Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Things to Do When it Snows


 
Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Things to Do When It Snows
by Joanna Wilson

Are you planning for a white Christmas?  I have my fingers crossed.  The snow, whenever it comes, will be here soon enough.  We asked out readers what are their favorites things do when it snows.  Here are the results:


The ice rink downtown at Lock 3.


1st place is a tie: Ice Skate at Lock 3/Read a Book

Clearly, some of you enjoy being outdoors and enjoying the benefits of the season while others look forward to avoiding the bitter cold and prefer to snuggle up and enrich their minds or escape the moment with a good read.  I love that the same number of people voted for both of these activities!


Joanna sledding at Cascade Valley's Oxbow area in North Akron.


2nd place: Sledding

This just so happens to be the activity I most look forward to enjoying when it snows.  I wrote a review last year about the best places in the Metro Parks to sled.  Click HERE to see that post again.


Boston Mills--photo courtesy of Krystal Sierra.


3rd place: Skiing at Boston Mills/Brandy Wine

Aren't we lucky to live so close to this ski complex?  Last winter, Akron Empire welcomed a guest blogger Krystal Sierra who shared her experiences at Boston Mills.  Click HERE to see what she wrote again.

Thanks again to everyone who voted.  Hopefully we'll have snow soon.


Friday, December 19, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Burger

Akron Empire Favorites: Favorite Burger
by Brit Charek



We asked our readers to tell us their favorite things to do in the Empire, and you responded with amazing ideas-- some of our own old favorites, and some things new to us that we're excited to check out!

We've been rolling out the winners for the past few months-- Click HERE to see the categories we've already covered.

This time, we're announcing your favorite burger!

1. Swenson's

There's really no suprise here. Swenson's, who just celebrated the 75th anniversary of the opening of their first drive-in on South Hawkins this year, is an Akron institution! Over the years, they've expanded to seven locations all over the Empire and-- I'm particularly excited about this-- a food truck!!



Swenson's is most famous for their Galley Boy, which many readers voted for specifically. It's a double cheeseburger topped with two sauces: mayo-onion sauce and barbecue sauce, on a buttered and toasted bun topped with lettuce and tomato.

Even three readers voted for the veggie option, the Salad Boy! Although it might be the least healthy veggie burger in existence, add in one of their peanut butter milkshakes and you have one of my all-time favorite meals!

Check out Swenson's website or follow them on Facebook to learn more and find locations.

2. Stray Dog Cart

I was so excited to see Stray Dog Cart on the list! I wrote about them back in July of 2013-- click HERE to see that post again!

As the name implies, Stray Dog is known for their hot dogs, but the bright-colored carts that show up all over town carry hamburgers as well, and sometimes even pizzas!

The best way to find out where the carts are at each day is by following them on Facebook.

3. The Rail



Guest blogger Stacey wrote about The Rail back in 2012-- click HERE to see that post again!

The Rail is unique because they insist on only using beef farmed in Ohio, maintaining the balance between sustainability and great taste. To compliment that, they have a variety of local craft beers and even have a "Beer Exploration Society" where you can attend classes to taste and learn about the local brews.

Their flagship store is in Fairlawn, but they've also expanded to Canton and N. Olmsted. To learn more, visit their website.


Make sure to check back next week when we reveal more of your favorites!

Monday, December 15, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Landmarks


 
Akron Empire Favorites: Favorite Akron Landmarks
by Joanna Wilson

You voted--and we heard you!  Last summer we asked our readers to identify their favorite landmarks in the greater-Akron area.  Here are the results:

The Gate Lodge at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens


First place: Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Also the winner in our poll on Favorite Places to Take a Tour. Stan Hywet is the former home of F.A. Seiberling, the co-founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.  It is a favorite place for Akronites and out-of-town guests.  Stan Hywet's Gate Lodge is also a favorite landmark to those wishing to honor the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.  AA started right here in Akron and is known as one of the most powerful social movements of the twentieth century. Check out their website: StanHywet.org
 
Second place: Glendale Cemetery
The beauty of this landmark location, just on the other side of downtown, transcends its historic value as the final resting place of several Akron founders, industrialists, and former leaders.  Many people now visit Glendale to attend its popular public events held in the Great Meadow.  When was the last time you visited Glendale Cemetery?  For more information, check out their website: GlendaleAkron.com

Third place: The Towpath
The bike and hike trail along the historical Ohio & Erie Canal is a popular outdoor destination for locals.  Within the next few years, the entire 101 mile trail along the canal will be open from Cleveland to New Philadelphia.  The section of the trail through Akron and downtown is a natural wonder and open year round.  For more information about trailheads and historical stops along the towpath, check out the Summit Metro Parks website link HERE.


Sorry--the only photo I could find I had of the Signal Tree includes the cover of my book A IS FOR AKRON.  And, yes--I used my book to help me research these favorite Akron landmarks!

