot of times who knows this stuff anyway. This was the case in my situation which meant I didn't really have to do too much but stand around and look alert which is a good thing. I would have had no idea if asked.
This got me thinking that this information wouldn't be bad to have on a 3 X 5 card to send with my son and daughter when they go over to a friend's house in case there is an emergency and I can't be reached. It's also not bad to have the information written on a card that I can grab it if I have to go out the door quickly-that way if there is a really dramatic scene like on the TV show ER the information is readily available and not reliant on my ability to think clearly. I just searched Children's Hospital website to see what their recommended list of needed information contains. Here's the rundown: list of vitamins and supplements, medication, insurance card and immunization record. This website also has a printable form if you want to have it filled out and ready to bring if you ever need to.
Here are a couple more tips from Riverside Methodist Hospital's website. They recommend that you leave valuables and credit cards at home. Also, when visting a patient remember to wash your hands before and after visiting the hospital to cut down on the spread of illness to you and to someone else.
I did not see any chests getting cracked open, mayhem or bedlam or people mumbling to themselves. There were no shoot outs or medical personnel smootching anywhere, so maybe art does not imitate life all that much--thank heavens.
The Columbus Metro Parks System Winter Hike series in its 34th year kicks off January 6 at Blacklick Woods. If you've never been to Blacklick Woods, even if you don't want to hike, this is a wonderful place in Reynoldsburg. I headed there for the first time this past fall to take my son to a pre-school activity. We ended up in the nature center where we watched deer from up close. They were right outside the huge made-for-viewing picture windows. There are some other neat flora and fauna displays about the natural wonders of this park, (the oldest in the system), that hit the interests of multiple age ranges. Blacklick was once a farm. Somewhere on the property there is a tree that used to be the only one around. It was the tree that was the shade provider for animals in the field. When you see it, you'll know. It's huge compared to the others around it. The field is long gone, so the name Blacklick Woods makes sense.
Having only been a blogger since the beginning of October, one would think it wouldn't be all that hard to pick my favorites. It's not as easy as one might think, particularly since there is so much interesting stuff going on in this state. Here are a sampling of the ones I think capture a bit about Ohio and my life in it. Hopefully, some will trigger off a few memories about what makes Ohio special to you. Consider those day to day activities you are hopefully able to do with the people you love and enjoy. Oh, and thanks Tom for the great graphic. I snagged this from his Top Tom favorites. Clever guy. And since Tom did his Top 11, I didn't stop with 10 either.
Ohiopic: A train and music box combined. Sweet! One of my favorite places in Ohio and a tribute to a guy whose creativity is worth a 2nd tribute--plus his company was kind enough to let me use the photo.
Hope Springs Road Trip- Part III (Parts I, II and III are about the same trip with different perspectives. It is possible that a simple Ohio excursion can turn into an adventure. Hope Springs is the perfect place for renewal besides.)
Thanksgiving: A Cicada Story - This one warms my heart, if you ignore the fact that cicadas have foliage damage potential. Such is the beauty and terror of life.
I think when I was looking for an inflatable Santa image I came across a shop near Kings Island that looks like a destination store, and you only have until the end of the year to get there before it closes until April. The Kings Mill Christmas Shop has been featured in the Toledo Blade, The Cincinnati Enquirer and Michigan Living to name a few publications. From the photographs on their website, it looks like one of those totally sensory rich places that are fun to browse around. If you're looking for specialty Christmas items, I'd head here. It seems they have ornaments to fit any theme. The merchandise also includes 150 different kinds of Santas and snowmen. I don't know if they have any inflatable stuff though.
Finding this shop got me wondering about others.Here is another shop I came across. This one is in Hocking Hills, and it is also only open every day until the end of the year and won't open again during weekdays until the spring. The Christmas Treasures Gift Shop is in Logan, OH. Besides Christmas related stuff, this one has all kinds of goodies, some Ohio-themed and some not.
For a mega Christmas shop experience, head towards 'Tis the Season Christmas Shoppe near Berlin, OH. This one is open all year around and is considered the biggest one in the state. There are 200 decorated trees, for starters. I can't imagine it's possible to walk into the store and then leave without buying something. The website has a video as well to get you in that shopping mood beforehand.
