DiscoveringOhio

Ohio Grown Corn Gives This Spirit A Watershed Moment

Fifteen hundred pounds of Ohio-grown corn are used to create a single batch of  80-proof Vodka at Watershed Distillery, one of the five micro-distilleries now open in Ohio. Watershed, located in Grandview's warehouse district, offers tours of their quadruple-distilling process from start to finish of their Vodka, signature Gin and, coming soon, Bourbon.

Watershed opened in 2010, and produces 100 12-bottle cases a week in its 2,000-square-foot space. Watershed is sold at state liquor stores and restaurants throughout the state, (click here for an interactive map that directs you to the closest location), and has even been spotted on the Food Network's Iron Chef America.

During a ninety-minute tour of this micro-distillery, Watershed founders Dave Rigo and Greg Lehman will take you through all stages of spirit-making: mashing, distilling, fermenting, barrelling, and even labeling. 

During your tour, you'll learn that Rigo found his inspiration for Watershed while playing professional volleyball in a quaint village, Appenzell, in Switzerland. "Every business in that town sold only locally produced products -- including the cheese, the clothing, and the beer," recalls Rigo. Returning to Ohio, he wondered what he could create from locally sourced materials. The answer revealed itself in the three million acres Ohio devotes to corn.

The front room walls are filled with wooden crates holding finished bottles of Vodka and Gin. Thanks to a new Ohio law, you can now purchase those bottles at the end of your tour.

There are also museum-like displays of the botanticals, juniper berries, cassia, Jamaica pepper and coriander, which give Gin its signature flavor. These botanticals also come from Ohio, at The Spice Barn, located in Lewis Center. 

In the back room sits the glistening copper still,

imported from Germany, along with rows of wooden barrels,

and an ample supply of what every good vodka needs -- grain. Here, of course, the grain is corn, organically grown at The Shagbark Seed & Mill Co in Athens, Ohio.

At the end of the tour, you will, of course, be invited to a taste. Each taste is $.50 per cup. State Law limits you to one tasting of vodka and one taste of gin. 

You can sign up and find available tour dates here. Each tour costs $10 and can accommodate up to 20 visitors. You can host your own private tour for groups of ten or more through the Watershed website. Lehman says they have hosted birthday parties, complete with cake, at the distillery. However, because state law limits the pours, most parties quickly move on to one of the great restaurants along Grandview Avenue. 

Ohio is now home to five micro-distilleries, and Lehman says the appearance of new micro-distilleries seems to be following the micro-brewery revival that swept through the country a few decades ago. Other distilleries to check out in Ohio are:  

• Buckeye Vodka, Dayton.
• Middle West Spirits, Columbus. Offers weekly public tours at 6 p.m. every Friday, and Gallery Hop Saturdays (first Saturday of the month). Private tours and tastings are available for groups of 6 to 40. $10/person, 90 minutes. 
• Seven Brothers Distilling Company, Cleveland
• Woodstone Creek, Cincinnati. The tasting room is open to the public on Saturdays from 1-5.

When you visit Watershed, be sure to share your "Watershed" Moment, "The Time I (fill in the blank) changed my life, " and post your photo to the Watershed Brigade. 

Licking County Bike Paths: A Taste of Central Ohio

A lot of folks who live in Licking County (and those who visit) cite its bike trails as a feature of the area they find attractive, and rightly so: There are more than 40 miles of paved path stretching across the county, meandering through forests, along rivers, over covered bridges and even through a couple tunnels.

On a sunny but windy Sunday afternoon, I hopped onto my bike and cruised the seven-mile stretch from the Newark campus of Ohio State University and Central Ohio Technical College to Granville. The campus was beautiful and the trail well-kept — and also quite busy. It’s a great starting point, with plenty of parking and a (very popular) playground for the younger kids.

I traveled west across Ohio 16 — if you have time, slow down to check out the cool life-sized statues of a runner stretching and a few cyclists having a good time — and through a nice wooded stretch from the Cherry Valley Lodge area (there’s also bike path access from the hotel) toward Granville, following the scenic Raccoon Creek, where a number of people were fishing.

The trail is mostly flat and suitable for riders of all skill levels: Children in strollers or on training wheels to, shall we say, dedicated cyclists. (Who should note that the Newark-Granville stretch of the bike path tends to be quite busy on nice days, and if you’re looking for an uninterrupted ride, I’d recommend taking off from Granville and heading west to Johnstown, or leaving from Newark and traveling east on the Panhandle Trail toward Hanover.)

The brief portion of the path that runs through a cow pasture may offend some riders’ senses, but a stop in Granville shortly thereafter should make up for it: An abundance of unique dining options await visitors along Broadway, including Whit’s Frozen Custard, which comes highly recommended by this writer.

