A weekend in volleyball land

My friend Melissa (aka HUF) invited me to play sand volleyball on Sunday nights this summer. I've never really played. It's been a really fun learning process. So when I heard our company was sponsoring a team in the Pollyball tournament I went for it. This meant practice on Friday night, tournament from 9 to 4pm Saturday, plus normal league play on Sunday over at Glass City Lanes. What a blast! I'm making new friends and getting good exercise. I'm not seeing a downside here...

This Pollyball Tournament was hosted at International Park in Toledo. They had much food and drink, activities for the kids (or young at heart), and of course people from all over the area coming together to compete in a friendly way. It was perfect weather this year and I can't remember Toledo looking more beautiful!

My first 5k

Over the winter I started jogging a little bit at the gym during lunch hour. This progressed slowly but surely to the point I could actually run a mile without stopping (something I never did before). Taking this to the next level I signed up for the Glass City 5k at UT. Starting on Saturday the 21st there was a fitness expo in Savage Hall. This one vendor was showcasing these really wild looking elliptical bicycles. Many running shops of course with clothing shoes, some food vendors too.

The Sunday morning race started early, it was brisk morning with nice blue skies. I kept a slow steady pace through the scenic route of Old Orchard an the University of Toledo campus. I finished the race without walking in about 29 minutes. I had some generous people believing in me for this and raised nearly $300 for the Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism. I think the kind donations really kept me moving, they were a great motivator.

At the end of the race I walked around inside the UT Glass Bowl for a little while and cheered for others finishing the race. They had snacks and drinks, and were even serving Gino's pizza and beer in the parking lot. I only had to wait about a 30 minutes for the first half marathon runner Evan Gaynor to finish. Wow, that was an inspiration!

Weekend update

Friday night: making pizzas and family movie night @ home


Saturday: Toledo Sister Cities International festival @ Erie Street Market, some yard work / house work, then church charity auction (lots of fun)

http://toledosistercities.synthasite.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toledo,_Ohio#Sister_cities


Sunday: Golf @ Ottawa Park and lots of family time.

http://www.ottawaparkgc.com/



What a great weekend!

Weekend update...

The weather has been amazing, scary warm...made for scary storms last week! Friday night we visited happy hour at Del Sol. This is the restaurant bar at the Grand Plaza (formerly Crowne Plaza, formerly Wyndham, formerly Radisson?) The food here is the best I've ever had at a hotel and we are totally hooked. It makes for a really nice Saturday family day out actually; a visit to Imagination Station with the kids and then head next door to Del Sol / Aqua Bar with a Restaurant.com coupon. I digress...

Friday night after 1 of everything on the appetizer menu and a couple of "Smutty Nose" at Del Sol with some friends, we went to Its Friday at the TMA. There were a couple of nice dance numbers in the great hall (Ardan and then Toledo Ballet). We walked the galleries for a while and then called it a night (a very good night).

Saturday was a combination of kids activities, some outside time at the park and back yard, and then the evil weekend homework. Sunday was church, then an afternoon shuffling from one kid activity to the next. Where does the time go!?

Attention adventurers of any ilk...

Hey Toledo, check it out. BASHCon this weekend:

http://ut-bash.com/bashcon/

Its not just for geeks, its for pirates and ninjas too. Besides, its hip to be square?

Anyways, go, have fun, and make new friends.

Calling all artists

Please support this art store downtown...it is beautifully done and is the kind of business that nurtures the creative types in our city. It really raises the bar for us.

http://www.artsupplydepo.com/

Does anyone remember when Richard Florida came to speak at the Peristyle? I think St Claire street's revival is what he helped us envision.

Life is good

Tool concert last night, dodgeball tonight. I'm living it up in Toledo! (and making new friends in the process).

For a good time check out TSSC:

http://www.toledosportandsocialclub.com/

Snowball fight down by Imagination Station

Even the great statues we have downtown can get into the action. Who says Toledo is no fun?

Goodbye Dr Bob

Whenever I've spent time with Robert Brundage over the past 10 years or so, I came away feeling a little bit inspired. The man had so much knowledge and wisdom. So many stories to share or good ideas to promote. I never found myself disagreeing with him when it came to ways to improve the community. Issues like balanced conservation of natural areas along side urban areas or green forms of transportation. I agreed with him on ideas for urban beautification such as burying power lines instead of turning out street side trees into giant strange looking topiaries. He had such a great knowledge of trees. I was always impressed by this man who was once so versed in technology and living an urban east coast lifestyle who came back to Toledo and made it a better place. He chose a path that was in some ways simple but also very complex and busy. He lived with such a small footprint on the planet, but a great impact on people. I'll always remember him.

