D. and I grabbed lunch on the water at Six Pack Bar & Grill this Sunday. It was my first visit to what I imagine could or may be a hopping party spot on the Maumee. It was previously called The Lighthouse, and earlier Frank Uncles—which would have been the last time D. visited, years ago.

The outside decks were fairly expansive, including picnic tables, a couple bars, docks for boaters and even hammocks. We shared the great view of the river with only a few more tables/patrons. According to D., Six Pack seemed a bit ‘rough around the edges’ since his last visit. But I see a lot of potential and think we’ll come back with friends for an evening of drinks sometime in the future.

Our pub food was pretty good for what it was—a grilled cheese (on thick texas-style toast) and side salad for me while D. thoroughly enjoyed his “black and blue” burger and onion rings.

Six Pack on The River | 2605 Broadway St | (419) 381-1140

I met my wonderful friend K. for lunch today at Ranya’s–a small-ish Mediterranean spot Downtown, only open during the week for lunch. It’s been a year plus since my last visit for no particular reason… outside of me being an idiot because the food is AMAZING.

K. and I arrived at noon and the place was packed, so I would suggest visiting a little earlier or later if you are turned off by crowds.

We both asked for the Mjadara Brown Lentil & Rice Casserole which was accompanied by an incredibly delicious soup. In the past I would order the same thing, over and over again–the Mediterranean Tuna Melt. Not sure why, but it’s pretty great if you’re into tuna melts.

Ranya’s | 608 Adams St | (419) 242-7462

We were only gone for a week–L.A.–and it seems that our garden went totally bonkers. I’ve had to trim back a bit some of the huge leaves from a zucchini that was overshadowing peppers. But wow.

Would anyone happen to want some chard?

And oh, hey! Unrelated question: Who left the tree sapling on our porch this morning… and where should we plant it?

Our lazy weekend included pasta and vino outdoors at R. and M.’s place…

A leisurly dinner at the Real Seafood Co…

And a Sunday Brunch at Manhattan’s. Hope your weekend was relaxing… not too sluggish.

We also did a little ‘Toledo Economic Development’ by giving a tour to a new friend from NYC, who is interested in moving to our awesome city. He seemed pretty impressed so we may have a couple new Old West End residents soon.

This Saturday and Sunday, June 6 & 7, the Old West End opens it’s doors (literally) and invites you to festival weekend. Come and enjoy The King Wamba Parade’s 100th Anniversary on Saturday, beginning at 10:00 am. Immediately following will be The King Wamba and Queen Sancha Coronation Ceremony at Mansion View. There will be a Classic and Antique Car Show in front of the Park Lane, Saturday from 9am to 3pm.

Both Saturday and Sunday, house tours will be featuring beautiful historic homes. Also to enjoy: an art fair, live entertainment on a stage at Woodruff, children’s activities, food, and of course yard sales.

More information is available on the Old West End Association’s site.

Below is a Google Map of the parade route on Saturday:

Old West End/Ottawa Tavern Thursday strikes again! A group from the OWE met up and rode our bicycles for a bit, and met up with other cyclists at the Ottawa Tavern for food, drinks, and music.

The camaraderie inside the Tavern was great but I was really impressed by the camaraderie outside…

…beginning with this wonderful coupling.

Sweet handlebars.

Nice groupshot!

And more…

Parking permitted, this side of sign!

Adult tricycle! I feel like I’m in Florida.

Thanks to the Dirty Damn Band for tonight’s entertainment.

We spent quite a bit of this weekend on the water, thanks to our gracious hosts J. and A.

J. invited us out to enjoy Friday’s sunset as a double date with her beau A.

Enjoy the sunset is exactly what we did.

After dinner and some hijinks we slipped along back home.

We regained our land legs and went back out on Sunday, closing the weekend.

After learning of my “future” home plans, J. navigated us straight to The Toledo Lighthouse. We circled it a few times before moving on…

…moving on to West Sister Island. The word is this island’s for sale? Another rumor is Jimmy Hoffa’s corpse rests there? According to Wikipedia, it’s mostly bird droppings and poison ivy.

