Event alert - Put-In-Bay Island Wine Fest

This Saturday, Put-In-Bay hosts their 9th annual Island Wine Fest at Crescent Tavern. Over 200 wines from around the world will be available for testing. Local wineries, Heineman Winery and Put-in-Bay Winery will be represented and will have bottles for purchase  to take home.

Some reports have the number of samples as high as 250 to 400 different wines available. I don't even expect to get through the first 200, but I'm going to try.

Entry tickets are $5 per person and individual wine samples average $1-2. Hours are from 11am until 6pm.

While you're there, check out the silent auction that benefits the Historical Society.

Taking the Miller Ferry from Catawba?  First boat to Put-in-Bay leaves at 7:30am and last boat back leaves at 7:30pm. See you there.

Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow

This weekend saw Native Americans from across the US converge on the normally quite town of Loudonville for the Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow. The event was put on by and held at the Mohican Campgrounds, along the banks of the Mohican River in Central Ohio.

Native American people come together each year in Pow-Wow's, celebrating with dance and music, as a way to renew old acquaintances and make new friendships.

Crafts, food, story-telling, tomahawk throwing, educational displays, music and dance were all on the busy schedule of events, repeated many times over the weekend. Highlights of the event were the colorful, energetic dancers.

One of the earliest events of the day was a story-telling session with Lance White Eagle. Besides sharing a number of Indian legends, he also dispelled many of the myths about Indian culture. Many in the audience were surprised to hear that the women were the ones who held the most power in the tribe, with the Clan Mother being able to dismiss the Chief if need be.

The event drawing the most spectators was the Grand Parade with flags including the US flag, POW flag, tribal flags and eagle staffs of all tribes present.

The US flag takes on extra meaning to the Native Americans. For many, the flag represents a time when many of their ancestors died fighting the US government. Now, the flag represents the new country in which the Indian nations reside. Finally, the flag recalls so many of their own who have fought and continue to fight for this country today.

The Grand Parade was led this year by a group of veterans representing most of the armed services. During the ceremony, past servicemen, as well as members of  police and fire departments were asked to come out of the audience and parade around the ring with the performers as a special tribute. A good number of them did come down and were each thanked for their service to this nation.

Friday was Children's day and only a few of their fancy dancers performed. Saturday and Sunday were competition days and dozens of  fancy dancers competed for $9,000 in cash prizes.

For more information about the twice yearly Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow, check their website at http://www.mohicanpowwow.com.

Dragons were seen on the Cuyahoga

September 17,  the 2011 Dragon Boat Festival was held in Cleveland, OH

With local, national and international teams competing, the Cuyahoga River was alive with action yesteray. Racing three boats at a time, contestants paddled from Jacobs Pavillion almost to the mouth of the Cuyahoga.

Dragon boat racing is an amateur sport that can trace its history back over 2,000 years in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. Its been a competitive sport since international racing began in Hong Kong in 1976. Yesterday's event was put on by the Cleveland Dragon Boat Association and Dynamic Dragon Boat Racing LLC.

Steeped in history, there is a spiritual component as well. In keeping with tradition, the Cleveland Dragon Boat race began yesterday with a Buddhist ceremonial blessing of the boats and the participants.

The Venerable Shih Ying-Fa, a local Buddhist monk, performed the celebration on the steps of the Powerhouse alongside the river. The ceremony concluded with bringing the dragon heads to life, called "awakening of the dragon". At this point, with the crowd cheering in the background, the monk painted the eyes of the ceremonial dragon heads, symbolizing the end of their sleep, and the start of the competition.

After the blessing, three boat races continued morning and afternoon. Entrants ran the gamut from high schoolers to senior citizens. Each long boat held twenty paddlers, one drummer to set the rowing cadence and one tiller to steer the boat.

"There's too many people in that skinny boat. I think they are going to tip over?" worried one young spectator. "I hope not," his mother said. "That's your grandmother in there." Grandma didn't tip over, and her boat went on to win that heat.

Cleveland construction workers remember 9/11

Workers at the Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center hold "moment of silence" commemoration

Driving into downtown Cleveland on Friday morning September 9, one couldn’t help but notice the light fog gripping the buildings around the site of the new Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center. Just above, a low hanging cloud layer was thick enough to block the morning sun. 

Heading for the Moment of Silence commemoration at the construction site, I was already thinking back to the morning of 9/11/01. I couldn’t help but think of the live video coming out of New York as the cloud of debris rained down on that city, covering it with a nasty white coating…almost the same color as today’s fog.

The entire 200-man crew laboring on Cleveland’s Medical Mart project planned to stop working for a two-minute tribute this morning at 8:45 a.m.  Three blasts on an air-horn got everyone’s attention, and work completely ceased.

Machines were turned off. Men and women gathered together in silence. Some unfurled small American flags.  This was the Moment of Silence to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the attacks and to remember those involved as well as those who continue to sacrifice for our freedom.

