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January 2010 Magazine Edition ©
OHIO'S #1 MAGAZINE AND #2 TOURISM SOURCE ONLINE
Water: H2O =
Life
GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER
Great Lakes Science Center’s newest exhibition, Water: H2O = Life runs through April 11, 2010. This engaging and thought-provoking exhibition illuminates some of the many challenges related to the sustainable management and use of the life-giving, but finite, resource, water. Great Lakes Science Center partnered with premier organizations and museums worldwide to create this exhibition to highlight one of the Science Center’s core content areas – water and the environment.
A visually stunning exhibition, Water: H2O = Life aims to inspire visitors to reconsider their relationship with water as it addresses the most compelling issues facing societies and ecosystems in the 21st century. More than 60 artifacts, models and hands-on exhibits highlight the diverse qualities of water and the role it plays in shaping our planet. The innovations people are developing all over the world to access and preserve water are paired with simple ways visitors can take action to help conserve our planet’s water.
“This exhibition is especially relevant to our region and will help strengthen the mission of Great Lakes Science Center,” said Dr. Linda Abraham-Silver, president and CEO of the Science Center. “We are fortunate to have one of the Great Lakes – Lake Erie – as the backdrop to our building. In this way, we are obligated to increase awareness of the power and value of this great resource, as well as communicate the importance of stewardship.”
The exhibition is divided into ten sections, with some highlights including:
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Life in Water – visitors are introduced to the many ways life has evolved to cope with water scarcity or abundance, temperature extremes, and fresh- or salt-water environments. Our own physical dependence on water as humans is also emphasized.
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Blue Planet – nearly three-quarters of Earth’s surface is covered by water. In this section, visitors learn about water’s surprising physical and chemical properties as they examine it in its three physical states. The magic of the water cycle is projected on a 68-inch globe and the power of water is illustrated with an elaborate reconstruction of a water-carved slot canyon.
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Restoring Ecosystems – water’s ability to connect all living things is exemplified in the case studies of three ecosystems where human effects on the environment are being addressed. Visitors examine how these aquatic ecosystems are both alarmingly fragile and surprisingly resilient.
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What Can I Do? – environmental heroes and the actions they are taking to restore and conserve water in inspiring ways are discussed in this section, as is the importance of individual action that can make a difference to our watery planet. A fun, interactive quiz suggests to visitors simple changes they can make in their own life to conserve water.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors are encouraged to touch, lift, examine and listen to a variety of exhibits that all work to reposition water from a limitless resource taken for granted to one that is finite in supply and truly precious.
A portion of the exhibition tells the local story regarding the Great Lakes and Cleveland’s role in the sustainable management of fresh water. Great Lakes Science Center played a major role in the development of the exhibition, given that water and the Great Lakes environment is one of its core content areas. The Science Center is also partnering with Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and Cleveland Division of Water in bringing water-themed programming to augment the message of conservation as well as the effect this exhibition has on visitors.
Water Wonders: Late Night and Overnight Programs run on select weekends January through April. These programs include interactive, hands-on science activities in action-packed sessions of after-hours fun. Discover the amazing chemical and physical properties of water, learn about our delicate Great Lakes ecosystem and view life in a single drop of water. View Mysteries of the Great Lakes on the giant OMNIMAX screen. Late nights run from 7 – 11:30 p.m., and overnights run from 7 p.m. – 9:30 a.m. the following morning – don’t forget to bring your sleeping bag!
Great Lakes Science Center is one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers. It features hundreds of hands-on exhibits, themed traveling exhibits, daily demonstrations, the Steamship William G. Mather and the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX® Theater. The OMNIMAX® Theater is a six-story domed theater that features films shot in IMAX, the world’s largest film format. Currently it is featuring Sea Monsters through May 31, 2010 and Grand Canyon Adventure through February 28, 2010. Sea Monsters is prehistoric adventure with gigantic sea monsters from 82 million years ago and Grand Canyon Adventure takes the audience on an illuminating rafting trip down the Colorado River.
The Science Center is a 165,000 square-foot facility is nestled between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor offering spectacular views of Lake Erie and the downtown skyline. A windpowered turbine and solar panels provide up to eight percent of the Science Center’s daily power supply. In addition to a special exhibitions and OMNIMAX® Theater there is The Elements café and The Science Store. The main part of the Science Center offers hundreds of hands-on exhibits with a focus on science phenomenon, the Great Lakes environment and advancing technologies.