Honorable Mentions:
Another favorite landmark Akronites voted for includes the Signal Tree located in the Cascade Valley Chuckery area of the Summit Metro Parks.  The 300 year-old tree is believed to have been shaped by Native Americans looking to mark the area to assist persons passing by in locating the nearby river. 


Rotaynah continues to stand despite the harsh winters and insects of Akron.

And last but not least is Rotaynah, the wooden sculpture carved by artist Peter Toth.  This proud Native American landmark is located along West Market St. in front of the Judith Resnick Learning Center.  Do you have another favorite Native American landmark in Akron?

Thanks to everyone who voted.  Please check the complete list of Akron Empire Favorites found HERE.




Monday, December 8, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Place to Tour



Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Place to Take a Tour
by Joanna Wilson

Thanks to everyone who shared their opinions with us this past summer.  We've been rolling out the winners one category at a time throughout the Fall.  Click HERE to see the categories we've already covered. Have you taken a tour in all of these places yet?

In the category of Favorite Place to Take a Tour:




3. The Akron Civic Theatre
Did you know they give free tours once a month?  Here's my experience when I took the Civic tour in 2012.  For more information about tours and their schedule, check out their website.

2.  The Akron Art Museum 
In addition to the permanent collection, there is a rotating schedule of traveling exhibits, visiting artists, and events.  There's always something fresh and new happening at the Art Museum.  Check out their website for what's going on now.


High Street entrance.


1.  Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
The former home of F.A. Seiberling, the co-founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, is a favorite place for Akronites and out-of-town guests.  Currently, they have their holiday lights and decorations on display.  Check out their website for more details about Stan Hywet and their tours.


The Great Hall in the Manor House at Stan Hywet.

Honorable Mentions include:

Hower House
The historical home of Akron industrialist John Henry Hower and his family has been turned into a museum and is owned by the University of Akron.  Click HERE to see the review of my tour of Hower House from 2013.

Hower House is located on Fir Hill, near the university.


John Brown House and Perkins Stone Mansion
These two neighboring properties in West Akron are historical homes as well.  Tours are available from the Summit County Historical Society.  Akron Empire was lucky enough to have a guest blogger share her experiences of touring these propertiesClick HERE to see Juniper Sage's essay on John Brown House and click HERE to see Juniper's essay on Perkins Stone Mansion.

Thanks again to everyone who voted!


Saturday, November 22, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Place To Do Your Holiday Shopping


Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Place To Do Your Holiday Shopping
by Brit Charek



You voted, we listened! We asked our readers to tell us their favorite things to do in the Empire, and you responded with amazing ideas-- some of our own old favorites, and some things new to us that we're excited to check out!

We've been rolling out the winners one category a week-- Click HERE to see the categories we've already covered.

With the biggest shopping weekend of the year right around the corner, this week we are announcing your favorite places to do your holiday shopping!

1. Crafty Mart

Photo courtesy of LoveWhatIDo Photography.
Crafty Mart has been hosting annual handmade markets downtown at Musica for five years, and this year they are having their biggest event yet! Crafty Mart will take place next weekend, November 29 & 30, at three locations: Musica, the Akron Art Museum, and Summit Artspace.

There is free parking on the street and in the library parking deck on the corner of High and Market Streets. There will even be a trolley provided by the city of Akron to get shoppers to all three venues!

For more information, check out Crafty Mart's website or follow them on Facebook!

2. Don Drumm Studios

Photo courtesy of Don Drumm Studios website
Don Drumm Studios has been an Akron staple since the early 70's. The two building gallery provides a unique shopping experience where you can purchase a variety gifts made by more than 500 different artists from all over the country, including the work of Don Drumm himself!

Don Drumm Studios is located at 437 Crouse Street, right across from UA's Infocision Stadium. For more info, visit their website.

3. Portage Trail Barn


The Portage Trail Barn Sale is a consignment shop which features local artists and handmade makers. Their slogan (which also happens to be my mantra) is "Shop Local. Buy Handmade." We're so excited for their next sale. The barn will be open December 4th, 6th and 7th just in time for all your holiday shopping needs! Joanna wrote about last year's Winter Barn Sale-- see that post again by clicking HERE.

The Portage Trail Barn is located at 151 W. Portage Trail Ext. in Cuyahoga Falls.For more info, see their website or follow them on Facebook!

Honorable Mentions:

Square Records
Square Records is the perfect place to shop for the music lover in your life! This local record shop has become an institution in the Highland Square Neighborhood. Record Store Day at Square Records was one of the first things I wrote about for Akron Empire-- click HERE to see that post again!

Square Records is participating in Record Store Day's Black Friday event. Doors open at 11am!