Good enough to anchor for lunch and some brief swimming!

D. beat me at backgammon. I’m convinced cheating occurred but sadly cannot prove it.

We later ended up at The Docks, where we bumped into and joined our friends S. and E. for dinner. More Toledo serendipity!

Dinner at Tango’s was great as was our final leg home. Toledo is beautiful at sunset. Our soundtrack for the weekend was the Talking Heads.

Toledo Habor Lighthouse | West Sister Island | Tango’s at The Docks (turn your computer speakers off)

Last weekend’s weather was perfect for a BBQ in the Old West End–or anywhere in Toledo for that matter. And it looks like the skies are going to be great this weekend as well? *crosses fingers*

So might I suggest hosting a BBQ in your own back yard!

The plan was meeting everyone on the patio at Manhattan’s and later riding our bikes to the Art Walk. We showed up, bicycles in-tow. And that’s where we remained. Subsequently, we missed the Art Walk. All of us! Oh well… next month.

A few minutes before this photo was taken I was shown the little guy above, moving about in a bucket of water. I did not eat this guy, leaving that task to D. and M.–which they enjoyed quite a bit. The Attic on Adams (above Mano’s Greek Restaurant) hosts a Cajun night on Wednesdays, complete with seafood gumbo and everything Creole. And it’s a great spot for cocktails with Old West End locals.

Just thought you should know.

The Attic on Adams | 1701 Adams St. | (419) 243-5350

Saturday was the Toledo Bicycle Extravaganza, a Toledo Green Drinks event helping promote bikes as an alternative to the gas-guzzling norm. Groups of people in neighborhoods all over the city met up in differing spots and rode their bicycles to the Toledo Farmer’s Market downtown. A bunch of Old West Enders met in The Commons.

Most of our route was straight down Monroe Street, as it’s probably the smoothest ride to get Downtown.

Upon arriving at the Market we shopped for local veggies, cheese and bread.

It’s still pretty early in the year, yet there were some great finds.

There was an eccentric collection of bicycles, as well…

Including this little yellow number…

And one powered by electricity for when the owner tires on long rides.

At the noon hour we hopped back on our bikes and headed to Manhattan’s, where a lunch buffet was hosted and accompanied by live music.

I really enjoyed the “Fairly Handsome Band” which played what I would somewhat expect to hear at a luau. There was a little bit of rain at that point so the ride home was damp. But our spirits were far from dampened. Great afternoon!

Toledo Farmer’s Market | 525 Market St | Downtown

Manhattan’s | 1516 Adams St | (419) 243-6675

OWE/OTT was great fun. A group met up in the Old West End for a bicycle ride down to the Ottawa Tavern.

M. brought Z. and they rode a tandem!

It was an easy ride for the most part, so we kept riding… past the OT, through Downtown, down to the river, and back.

At Ottawa Tavern we all had something to quench our thirsts. And were met by friends sans bicycles. Jeff Stewart, local musician extraordinaire, was performing when we arrived.

May is National Bike Month, but events like this will be happening throughout the Summer and I will make sure to attend as many as possible.

Upcoming:

Toledo Bicycle Extravaganza

This Saturday, May 16th — Bike with your neighbors and friends to the downtown Toledo Farmer’s Market. Around Noon there will be a group ride from the market to Manhattan’s for a lunch buffet and live music! A group of Old West Enders are meeting at The Commons [Bancroft & Robinwood] at 9:30 am. Check out this PDF flyer and map for more details.

We grabbed some coffee at the new Ground Level Coffeehouse today on our way home from errands. It was the former “Brewed Awakenings” and you can read more about the transformation of the space in an Independant Collegian story here.

The coffee was great–likely because it’s Flying Rhino Coffee, another local Toledo gem of a business. Check out the Ground Level website for hours and events calendar. They are hosting some pretty epic poetry readings and the like. Ground Level also offers great sandwiches options, making this a choice lunch spot.