In the five years I’ve lived here, I have covered just about every portion of the bike trail. Here are a few notes about the other segments, moving from west (toward Columbus) to east (toward Zanesville and Coshocton):

• Johnstown to Granville, passing through Alexandria: 6.1 miles from Johnstown to Alexandria; 4.9 more miles to Granville. Follows Raccoon Creek with occasional views of Ohio 37. Alternative views of woods and fields; not heavily populated.

• Granville to Newark, see post above. Numerous possible stops for destinations in Granville (home of Denison University) and Newark, home of the Midland Theatre and The Works. The path extends to the Licking County Family YMCA, starting point of the annual Land of Legend Bike Tour in June.

• Newark to Hanover via the Panhandle Trail: About five miles. (Note: The bike path does not connect from the YMCA to the Panhandle portion; see map for details.) Straight and flat with some views of the sandstone cliffs that make up the nearby Blackhand Gorge, which also boasts four miles of trails.

Whether you’re a Licking County lifer or a guest, the trails are a great, recreational way to experience the community. For additional views from my jaunt on the trail, stop by my Shutterfly site, Abbey Discovers Ohio.

In a Festive Mood

There’s something about festivals that always makes me feel nostalgic. As a child I remember heading to the Geauga County Maple Festival, enjoying the big time festival activities in a small hometown setting, tasting homemade maple syrup, riding the rides, and topping off the night with a hot barbecue rib plate from Hot Sauce Williams, one of the many vendors there when I was a kid.

When I became a mom,  I wanted to share experiences I had as a child with my son so several years ago,  we visited the Geauga County Maple Festival. It was like stepping into a memory book.  Downtown Chardon looked exactly the same as it did when I was a child. I knew instinctively where to find the best corn dog, fries and hand-squeezed lemonade. My son was amazed at the lights and the rides swirling by. This year's Maple Festival is this coming weekend, April 26-29 and features rides, entertainment and parades.

In college, I looked forward to the Annual African-American Heritage Festival at Ohio State University. It's been some years since I attended, (2012 will be its 34th anniversary), but it still delivers week-long activities that enlighten, inspire and entertain, April 21-28.

 

 

 

Now that I’m older I appreciate and love the Tri-C Jazz Fest, already underway this week, with great musical performances all over the city of Cleveland, April 19-29.

 

 On June 9, I'm taking my family to the colorfully inventive 23^rd Parade the Circle and Circle Village in University Circle to watch the many diverse and unique people and floats pass by as we enjoy some incredible food. 

It’s official, Festival Season in Ohio has begun and I am going to enjoy as many as I can. For a complete listing of Ohio Festivals, go to www.ofea.org. Where is your favorite Ohio festival? 

Immerse Yourself in WATER

Quenching your thirst, brushing your teeth, showering, cleaning your clothes, dishes and making food are just a few of the multitude of uses for the integral piece of all life – WATER! A new exhibit at COSI: Center of Science and Industry, in Columbus, helps give perspective to this limited, yet incredibly vital, natural resource.

As with many exhibits at COSI, WATER is part education and part interactive fun with a side of ‘make you think.’ Whether you are an elementary student or a full-blown scientist, you will walk away from this exhibit with a new-found appreciation for water, where it comes from, its awesome power, and steps to help the whole planet – starting right in your own home.

The exhibit begins with the beginning of life on Earth – because without water, there is no life on earth. Period. I think that is a fact that can easily be taken for granted. After a geological understanding of the origins of water, you are taken through a maze of learning and fun. Check out the 3 stages of water – liquid, gas, solid – all within a foot of each other! There are many mind-blowing statistics throughout the exhibit, such as fresh water (drinkable water) accounts for just 3 percent of the world’s entire water resource! It can be easy to forget the incredible natural power of water. One of my favorite interactive exhibits allows you to watch the before and after effects of a dam and how rapidly water can literally wipe away land.

Kids – and fun-loving adults – will love the interactive water exhibit that allows visitors to build their own (mini) beaver dam and see the effect of the dam on water flow. Be ready to get your hands a little dirty!!

The exhibit concludes with what I like to call a “make you think” portion. Several computer screens allow visitors to take a short, interactive quiz about their own water usage on a daily basis and how much is being wasted, and ways to lessen the impact. For example, do you know which uses more water – washing dishes by hand or using the dishwasher? The answer may surprise you (I know it did for me).