It is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m (closed on some major holidays). There is an attached, discounted, 500-car, guest parking garage. General Admission is $9.95/adult, $8.95/senior and $7.95/child (2–17 years old). The OMNIMAX costs $9.95/adult, $8.95/senior and $7.95/child. The Mather Steamship is $6.95/adult, $5.95/senior and $4.95/child. The special Water exhibition costs $14.95/adult and $12.95/child. Combinations tickets for any two, three or four attractions are available at discounted rates. For more information, contact the Science Center at (216) 694-2000 or visit www.GreatScience.com.
Bellaire, Ohio is home to a museum being built one LEGO at a time.
Housed in an old school turned museum, a man by the name of Dan is on a mission. Dan Brown, founder of the Bellaire Historical Society and Toy Museum, boasts to have the world’s largest private LEGO collection. Whether or not that's true, there is one distinction officially proclaimed by the Guinness Book of World Records that cannot be denied – The Bellaire Historic Society and Toy Museum is home of the World’s Largest LEGO brick image.
“My dream of doing something unique finally came to pass and it was great,” said Dan Brown of the Guinness accomplishment that took more than 600 people and 2,000 hours to achieve. “We are way underfunded but having a blast!”
The LEGO brick image took approximately 1.2 million LEGO bricks and measured 44 feet by 21 feet. The image was that of a tractor trailer. About 250 kids participated in the record-breaking project. The previous record holder in this Guinness mosaic category was a LEGO image of the Liberty Bell built to promote the 2001 ESPN Summer X Games in Philadelphia. The mastermind behind the record-breaking venture was Brian Korte, a lifelong LEGO enthusiast who was brought in by Dan Brown due to his reputation and success in creating previous LEGO mosaics.
Originally conceived as a toy museum, the LEGO exhibit grew and grew. And GREW! Now instead of a LEGO room in the museum, each room has a LEGO theme. If you enjoy the sea, there’s an “aqua” room complete with ships built from LEGO’s. Other rooms include a classroom with life-size teacher and students, a zoo, an old-west town, and other pieces such as a life-size astronaut. An out-of-this world exhibit is illuminated with black lights and features the galaxy …in LEGOS of course. The last time someone checked it was estimated the total museum brick count exceeded 4 million!
Although Dan Brown has had a hand in creating much of the museum’s displays, he has also been instrumental in acquiring one-of-a-kind pieces. Some of the one-of-a-kind exhibits feature LEGO creations that were done for the NBA and Kellogg’s. As a big-time Star Wars fan, Dan Brown has not disappointed! The force is with the museum.
Throughout the museum are eye-popping masterpieces demonstrating the engineering world of LEGO’s. Some of the astonishing pieces even seem come to life with the use of animatronics.
“I build lots of stuff and have plenty of friends that do the same,” said Dan Brown. What started as a hobby has gone wild. Dan’s wife eventually put her foot down and said she wants the LEGOs out of her house. So Dan bought a school and is now determined to fill it with one of America’s favorite toys in the shape of …whatever the imagination dreams!
The Bellaire Toy Museum, featuring LEGO toys is located at 4597 Noble Street in Bellaire, Ohio 43906. It is open from Noon to 7pm Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $8 per adult and $6 per child (4 and younger free). For more information, call 740-671-8890 or visit www.brickmuseum.net.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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HISTORY OF CONTRACEPTION
Dittrick Medical History Center has long opened eyes to the archaic and ground-breaking medical tools used to advance mankind throughout history.
It is a fact of life and history that contraception has been an exploratory field dating back to Cleopatra. Dare we call her the mother of Contraception?
In any case, the esteemed Percy Skuy, past President of Ortho Pharmaceutical in Canada, began collecting contraceptive devices and relics in 1965. It wasn’t long before he amassed the world's most comprehensive collection of historical contraceptive devices, totaling more than 650 artifacts. The collection encompasses a broad variety of cultures and time periods.
The collection became a traveling museum touring the globe in the 1990s. But in 2000, Skuy sought a permanent home for his collection where it could be seen and studied by a broader public. Dittrick Medical History Center’s Chief Curator, Jim Edmonson, was introduced to the collection in 1998 at a medical meeting in Canada. He found the collection fascinating, but never thought it would eventually be permanently on display at his Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dittrick Medical History Center has more to offer besides this unique, one-of-a-kind exhibit. Visitors will marvel at the medical advancements made or have a coronary to think how archaic today’s medical devices may look to future generations.