Just as the sounds of the air-horn began to fade, an airplane could be heard flying directly overhead. No one could see it, but everyone was aware of its presence. 

No sooner had the airplane flown by, but then a police or fire siren could be heard reverberating off the surrounding buildings. 

Any other day or time, most likely no one would have given a second thought to that plane or the sound of the siren. Today though, you could see the look in many of the workers’ faces, that the symbolism wasn’t missed.

Francesca Chaffee-Boylan, a local 310 laborer in charge of dust control, seemed to be moved by the event. On 9/11/01 she was actually working at the FBI Building in Cleveland and remembers the building being evacuated. “I know we’ve made strides against terrorism, but it’s a shame this is the norm” she said. With family members serving in Afghanistan and in the Pacific, she’s always aware of the dangers facing our military and safety forces.

As the air-horn sounded its second series of blasts, workers began to head back to work. At that point a machine operator yelled out for everyone to hear, “God bless those lost and those left behind.”

Boaters take note – there’s a new tug in town

On Cleveland’s north coast, we are blessed with a great Great Lake – Lake Erie. Known worldwide as one of the best places to watch a beautiful sunset, it’s a place you want to be after dinner. Unless you own your own boat however, the viewing areas are usually limited to shoreline locations.

Venture just an hour west to Put-in-Bay, and there’s a whole new game available however.  How does a private sailing experience on a luxury vintage 38-foot tugboat strike you? Way cool without a doubt. It’s called “Restless,” and instead of pushing freighters up the Cuyahoga, it will take you (and up to five friends) on an unforgettable hour and a half cruise around South Bass and Middle Bass islands. The fare is $65 per person (minimum 2 persons) and light refreshments are included. 

“Restless” is truly elegance afloat. From the beveled glass windows to the historic 1800’s binnacle (compass), every element of the ship is done with style.  This would be perfect to impress a date. It could be a great afternoon of fun with your family or a few friends. Or as a corporate perk, it would be hard not to impress that special client. 

It’s interesting that this ship was originally built in 1938 as a prototype tug for the Army Corp of Engineers. The Corp decided on a different design, and this tug was then sent off to storage. Finally a boat collector obtained the vessel, added the aft cabin, head and sleeping quarters and retrofitted it with many items salvaged from a Great Lakes freighter. 

The ship was finally obtained by Scott Market, co-owner of Miller Boat Line. This fifth- generation  Put-in-Bay resident found the boat in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin and knew it would be a perfect complement to his Miller Marina on Put-in-Bay. To make reservations, call Scott at 419-285-5902 or check their website at www.putinbaycruises.com.

South Bass Island – getaway for a day, a week or a month

Escaping to the islands has such a romantic sound, and yet it’s such an easy and inexpensive thing to do for those in the Midwest and central Canada. The Lake Erie Islands, roughly half-way between Cleveland and Detroit/Windsor offer something for vacationers of every stripe.

To list all the attractions and activities available would require a book, which incidentally is available for free from Lake Erie Shores and  Islands website.  But, for the purposes of this article, we are going to focus on just one of the islands – South Bass Island, also commonly referred to as Put-in-Bay. Even focusing on just one of the nine islands, it will still be impossible to list everything there is to do in this one article, but we’ll hit some of the highlights.

Getting there

A twenty minute ferry ride from Catawba Island, Ohio will get you there, via the Miller Ferry. A single adult fare is only $6.50 and you can take your own bike for $2 or your car for only $15. Miller Ferry has been transporting visitors and residents to the islands since the early 1900’s. You can go online and get island coupons or purchase Playcation packages from their website.  

Once on the island, do as many locals do and rent a golf cart when you get off the boat. Two rental companies are immediately adjacent to the Miller dock when you land, and there are many more rentals located around the island. Last time I was there, I rented from E’s Golf Carts, just to the right as you leave the ferry.  Rest assured you’ll get a great rate from this family-run business, whether you opt for a 2, 4, 6, or 8 seater.

If you drive your car and find a parking spot downtown, chances are you’ll want to leave it parked. In that case, look for the bright yellow Poe’s Pedicabs. These bicycle-powered versions of the rickshaw cruise around the downtown area, and are a great way to get around. The super comfy carriages can hold three passengers, and the drivers are well-versed with interesting info about the Put-in-Bay area. You’ll get unobstructed views and door-to-door service. If you’re lucky, you might even get local school superintendent Steve Poe as your driver. You can connect with Poe’s Pedicabs via Facebook or email.

Attractions

Fascinated by lighthouses? Make a hard left as you leave the ferry and in a quarter mile you can see the South Bass Island Lighthouse. Operated from 1897 until 1962, the property is now owned by Ohio State University.  Its giant fourth order Fresnel lens is now on display at the Lake Erie Historical Society Museum (definitely worth a visit.)