So take some time to check out WATER on display at COSI through September 3. Continue enjoying water in Columbus by stepping outside COSI and walking along the Scioto River. Genoa Park on the Scioto River behind COSI offers picturesque views of the city. Walk across the Broad Street bridge and check out the Santa Maria, a replica of the ship Christopher Columbus sailed on his way to the new world. Learn more here: http://parks.columbus.gov/Facility.aspx?id=25484&terms=downtown+riverfront

 

High Fashion & Award-Winning Wine in Milford, OH

The well-established town of Milford, Ohio has maintained its small-town appeal and old-world charm. Just east of Cincinnati and along the Little Miami River, perfectly manicured Main Street seems to have jumped straight out of a film. Numerous independently-owned shops and restaurants line each side, offering their wares and services to the locals, trendy visitors, and any curious traveler.



























You'd expect to find some of these great shops -- a monogram store, a cupcakery, vintage clothing store, a donut shop, but then Main Street takes an unexpected twist from the typical offerings: a high-fashion custom clothing designer. While geographically far away from fashion hotspots like New York City and Milan, designer Amy Kirchen has been making waves from Milford that can be felt around the globe.























Amy just celebrated the grand opening of her new location on 125 Main Street. The beautiful white columns usher you into her front ready-to-wear boutique, which offers hand-picked clothing from other designers with thoughtful prints and desirable prices ranging from $50-$100. There is no sales pressure and you feel pampered as you peruse clothing by the light of crystal chandeliers in sumptuous surroundings. The center room is her show-stopper. Here you can see the look book and pieces from her upcoming collection; on display now features her 2012 fall/winter line. Amy's inspiration came from glamorous women of times past, like Audrey Hepburn, and features cinched waists, custom fabrics, flowy chiffon and superb tailoring. The back room contains Amy's studio, where her custom clients come to dream up their next ensemble, select quality fabrics and surprisingly it's where 80% of Amy's business and art form takes place.

My sister Jenny and I loved shopping at the Amy Kirchen Boutique. Amy started us a fitting room as she helped us select some trendy dresses, and when nothing seemed to fit my pregnant belly, she brought me item after item until we had a perfect match. It's not often that you get excellent customer service from a designer at these prices. In addition, she also offers affordable accessories and alterations on-site.

Excited about our lovely new purchases, Jenny and I meandered down Main Street to 20Brix, a restaurant, wine bar and retail store with national accolades from Wine Spectator for the last 4 years. Interested in some light bites, we took our seats at a cozy bar table. Jenny ordered a crisp Chardonnay to complement our crab cake appetizer. Created by chef Paul Barraco and served with aoli and sweet potato puree, the moist cake did not disappoint. We enjoyed the polished atmosphere and lively weekend crowd, before departing Milford for the evening.

To find out Milford's latest events and for a list of shops in the area, you can visit the Milford website.








20 Brix Resturant & Wine Bar • Retail portion of 20 Brix • Bar of 20Brix

All the Flavors of the Market

It was a wet and chilly day when I made my most recent trip to Columbus' North Market. I knew exactly where to head to defrost: to Lan Viet Market for a steaming hot bowl of Vietnamese pho. Even before taking my first slurp of broth, I was warmed by the friendly smiles of owner and chef Lan and her husband, Thanh Le, who serve up fresh, healthy dishes every day of the week. 

I headed to the upstairs dining area with my lunch and took a table between a couple of elderly men playing chess and a group of professional types engaged in a business meeting. The smells from the market  drifted upwards: aromas of Indian curries, fresh-baked bread and newly popped popcorn. Whatever the occasion and whatever I have a taste for, the North Market has what I need.

I usually visit for lunch and, depending on my mood, choose between Lan Viet, Holy Smoke BBQ, Nida's Sushi (which serves delicious Thai as well as Japanese dishes) and Clever Crow Pizza.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             If I am shopping for groceries, I like to pick up some artisanal bread from Omega Bakery, fish from the Fish Guys and a few bottles of microbrewed beers from the Barrel and the Bottle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regardless of my purpose, I rarely leave without giving in to my sweet tooth. This most recent trip was no different; I stopped first at Pam's Popcorn to pick up some 'Sweet and Salty,' then headed to Brezel for a cinnamon-sugar Bavarian-style pretzel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No trip to the North Market would be complete without a couple of scoops of seasonal flavors from Columbus' most famous ice creamery, Jeni's. This time I enjoyed Magnolia Mochi and Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake from their Super Pop Cakes collection.

The North Market is Columbus' only public market and has been in business since 1876. The market also hosts regular cooking classes and special events. The next public event to take place at North Market is the Market to Market Bicycle Adventure bike ride between the Hills Market and North Market on May 5 -- riders will be issued passports to be stamped by local vendors and organizations along the route.