The collection has more than 10,000 images and 60,000 rare books and museum objects. Artifacts displayed represent medical history from 1800 through 1965 and include items such as a 1952 infant respirator, 1928 X-ray machine, 1861 amputating set, 1882 antiseptic sprayer, 1890 surgical chair and much more. The museum’s displays also include an 1870’s and 1930’s doctors’ offices, 1880’s pharmacy and hospital medicines from 1865 – 1920.
The Dittrick Museum of Medical History offers free admission. It is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Allen Memorial Medical Library at 11000 Euclid Avenue (at the corner of Euclid Avenue and Adelbert Road) in Cleveland, Ohio 44106. The phone number is 216-368-3648.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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Butler Institute
of American Art
by Robert Carpenter
Photo by Rudinec & Associates
There was a time when most people would have believed that finding a treasure of art in Youngstown, Ohio was akin to discovering that Mike Tyson, in his leisure time, played Bach concertos on his Stradivarius.
With due respect, Youngstown still retains the reputation of a rough and tumble “steel” town years after the Industrial Age has withered. Through most of the ‘70s, as decline approached a sheer precipice, the preponderance of Youngstown’s economy continued with legions of men in goggles and fireproof clothing processing pig iron into white-hot molten steel—about as far removed from the delicate touch and perspective of fine art as one can imagine.
But things have changed. The Bessemer furnaces, once the backbone of the industry, have cooled and themselves become little more than curious artifacts.
With diversity leading the city toward the technological age, it is also less difficult to accept the irony that fruits of what in retrospect seems a primitive industry, are responsible for one of the country’s finest and most modern establishments.
The Butler Institute was founded and dedicated exclusively to American art in 1919 by Joseph G. Butler Jr., an industrialist (steel, of course) and philanthropist. The building itself, a masterpiece of white Georgian marble styled in Italian Renaissance by famed architects McKim, Mead & White, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
This edifice is better described as a museum than a gallery. It houses several varied exhibition halls with the Institute’s holdings exceeding 20,000 works of art.
It is America’s first museum of American art and the collection covers four centuries of the most outstanding of every medium. The most celebrated is Winslow Homer’s Snap the Whip, regarded by many as America’s Mona Lisa. It depicts children in front of a one-room school swinging each other in a long hand-held line—a game most of us were not foolish enough to play past the age of ten—also know as “crack the whip.”
But some recent thinking is that the $1.6 million Norman Rockwell painting purchased in 2007 titled Lincoln the Railsplitter is the more distinguished. If it does not overshadow the Homer in artistic or historical stature, it certainly does in physical measure. At approximately seven feet by four feet it is a mesmerizing presence.
There are exhibits devoted to the Colonial period, the Twentieth Century, and everything between. There is Marine art, Western art, Landscape art and Sports art to mention a few categories. Some of the most alluring examples are depictions of George Washington’s wedding, the Oregon Trail, and William Gropper’s apropos Youngstown Strike, portraying the violent 1937 labor uprising. In the Butler Institute, documentation of the ascendance of American culture is recorded with artistic expression.
The Institute showcases scores of artists known for their outstanding skills, with recognized names such as John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Romare Bearden and Georgia O’Keefe. Andy Warhol’s rendition of baseball great Pete Rose is a must see.
It’s a common misconception that art can be appreciated only by the elite and those able to interpret the artist’s every brush stroke.
An artist friend tells the story of a benefactor who prattled on about the significance of the dark blue blended into the background of a wildlife painting. To her it represented strength, cunning and agility of the featured beast, as well as the artist’s obvious admiration of the animal’s intelligence. The truth, he explained, was that he was working against a deadline on a Saturday night when he ran out of black paint. The art supply store was closed so he finished it with dark blue.
Unfortunately there are snooty galleries that promote the uppity perception, but nothing can be further from the intent of genuine enthusiasts, and you will find none of that at the Butler Institute.
A piece of art is not made more or less important by the observer. The only consequence to be pondered is whether the observer likes it. We’re all different in our perception, but we all know what we like when we see it—regardless of the style, medium or name attached to it. The sole purpose of art is enjoyment, and in Butler’s vast array you will find scenes of American life that offer unending pleasure.
In addition to the permanent collection, the Institute hosts a number of temporary exhibits throughout the year. Through January 31 there is a special showing of Canadian artist Mary Harmon’s reflection holograms in the wing known as the Beecher Center.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Butler Institute prefers to be known as a living museum. They host children and adult education classes as well as weddings and other private functions.
