Here we go! 2011 Art Walks in Downtown Toledo… an ongoing Summer event I highly recommend. Every Third Thursday during May through September (May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15) from 6-9 pm.

Visit www.acgt.org often for updated event details. Maps available at the info stations, at all venues during the event, and at www.acgt.org.

Venues include: 20 North Gallery, Bozarts, Collingwood Arts Center, Downtown Latte, Gallerie 333 at TSA, Jack Wilson Gallery, Madhouse, The Offices of Paul Sullivan, Secor Studios, Shared Lives Studios, Space 237, Studio M Printmakers, Sur Saint Clair Gallery, Swank Gifts, Toledo City Paper Offices, Truth Art Gallery, Zyndorf Glass & Arts, Glass City Cafe… and many more!

Park your car, walk or bike, and enjoy.

So much to see and do… it really does have to be split between three (3) Saturdays! The Ghost Hunt was a ton of fun – seriously do it. You can find your first clue on the second floor, at Studio Que’s space. We closed the day with live music at Bozarts and a post-post-party at the Ottawa Tavern with APB playing great record after great record. Counting the days till next Saturday!

This Saturday was the Vertical “Mix”, an annual fundraising party for The Arts Commission held this year at the top of the O-I/Fifth Third Bank building. Each year this party gets better and better, with amazing food and cocktails, live entertainment, and the best art auction in the city. As we arrived we were given complimentary binoculars so we could enjoy the amazing view to the fullest which included a “super moon”! The party was packed all night long with Toledoans in fancy attire. A big congrats to all the event chairs, volunteers, and to The Arts Commission!

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo | 1838 Parkwood Avenue | (419) 254-ARTS

I’m a big fan of  Glass City Cafe. I’m also a fan of Old West End Records providing some really great music during their “OWE’ver Easy with Jason Quick & Ben Langlois” brunches! Delicious food + fantastic live music + running into all of our Old West End friends = best brunch ever. In closing, my cheeseburger was perfect.

Glass City Cafe | 1107 Jackson Street | Uptown Toledo | (419) 241-4519

Toledo musician, designer, and all-around great guy Dave Piccuito has put out a completely free Toledo rock compilation called “Nowhere At All”. In reference to the title, Piccuito says:

“The title “Nowhere At All” comes from a song that John Denver made famous in which the first line is, “Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio, is like being nowhere at all.” Well, if this is nowhere then nowhere is where I want to be. Toledo is a beautiful city with an incredible pool of artistic talent.”

Composed of music from a dozen area bands, the album is available to download here–again, free!

The Ottawa Tavern played host to the record release party last weekend, with free shows from the bands involved. The physical CD’s (beautifully designed and printed, BTW) were given out to anyone who wanted one. If you want one yourself, head over to Culture Clash and pick one up (FREE!!!) before they run out. Only 1200 were made so don’t procrastinate.

Culture Clash | 4020 Secor Road | (419) 536-5683

Update: I got an email from a reader that was at the OT show. Dan recorded a few songs from the Boogaloosa Prayer set on his iPhone and posted them to his YouTube account, so enjoy!