They are located at 824 W. Market Street in Highland Square. Check out their website or Facebook page for more information.

the Bomb Shelter

The Bomb Shelter is more than just a cool store-- it's a experience. It's basically a big warehouse full of just about everything. They sell a variety of vintage kitschy goods, from furniture and cars to smaller items like kitchen accessories, telephones and radios. The staff, including the shop dog, Gravy, is really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.

I wrote about it back in 2012-- click HERE to see that post again.

Thanks again to everyone who voted! Check back next week as we reveal more of your favorites!

Monday, November 17, 2014

Archie the Snowman and Akron's Other Christmas Attractions in 2014

Archie the Talking Snowman at Chapel Hill Mall--probably the 1980s.  Photo used with permission from Tommy Uplinger at the Official Archie the Snowman fan page on Facebook.


Archie the Snowman and Akron's Other Christmas Attractions in 2014
by Joanna Wilson

Nothing like our first snow storm of the season to remind us of the upcoming holidays.  While every city has its own holiday traditions, Akron is known for its love of its own homegrown Christmas traditions.  Many of you know that I'm a book author--my latest project is A is for Akron, co-authored by Karen Starr, which came out last March.  My next book is about Akron's own Archie the Talking Snowman and our city's long history of Christmas attractions. That book will be released in the spring of 2015.  So let me share a little bit about what a rich cultural history we have available for our families in Akron this upcoming holiday season.

The most exciting news is everyone's favorite Archie the Snowman returns to Chapel Hill Mall this year.  The twenty foot snowman was created for the mall in 1968 where he stood for 36 consecutive years.  Over the years, thousands of children conversed with the talking snowman, offering him holiday greetings and sharing how they like to spend the holidays--while they shopped at the mall and visited with Santa Claus too.  The tradition of Archie the Snowman was stopped between 2004-2011.  A popular movement to bring back Archie got traction and the city of Akron hosted our frozen friend at Lock 3 during the holidays of 2012 and 2013.  I wrote about Archie the Snowman's return to Akron for Akron Empire in 2012--click HERE to see that post again.  In a twist of fate, Archie will spend the 2014 Christmas season back at Chapel Hill Mall.  The mall is hosting a kick-off event to welcome Archie home--Saturday, Nov. 22nd, noon until 2pm.  After the event, Archie will remain in the mall's center through the holidays.  Be sure to follow Chapel Hill Mall on Facebook for more information about Archie the Snowman this year.


Archie at Lock in 2012.  Left to right: Tommy Uplinger, Raúl Umaña, and David Burkett--three of the people who helped bring Archie back to Akron's children.  Photo used with permission.


Although Archie has left Lock 3, there is still quite a bit of holiday fun to be enjoyed downtown.  Two of the windows in the Polsky Building (now owned by the University of Akron) are being decorated for visitors.  There was a time--for decades, in fact--when the two department stores Polsky's and ONeil's in downtown Akron offered up amazing and eye-catching animated window displays to attract visitors.  Children pressed their faces against the frosty window glass to take in the splendor of the all-new holiday displays each year.  That tradition was interrupted by changes in consumer habits when our culture came to prefer shopping at suburban malls and plazas over the downtown department stores.  Although the stores Polsky's and ONeil's have been closed for years, we can still enjoy a touch of that Akron tradition.  Two displays--Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz--which are a collection of animated figures originally owned by the ONeil's store (from the 1980s) will be in the Polsky Building storefront windows after Thanksgiving day this year.  These displays are put together by Lawrence and Cynthia Nixon, the same couple who have been keeping the tradition of our decorated holiday windows since the closing of the downtown department stores.


The Ice Princess display now at Lock 3--originally owned by ONeil's for their storefront windows. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Jordan at Lock 3.


Downtown hosts more of the ONeil's store window displays at Lock 3.  In the basement of the former ONeil's building (at Lock 3), you can walk through a large attraction comprised of several sets of the old animated window displays.  This year you can see a scene from Peter Pan, the Ice Princess and her Prince, a collection of Mother Goose storybook characters, Santa Claus' Workshop, and more.  Yes--all of these vintage animated displays were originally ONeil's store displays used in their windows and the Santa's Winter Wonderland experience inside the store.  Also on display this year at Lock 3 is the giant-sized Raggedy Ann doll that used to be the talking Raggedy Ann attraction at ONeils during the 1970s and 80s.  Come down to Lock 3 this year with your children or grandchildren and witness a part of Akron's Christmas history.


Peter Pan, his friends, and Captain Hook in another scene once owned by the ONeil's department store--on display this year at Lock 3. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Jordan at Lock 3.

In addition to the walk-through displays, families can also enjoy several activities downtown at Lock 3.  There is an ice skating rink, a toboggan run, and new this year--an indoor miniature golf course.  Check out the Lock 3 website for the full schedule and hours.  Ice skating has already started--but the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is Friday, Nov. 28 and the annual Welcome Santa Parade is Saturday Nov. 29th.


The gorgeous Nativity display at Cornerstone Church.