Recent expansions include a digital media theater, a gift shop and an elegant café. It is a complete package.
There is obviously too much to see in one visit. Upon discovering the Butler Institute, most desire to come back time and again—which brings up one more point of significance. It’s free—admission and parking.
All considered, is it any wonder that new patrons are also the Institute’s strongest advocates? And wouldn’t it be nice if this northeastern city had a more deserving reputation than just another corroded link in the rustbelt? Imagine—Youngstown, a Mecca for art lovers.
Butler Institute of American Art, located at 524 Wick Avenue in Youngstown is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. On Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Go to www.butlerart.comm or call 330-743-1107 for more information.
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A trip to the Gerald R. Ford Museum is also a trip back to the era of disco and leisure suits. Visitors are immersed with the sights, sounds and issues of the not only the 1970s but 60s as well. The multi-media re-creation of the pop-culture and news headlines of the period is fascinating.
This is no ordinary museum; it is a modern, multi-media, interactive adventure. Some come just for the exact replica of the Oval Office.
A popular exhibit is the reproduction of the White House Cabinet Room. This interactive exhibit highlights three events that occurred during the Ford administration: His pardon of Richard Nixon, capture and rescue of the merchant ship SS Mayaguez, and the financial crisis that gripped New York.
The other permanent exhibits in the museum highlight the Watergate scandal, America’s Bicentennial – and commemorative gifts received by the Ford’s from around the world, the 1976 campaign vs. Jimmy Carter, and of course, Gerald Rudolph Ford’s life before, during, and after the White House years. There’s even an authentic Vietnam-era Huey helicopter and giant electronic world map to experience U.S. foreign policy. Ford was in office when the last of the U.S. troops left Vietnam.
Outside of the 56,000 square-foot museum is the beautiful Betty Ford Garden and a 257-foot reflecting pool and fountain shooting water 40 feet high.
The mirrored windows of the museum reflect Ford’s hometown – Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“It is no accident that this museum should be located where it is, or that its front should reflect the city of Grand Rapids. For what is my own life, except a reflection of this city’s most deeply held values?” – Gerald Ford.
The diverse exhibits here not only showcase the real stuff of history, it sparks curiosity and enthusiasm for a tumultuous time as Americans. Programs, group tours, historical performances, and special roving exhibits add another dimension to an out-of-the-ordinary Presidential museum.
Gerald R. Ford Museum is at 303 Pearl St., NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505-5353. The museum is open daily except major holidays. Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 college students, $3 kids (6-18 years), and free for those 5-years and younger. For more information, call 616-254-0400 or visit www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
The Gerald R. Ford Museum, and its sister institution, the Gerald R. Ford Library, are part of the Presidential libraries system. The Library is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan on the North Campus of the University of Michigan – Ford’s alma mater.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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Litter The Road to Becoming
The
OhioTraveler
Despite the constant barrage of advertisers telling us where we need to spend all of our hard earned money, the American pursuit of happiness is not achieved through wealth so much as it is through freedom!
Look at the living standards of most Americans today. As a collective society,
we have more things than anyone in the history of the world and we’re
still not happy. Could it have anything to do with having to work longer and
harder than any other culture on Earth and spending less time with our family?
If yes, then we lack freedom more than money in our pursuit of
happiness.
I learned at a young age in a farm-town turned boomtown – Avon Lake, Ohio – that happiness was derived from freedom more than money. It was by observing my grandfather that I learned this lesson. Unfortunately, after serving in the Army and graduating at the University of Toledo, I lost that concept as I ambitiously fought my way up the corporate ladder. I’ll tell you how I threw myself off the top of the heap to rediscover happiness. But first, I want to share the real-world example of happiness by way of freedom, not money.
My Grandpa Cliff and Grandma Joan raised five kids in Cleveland, Ohio. My Grandma wasn’t employed and my Grandpa worked out of his garage re-treading tires. This family of seven took plenty of time traveling the country vacationing. It was all done on the income of a man that scavenged the Cleveland-Akron area for worn tires to add new tread for resale. People flocked to his garage (as in behind the house) to get a good deal on tires. These cheap tires didn’t last long – at least not for me when I was 16. But I went back for “rubber all around” as my Grandpa used to say. It was too cheap not too – even though I was there every 6-12 months. By the way, I was a master at changing a flat!