Even taller than the lighthouse is the iconic symbol of Put-in-Bay, the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial.  A Doric column, rising 352 feet above Lake Erie, it’s the first landmark you’ll notice approaching the island from any direction. Presently, the monument is cloaked with scaffolding at the uppermost elevation while it is being refurbished for the coming bi-centennial commemoration of the War of 1812. Inside and outside the visitor’s center, park rangers put on a wealth of interesting programs to help you grasp the role this area played during the war.

Looking for tons of good family fun? Head over to Perry’s Cave on Catawba Avenue. From the “War of 18 Holes” miniature golf, to the rock climbing wall to sifting for gems, there’s lots to do outdoors. Inside, be sure to see the Butterfly House with hundreds of lively beauties before descending into the fascinating Perry’s Cave. The cave is a whopping 208 feet long by 165 feet wide with an underground lake. See their website for  money-saving package deals.

For more attractions like the world’s largest geode and a captivating wintertime display, continue reading into the wineries section (even if you are traveling with children.)

Winery tours

Two excellent winery tours offer something for everyone. Besides being able to sample some of the best Lake Erie wines, these two offer other attractions to interest the younger members of your family.

Right across the street from Perry’s Cave is the Heineman Winery & Crystal Cave. The Crystal Cave is just that – a descent into a cave with walls, ceiling and floor lined with beautiful blue crystals. It’s acknowledged as the world’s largest geode and was discovered in 1897. The crystals range from 8 to 18 inches in length.

Upstairs, Heineman’s Winery offers a tasting bar, a shaded wine garden, winery tour and a gift shop. The winery was founded in 1888 and today it’s run by third and fourth generation Heineman’s. During prohibition, Heineman’s survived, while 17 other wineries folded, by producing grape juice and by giving tours of their Crystal Cave. Today, they control 50 acres of grapes on South Bass Island and continue to produce an excellent selection of Lake Erie’s finest wines.  Shipping only to addresses in Ohio, they still manage to crush, bottle and ship 40,000 gallons of their award-winning wines to people state-wide.

Back in the downtown area, you’ll want to devote a couple hours to take the Doller Estate and Put-in-Bay Winery tour.  The historic DollerHouse is a victorian, Italianate mansion built on a beautiful estate overlooking the lake and Gibraltar island. On the first floor, you’ll find Put-in- Bay Winery. Whether you choose to sample your wines on the front lawn or in the wonderful garden out back, you’re sure to enjoy your time there. The winery has only been open since 2009, but they feature a rich, warm and inviting tasting room along with wine- themed gifts for sale.

A tour of the DollerHouse also includes a tour of the superbly done Island Life  Museum. You’ll be able to actually go inside the last remaining ice house on the island and see how ice could be cut from Lake Erie in winter, and actually stored inside for up to two years. Amazing.  Their winter life section also includes an original ice-sail boat that would whisk across Lake Erie’s smooth ice at speeds over 100 m.p.h.  That’s insane; but, truth-be-told, I’d have loved to try it.

DollerHouse is also the site of a great many catered corporate and private parties.

Stopping to eat

All those fresh air activities are sure to work up an appetite. Luckily, if there’s anything Put-in-Bay is lacking, it’s not great restaurants. If you drive to Put-in-Bay, you’re sure to see the billboards advertising The Boardwalk  and their “Ohio’s best” lobster bisque.  Not just marketing hype, this is a signature dish of hearty bisque with full size pieces of lobster meat. If the weather is pleasant, sit outside on the picnic benches and enjoy all the action of the marina.

 Right across the street, also in the downtown area, is Mossback’s Island Bar & Grill with great perch and walleye dinners, cool drinks and a great air-conditioned view of the waterfront.  A block away is Tipper’s Seafood and Steak House, a really large restaurant & buffet where  I loved their half-pound basket of Walleye Bites. Attached to Tipper’s is the Beer Barrel Saloon. The “Barrel” holds the Guinness World Record for longest permanent bar in the world at 405’ 10” long.  With 160 bar stools and 56 beer taps, this place quenches a lot of thirsts each week.

For a quieter meal, just down Delaware Street, you’ll find Pasquale’s Café. Stop here for a great breakfast, lunch or dinner from their large menu. I’d recommend their tomato, spinach & bacon omelette for breakfast. Yummy!

If you are mid-island, around Heineman’s or Perry’s Cave, proceed just a little further and try Goat Soup and Whiskey. Their claim to fame is “home of the original perch taco.” Whether for lunch or dinner, if you like Lake Erie Perch, you’ve got to try these. You can order the perch either fried or grilled and the special “pali-wali secret sauce” makes this a gourmet treat. Downstairs you’ll find the Chocolate Cafe & Museum for coffees, ice cream, gelato, and oh yeah, chocolate candies.

