Ohio- The Strange Fantastic
When summer finally presents itself to those of us living in Ohio we seize every opportunity to make the most of the very few days of warmth and sunshine before the dismal clouds roll in accompanied by temperatures that would make a Yeti shiver. My wife and I are pretty good at keeping ourselves entertained with various activities, visits, travel or hobbies throughout the year, but when summer hits it's as though we are social darlings who have way too many social events to attend. I'm very grateful to have so much to do with so many wonderful people.
For those not familiar with Ohio, it may take them a few years to learn or accept all that we Ohioans have to offer. You'd be amazed at the many different ways we find to our entertain ourselves in this otherwise unbearable state. For example, three years ago my friend Josh and I decided to take a drive up Rt. 45 in Warren to Geneva-on-the-Lake. Along the way we came across a sign announcing a festival one mile ahead. We followed the signs til we came to a parking lot full of people dressed in Medieval costumes. It was a Medieval fair! We did not stay longer than a few minutes since we were not interested in paying an entrance fee to hear people talk of mead, dragons and sorcery. We continued on our drive and went to Lake Erie, but the beach conditions were not welcoming so we drove on and made a stop at a local winery. We ordered wine and ate lunch while a Jazz band played to a diverse crowd of people in the hot summer sun. On our return home we came across a tractor pull competition. In a public park people brought their supped-up John Deere riding lawn mowers to a drag race. Men and women of all ages raced each other on a dirt track in these home improved muscle mowers. Josh and I videotaped the excitement of the event and even interviewed someone about this peculiar sight. What a wonderful Saturday that was!
Yesterday, Meghan and I were invited to a pot-luck music party. We made caprese salad and I brought my guitar to sit in on the jam session.
Neighbors, friends and new acquaintances brought, food, drink, and their children to the soiree. Here I am playing guitar and a bongo with my brother in-law KC, on vocals and guitar, and Jason (the host) playing percussion. From there we went to Lockview restaurant in downtown Akron.
When we stepped out of the car we were greated by the most spectacular live latin music I have ever heard. It was Tito Puente Jr. and his band at Lock3. I was transported back to Sarasota, FL. where I would hang out while my friend and roomate, Josh, worked during Latin dance night in his restaurant, Michael's in the Quay. The music was nearly strong enough to divert us from attending the other engagement we had planned, a night of Yacht Rock on the rooftop of Lockview.
If you are not familiar with Yacht Rock a good introduction to the music and lifestyle would be to watch these webisodes (not suitable for children) created by J.D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair. Last night was an exceptionally good time spent conversing with friends and fellow Yacht Rockers as we enjoyed the smooth sounds of this unique musical style.
Yes, there is something for everyone during the summer months in Ohio. If you don't agree you're not looking. Sail on sailor.
For those not familiar with Ohio, it may take them a few years to learn or accept all that we Ohioans have to offer. You'd be amazed at the many different ways we find to our entertain ourselves in this otherwise unbearable state. For example, three years ago my friend Josh and I decided to take a drive up Rt. 45 in Warren to Geneva-on-the-Lake. Along the way we came across a sign announcing a festival one mile ahead. We followed the signs til we came to a parking lot full of people dressed in Medieval costumes. It was a Medieval fair! We did not stay longer than a few minutes since we were not interested in paying an entrance fee to hear people talk of mead, dragons and sorcery. We continued on our drive and went to Lake Erie, but the beach conditions were not welcoming so we drove on and made a stop at a local winery. We ordered wine and ate lunch while a Jazz band played to a diverse crowd of people in the hot summer sun. On our return home we came across a tractor pull competition. In a public park people brought their supped-up John Deere riding lawn mowers to a drag race. Men and women of all ages raced each other on a dirt track in these home improved muscle mowers. Josh and I videotaped the excitement of the event and even interviewed someone about this peculiar sight. What a wonderful Saturday that was!
Yesterday, Meghan and I were invited to a pot-luck music party. We made caprese salad and I brought my guitar to sit in on the jam session.
Neighbors, friends and new acquaintances brought, food, drink, and their children to the soiree. Here I am playing guitar and a bongo with my brother in-law KC, on vocals and guitar, and Jason (the host) playing percussion. From there we went to Lockview restaurant in downtown Akron.When we stepped out of the car we were greated by the most spectacular live latin music I have ever heard. It was Tito Puente Jr. and his band at Lock3. I was transported back to Sarasota, FL. where I would hang out while my friend and roomate, Josh, worked during Latin dance night in his restaurant, Michael's in the Quay. The music was nearly strong enough to divert us from attending the other engagement we had planned, a night of Yacht Rock on the rooftop of Lockview.
If you are not familiar with Yacht Rock a good introduction to the music and lifestyle would be to watch these webisodes (not suitable for children) created by J.D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair. Last night was an exceptionally good time spent conversing with friends and fellow Yacht Rockers as we enjoyed the smooth sounds of this unique musical style.
Yes, there is something for everyone during the summer months in Ohio. If you don't agree you're not looking. Sail on sailor.
posted by Kirk at
11:50 AM
2 Comments:
K,
When I moved back to Akron from NY in 2000, I found myself defending the move to pals in the city, making a laundry list of good things, interesting things, unique things around here. The mentality of a New Yorker, or someone in LA, Boston, Chicago, no doubt, is one of provincialism. We think everyone else is a poor misguided dolt living in hicksville.
We all know why I moved back here and that was reason enough, period. Those of my friends in NY who had met Dolli wouldn't offer a peep of an objection.
But the exercise of making this list of cool things has continued on, not so much as a defense for this move, but as an appreciation of this place which I now share once in a while. Akron is simply not going to be, by virtue of it's trappings, a point of destination for the burned out New Yorker. That's why God created the Carribean.
That said, even as we look at Spring, and move into the Fall, this area is as magical, as I see it, as the Catskills Valley where Woodstock NY sits, striking me blind me when Kay and I went on a scouting trip back in 1979, leading us to move there without a job, a plan, a blink.
But what your lovely blog probably speaks to is people. There was a recent facebook quiz which contained the querry, "Do you think relationships are really worth it?" I wrote that, in essence, relationships are what define us as humans. Lizzie wrote it best:"ITS ALL WE HAVE!!!"
Plenty to do. You have Meghan, and all the people you referenced, both your pal that you took the drive with, the folks running and playing at the winery, last night... all of it had to do with the people that brought these things to you, or the folks you shared them with, as you do with us.
Two more things. Foirst, David Lynch made an entiore movie about an old guy on a John Deere, and... you may have started using the word "unbearable" to describe Ohio, and yes we have winters and a lot of gray days, but everything in your ensuing note spoke to the prety darned lovely life we all have here, when push comes to shove.
Yeah, it's pretty glorious here. Well done.
Love you,
H
I absolutely agree with you.
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