Anyway, I stopped by for tires one very cold and snowy January morning. Grandpa was still reading the newspaper and sipping coffee when he yelled out, “Jo, it’s sunny and warm in Miami today. Let's pack our bags!” Within an hour they were southbound on I-77. The only thing he did was hang a sign on the garage door, “Gone to Florida. Come back next week.”
The business would be there when he got back. And he had no employees. He tried a real brick and mortar business, once, retailing tires, but went back to his solo operation. It wasn’t because he couldn’t make it, but because he lost his freedom! He spent his days with employee issues and record keeping and when he wanted to head to Miami on a whim, or Texas or California, he couldn’t because he had to do more than hand-write and hang a sign on the door.
You say that’s a
romantic tale of a generation past and that it can’t be done today. Well, let me
tell you my story and you’ll see it’s not only possible but within reach.
First, there are always naysayers, and to be honest, with good reason. It is true that 90 percent of all new businesses fail to stay in business for more than five years.
I had my naysayers before I took the entrepreneurial plunge. But first, I tested the waters on the side for a few years.
It all started with knowing my employer was going to downsize and relocate or terminate everyone in its Cleveland-Akron offices. I knew this because I was the Director of Public Relations. So I brushed up my resume and sought to acquire some new skills like learning to build a web site. Once the web site was built, my father-in-law in Greenville, Ohio near Dayton joked, “If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it, does it make noise?” Translation: If you build a web site and nobody knows about it, will anyone visit? So with that, I put my PR savvy to work.
I couldn’t afford advertising, so I created homemade bumper stickers, which lasted until the first rain. Then, living on a very busy, former country road in Strongsville, Ohio, I created a homemade billboard for my front yard. Neighbors loved it I’m sure. People started visiting the site, albeit a few. Then, I got creative – or quirky – and out came Spot-The-Rock.
Spot-The-Rock was a throwback to the pet-rock of the 1970s but weighed about 20 pounds, had reggae-looking hair, a face and could talk when his body (formerly Elmo’s) was squeezed. Spot became a sensation and was booked across Ohio to make appearances. This brought fame without fortune. After several other gimmicks and modest news coverage, I discovered a part of the web site was fast becoming a favorite – free places to travel around Ohio.
By now I was out of work and also interested in free Ohio fun to entertain a family of four. I found so many free things to do and places to go in the state I decided to write a book about free Ohio fun. Then, I channeled the entire site to promote it. But before the book was printed (I self-published it after numerous rejections), I had a job-offer in Cincinnati and went through the pains of relocating my family and selling our home.
Eighteen months later, book sales produced a little nest egg. But more importantly, the web site, remaining static that whole time, had acquired a very large audience. Go figure. This prompted the biggest sales presentation of my life. Not to corporate leaders, not to angel investors, but to my wife!
I asked her to just give me six months to make something happen. If it didn't work, I’d have time to find a new job, albeit not much time. But to do this right and have a chance, I needed to go at it full-time. She reluctantly agreed to risk our entire savings on this venture.
This is when the
current version of the web site was introduced – OhioTraveler.com. It offered
unique family attractions across the state and not just the freebies. But this
was merely a tool to develop a public relations practice that helped those that
the larger firms ignored – organizations with little to no budgets. My first
client was a non-profit in the poorest county in Ohio, smack in the foothills of
Appalachia.
The road I chose to travel had its share of bumps and moments of fearing failure. It was a roller coaster. The most difficult part was not having a routine paycheck. I can’t tell you how many times we robbed Peter to pay Paul in the beginning and how many nights I thought I’d pee blood. But, I stuck with it and my wife stuck with me whispering confidence in me when I needed it most.
We had no money
to do anything extra. Renting videos was a budgeted expense and don’t even
mention ordering a pizza. We learned just how much excess income middle-class
America was used to spending. It’s funny how our culture makes it feel like it's
necessary spending and puts a stigma on alternative ways to getting something
you want or need besides buying all the marketing, advertising and packaging
that comes wrapped with just about anything these days.
What it taught us was how to appreciate what we have and savor what new things we acquired rather than show it off and then seek the next thing to toot our horn about. We could feel richness growing on our human interior instead of showing on the exterior.