If you're interested in another Akron Christmas tradition, then don't overlook this one-of-a-kind opportunity.  Cornerstone Church in south Akron (578 Killian Rd. 44319) now owns the life-size Nativity display that stood for years atop ONeil's downtown store marquee.  Starting on Thanksgiving day, the church stages the sacred display each year for everyone to enjoy.  For all the changes we've seen in Akron over the decades, isn't it heartening to see that some traditions remain? 

To keep up with news about my upcoming book on Archie the Snowman and Akron's long history of Christmas attractions, please follow the 1701 Press facebook page and website http://1701Press.com


Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Desserts



Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Desserts
by Joanna Wilson

You voted, we listened!  We asked our readers to tell us their favorite things in the Empire, and you responded with amazing ideas--some are our own old favorites, and some things new to us that we're excited to check out! We are rolling out the results of our poll each week through the rest of the Fall.  Thanks so much to everyone who shared their voices in selecting our favorite things in Akron.  To see the results of all the voting so far, be sure to click on the Akron Empire Favorites badge on the right hand side.

Voters were passionate about the Favorite Desserts category.
1. Made By Mike
2. Strickland's
3. Mary Coyle
Honorable Mention: The A-kronut available only at The Office Bistro (on N. Main St.)




I'm excited to see Made By Mike treats available at Crafty Mart this year--his booth will be at Musica/We Gallery on Sat. Nov. 29th.  I've also seen his caramels for sale at the café at the Akron Art Museum. To learn more about this winner, check out Made By Mike's website and Made By Mike Facebook page.

Strickland's frozen custard is a part of our Akron identity.  Though there are locations all over town, I'm still one of those people that drives to the east side's original location on Triplett Boulevard to enjoy my Stickland's in a waffle cone.  Check out the Stickland's Facebook page as well.

Trecaso's Mary Coyle in Highland Square is another institution in the neighborhood.  In addition to their old fashioned ice cream, the restaurant is also well known for their Italian food menu.  Check out the Mary Coyle website and their facebook page.

A great big shout-out also goes to The Office's A-kronut, a pastry sensation available only during their Sunday brunch hours at the Akron location.  I think the last one I had was German Chocolate--geez, my mouth is watering just thinking about it!  Check out The Office Bistro's Facebook page as well.

Thanks again to everyone who voted--and congratulations to all the winners!


Friday, November 7, 2014

An Outsider's Guide to Akron

Akron Empire is excited to welcome guest blogger Chris Horne!

Chris is a Southerner by birth and an Akronite by happy accident, raising a lovely little girl here with his amazing wife. For most of the last decade, he's worked as a writer, editor, beat reporter, web producer and news manager, but what he enjoys most is meeting people and telling stories. 

Inspired by all the awesome he's experienced in Akron, he's launching The Devil Strip, a guide to what's happening in local arts, music, business and culture. You can check it out at 
www.TheDevilStrip.com, follow on Twitter @akrondevilstrip and like at Facebook.com/thedevilstrip



An Outsider’s Guide to Akron, Part 1
by Chris Horne

If you just moved here, congratulations! If you’ve always lived here, congrats! Anything in between?
Way to go, you! Akron’s one helluva town and now is the perfect time to be here.

My wife, daughter and I moved to Akron at the end of July 2013. Coming from the buckle of the Bible Belt, we immediately wondered, “Hey, where’s the summer?” A couple months later, we understood it had been prematurely swallowed by the black hole gravity of that approaching winter’s polar vortex.

“It’s not usually this bad,” we heard.

“Akronites are terrible liars,” I thought.

Then, after years of middle Georgia’s oppressive summer heat and humidity, we rejoiced in the fullness of a mild Akron summer. Ahhhhh, yes.

“It’s not usually this nice,” we heard.

“Akronites are terrible liars,” I’m hoping.

Weather foibles aside, there’s much to love here. Most folks we’ve met get that. Many even carry a little blimp-shaped chip on their shoulder. In that way, Akron feels as much like an eccentric family as it does a city: People who’ll bang out their frustrations about the city’s shortcomings but wouldn’t dream of letting the haters land an insult without reciprocating at double-strength. Family pride and all that.

When you’re born inside such a family, it can be hard to step back and really drink in the weird. You’re acclimated. As someone who just married into the family (and likes to stretch his metaphors), it’s hard for me to ignore just how offbeat Akron can be. For outsiders coming in, make friends with the peculiar and you’ll be alright.



Akron is Wellsville

Do you remember the “Adventures of Pete and Pete?” The Nickelodeon show featured brothers who
shared the same name but were years apart in age. They had a personal superhero—Artie, the Strongest Man… in the World!—and lived in a place where anything could happen. In Wellsville, their mom could play songs from the radio thanks to the metal plate in her head. Once, they found a whole car completely submerged in sand at the beach, dug it out and drove it home. The show was riddled with nutty cameos from Iggy Pop and LL Cool J to Steve Buscemi , Janeane Garofalo and Patty Hearst.