Lest you think we're all holiday celebrations all the time, let's focus on me and what I have to do. Yes, it's almost time for me to don my quasi-bridal planner assistant cap again!
The Cleveland I-X Center is hosting a Today's Bride bridal show on January 14, with quite a large list of features and exhibitions! Over 150 exhibitors, a gallery of cakes (which is exciting and thrilling, to see that much sugar in a row), free engagement portraits, fashion shows and an aisle of gowns, and vacation giveaways. There will be so many different little promos that your head (my head) will spin! It's almost worth the $8 admission - admission to these kinds of things has always thrown me. They want me to pay to let them sell me things? That somehow seems wrong. And yet, because I love being the quasi-bridal assistant, I will cheerfully go! I will also happily peruse my complimentary copy of Modern Bride magazine, and learn about all the things that I never really bothered daydreaming about at 16. Like how to pick a bridesmaid, and what thread count really means. (What does that mean?) Anyway, I'm sure I'll see you all there!
The Toledo Zoo is ringing in the season with a display of Christmas lights and a population explosion.
For the zoo that started way back in 1900 with one woodchuck, 2006 has been a banner year. The aviary started the ball rolling earlier in the year with several births. Then, in November, the birth of not one, but three polar bear cubs was announced. The zoo's dedication to captive breeding of endangered wildlife seems to be paying off.
Of course the zoo's most famous baby, as well as Toledo's favorite animal, is Louie the elephant. Louie was born at the zoo on April 30, 2003. Louie is doing well and he recently received a rare honor. He had a book written about him. Marian Goldner, known to Toledo as "Grandma Marian", has published "Louie the Miracle Elephant". The book tells the story of Louie's arrival and first days. Copies are available at the zoo and online. One thing, though. All the advertising I've seen mentions that it "may not be suitable for younger children" since it presents "realistic depictions of the reproductive process". It's good to be forewarned.
Christmas at the Toledo Zoo wouldn't be complete without the annual display of lights. You can see more than a million light bulbs arranged in every way imaginable. There are two hundred images of animals outlined in lights. Louie and the polar bears may not have their name in lights, but their portraits are presented. The "dancing lights", near Cheetah Valley are particularly impressive. Santa will be on hand, too. He can be found at his "Ginormous Toyland" in the Museum of Science. The show will last through New Year's Eve. For details visit the website.
Last December there was a Kwanzaa Celebration at the Columbus Zoo. A friend of mine was a dancer whose group was part of the performance offering enticed me to go. Since this was a perfect outing opportunity, I took my kids. Although I knew about Kwanzaa, I hadn't had much personal experience with it.After going I found out that Kwanzaa is one of those holiday traditions that fits perfectly in this time of year when we're supposed to be vowing to live better and be better. Plus, it was a great time. I checked out the zoo website to see if there was a repeat of this, but there's not--at least I couldn't find it. There is another opportunity in Columbus I found.
The King Avenue Arts Complex has an all day event that is part of the Winter Arts Academy: Taste of the Soul. While the Taste of the Soul is from the 20th to the 29th of December, December 27 is a day event open to everyone as part of a citywide celebration. Scroll down the events list on the King Avenue website to find it.
Each day of Kwanzaa has a different principle that is emphasized. On the 27th, the focus is on the value of self-determination which in Swahili is "Kujichagulia." You can read more about Kwanzaa on the official Kwanzaa website. In case you're wondering though, Kwanzaa was created by Ron Karenga and first celebrated in 1966. Its purpose is to tie in traditional African values and principals with American culture, particularly African American, although ideally, this is a tradition that can be celebrated by anyone. The idea is not to dump other religious traditions at this time of year, but to offer ideas that can be blended in. Kwanzaa is not an either or. It's a both. This is a great way to also learn more about traditional African culture and traditions and see how well they fit into the values Americans hold dear.
When I contacted Applied Imagination to find out about getting a picture of the train display at Krohn Conservatory, I found out there was a train closer to my own backyard. Paul Busse's creation in the downtown Columbus Huntington Bank building on the corner of High and Broad Street across from the Statehouse is spectacular. The receptionist has the most awesome display right at her back, and it's the only one of its kind in town.