 

Titanic's Youngstown Connection

The city of Youngstown has had a strong connection with the sinking of the Titanic. The maritime disaster, which occurred 100 years ago this weekend, claimed the life of one of the city’s most prominent citizens.

George Dennick Wick was one of the founders of Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and served as its president. The company went on to become the largest locally-owned steel company in America. Wick, along with his wife and daughter and some cousins, were touring Europe in 1912, and were returning home on the Titanic.

When the ship, called in press coverage “the acme of luxury and bigness,” struck an iceberg, Wick assured his family that it was nothing more than a glancing blow. He was last seen waving to them from the deck as they got into a lifeboat. His body was never recovered, but a memorial stone was placed in Youngstown's Oak Hill Cemetery.

I first heard the story of Wick’s death on the Titanic during a tour of the Arms Museum while growing up in Youngstown. He was not the only passenger on the ship headed to Youngstown, but the most prominent. Titanic aficionados and local history buffs can learn more about the sinking of the Titanic and local coverage and effects at “Titanic: Tragedy in the Headlines,” an exhibit at the Arms Museum through June.

The exhibit includes news coverage from Youngstown’s two daily newspapers at the time, the Vindicator and the Telegram. Many of the headlines focused on the Wicks and their traveling party, but there was also mention of the immigrants in third class who were bound for Youngstown, many to find work in the mills and factories in the area. Some of the immigrants were from Eastern Europe. There were a sizeable number of Lebanese people on board, estimated around 165, including several headed to Youngstown. They had their own dining room.

Jessica Trickett, Ann Kilcawley Christman Memorial Collections manager, assembled the exhibit and was amazed at the early accounts, which claimed not only that George Wick survived the crash, but that the ship itself was safe.

“It’s kind of amazing how fast and furious the information was published without fact checking,” she said.

The Arms Museum, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, is operated by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, whose offices and archives are on the grounds as well. It's dedicated to exhibits on local history and people.

The museum is at 648 Wick Avenue near the campus of Youngstown State University. It's not far from the Butler Institute of American Art, and a short walk from the MVR, a local restaurant started by Italian immigrants on Walnut Street in the neighborhood called Smoky Hollow. The MVR, which stands for Mahoning Valley Restaurant, boasts one of the oldest liquor licenses in Mahoning County.

Marietta's Covered Bridges

With Mother Nature on my side during Ohio State's Spring Break, I decided to venture to somewhere new in Ohio. I feigned jealousy as I said goodbye to all my friends who were heading south for the week. I couldn’t wait to explore nature, get my historical fix and find some covered bridges.

Ohio used to be home to over 3,000 covered bridges in the 19th century before iron and steel started replacing the wooden beams. The sense of nostalgia that these bridges emit is breathtaking even in photographs, so I had to check them out in person.

Less than 150 covered bridges exist in Ohio today, which is much less impressive than the original 3,000, but it makes me all the more determined to find what gems remain. For my first outing, I opted upon the two-hour drive to Washington County (Marietta) in Southeast Ohio where there is a 44-mile stretch of highway along Ohio Route 26 that cuts through the Wayne National Forest. For a list of counties and their accompanying bridges visit Ohio Barns.

I have two very simple, but imperative tips for those who wish to venture onto Route 26: Have a light breakfast and an alert mind. In other words, one doesn’t need to travel across the United States to visit California’s Pacific Coast Highway. We have our very own windy, hilly Midwest rural roadway. The roller-coaster-like drive is visually stunning, with its lush fields and rustic farms. It is ideal for photographers, or those who just want to get away from a bustling city life. Route 26 follows alongside the Little Muskingum River.

Along my journey, I sought out three covered bridges. The first was the bucolic Hune Bridge, which was built in 1879. Not 50 feet or so from the bridge, lays a small, secluded campground. This campground is free and open all year round.

 

The next bridge I traveled to was the Rinard Covered Bridge, which has been renovated three times. It doesn’t have the nostalgic charm of the other bridges because of its newer appearance, but still provides for a lovely snapshot. Inside the bridge are windows that overlook the river below; looking through a window one sees a "portrait" that could have been the subject for a Hudson River School Painting.

 

The last bridge (and my favorite) was the Knowlton Covered Bridge. This sits back about a quarter of a mile off the road so you have to look for the sign. It is certainly the longest of the bridges and claims title to the most rustic charm. With missing beams and a weather-ridden exterior, it evokes a sense of wonder in the viewer -- as if the bridge is a portal into another decade.

 

 

Wayne National Park boasts ideal fishing, canoeing and hiking along the Muskingum River. Other recreational activities include mountain biking, ATV riding and horseback riding, with trails open from April 14-December 16. All other hiking trails are open year-round. More recreational activities can be found at the Wayne National Forest website.