Akron is the real-life Wellsville.

You can go view work by Andy Warhol and Chuck Close at the Akron Art Museum, then walk out, look up and see the Goodyear Blimp strolling the skies above town at almost any time of the year. Next head down the hill to the Diamond Grille where, depending on the seasonal event, you might spot someone like Tiger Woods or Michael Strahan. You’d be just a few blocks from St. Vincent-St. Mary, where the greatest NBA player of his generation first drew the world’s attention as a teen.

While the West Akron Little League team the Black Keys sponsor is a little further away, you’re a stone’s throw from Chin’s Place, which got a little help from its friends Mr. Auerbach and Mr. Carney when the city government stuck the restaurant with a $20,000 repair. Up a little further in Highland Square, you’ll find Platinum Dragon, which best-selling writer Chuck Klosterman says serves the best General Tso’s chicken. High praise in a place he claims has “the best Chinese food in North America.”

In a big city, this stuff isn’t surprising but in the fifth largest city of the seventh largest state, it’s a little bonkers. And that’s before mentioning Devo, Rita Dove, Chrissie Hynde, Dr. Bob, James Ingram or the other Akronites of international acclaim.

Akron is also Eureka, Oregon.

Maybe it isn’t a haven for high-tech scientists toiling away in a top-secret facility, but we do have Tiny Circuits, among others, who are doing super cool stuff. On a wider scale, the Rubber City is transitioning nicely into its role as a world center for polymer research.

That transformation takes several shapes. It’s on display at Stan Hywet, the massive museum and gardens that was once the estate of rubber tire magnet F. A. Seiberling, who also donated the land
that’s become the Nature Realm. You can see this change in the rebirth of the BF Goodrich factory as
the Canal Place complex. It’s evident at the new $160 million global headquarters Goodyear built, as
well as in their gleaming eponymous building on the campus of the University of Akron with its meth-blue rock candy sculpture standing guard outside.

The city’s genius didn’t stop with rubber scientists (that is, scientists who specialize in rubber, not those made of it). John “the first American to orbit the earth” Glenn’s space suit was developed here. The first police car in America was used here—AND, it was electric. That’s 104 years before Elon Musk started Tesla Motors. The first mass-produced marble (and the toy industry in general) began in Akron. So did Quaker freakin’ Oats, the Professional Bowling Association and female mud wrestling. 

The Akron Pros, a charter team in what would become the NFL, won the league’s first championship.
The next year, in 1921, they made Fritz Pollard the NFL’s first African-American head coach. Paul Robeson played on that team too but would soon leave sports and be known as a singer, actor and civil rights activist.

Why? Because Akron.

Akron is Twin Peaks


It’s one thing to find out that, after you’ve joked about how ain’t nobody going to get no Ebola in
America, you find out the second person to get infected in the U.S. isn’t just from Akron but came home aboard a commercial flight to visit. And it’s an entirely different thing to find out Jeffrey Dahmer lived (and killed) here because the bait-clicky web story you saw about his childhood home being up for sale.

Then there’s Edward Edwards, who grew up an orphan in Akron. He became a career criminal then a book-writing reformed criminal, and then a confessed murderer some also consider a suspect in higher profile homicides, like the Zodiac murders.

Mugshot of Edward Edwards


This darkness doesn’t dominate Akron but it’s somewhere in there beneath the rust and decay. Even its suburbs.

Derf Backderf’s graphic novel “My Friend Dahmer” is a memoir that’s as moving as it is disturbing
because it humanizes the notorious serial killer as much as it points a finger (not the finger) at the adults in Dahmer’s life who ignored him. Follow that with Derf’s “Punk Rock and Trailer Parks,” a fiction set during the wake of Devo’s rise as the “Akron Sound” began its boom. The book is as funny and enlightening as “Dahmer” is moving and disturbing. 


Though Akron lays claim to lauded thespians like Clark Gable and John Lithgow, actor Ray Wise is a more interesting case because he’s so damn good at portraying creeps and bad guys. Yes, Lithgow made season 5 of “Dexter” but Wise has been Satan. Besides, as Leland Palmer in “Twin Peaks,” Wise wins hands-down because he’s at his most Akron. Smart, kind and driven but also grieving and possessed.

Akron is Akron

The thing about this place, it seems to me, is that there are a bazillion ways to be at one’s “most Akron.”

While folks to our north use “Only in Cleveland” as a sort of tidy funeral dirge, here the refrain I hear most often is “Sounds like Akron.” That’s a feeling that lays somewhere between resignation and celebration. Again, like family. It’s the way you own the familiar misdeeds of a loved one who has a tendency to act out when he’s drinking.

“Chris bought a 12-pack of High Life, drank half of it, hopped the fence in someone’s backyard and showed up two hours late at your house with an art easel and some potted fabric flowers? Yeah… sounds like Chris.”