In Support of COSI Toledo

I've already said my piece about COSI Toledo. Even though its services are now greatly reduced, I still feel the same about supporting it wholeheartedly. I understand it is going back on the ballot for Lucas County.

Here is a link to my stance from two years ago:

In Support of COSI Toledo

Also here is a persuasive argument by Dan Johnson a while back in the Free Press

COSI levy will preserve important asset


In the mean time I have visited many more natural science and history museums across Europe with my family...most recently NEMO in Amsterdam. They created a terrific public terraced space on the roof which incorporates oversized board games, sandy play areas, a long waterfall and paddling pools for kids to play in. At the top there is a bar / cafe. Amsterdam is now on my favorite city list right along with Paris and Copenhagen. All the greatest "living" cities I've seen that attract creative industry, talent, and investment have excellent museums, parks, architecture, education, public transportation, and pedestrianized areas.

Back in T-Town

Well, as many of my friends and family know we're in the process of moving back to our old home in Toledo. We're finding many changes but then again some things never change. One thing I have to get off my chest is we've been indulging quite a bit in the dining scene, easy to do in this town especially when you're busy with moving stuff. We can't seem to get enough of Johny's Lunch on Sylvania and Talmage...it is a great family restaurant and I highly recommend it. Oh how that buffalo dog keeps me coming back. Last night it was Shorty's on Monroe...excellent beer selection and some of the best BBQ / coleslaw around.

I've been walking around downtown each day on my lunch break with my colleague Al. He's got the scoop on quite a few of the projects going on, always curious whats being done with this building or that. As far as changes go I have to say I'll miss the old Bijou, a simple art deco theater. I'm sad to hear about the presumed fate of the United Way building...as it is an architectural landmark that is able and worthy of standing the test of time.




I have less forgiveness for tearing down interesting buildings after seeing thousands of well preserved buildings in towns all over UK and Europe. The vast majority of those structures probably make no business sense in restoring, but after time I think people really appreciate seeing an era reflected in architecture.

I haven't blogged about it yet but before we left England we took one last road trip to the continent. I'll try to write about it and post pics but the path was basically Brighton, Canterbury, theme parks near Paris, Ghent, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, ferry to Hull and then back home.

Toledo downtown... reminiscing

OI
COSI
Diva
Jackson's
Bellacino's
Quizno's

Toledo downtown... reminiscing

What a depressing list of of businesses closing or leaving downtown Toledo. Obviously not a comprehensive list, whats your favorite thing that has disappeared? Mine has to be that Socrates ice cream shop on St Clair. I will always fondly remember the intimate live music venues upstairs at Divas. Oh, and those grinders from Ballacino's across the street!! I remember long club nights and concerts at the Bijou / Asylum / whatever other names it took. Its kind of funny that my wife of 11 years was there one night the same night as I, but we didn't meet and didn't know each other then. I was upstairs with my ears bleeding from Urge Overkill and she was downstairs with all the tearful poetic types with October Project.

The area was at one time an enjoyable place for me to work and hang out. With the two way traffic introduction it got more congested in the mornings and afternoons. In my opinion the number of menacing transients it was constantly rising (especially in and around main branch library). I wonder what it will be like when I come back in 18months?

Ann Arbor sounds better and better all the time...sure they have their share of transients and congestion but they also have the businesses and people to make it worth while!

Today we went back to Chester, shopping and eating a bit in town center. If I were to settle in the northwest of England, that would probably be the town. When I read about towns like Waterville and Toledo being among the best places to live, I cannot even laugh because it hurts to fathom such a thing.

Another year in the United Kingdom

Many family and friends know, but for those who don't, I'm going to be working in UK for a further year. So as much as I miss reading the uplifting news as published in the Blade every day and resounding from the AM radio waves of WSPD, I've got to forge forward and see as many cool European cities and museums and parks and ???? as I can. We'll most likely move back to Toledo in July 2009.

But seriously, we are missing family and friends many of whom have taken the opportunity to come to the UK and see us, and then let us show them around. For those who haven't, get that passport ready and give us a shout!

Dorr Street Rally

Its really good to see some organized action in support of the Dorr Street Corridor. Here is a Blade article regarding that area of town.

The demise of COSI Toledo

I'm still a bit in shock over the failure of the COSI levy. I find it incredible that Toledo voters would throw away millions of dollars of investment, an excellent resource for regional schools, and a great magnet to downtown Toledo. And at what cost, 5 or 10 bucks a year? What can I say... other than we'll be making even more trips to Ann Arbor when we move back to the area, as we have a tendency to spend a Saturday afternoon at a hands on museum about every month or two.

