Artists are picking their spaces and getting prepared for the 2009 Artomatic 419! event. How exciting! This year’s Artomatic is in an amazing building next to the Oliver House in the Warehouse District, Downtown.

This 100% volunteer-driven and coordinated event is one of the more successful programs supported by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. Local artists—both visual and performing—will take over this building and open it up to the public for 3 weekends in late April, early May. Do not miss out on this free cultural event featuring the talents of hundreds of Toledoans. And it’s not too late to get involved! Volunteers are always welcome and it’s a great way to meet other local creative-minded folk.

Artomatic 419! | April 18th, 25th and May 2nd, 2009

After some extracuricular meetings and volunteering, D. and I rushed over the bridge for a late bite at the Navy Bistro. This would be my favorite of all the Cousino restaurants. For being locally-owned they do a decidedly great job with the decor and I love being on the water. Of course, this is the wrong time of year to take advantage of the view… but my wedge salad and margarita pizza were good spots to focus on. Wedge salads are funny, aren’t they? I keep ordering them for the novelty of it.

The Navy Bistro | 30 Main St. | The docks on the east side of river | (419) 697-6289

Space 237 Gallery opened thier newest show this Friday titled “Winter Haitus”. What could easily have been muddy grays and sallow-filled paintings were thankfully not. Artworks were brightly hued with invigorating patterns peaking out from the edges. Greg Justus, Kelly Lever, Adam Russell, and Julie Shine Webster are exhibiting work now through February 21st.

Of note are Julie’s wonderful bowls and other ceramic loveliness. There are quite a few “Jules Shine” followers in Toledo, collecting piece by piece wherever they find her work shown. And rightly so! I love her signature use of color… red-oranges and eggshell blue.

“Winter Hiatus” is a great show and worth a visit. Be sure to check it out and don’t miss upcoming Space 237 openings. Coupled with dinner, they make a great date night.

Space 237 Gallery | 237 N. Michigan | (419) 255-5117

Is it Kotobuki or Koto Buki? Google wasn’t much help as it seems to be listed in multiple places in both ways. Anyhoo… it’s a great sushi joint in Toledo/Sylvania on Monroe Street.

I got the veggie bento box last night and it was pretty epic. One word of caution though: if you aren’t a fan of wilted greens be careful of the roll in the top right box (covered in peanut sauce). I found it suspect and had D. test it for me. It was cold, cooked spinach—in retrospect it would be great if you smashed it down with the peanut sauce and treated it like a cool smushy salad (again, only if you are a fan of cooked spinach; most people are). Everything else was great… including the mashed potato and veggie pattie thing that was covered in tempura, reminding me of the papa rellena I enjoyed in Miami a few days ago. Yum.

We’ll be back!

Koto Buki | 5577 Monroe St. | (419) 882-8711

The Glass City, Toledo.

We visited Baker O’Brien at the Labino studio, her home in Grand Rapids, with a few of our good friends this Fall. Baker gave us a tour of her amazing home/studio and demonstrated glass blowing. We brought bottles of wine and were showered with great food—which happened to be catered by our friend R.’s mother-in-law. Baker is a very notable glass artist from our area, but I’ll just speak for myself in saying I left very inspired by the visit and loved sharing that experience with our friends.

Baker O’Brien’s Studio | By Appointment (419) 832-2105

Hope you and yours have been keeping warm and cuddly during our little “white-out”. We’ve been surviving on a steady diet of rented movies, comfort foods and intermittent snow-shoveling exercises (more fun than it should be). I’ve still been able to get out and run errands here and there, road conditions aside, but am loving being home this week.

And, next week has me on Ocean Drive in South Beach for work… cry me a river!

Today’s lunch was a visit to Nick & Jimmy’s. There is a boatload of options on the menu—including fried pickles which, of course, were ordered. There was also a burger with green chili, which D. picked. He has been on a quest for proper tex-mex green chili in Toledo… the Nick & Jimmy’s burger is the closest so far. If you are also a green chili fan and have found anything great in the area, please let me know.

Nick & Jimmy’s | 4956 Monroe St. | (419) 472-0756