But what I
rediscovered most was what had been long-lost – personal freedom! I work from
home in Liberty Township, Ohio now and my wife is a special education teacher in
Lebanon, Ohio. I actually get to eat breakfast and dinner with my family,
something I rarely did before. On Sundays, it’s all about family. Once upon a
time in America and not all that long ago, nobody worked on Sundays. This
downtime, formerly known as spare-time, a concept all but extinct now, is
essential to the mind of an entrepreneur. Without it, I probably wouldn’t have
had a relaxed enough frame-of-mind to think of the innovations that truly make
OhioTraveler.com a distinct entity online, catapulting it to the top. In fact,
while visiting the Cincinnati Museum Center with my kids, I took video and still
pictures, later thinking this would be a well-received new dimension of my free
online publication. Now I’m flooded with new subscriptions daily. And no
advertising was ever done so it’s a word-of-mouth, or shall we call it
“word-of-mouse” phenomenon. It’s refreshing and rewarding to pursue a dream and
succeed on your terms, persevering through self-doubt and growing pains.
Although
side-tracked for a decade, I really believe now more than ever that Americans
should pursue their dreams and seek a profession that they enjoy and the money
will come because the opposite – seeking money and enjoyment will follow – is
like chasing a mirage.
To me, being an entrepreneur isn’t about the Initial Public Offering of stock, it’s about the freedom to decide to go to Orlando while sipping my morning coffee and being there with the whole family for dinner at Epcot. And having just enough money (and time) to pull it off.
By Frank R. Satullo, The OhioTraveler
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HIT THE SPOT!
Ohio is dotted with small towns known for cruising back in the day. But after your tank got low, there was only one place to go – THAT eatery.
Well in Sidney, Ohio, THAT eatery was THE SPOT both figuratively and literally. The Spot Restaurant started as a chuckwagon more than 100 years ago. It still serves up some of the tastiest cheeseburgers around.
“It was fun going there after school and getting frosties and cokes and playing the juke box,” says Shirley (Clinehens) Ashabranner’s posting on thespottoeat.com. “I would save enough for my favorite cheeseburger. It came wrapped in a square of paper that said a hamburger from the Spot, with a pickle on top, makes your heart go flippity flop!"
If you ever yearned to visit the fictional Arnolds in the Happy Days TV show, the Spot Restaurant is as close as you can come. Even President George W. Bush stopped for a bite last time he was in Sidney, Ohio.
Spot Miller wheeled his chuckwagon into town in 1907 but Sidney officials restricted selling meals from the mobile eatery so Spot Miller kicked the wheels off and became a permanent fixture in town for generations to come, cooking up memories for all.
New owners bought the place from Spot Miller and had a grand vision of popping up in many spots across Ohio and beyond. The chain, Spot to Eat, opened in Athens, Urbana, Lima, Piqua, and Bellefontaine. Eventually, they all disappeared and only one SPOT exists today, the original!
Along the way, a more permanent building was built. Fire in the early 1940’s resulted in the exterior design seen today, including the neon sign hanging over the front door with the Spot trademark. Inside, the last renovation was 1976. In the 1950’s, the restaurant started a catering business that continues today.
The best memories shared of the best dishes served at The Spot Restaurant almost always include the tenderloin sandwich and old-fashioned cream pie!
To see if it hits the spot, visit www.thespottoeat.com for hours and other information. It is located at 201 South Ohio Street in Sidney, Ohio.
By Frank R. Satullo,
The OhioTraveler
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Discover
BIZARRO OHIO
Let's go beyond the comfort of the chair you’re sitting on reading these words. Instead of providing you an interesting story, we hope you take it upon yourself to go on a little adventure and discover the story yourself. Let’s start with a couple of questions and if you’d like to meet me and learn more about my story, I’ll be waiting.
Who Am I? Many thought I was nuts for my hollow Earth theory. It is also referred to as the Theory of Concentric Spheres or Polar Voids. I fought for most of my life to get funding to prove it. Instead I was ridiculed. But there were times the mainstream scientific community lent some credibility. My tombstone looks like a monument and has a hollow Earth atop its peak. I have a famous uncle with the same exact name.
Where am I? The burial ground where I lay to rest is long gone yet my grave stone remains in what is now a playground in Hamilton, Ohio at the southeast quadrant of 3rd Street and Sycamore. For geocachers, coordinates are N: 39° 23.711 and W: 084° 33.699.
What you will find: A very interesting story behind my life and theories, a playground, and a fun town to explore. Nearby Attractions include Jungle Jim's, EnterTRAINment and Pyramid Hill.