The Ground Level Coffeehouse | 2636 W Central | (419) 671-6272

While out and about today we dropped by Wersell’s to pick up a new addition to the family.

There was a good deal to choose from.

In the end, there could only be one.

There remain plans to build another bicycle “from scratch” at the Toledo Bike CO-OP. In the meantime, D. has something to ride that is a bit faster than our cruisers.

Wersell’s Bike and Ski Shop | 2860 W Central Ave | (419) 474-7412

Toledo Bicycle CO-OP | 2272 Collingwood (St. Mark’s Episcopalian Church) | (419) 386-6090

While I was in the garden today D. attended an opening for new works of Dan Hernandez at that Madhouse gallery. He’s kindly written the below for us:

Tonight I swung by Mad House’s new gallery (in uptown) for Dan Hernandez’s opening. They are showcasing his recent works.

I’m constantly blown away by the artistic output of Toledoans and it’s always exciting to discover new artists. I first saw Dan’s work at Artomatic 419, and was excited to see more.

This show is not to be missed! Hernandez mixes pop culture on so many levels–it’s an inspiration to see someone local making work very suitable for a national stage.

Do yourself a favor and check out Mad House’s new spot. They are a fantastic design agency that has truly invested in Toledo. Their new gallery is instantly one of the best in the city and they deserve your support!

Thank you, D., for the post! And thanks to Madhouse for creating a great space for local art of note.

Dan Hernandez at Madhouse Gallery | 1215 Jackson Street | (419) 873-0538

This afternoon I got the first plants of our 2009 garden in the ground. We built two raised beds this weekend and had soil put in a couple days ago. We haven’t had time to plant shop yet but thanks to some totally awesome Old West End neighbors we already have a bunch of plants ready to go. Courtesy M. down the street are a bunch of greens and cabbage. This morning I opened the door to our neighbor across the street, M., who handed me some tomatoes, pumpkins, a gourde, and peppers he’s been growing. And later in the afternoon A., on the next block, brought over some cherry tomatoes. Thanks, everyone!

This is just another example of why I love living in this neighborhood–OWE people are really friendly and always looking out for each other. That and having a program like the Old West End Private Security Co. during tough times like these is a total plus. If you live in the OWE and aren’t a subscriber, do look into it. I’ve been seeing more and more patrols over the past week–and that’s a good thing.

It’s still a little chillly out, but not so much that a couple drinks and bar appetizers on the patio of Manhattan’s is out of the question. We shared chicken strips paired with some spicy mustard and a plate of chicken quesadillas that were fantastic with jalepenos.

Be sure to check their website for an event calendar full of local entertainment gems and what looks to be a delectable Scotch Whiskey Dinner on the 13th.

Manhattan’s | 1516 Adams St | Uptown District | (419) 243-6675

Lunch was had at The Original Sub Shop today. I love the typography of their sign painted on the windowfront.

But what I love even more are the subs. I tend to order a turkey and provalone with all the regular fixings–hot peppers, please!

D. ordered a corned beef on rye and although it wasn’t a sub he seemed to really enjoy it. Spot the bottled red substance in the above photo? That’s the famous Sub Shop hot sauce–one of my favorite hot sauces ever, second only to Tabasco®. It packs a punch and has a great taste and I probably use way too much of it… I can’t help myself.

The Original Sub Shop has been around for what seems forever. It’s owned/run by our good pal J.’s parents, who are always super nice when we come in. One last note: free wireless!

The Original Sub Shop | 402 Broadway St | (419) 243-4857

Yesterday we shared pizza with our good friend, J. It was pretty great and D. has kindly written the below post for us:

“We love pizza–who doesn’t? You may be surprised to know that up until last night we had yet to try J&G’s pizza. It’s been recommended several times by friends but we just don’t find ourselves in Sylvania often enough. Last night we made an exception, picked up our friend J., and made the short trek to J&G’s for some hot slices. I emphasize the word slices because J&G’s cuts up their pies into small pieces… very small pieces.