Busse is the creator of the Krohn Conservatory train as well. While there are similarities to the two displays, the one in Cincinnati gives a nod to the buildings there, while the Huntington Bank version is a Bavarian town on the Tauber River. Seven trains wind along the tracks that also include a waterfall, an 8-ft. castle and miniature people, snow and evergreens. Here's an interesting piece of information I just read on the sheet you can pick up at the display; the cathedral represents the Frauenkirche which is the Church of Our Lady in Dresden. The church was destroyed during WWII, but has been recently reconstructed. Huntington Bank helped with fundraising the reconstruction funds.
The only time you can see this exhibit is during the regular banking hours between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. After Dec. 31 it will be taken down until next year. You can also register to win a train set. For more about Paul Busse and his train displays, here is an article from Kentucky Living Magazine.
Saturday I came home expecting to go to the movies. Instead, I found myself lacing up bowling shoes and lobbing balls down a bowling alley an hour later. I haven't been bowling in years and it was a blast. The secret to good bowling has to do with the bumpers. My five year old and his friend beat the three adults since gutter balls don't exist when there are rubber bumpers that fill those pesky gutters. One kid won each game.
There was an article in a magazine about Utah artist, Kaziah Hancock that caught my eye about a month ago, and I've been thinking about it lately, Particularly, with the war in Iraq being such a subject of discourse. Regardless of whether one thinks we should send in more troops or not, or what one should do about one's thoughts, there are some people like Hancock who are moved by current events to creative expression and pay tribute in some way. 
I'm fairly sure I went to this last year. From the auditorium to the gallery to the hallways, 
When I mentioned to someone this weekend that there was going to be new roller coaster ride at 
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The Eastwood Mall in Niles, Ohio has opened a space called "The Outreach Gallery", which features art created by children and young adults and their mentors in the surrounding area. The gallery is divided into three sections: The Youth Gallery, The Professional Gallery, and the Youngstown State University Student Print Gallery.
Every once in awhile an email ends up in my junk mail that looks interesting. Today there was one from Americantowns.com announcing that Columbus is part of this on-line venture designed to let folks know what is happening in the cities and towns where they live. My email was about Columbus specifically. When I went to the 
Sometimes life imitates art. Here is an example. Recently I wrote a blog that mentioned the emergency room at 
The Columbus Metro Parks System Winter Hike series in its 34th year kicks off January 6 at 
Having only been a blogger since the beginning of October, one would think it wouldn't be all that hard to pick my favorites. It's not as easy as one might think, particularly since there is so much interesting stuff going on in this state. Here are a sampling of the ones I think capture a bit about Ohio and my life in it. Hopefully, some will trigger off a few memories about what makes Ohio special to you. Consider those day to day activities you are hopefully able to do with the people you love and enjoy. Oh, and thanks Tom for the great graphic. I snagged this from his Top Tom favorites. Clever guy. And since Tom did his Top 11, I didn't stop with 10 either.
I think when I was looking for an inflatable Santa image I came across a shop near Kings Island that looks like a destination store, and you only have until the end of the year to get there before it closes until April. The 
Lest you think we're all holiday celebrations all the time, let's focus on me and what I have to do. Yes, it's almost time for me to don my quasi-bridal planner assistant cap again! 
Last December there was a Kwanzaa Celebration at the Columbus Zoo. A friend of mine was a dancer whose group was part of the performance offering enticed me to go. Since this was a perfect outing opportunity, I took my kids. Although I knew about Kwanzaa, I hadn't had much personal experience with it.After going I found out that Kwanzaa is one of those holiday traditions that fits perfectly in this time of year when we're supposed to be vowing to live better and be better. Plus, it was a great time. I checked out the zoo website to see if there was a repeat of this, but there's not--at least I couldn't find it. There is another opportunity in Columbus I found.
When I contacted Applied Imagination to find out about getting a picture of the train display at Krohn Conservatory, I found out there was a train closer to my own backyard. Paul Busse's creation in the downtown Columbus Huntington Bank building on the corner of High and Broad Street across from the Statehouse is spectacular. The receptionist has the most awesome display right at her back, and it's the only one of its kind in town. 