Coming Out of Hibernation
Come out of hibernation with some fantastically diverse entertainment options from February through April!
In VanWert, Ohio, George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess is recognized as an American masterpiece. A story that intertwines pride, prejudice, pathos and passion through a jazz and blues influenced score will kick off its 2010 national tour on Thursday, February 18th at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio.
Originally billed as an American folk opera, Porgy and Bess introduced classic Gershwin songs including “Summertime”, “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’”, and “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, as well as magnificent and enthralling choruses that stunned music and drama critics alike during its 1935 premier in New York City.
Tickets are on sale now by calling the Niswonger box office at 419-238-6722. Tickets are also available online at www.npacvw.org and range from $20 to $45.
The 54th Annual Indian Lake Boat Show will be held March 5-7. This event, held in Russell’s Point, Ohio, marks the official beginning of the boating season. Come nibble on refreshments, see the latest in boating equipment and plan for the coming boating season. Each boat dealer around the Lake will host an open house during the weekend. Many will have refreshments and some will offer prizes and special prices or incentives on the purchase of new boating equipment. For details, go to indianlakeboatshow.com.
The Armstrong
Air & Space Museum in Wapakoneta will be closing on January 11th for
a remodeling project that will include installing handicap accessible restrooms.
The museum is scheduled to reopen on April 1, 2010. A local organization, the
Armstrong Air & Space Museum Association, will be partnering with the Ohio
Historical Society to run the museum. Look for announcements on special events
to mark the grand reopening. The museum is located just off of I-75 at exit
111 in Wapakoneta. Neil Armstrong, who grew up in Wapakoneta, was the first man
to step onto the moon. The museum not only honors his journey but also honors
the accomplishments of the many Ohioans who have contributed to this country’s
history of space exploration. For details, go to
http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org
/places/nw01/ or call toll free 1-800-860-0142.
VanWert, Logan, Auglaize & Mercer counties comprise a portion of the Ohio’s Historic West. Make plans to explore all eight counties in Ohio’s Historic West, by calling to request a brochure map at 800-860-4726 or check out the OHW website at www.OhiosHistoricWest.com. Ohio’s Historic West includes
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Package Deals
& Bargains
Neff Brothers RV, located in Lorain, OH, is offering 50% off its published RV RENTAL rates during the months of December and January! Check out the winter wonderland that awaits you at one of Ohio’s beautiful state parks. Visit neffbrosrv.com or call 888-647-1422 for more details.
Turn Winter Blahs into January Ahhs. Explore the wonders of Hocking Hills. Stay any January weekday (Sunday -Thursday) at the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls and save 30% on your regular lodging rate. Rate includes a hearty breakfast in our log cabin restaurant. For more info visit innatcedarfalls.com, info@innatcedarfalls.com or phone 1-800-653-2557.
Hillcrest Holiday in the Hocking Hills. Book a weekend stay at Cabins by the Caves brand new "Hillcrest" cabin and receive a free 1 hour couples massage. Deluxe cabin with all the amenities. Wood-burning fireplace, theraputic hot tub, and fully equipped kitchen. $550.00 plus 6% lodging tax. 1-877-322-2283 or cabinsbythecaves.com.
Heartland Country Resort. We are located just 50 min. NE of Columbus on 76 beautiful acres. The following is a package that involves significant discounts on each of the services included. We have also paired up with both Snow Trails Ski Resort and a new local wine bar and retailer, Vino Where You Live. Winter Wonderland Package featuring 2 night's stay in Log Home Suite, 1-hour winter trail ride for two, two 1-day passes to Snow Trails Ski Resort OR visit new, local Wine Bar, complete with tour, appetizers for two, and 2 bottle selection from over 25 Ohio wines. Weekdays $420/plus tax and Weekend $520/plus tax. The regular pricing for all the items mentioned is $520/plus tax for weekdays and $610/plus tax on the weekends. This is for two guests in any Log Home Suite. These specials and others are at heartlandcountryresort.com.
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Understanding many people don't have the discretionary income they may have had as little as a year ago, OhioTraveler.com's focus is on admission-FREE tourism. Most sections of OhioTraveler.com feature places with FREE ADMISSION at the very top of menu options. Find your free fun now:
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In addition to featuring freebies and places worth the price of admission, OhioTraveler.com seeks the more interesting and unique in Ohio tourism. Instead of endless listings of events, lodging, restaurants and stores, we veer away from mainstream and choose the road less traveled. Take a look here.