What a great evening! The streets of Downtown, Uptown, and the Warehouse District were full of life during this month’s Art Walk. With visual art featured indoors and performance art on the streets (mostly!), you couldn’t get away from it. Rather than actually walking, D., J., and I rode our bicycles from spot to spot.

There was something about the above piece (@ Sur-Saint Clair Gallery on Summit Street) that really caught my fancy. Maybe it was the popsicle?

Anyhoo… next month’s Art Walk is the last of the year so set the date in your calendars! September 23! Visit the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo for more details.

We planted a peach tree two years ago with little expectation that we would actually have fruit. Color me surprised at the sweet and juicy peaches we have… outside of the ones that were nibbled on by my neighbor, Mr. Squirrel. Let this post be a warning to you Mr. Squirrel! I’m watching you!

ps. I play badminton (note the net in the background). And I am a much better player than Mr. Squirrel.

The tree was purchased at a local fave, The Andersons.

The Art Walk–presented on a monthly basis by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, local artists, galleries, and street performers–is a perfect date night, excursion for people with kids, and everyone in between. There is an incredible amount of art viewable at 20-something galleries and venues. Each stop provides nibbles of food and drink alongside work in a multitude of media. Between each stop, you’ll be delighted by street performers busking their way into your hearts.

All of this is free. So, why not?

Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Art Walk | Next Art Walk is Thursday, August 26th but they only happen once a month during the summer, so don’t miss out!

Quick note: The music on the above video is a track by Tropical Dudes. They will be playing their first ever show at the Black Swamp Festival on September 11th. Details here.

We don’t live in Sylvania and admittedly don’t visit often, except when I get my hair done at Revé (Kristen Comer is great! Also my friend Janelle Jared!), but I read about a pizza competition happening at Centennial Terrace. Lovers of pizza, D. and I fit in a visit despite our busy summer calendar.

Centennial Terrace is very clean, very subdued, and I’ve learned that there is a quarry where you can go swimming. So we’ll be back for another visit. The pizza judging was yummy! My favorite was from a parlor we hadn’t yet visited–Amies Pizza–and it was apparently so for most of the attendees as they won the coveted “Peoples Choice” award. Congrats!

Amies Pizza | 6710 W Central Ave. | (419) 842-8008

Centennial Terrace | 5773 Centennial Rd. | (419) 885-7106

Revé Salon | 5633 Main St. | (419) 885-1140

The Dragon Boat Festival was in it’s 9th year… yet this was my first attendance. The race was not only well attended by the public (as in the riverfront was PACKED) but it was also full of participants with 42 teams, and each team had 25 members. Do the math.

It was exciting to watch these boats moving swiftly over the water. The boats were lovely and you could feel the energy of of each team working hard to win. I applaud each and every “dragon boater” for the money they raised for a great cause. *High five*!

Partners in Education Dragon Boat Festival