Accommodations for the night

By now you should be well-fed, well- tired and ready for a place to spend the night.  Hope you planned early. Accommodations can fill up months in advance, so it never hurts to think ahead.  Your opportunities run the gamut on Put-in-Bay from a state run campground, to B&B’s, motels, resorts and private homes.

If you’ve got a group coming together for a reunion or possibly a corporate retreat, you seriously should consider renting a home for a week. Many wonderful homes and cottages are available at more than competitive rates.

I had the opportunity to stay at Casual Cape & Guest House on Mikes Drive in the East Point section of the island. A welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of the downtown area, this beautifully decorated home is in a quiet and private neighborhood setting. Here, the only singing you’ll hear will be from the birds who call Put-in-Bay home.  A quick, under 10 minute bike or golf cart ride and you can be back downtown.

Casual Cape is an unusual home with two master bedrooms upstairs, each with its own private bath. Downstairs are another two bedrooms and another bath.  Two screened porches complement the nautical themed kitchen and living room. The place is fully air-conditioned and comes complete with a well-equipped kitchen as well as a handy washer and dryer.  The entire 1,800 sq.ft. home, which sleeps 12, is  located on an acre of well-maintained lawn with off-street parking available .

Reading through their Guest Book, it’s evident that this has been the site of many wonderful family get-togethers as well as many quiet getaways. Owner’s David and Jill Warga, take great pride in this property and if you have a need for a large, comfortable home, this would be a wonderful choice. Click here for a photo tour of the home and the guest house.

Need more ideas or assistance?

For help locating accommodations, attractions or events, check out ShoresAndIslands.com or stop by one of the two Lake Erie Shores and Islands Welcome Centers. The two centers are located at 4424 Milan Rd., Suite A (US 250), Sandusky, OH 44870 (phone  800-255-3743) and 770 SE Catawba Rd. (SR 53), Port Clinton, OH 43452 (phone 800-441-1271.)

Ohio State Buckeyes football team defeats Indiana Hoosiers 38-10

[Slide Show - click lower right corner to go full screen. Click here to see full screen with captions.]
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Traveling from Cleveland to Columbus for the game was a real challenge today with a huge hour’s long traffic jam on I-71 South. But the drive was worth it.  In what was a bigger blow-out than the score indicates, the OSU Buckeyes had their way with the Hoosiers from Indiana.  The Buckeyes did everything possible to entertain the home town fans. 

Having the chance to shoot the Ohio State Buckeyes football team is always a challenge. There are so many talented players that you can’t just concentrate on any one individual. There are a plethora of players all capable of scoring. That keeps you on your toes all afternoon.

To read the rest of the story, see my article on Examiner.com.  To view the slides full screen with captions, visit my gallery. 

The Cleveland tall ships festival 2010 is now open

Ron Walters and Kevin Kerka welcome the tall ships to Cleveland by firing their handmade replica of a Revolutionary War 6# cannon.

Read the article about the 2010 Cleveland Tall Ships Festival:  http://ping.fm/YqUvq

Tall ships coming to Cleveland

Article about the sailing ships and their crews along with a slideshow.  http://ping.fm/UMhn0

Photo-feature: Ohio State Buckeyes Football - Spring Game 2010

Terrell Pryor had an excellent first quarter of football with one touchdown and 8 of 12 passing for 108 yards. Kenny Guiton is now a name to be remembered with his two touchdown performance. He ultimately led his Gray squad to victory in the 2010 Scarlet & Gray Spring Game at Ohio State Stadium. The Buckeye fans seemed pleased with what they saw as they braved threatening weather and some rain – but showed up 65,223 strong in attendance.


Covering a football game isn’t exactly my specialty, but as a traveling photographer who happened to be traveling to Columbus, Ohio yesterday, the allure was too great to pass up. Having attended Ohio State, getting a chance to come back and shoot the game was a great treat.

Shooting football games requires a number of things besides a press pass. And quite honestly, the same techniques can be used on the sideline of little league or high school games just as well, where press passes aren’t even used.
 
See the complete article and slideshow at Examiner.com

Top 5 reasons to visit Lakeside, OH

There are many hidden gems that sparkle along the north coast of Ohio, but none more delightful than the small town of Lakeside.  Nestled along the northern shore of the Marblehead peninsula, Lakeside is 80 miles west of Cleveland and 60 miles east of Toledo.

Founded over 135 years ago, Lakeside still proudly maintains many of its century-old historic buildings. Established originally as a Chautauqua, it is one of only four that have continuously operated since the 1800's in the United States.

From May through September it operates as a gated community and a daily admission fee is charged. The fee, while far less expensive than the more-famous New York Chautauqua, gives the visitor unlimited access to Lakeside’s programs, entertainment and day-long shuffleboard. 

See the complete article on Examiner.com with a 55-image slideshow.