The Rosary Cathedral was on the Tours de Noel OWE home tour this year. It was beautiful, moving and I’m surprised at myself for not visiting earlier. We arrived in time to catch the beginnings of their Advent Lessons & Carols Service.
Whitaker-Casper Home
A little over a week ago D. and I took our first home tour in the Old West End. Tours de Noel is an annual event produced by The Women of the Old West End featuring 7 homes and sites in one of this country’s largest historical districts.
Our first stop was Mansion View, a property the Old West End neighborhood association owns and runs as a bed and breakfast and is rented out for parties and events. It is a beautiful house, like many in the neighborhood, featuring amazing architectural features like woodwork you simply don’t see in cookie-cutter modern homes.
We enjoyed each stop on the tour, including Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral and the Park Lane Luxury Apartments which held a holiday boutique and “cookie walk” as part of the event. I did have a favorite… the Whitaker–Casper home (pictured above).
Keep an eye out for the home tours that usually accompany The Old West End Festival in June of each year!
More about The Women of The Old West End.
J. graciously opened his home on Tuesday for his, now second, election night party. Guests brought a ton of food and tended the bar while others had their eyes glued to the TVs. Towards the end of the night revellers pushed out of the house, into the yard, and celebrated with some fresh air.
Fighting our sedentary lifestyles and a couple extra pounds, J. and I made plans to start running during the week. Day 1 was rough… less running and more power-walking.
By the time we got to Monroe Street we were practically crawling. But it felt good to get up off my butt and move a little, and today will be a little easier. I hope.
Obama accepted the nomination last night. We ambled over to M. & K.’s house where the DNC was projected onto a huge screen outdoors. We watched the speeches in lawn chairs and on blankets and cheered and clapped. And, it was great.
Got back into town just in time for the Old West End Security Margarita Cruise down the Maumee. It was a good excuse to interact with the neighbors, under the guise of margaritas and fund-raising for the neighborhood security patrols.
…And they were great margaritas (ie. strong). There was mexican food as well—like salsa, burritos, and D.’s favored taquitos. I had a couple taquitos myself and they were pretty great. It’s safe to say by the end of the cruise most of the Sandpiper was three-sheets to the wind, except for Captain Greg.
Looking for more boating excursions in Toledo (can we rent boats for the day?), so if you know of anything please drop me a line.
This weekend we co-hosted a croquet & casseroles party with our friends C. & K.
In the end, over 20 different dishes showed up! We had to get very creative in finding spots for all of them. Funny enough, the one guest from Minnesota actually brought a salad (which was very yummy). D.’s favorite casserole was a Martha Stewart chicken and artichoke pot pie.
C. and K. brought a fantastic croquet set and the badminton set was up—both, great games for warm summer days.
As day turned to night we settled around the fire. Good times and the casseroles made life easier on the hosts than a traditional BBQ. Throw your own!
This is our first year attempting to grow our own veggies. I was super inspired by M. down the street who thoughtfully brought us an eggplant last year from her garden. I think she’s got the best garden in the whole Old West End. We are starting out small. Above, middle, is our very first tomato of the 2 plants we have. It’s so tiny and cute.
We are also growing bell peppers, cucumbers (which seem to want a lot more room than we initially suspected), and herbs—including 2 nice basil plants. So far we’ve only been able to use the herbs… everything else is still growing but I’m thinking positively.
Pretty soon—I’m thinking a matter of days—the cherry tree will be ready for “harvest”. I can’t take credit for it though… came with the house! Have a great cherry pie recipe? Let me know.
We stayed in the OWE all weekend this year because really, there was no reason to leave. Fun, friends, and food. BBQs were everywhere, including M & K’s with full-sized sofas and a “kiddie” pool. The weather this year was a lot nicer than last with only a little bit of rain at the end of the day on Sunday… you know… just to cool things off.
I didn’t buy anything at the yard sales, but there were some pretty great antiques to see. The parade was fun too. My favorite part was the Toledo School for the Arts oversized marionettes (see pic above). I hope they make more for next year.
One last thing, golf carts are super fun.
This weekend was one of my favorites in Toledo, ever.
The weather was beautiful (unlike today) and there was so much to do/see. Highlights included a 50th birthday party, brunch at Manhattan’s, the Erie Street Market flower sale/farmers market, an afternoon at The Toledo Botanical Gardens (almost magical), and another Old West End BBQ. You know how time seems to fly by when you are having fun? For some reason this weekend crept by slowly and I really got to enjoy it.
Photo taken Sunday at the Toledo Botanical Gardens/Crosby Gardens.
Toledo Botanical Gardens | 5403 Elmer Dr | (419) 936-2986
Erie Street Market | 237 S Erie St | (419) 936-3743
Manhattan’s | 1516 Adams St | (419) 243-6675
They may include—but are not limited to—hot dogs, beer, cheese burgers cooked the way you like them, an untouched box of veggie burgers, a blazing chiminea, old friends, new friends (some babies), all good friends, and a freaking pirate pinata. These BBQs last aprox. 12 hours but when you drive by the next day, with your car full of plants from the Whiteford Nursery, there are still 5 or 6 people outside finishing off the keg. Aspirin recommended.