Akron is a lot of things, all at the same time. Like a lot of places. But different. Like a lot of places.

However, if there’s anything I’m confident about, it’s that you’ll never have to mount a “Keep Akron Weird” campaign because I don’t think the city knows any other way to be.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Goodyear Blimp Hangar Tour

We have a a return visit by our guest blogger Erica who has written for us several times.  Most recently Erica shared her experiences at the grand opening of Birchwood and Pine.  Today she generously shares a very rare experience--taking a tour of the blimp hangar.  Thanks Erica!
When she is not sharing her favorite things about Akron with us, she runs a small business called As I Breathe I Hope, where she handmakes quirky original plush characters made from new and recycled fabrics. Check out AIBIH on Etsy and on Facebook.


Ask and You Shall Receive: How I Landed a Tour at the Goodyear Airship Operations Base
by Erica Scheutzow

In 2012, the Summit ArtSpace held their first annual Akron Arts Prize. I took on the challenge of creating something outside of what I normally craft for my business, As I Breathe I Hope, to exercise my skill and style of fiber arts. It was quick and easy for me to decide on what I would make – a Goodyear Rubber & Tire Company themed, soft-sculpture mobile. It would be a play on an iconic company and the juxtaposition of being born and raised around it. I dubbed it, “Rubber City, Baby!”  My inspiration stems from many things, aside from being raised in the ‘burbs of Akron and seeing the imagery everywhere. The two things that stick out the most are my fascination of the blimp and Wingfoot Lake State Park.

Components of the mobile: Eagle tire, the Blimp, Wingfoot and Goodyear logo’s

As a child, I would get so pumped when I heard the hum of the engines that I would run to the windows, if not bolt outside to catch a glimpse of the blimp flying by. To me, dusk was the best time for viewing because you could still see the entire blimp but the scrolling lights would come on and it would just be a magical sight. Wingfoot Lake State Park was my second haven. My aunt Bonnie would take my siblings, my cousin and I to the park to play when we would stay the night at her house in Tallmadge. I can remember running through all the paths to each of the park’s playgrounds. On a hot summer day, you could smell the rubber from the tire shreds that were used instead of mulch for the play areas. My aunt has since passed, so now these memories are even dearer to me and I always feel reassured when I see the blimp fly over.

So how does the Akron Arts Prize and a tour of the Goodyear Airship Operations Center come together you might ask? After the Arts Prize, my mobile just sat around my studio with good intentions of being hung. I always thought, “I should contact someone at Goodyear and see if they might be interested in displaying the mobile at their offices.” Well, I never did and it continued to sit around until I recently moved. Here in my new home, I unpacked the mobile and decided that I shouldn’t wait any longer. I wasn’t really sure who to contact so, I privately messaged the Goodyear Facebook page explaining the concept of my piece and included photos, hoping to make contact. To my surprise, I received a message back within hours and from there the conversation grew into an invitation for my husband and me to visit the blimp hangar in Suffield. Umm, “What!?” Yes, of course I’ll come visit the hangar for a private tour!


My literal expression while reading this message from the Goodyear Blimp. It’s quite comical


Upon our arrival, my husband and I parked at the Airship Operations lot and were greeted by Mr. Eddie Ogden, the public relations manager. He was very friendly and helpful as we signed in at the visitor’s center and got ready for our tour. We started out in the hallways of the offices as Eddie led us through the history of the blimp through pictures and giving us in depth information of the beginnings and growth of the blimp through the years. It was fascinating! We could easily tell, that even after 28 years at Goodyear, Eddie still has a tremendous passion and enthusiasm for what the company does.
 

From there, we were led into the warehouse. In there is where they had their own painting station, housing and assembly for parts as well as work stations. We then walked into the blimp hangar. It was massive! It looks big from the outside of the building but being inside it seems infinite. Eddie showed us a retired gondola that would be shipped for permanent display at the Crawford Auto Museum in Cleveland. 



Walking on, we then viewed a restored 1916 Packard delivery truck. It was the first of its kind to have a sleeping cabin. So many more specialized vehicles were in the hangar, some were for moving the blimp, and some were for travel when doing promotions and so on.  

1916 Packard
 
From this view, we’re standing about half way down the hangar


But what about the blimp? The blimp was fully visible from the warehouse, you could see the back end of it and it looked so small in this giant hangar from viewing it through the doors of the warehouse. When entering into the hangar, I had much anticipation waiting to get close to it as we discussed other topics. I was in awe as we approached it and walked underneath it. Perspective is everything, I felt so incredibly small. 


We were then given permission to step aboard the gondola and it was so much larger than the former gondola that was phased out. Not only larger but more streamlined and lightweight, by 800lbs and made out of carbon fiber composite opposed to the former aluminum on steel welded frame. The interior was a vast improvement as far as seating, larger windows for optimal viewing and on-board restroom. 