Make a Joyful Noise

The choirs are rejoicing! Gospel music has deep roots in Ohio. The music itself can be traced back to slavery when African-American slaves would sing spirituals. The River Jordan spiritual was code for the Ohio River and the song Swing Low, Sweet Chariot is thought to be coded with references to Ripley, Ohio’s Underground Railroad stations where runaway slaves could find refuge in their escape to freedom. Early gospel influences also began in Ohio. The famous '60s group, the Gospelaires of Dayton, were among the first to pioneer the gospel recording industry.

These upcoming Ohio events are great destinations to get you in the spirit:

As Cleveland gears up for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 14, the city is singing its praises with weeklong events including, "Rock My Soul: A Gospel Music Celebration" honoring gospel music sensation, Kirk Franklin at the State Theatre on April 10.  Franklin will perform, as will various artists, including Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond and local gospel choirs.  

Jazz up your gospel with the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music as they present The Gospel According To Duke: Ellington’s Sacred Concert on April 29. The jazz ensemble and Chamber choir present his moving works that combine jazz with gospel, classical and blues.

In Akron, you can look forward to another gospel powerhouse singer, Marvin Sapp, who will perform a concert at The House of the Lord on May 4. Sapp’s song, “Never Would Have Made It” was at the top of the charts in 2007.

On Sundays, I get spiritual inspiration from Cleveland’s House of Blues World Famous Gospel Brunch.  It’s doubly satisfying with its soul-stirring music by stellar choirs, and delicious down-home southern cooking at the all-you-can-eat buffet. 

In July, the world's best choirs will arrive in Cincinnati for the 2012 World Choir Games. Hundreds of choirs of all ages and from all over the globe, will compete for top honors. This is seventh year for the event and the first time it is being held in the United States. 

Gospel music moves and inspires with its uplifting beats and joyous voices. With so much rich history, and fabulous performances here in Ohio, you can get out and soothe your soul.

Cleveland Rocks During Induction Week

I love my hometown of Cleveland and I love rock 'n' roll, so I'm thrilled that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Induction Ceremony and activities are back this year. All kinds of events and concerts are planned beginning this Friday with Bootsy Collins and the Funk Unity Band and ending next Saturday, the 14th, with the Induction Ceremony.

So why is the Rock Hall located in Cleveland? Positively Cleveland posted the blog below which details the major milestones, including influential people and events, that shaped the genre that made Cleveland the birthplace of rock and roll.

 

1939

Leo Mintz opens The Record Rendezvous in Cleveland, a store specializing in rhythm and blues known then as “race music.” About 12 years later, Mintz convinces local deejay Alan Freed to start playing those records on the air, effectively launching the rock ‘n’ roll era.

1952

Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed begins his “Moondog Show” on WJW, broadcasting only rhythm and blues music. It quickly becomes a hit with all audiences. He calls the music “rock ‘n’ roll.”

1952

On March 21, 1952, Freed puts on the first ever rock and roll show in Cleveland and calls it “The Moondog Coronation Ball.” The show, oversold by more than 10,000 tickets, causes an overflow of the crowds breaking down the doors and storming the arena where a full-scale riot escalates and ultimately canceling the show. Rock 'n’ roll music makes headlines everywhere and controversy ensues.

1955 

Elvis Presely plays in Cleveland at Brooklyn High School, his first concert above the Mason-Dixon Line.

1962

The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Jane Scott becomes the first established rock writer, beginning a teen music column in 1962. Scott went on to become known as the “oldest living rock critic,” staying on with the paper until 2002.

1966

The Beatles invade Cleveland and play Public Hall.  The crowd rushes the stage numerous times which leads police to delay the show multiple times before finally cutting the performance short.  The following year, The Beatles are banned from playing in the city.

1973 – 1986

WMMS dominates the Cleveland radio airwaves and gains a national reputation as a forum for new rock acts.

1995

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opens its doors on North Coast Harbor.  The pyramid-like shape is designed to reflect a guitar shooting up to the sky.

– April Ingle

Even if you don't have tickets to the Induction Ceremony, there are numerous related activities, rock stars hanging out downtown and excitement in the air. Visit www.clevelandrockweek.com for a list of events and hotel packages.

Still haven’t seen the inductee list? Check it out:

Guns N’ Roses
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Donovan
Laura Nyro
The Small Faces/The Faces
Beastie Boys
Freddie King
Don Kirshner
Cosimo Matassa
Tom Dowd
Glyn Johns
The Crickets
The Famous Flames
The Midnighters
The Comets
The Blue Caps
The Miracles