2020 Calendar of Events
By Catharine Hadley, Arts and Entertainment Editor, catharinehadley@gmail.com
The theme of this column is "trying new things." I'm happy to be starting this new project of writing the entertainment column for Leisure Living Magazine! I've done all I could to make the entertainment listing complete and varied, so there should be something for everyone. Although I've done my best to make sure all the information is accurate, please go online or call ahead to confirm your plans.
Any suggestions and details of your upcoming events can be sent to me at catharinehadley@gmail.com.
Entertainment & Pastimes
In The Time Of Social Distancing
Get Out And About
In The Erie MetroParks
Our options for activities are different this summer than they are for most summers, which gives us the chance to try things that are off the beaten path - literally. The Erie MetroParks system provides a variety of choices, and the parks are spread throughout the county so it's likely that something is nearby.
"We have thirteen parks stretching from Vermilion all the way to Castalia," said Michael Hensley, naturalist for the Erie MetroParks system. They are the Birmingham School, Castalia Quarry, Coupling, Edison Woods, Hoffman Forest, Huron River Path, Osborn, Milan Towpath, Thomas Williams, Wyandot, and Wakefield MetroParks, plus the Community Foundation Preserve at Eagle Point, the Joseph Steinen Wildlife Area, Pelton Park, and Putnam Marsh. They range in size from Vermilion's Wakefield MetroPark, which is 1.6 acres, to the 1,300-acre Edison Woods MetroPark northeast of Berlin Heights.
All the parks give visitors the chance to enjoy the outdoors while staying safe. Hensley said there are plenty of other ways, too. Edison Woods has horse trails. Osborn has pickleball courts, a Discovery Play Trail for children, and an off-leash dog park.
Wakefield has a small beach area. Hensley said many visitors are not aware of how many of the parks provide access to the water. "The Coupling MetroPark has river access for paddlers and fishing."
Bicyclists who enjoy a challenge can try the Castalia Quarry. Hensley said it's more like a mountain-bike terrain than a flat surface.
You don't even have to go to one of the parks to get some health benefits, since the Get Fit Club is now online. I've signed up to get email links to Tai Chi videos hosted by my friend, Sufi Dennis White. Hensley said more activities will be available later in the summer.
Vermilion Art Contest
Is "All Washed Up"
Public art is taking a step into the past in Vermilion. The Main Street Vermilion group began The Postcard Project with last year's unveiling of a mural depicting a vintage local postcard - the first of a planned 15 murals, according to the group's executive director Marilou Suszko.
"It's going to be a really nostalgic look at Vermilion's history, and history of a vacation location as well," Suszko said. "They're going to be installed all over Vermilion, not just downtown."
The group is also preparing for the "All Washed Up" art contest.
Last year, more than 800 people came to the event that featured art made from driftwood. This year, the contest is online. The gallery will be on the group's website through August 5 for voting. Visit mainstreetvermilion.org/all-washed-up to take a look at last year's entries. They include other "washed up" items like beach glass, and are in the form of furniture, sculpture, mosaics, carving, and more.
This year's winning entries will be on display from mid-August to mid-September.
Suszko said the Vermilion Arts Guild will have a "Sea and Shore" exhibit on July 18.
Lakeside Chautauqua is also holding an online art show. The deadline for submissions is July 25. The Lakeside Plein Air Art Festival is scheduled for July 17 through 19, when the art will be available in the "Wet Paint Sale."
Port Clinton ARTWalks
In Port Clinton, the ARTWalks sponsored by the Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council will begin again on July 23. This year, the artists will be located further apart to accommodate social distancing and the Meals On Madison outdoor dining area.
Downtown Port Clinton will also be home to new First Friday events, in which downtown businesses are invited to stay open on the first Friday night of each month to add to the new atmosphere provided by the Meals On Madison area.
If you haven't taken advantage of the "MOM," as it is called, you might want to give it a try. The northernmost half of the 100 block of Madison Street is closed to traffic, and visitors can use the picnic tables and umbrellas. The newest addition has been a stage, which means outdoor music! For the most part, performers take the stage Wednesdays through Sundays.
I was recently there on a couple of Sunday afternoons, and truly enjoyed the music of Sea Jamz 7. On Wednesday nights Slater's Madison Street Pub has taken the popular Jazz Night outdoors, and the RiverFront Live! concerts are back on Friday evenings. You might want to check the Main Street Port Clinton website for upcoming information.
A Family Day
At Put-in-Bay
Does anyone ever really outgrow miniature golf? I hope not.
Perry's Cave Family Fun Center on Put-in-Bay has the "War of 18 Holes" miniature golf course, which offers mini history lessons about the War of 1812 along with the fun. The course is shady in parts, and beautifully landscaped. It has a covered bridge and a waterfall cave.
Combination tickets are available so visitors can also go to Perry's Cave and other activities at the fun center. There is a rock wall to climb - but the Butterfly House is more my speed. DanDee's Snack Shack is probably everyone's speed, since a trip to Put-in-Bay is a perfect time to treat yourself.
The fun center has a large, covered picnic pavilion where you can take a break and enjoy your food and drinks.
Three Seasons Of
Foliage At Schedel Arboretum
A couple of weeks ago, I took a short trip to Elmore to the Schedel Arboretum and Gardens. I hadn't been there for a few years, and I wish I had not waited so long. I know some people make a point of visiting three times a year, so they can enjoy the spring, summer, and autumn foliage. That makes sense.
The self-guided tour takes you through eight stations in the 17-acre garden estate. Joe and Marie Schedel traveled to more than 120 countries. They brought back amazing examples of plants and artwork, much of which is on view today.
The tour takes about 1 1/2 to two hours, depending on how much time you want to spend. One thing I love about it is the fact that there is something for everyone who likes plants - from bonsai trees to dawn redwoods.
I would not be able to pick a favorite area - but I will admit that parts of the Japanese Garden brought my mind back to my childhood, when I wondered if the characters in my storybooks might really be hiding behind a plant or a statue.
Remember comfortable shoes, sunblock, and water!
updated 07.06.20 CAE
Call (419) 734-1280 or e-mail our Sales Department for employment, advertising information, deadlines and a rate sheet or to request more information on being listed on our web site.
| 
