Friday night was a blast! We started at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion for a wine tasting. After a flight of 4 wines and some tasty cheese, we wandered around the building.

The TMA plays host to live glass blowing all the time. And the wine tastings are going on every Friday, for weeks in a row. Check out the calendar. The house was packed with familiar and unfamiliar faces… all enjoying a wonderful piece of Toledo’s cultural pie.

Our next stop was Space 237 Gallery for the unveiling of Toledo’s Urban Forest Project, another wonderful AIGA Toledo project.

The attendance was impressive, as were the banners designed by a sliver of Toledo’s talented graphic designers. By mid-April these 50 banners, promoting the environment, will be scattered about Downtown Toledo thanks to support from the AIGA and The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.

And once the banners come down, they will be made into tote bags and sold to benefit the Arts Commission of Toledo’s Young Artists at Work program. Good deal, all around.

Toledo Museum of Art | 2445 Monroe Street | Old West End | (419) 255-8000

Toledo’s Urban Forest Project | Downtown Toledo

UPDATE! There is a fantastic video about the Toledo Urban Forest Project filmed at the opening by Toledo.com and viewable here.

Following up from our post on June 18, 2008, we had a chance to visit Koreana again with our friend T., who happens to be Korean. We were excited to have her help in ordering off the menu for us.

One of my favorite things about Korean food are the multitude of side dishes… kimchi, beans, vegetables, tofu… the tiny fried fish, I can do without. T. and the owner talked back and forth for a bit in Korean and before we knew it, little plates began covering our table.

The ownership of Koreana switched at some point since our last post, and that switch has brought some improvements. The menu is more robust (offering table-side cooking), the atmosphere is killer with hand-made custom woodwork throughout, and the new owner is really fantastic. Not sure what to order? Tell him what you like, don’t like, and he’ll sort it out for you.

I’m a big fan of the kimchi soup, full of great veggies, tofu, and pork. Flavorful Korean food, Asian beers, and an ever-evolving atmosphere all equals one of our newest faves in Toledo’s dining repertoire.

Koreana | 536 South Reynolds Road | (419) 535-6666

We met up with J. & A. and some new friends at Calvino’s this week for a celebratory dinner. J. & A. had just come off a 3-day fast… and if you haven’t enjoyed real food for a few days this was a fantastic way to bring back the yum.

D. and I arrived early and bought a bottle from the wine shop next door with the silly name “Got Wine”. The prices were really great, so great that a corking charge of $10 to bring upstairs wasn’t outrageous (considering bottle prices at most restaurants). But we will have to go back and pick up wine for home.

The group all ordered individual pizzas and shared. I got the white pizza, one of my faves, and D. made his own with red sauce, ricotta, jalapenos, and red bell peppers. I need to remember that D.’s the best. Hands down. We also shared more bottles of wine. It was a top notch night in Toledo.

Calvino’s | 3143 W Central Ave | Cricket West | (419) 531-5100

Yesterday, D. asked what we should get for lunch and I replied, “sandwiches”! We had just read about a relatively new sandwich shop, featuring Boars Head Meats, in The City Paper and decided to give it a go!

I had a turkey with brie, romaine, tomato and dijon. The first half, enjoyed in the well-packed-for-a-Sunday cafe was great, as was the second half I ate later on. No complaints outside that I would like a little hot-sauce (ie. TABASCO®) bar.

Also, if they are to represent English sandwiches, I think it’s a shame to not offer some sort of a ploughmans. But maybe that’s just me.

D. really loved his “cuban” sandwich. I used quotes because it’s not quite spot on, but it’s close–the closest we’ve found in the area. We’ve both spent time in Miami (me more so than D.) and like anything, it’s the small things that count; not judging. I smuggled a real cuban home (Miami to Toledo) last month for D., while I was there for work… it would have been a crime not to.

In closing, while I really don’t care for Levis Commons, we’ll probably be back. My own personal message to JB’s is “move to Downtown Toledo.” And my personal message to the rest of Toledo is “SUPPORT LOCAL SANDWICH SHOPS!” (note: each linked word above brings you to a different Toledo gem).

Oh, one last note. The pickles are particularly awesome–fresh and crispy–so when you are asked, “pickles or chips” get the pickle!

JB’s Sarnie Shoppe | 4195 Levis Commons Blvd. | 419-931-1080

If you do find yourself in Miami at some time, South Beach in particular (old stomping grounds), get yourself a “cuban” at either Davids Cafe, or Puerto Sagua. Trust me.

This cute little coffee shop saved the day last weekend. We really needed coffee.

And a little scoop of gelato was a good accompaniment for my espresso on ice.

D. enjoyed a petit quiche and then we were off. Our visit to Caffeinis was short and sweet.

Caffeinis | 1471 Secor Road (inside the Campus Village Center) | (419) 536-9724