Week of August 30th – Ohio

When I pulled out my Ohioan snow globes I was amazed to see that I had 7 globes representing 4 of the major cities and 3 generic Ohio treasures. The thing is I don’t remember ever visiting Ohio.

Well as prolific as my Ohioan snow globe assortment is, so are number of ways to celebrate the Buckeye state.

The home of the Reds, Indians, Bengals, Browns and Buckeyes was bound to create a sports celebration of note and sure enough……….. The Cincinnati Reds were in town for a 3 game series against the Cards. 1st & 2nd in a hot division race and these games were going to be big ones. So off to stlcardinals.com and I was the proud owner of the last 2 available tickets for the Friday night game. Once again we were rewarded with picture perfect baseball weather, a spirited crowd and a win for the good guys. Actually the Cards went on to win the series 2 games to one.

A good time was had by all, but now let’s eat. A state that’s home to Chiquita, Wendy's (Dublin), Arby’s, the Smucker Company (Orrville), and the T. Marzetti Co. is bound to produce some major feasting. I love the notation that Teresa Marzetti wrote when she started her small Italian restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, "We will start a new place and serve good food. At a profit if we can, at a loss if we must, but we will serve good food." And an empire was born.

Before the final fanfare, some other tidbits about Ohio:

For the same reason that WV was home to many pottery/glass manufacturers, abundant natural resources, OH had it’s share of ceramic companies, Hull Pottery and Cowan Pottery Studio to name a few founded in the early 1900’s. (Couldn’t resist a token purchase of a Hull vase to add to the collection. By the way, I’m feeling the making of the next blog…Pottery Treasures of the Lower 48.)

One of my new favorites, Joshua Radin is from Shaker Heights, OH and will be performing in St. Louis is November, so in honor of Ohio I purchased 2 tickets for the concert. Dean Martin, b. Steubenville, will not be coming to town.

Ohio has always been a favorite backdrop for TV shows, remember WKRP in Cincinnati? So it shouldn’t surprise you that there are at least 4 currently on the line-up - Glee – Lima, Melissa & Joey – Toledo, Taking the Stage – Cincinnati, and Hot in Cleveland. I did get a chance to see Melissa & Joey.

I saved the best for last – Have you ever heard of the Loveland Frog? He’s a humanoid creature with the face of a frog, webbed hands and feet and walks upright that has been allegedly spotted frequently in the Loveland area since the 1950’s. (I wonder what the adult to bar ratio is in the area.)

Friday – Baseball Reds vs. Cards, Saturday - Lunch at Wendy’s and Sunday with the table set with 7 Ohioan snow globes, several Loveland Frogs and a vase of the Ohioan state flower, red carnations, we sat down to a feast of crudités with Marzetti dips, Hanky Pankies, the quintessential Cleveland party and tailgating food, salad with Marzetti dressing, and apples with Marzetti caramel dips. The meal was brought to a close with banana splits made with Chiquita bananas and Smucker’s toppings.

Color in Ohio with the Chiquita chick-i-ta and the allusive Loveland Frog and continue traveling in a northeasterly direction to the “Granite” state – New Hampshire. 41 down – 11 to go.