The great thing about small pieces is you can try a bunch of different pies without committing to too much pizza. The down-side to small pieces is you can easily lose count and eat way too much pizza.

We’re looking forward to our next visit! The menu offers way more than pizza (like gyros), and the atmosphere is exceptional. Who needs Pizza Hut or Papa John’s when we have locally owned gems like this?”

Not us!

J & G Pizza Palace | 5692 Main St | Sylvania | (419) 882-6061

D. and I pulled the bikes out Friday afternoon and rode downtown. The city was full of activity, including a MudHens game.

We closed the night with a couple manhattans… at Manhattan’s.

Saturday was the second Artomatic 419! weekend for ‘09, so we spent our day with several hundred fellow Toledoans enjoying local visual and performing arts.

Artomatic has been a complete success… so do come out next Saturday for the final day (May 2nd).

Post-Artomatic activities included diner at the Oliver House, more bike riding, and cocktails with friends on the back patio of Wesley’s.

D. started his Sunday with a visit to the Toledo Bicycle Co-op!

They have a gazillion bikes ready for you to claim and ride away with.

Next up…

The Ice Cream Social!

Thanks to everyone who came out, supported a great local business, and enjoyed some ice cream! I had a really great time celebrating the 1st birthday of this little Toledo blog with all of you.

… and this entirely pleasant dog! An extra special thanks to Marcia and co. at Lickity Split!

A few hours later had us enjoying R.’s birthday BBQ in the Old West End. A popular dish was the red hot sausages, but they frightened me a little so I declined.

All said and done, it was a great Toledo weekend–we have so many more to come!

Manhattan’s | 1516 Adams St | (419) 243-6675

Artomatic 419! | 201 Morris St | 419-254-ARTS (2787)

Wesley’s | 1201 Adams St | (419) 255-3333

Toledo Bicycle CO-OP | 2272 Collingwood (St. Mark’s Episcopalian Church) | (419) 386-6090

Lickity Split | 2021 Glendale Ave | (419) 382-3285

This Saturday was the opening weekend for Artomatic 419! so we spent a good deal of the day at the building looking at the work, listening to performances, and catching up with friends.

This year’s Artomatic 419! location is in the old “Blade Printing Co.” building. This huge space is filled with photography, painting, sculpture and ceramics, along with art cars, performance art, sketch books and installations.

Works are hung salon-style on the walls (many of which were constructed by volunteers in previous weeks). At the end of the day aprox. 1,500 visitors walked through the doors–fantastic turnout! Don’t miss the next Two (2) Saturdays of FREE art and entertainment.

We took a break later in the day for a bite to eat at The Oliver House, next door. The restaurant was quite busy so we ended up sharing our table with E., and his friends P. + B.–which was nice because the conversation was great, as was the food. I ordered an absolutely delicious white pizza and these curious little fried balls of sauerkraut which were great to share with the table.

The night was capped off with cocktails at Wesley’s on the back patio. Happened into a reader that emailed EnjoyingToledo.com last year, while she was still living in New York. And now she lives down the street in the Old West End. Small world!

In closing… Artomatic is great, the white pizza delish, and new friends wonderful.

Artomatic 419! | Two Saturdays remaining: April 25th and May 2nd

The Oliver House | 27 Broadway | (419) 241 - 1253

We had lunch at Gus’s Yum Yum today and D. kindly wrote this post for us:

“You may have driven by Gus’s YUM YUM many times and never considered stopping by. Or you may be one of those sorts that avoids this part of town all together.

If you’re either of these kinds of people, do yourself a favor and have a meal at Gus’s. We’ve been going for years, and while the atmosphere has changed with owners, the food remains fantastic and complete affordable.

The experience is uniquely YUM YUM’s, and the drive to and from is always an adventure.

Just make sure you bring cash (no credit cards) and your appetite!”

Gus’s Yum Yum | 2419 N Summit St | (419) 726-4171