My husband, Kevin and I aboard the Wingfoot One
 
I began to ask Eddie numerous questions like, “How does someone gain access to a ride on the blimp?” To which he responded, “Either through an auction or if you’re a corporate customer.” In case anyone out there was wondering, of course I had to ask! I also asked, “What is the blimp made out of?” He responded, “The envelope is made out of polyurethane, polyester and Kevlar.” The envelope is the outer fabric material. I also asked, “Everyone refers to this as “the blimp”, what is it really?” He responded, “It’s actually called a Semi-Rigid Airship. It has an internal rigid lower or upper frame and a pressurized envelope whereas, the former Non-Rigid Airships have no internal frame and the internal pressure of the lifting gas (non-flammable helium) maintain the shape of the envelope.” 

I have to say, grilling Eddie with a million questions was a lot of fun and he was at the top of his game. It was a true delight! My overall experience about the tour was unlike anything I had ever expected. The history alone was so invaluable and I gained so much more perspective on how innovative the Goodyear Company really is in so many aspects and they continually exceed expectations. My time there was an absolute treasure and even though I didn’t win anything from the Akron Arts Prize, I truly did win here. My “Rubber City, Baby!” mobile will be on permanent display in the visitor’s area of the Air Operations Base in Suffield. It’s an absolute pleasure, joy and honor to be able to extend my art to others who come to visit and share the same excitement as I do for the blimp. Thank You, Eddie for the opportunity!

“No dream is too big, be bold and seize the opportunities when they are presented.”

To learn more about the history and innovation of the Goodyear Blimp:
http://www.goodyearblimp.com/relive-history/

Custom shirt courtesy of Rubber City Clothing:
http://rubbercityclothing.com/



 

Monday, October 27, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites: Favorite Band or Musician


Shivering Timbers getting ready to perform at Rowdy Indie Craft Fair in August of 2011. Photo courtesy of Kalie Boshara.

Akron Empire Favorites 2014: Favorite Band or Musician
by Joanna Wilson



You voted, we listened!  We asked our readers to tell us their favorite things to do in the Empire, and you responded with amazing ideas-- some of our own old favorites, and some things new to us that we're excited to check out!

We've been rolling out the winners one category a week-- Click HERE to see the categories we've already covered.

This week, we're announcing your Favorite Band or Musician.  Drum roll, please!

The 2014 Akron Empire Favorites:
1. Shivering Timbers
2. a tie between: Get on Up and Fast Molasses 

Fast Molasses


Honorable Mentions: ShiSho, Trouble Books, Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lites, and Dan Wilson

Please click on each band's name for the link to see the review we've already written.  If you're a fan of one of the bands above we haven't yet reviewed--or any other Akron band--why not guest blog about them?  Contact us by email--and we'll help you get the ball rolling.  We love Akron bands--help us cover our vibrant music scene.
 


Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lites

Congratulations to all our winners--and don't forget, we encourage you to use the Akron Empire 2014 Favorites badge, if you like.


ShiSho poster for their show in Austin TX in 2 weeks!




Thursday, October 23, 2014

Akron Empire Favorites: Favorite Neighborhood Bar

Akron Empire Favorites: Favorite Neighborhood Bar
by Brit Charek


We asked our readers to tell us their favorite things to do in the Empire, and you responded with amazing ideas-- some of our own old favorites, and some things new to us that we're excited to check out! We've be rolling out the winners one category a week-- Click HERE to see the categories we've already covered. 

This week, we're looking at your Favorite Neighborhood Bars!

1. The Lockview



Located in the spot that was formerly  the Lime Spider and Bilbo's Pub before that, the Lockview is a downtown restaurant that specializes in gourmet grilled cheese and one of the best craft beer selections in the area.

I wrote about the Lockview back when they hosted a Vegetarian Night. (Click HERE to see that post again.) Whether you're a carnivore or not, you're certain to find something there that will satisfy.All sandwiches are served with homemade coleslaw and goldfish crackers, but for a minimal upcharge you can enjoy fries or tots. I'd recommend going for the sweet potato fries.


2. Highland Tavern

courtesy of Highland Tavern's website
The Highland Tavern is a one of the newer establishments in the Highland Square neighborhood. They don't normally have food there, but every Thursday Sushi on a Roll offers great deals on sushi at the bar. They boast Happy Hour everyday, and Super Happy Hour on Friday-- it lasts until 9pm!

Check out their website or follow them on Facebook for more info!

3. The Cashmere Cricket

The Cashmere Cricket claims to have the biggest selection of craft beers in the Akron Empire. With 130 different bottles and 20 rotating drafts, I'd say they hold that title or are at least close!

courtesy of the Cashmere Cricket's Facebook page

In May of this year they opened their "Whiskey Bar", where connoisseurs of fine spirits can enjoy a drink in a vintage prohibition-era inspired atmosphere.