On a more positive note, thanks to those who supported organization, and more importantly thank you to the workers and the board members of COSI who have given us some great times over the years and touched our lives. We especially loved the Halloween parties.

In support of COSI

Toledo Free Press Article by Dan Johnson

Buzz around Dorr Street Development?

I recieved a survey from the university today that made me perk up. They are seeking opinions for how Dorr Street should be redeveloped. This is especially interesting to me being an alum and also being a resident (well, not at the moment while traveling).

Here is a news article from the spring when President Jacobs met with Carty and discussed the topic.

My dream? A Barnes & Noble, 24 hour diner, a Trader Joes, and pretty much everything currently residing in Cricket West. Westgate is too far to walk for students...a pedestrian friendly development along Dorr Street would be a great feature for students and residents alike. My major dislikes would be: yet another laundry matt, video rental, or low end fast food joint.

Gardener's Seed Swap

Toledo GROWs, an outreach program of TBG, will once again host the increasingly popular Seed Swap at the Crosby Conference Center. The Swap is simply the sharing of seeds for the upcoming garden season. While exchanging seeds and bulbs green thumbs can also share knowledge, ideas and tips. The event is free and open to the public.

Friday, February 23 at 6:30pm events and presentation topics include...
Seed Tasting
Seed Starting/Saving
Preserving Local Culture Through Seed Saving

Saturday, February 24 at 12:00pm events include...
Seed Exchange
Live Music featuring the Root Cellar String Band
Games and Storytelling for Children

Click here for more info.

Dismal election...

Things really did not go my way in this election. The Cosi failure realy bugs me, considering it was 1/6th the cost of the Zoo levi which passed by a wide margin and passed a levi in the last election as well. It doesn't make sense to me.

In support of COSI

I've added a temporary banner to my page in support of COSI issue 11. I feel this is of great importance to the medium-long term success of Northwest Ohio as a technology corridor.

Every couple of years we hear of some administrator (e.g. superintendents, board members, mayors) getting lambasted on the perceived lack of short term success and brain drain of our population. However, children are raised and educated over decades, not 24 month cycles. To build a creative young and vibrant community, we should continue enriching schools and attractions for children, adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. The benefits from an institution like COSI are not easily quantified and will not see results overnight. Likewise the damage of its removal will not be seen overnight. But it will have serious negative consequences for the following reasons:


1) Loss of a local, highly fun and anticipated, destination for school age children to learn about science.

2) Loss of an excellent tourist destination for families both living in the region and passing through.

3) Moral loss of another downtown Toledo venture

4) Loss of huge prior investments of time and money, getting another science museum opened would require the same large start up costs in dollars and manpower.

5) Additional disused building in downtown Toledo.

6) Positive economic impacts diverted to other science centers such as Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Fort Wayne.

7) Moral loss to a generation of children who are already seeing large battles about redevelopment of schools and continuous closings of schools.


I won't try and pad out my list to try and get to a magic number 10. These are negative aspects regarding the loss of COSI. What do I see as positive aspects? Some are just the flip side of issues already listed. Here are some more positives:


1) COSI is a good place for families to hang out - it is a safe, fun environment for families of all backgrounds.

2) COSI has value for children - obviously they learn about science in fun ways.

3) COSI has value for adults - they spend time with their children and grand children learning and nurturing.

4) COSI has value for employees - a creative job in a town considered by many to be dull.

5) COSI has value for people who have never even gone through its doors - it improves our economy directly by attracting people to downtown, and indirectly by fostering our next generation of citizens, employees, and entrepreneurs.


I feel I've become somewhat of a science museum aficionado, having seen about a dozen around the US and half dozen in Europe. Most recent was the 10 year old Scientastic in Brussels. It is a nice museum supported 95% by admissions, but too tight on space, located in a dark area underground. I've seen from a customer side, the whole range of science museums; free to the public, to being completely supported by admissions. It is a difficult balance, but an important one. Tipped to much towards independence and you end up with run down facilities and not much great content. Too heavily supported by taxes creates a heavy burden on the community and a place not focused on its customers.

I think $5 year per average homeowner is probably too small an amount for COSI to be asking, but they may be fearful of even this amount getting passed. I don't understand this mentality when I consider community support for some other organizations that are great successes (Zoo, metroparks, museum, libraries). Look at the comparative age of these organizations; COSI is still an infant. I believe we should bring it along for another generation by supporting this levy. Vote yes on Issue 11.