The Cashmere Cricket is located in Cuyahoga Falls. Check out their website or follow them on Facebook for more info!

Honorable Mentions: Frank's PlaceOld 97750ml

Thanks again to everyone who voted! Check back next week as we reveal more of your favorites!

Sunday, October 19, 2014

New Store Opening: Birchwood and Pine



Birchwood and Pine
by Erica Scheutzow

Akron Empire is happy to welcome back guest blogger Erica Scheutzow who wrote about The White Rabbit and the Pop Up Akron Dinner event last year. When she is not sharing her favorite things about Akron with us, she runs a small business called As I Breathe I Hope, where she handmakes quirky original plush characters made from new and recycled fabrics. Check out AIBIH on Etsy and on Facebook.


You recognize Rachel--she's one of the organizers of Zephyr Mart.
 
Akron native, Rachel Jernigan, has just launched her new venture, Birchwood and Pine. The store is a wonderfully eclectic vision of mod and shabby chic, tucked away on 6th Street in Canton. The launch party took place on Friday, October 3rd from 7pm-11pm. Guests were treated to drinks and hors d'oeuvres while they explored the new space. My first impression upon entering the shop was that it was so lively. Rachel put so much time and care into creating a unique environment, unlike anything I’ve seen. It’s a mix of vintage and salvaged pieces that create the foundation of the entire store. Refurbished ironing boards as shelves? Yes! Wooden ladders as a clothing rack? Yes! She even had an old school record player spinning sweet vinyl tunes. The tone and energy of the space overall, made me feel inspired and full of wonderment.



From the Grand Opening of Birchwood and Pine, Oct. 3rd

The outpour of love and support from friends, family and fellow artists was prevalent. I left with a happy heart that night knowing that my friend and fellow artist accomplished a long standing goal. I later interviewed Rachel to further my curiosity about the back story of Birchwood and Pine and what’s to come.

What’s the meaning behind “Birchwood and Pine” and how did that name come about?
Rachel: The name Birchwood and Pine comes from the fact that all my art is done on Birch and Pine. I just really like the way it sounds, like it's an intersection.

What motivated you to open your own shop and how did you settle on this location?
Rachel: My main motivation to open a store was initially to have a space where I can sell my work and, when I'm not busy, continue working on projects, without the all the distractions I find at home. The location pretty much fell in my lap after a few months of no one returning my phone calls in surrounding areas. My friend, Mary Elliot owns the salon next door, and she mentioned that the space next to hers was available. I called her that night, met the landlord the next day, and signed a lease the day after that.


LOVE these t-shirts!

A lot of the items in your shop are yours, but you also carry other vendor’s items. What’s the range in product and pricing for your customers?
Rachel: I currently have a lot of my own stuff-tee-shirts, paintings, jewelry, refurbished furnishings.
I also have amazing Jewelry by Stephanie Cole of Sassy Bat Boutique, imported Kimonos and spotless vintage clothing supplied by Mindi Burton of the Sweetest Chill, wooden toy robots by Pat Gerber of the Robot Consortium, and funky chunky knit goods by Tori Todesco of Little Birdie Design Studio. I also have pillows made by Sara Edwards and my men's vintage is supplied by Zach Hudson. Pricing ranges between $2 and $200. People looking to buy a piece of art or shop for smaller gift items should both be happy in my store.


Grand Opening party

Are you looking for more vendors? If so, do you offer wholesale, consignment or both?
Rachel: I will always be looking for vendors. My main concern is that I would prefer to be inclusive, rather than exclusive, meaning the idea of rejecting someone is not something I look forward to. I meet a lot of artists at shows and craft fairs, and for now I would prefer to invite people to sell in my space, rather than have an application process. At this moment, I have already purchased quite a few products wholesale, but I do have a few consignors

What's your vision for the future of Birchwood and Pine?
Rachel: My ultimate goal for the store is to provide other artists and makers of the unique, a venue to sell their work outright to me as the owner, instead of having to do consignment. Consignment is a great, risk free way to fill a space with inventory, but I feel like it often leaves artists feeling undervalued. If I feel confident in someone's work or product, I want them to be able to make a living producing quality work. I will eventually offer online sales as well, but for now I'm concentrating on the physical shop. I think people may be itching to go back toward going into a place and getting an overall sense of a style or mode.

To find out more about Birchwood and Pine please contact Rachel with the information provided (below.) Rachel would also like to extend an invitation to her Halloween Party at the Birchwood and Pine location on Thursday October 30th from 6pm-9pm!

Rachel Lynn Jernigan
Birchwood & Pine: https://www.facebook.com/birchwoodandpine
602 6th St NW, Canton, Ohio
330-221-0589
Store Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat. Noon-8pm, Sun. Noon to 5. Open until 9 on First Fridays.