Friday, April 25, 2008
Upcoming Events along Back Roads and Beaches
April 26–27: Herb Fair, Vermilion River Reservation, 10am–4pm. Herb growers and gardening tips. 440.967.7310. Lorain County Metroparks website
May 3–4: Breuer Pottery Spring Open House and Sale, 47361 West Hamilton Road, Oberlin, 12pm–5pm. Fine one-of-a-kind pottery, wine, hors d'oeuvres and desserts. Breuer Pottery is located directly off the Lorain County Metroparks North Coast Inland Trail. You can find them just beyond the entrance of the trail on Hamilton Avenue in Oberlin. Click here to find out how to get there on the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route.
May 3, Oberlin’s Big Parade: Oberlin, 11am. Celebrate art, spring, the community, and fun with Oberlin College students. 440.774.6262 | www.oberlin.org
May 3, Oberlin Farmer’s Market, located next to Oberlin City Hall, Oberlin. 9am–1pm. Locally grown, organic and prepared foods opens for the season once again! 440.775.2423
May 6–June 29th: Paul B. Arnold “Homages: Tributes to the Masters” Color Woodcuts, FAVA Gallery, 39 South Main St., Oberlin.
Labels: arts, events, Lorain County Metro Parks, Oberlin
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Spring: Rebirth, Ritual and ReCreation
Of course, taking in a bike ride is a great way to kick-off the spring season. All along the Back Roads and Beaches route, art galleries, museums and performance spaces are alive with activity that reflects the current season. The Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery at Lorain County Community College is host to the exhibit, “Spring: Rebirth, Ritual and ReCreation.” Although the gallery isn't right on the Back Roads and Beaches Route, many of the surrounding activities are. On Saturday, May 24, 1–5pm, Common Ground will be hosting an Environmental Art Day. There will be a presentation on the work of Andy Goldsworthy. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own art using only objects found in nature. Common Ground is right along the BRaB route so biking to this great event is a great way to heighten the natural experience.
Common Ground: Cindy Nord Center for Renewal
Here are some other great events coming up along the route:
- April 5, Art Auction and Wine Tasting, FAVA Gallery, Oberlin, 7–10pm
- April 8, Oberlin Orchestra, Finney Chapel, Oberlin College, 8pm.
- April 10, Artist Recital Series, Finney Chapel, Oberlin College, 8pm. Grammy award winning violinist, Hilary Hahn and Oberlin alumnus, Josh Ritter collaborate in a broad range of original and traditional music.
- April 11, Nat Brandt Program and Book Signing, Oberlin Public Library, 4pm. Author of The Town that Started the Civil War will present a program about his newest book.
- April 13, Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra Concert, Apollo Theater, Oberlin 3:30pm.
- April 13, Sing for Spring, Avon Lake United Church of Christ, 7:30pm
- April 17–20, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Hall Auditorium, Oberlin College, 8pm, Sun 2pm. Set in a recording studio in 1927, this two-act drama tells the story of blues legend Ma Rainey.
- April 20, Pasta Paradise, Jackalope Restaurant, Lorain. Pasta buffet benefits the Black River Historical Society.
Labels: arts, events, Jackalope Restaurant, Underground Railroad
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Winter's not so bad
Yes, it's February and you're probably itchin' to get out there and get moving. It's been COLD here in north central Ohio! BUT, the good part is, there is still a lot to do outside. Take a hike in one of Lorain County's fine Metro Parks or Findley State Park. Findley is a great place to cross country ski, snowshoe or take a winter hike.
Or, attend one of the Lorain County Metro Parks great winter events. The French Creek Nature Center will be the site of a distance learning program, "Meet the Musher," on February 27, from 2–3pm. A real-life musher will describe what it's like to be part of a sled dog race and how to get the dogs ready for a race. For information, call 440.949.5200.
Got a long holiday weekend? Combine your outdoor experience with one of the following things to do along the Back Roads and Beaches Route:
Lorain
Lakeview Park Photo: ©Mark Teleha
Lakeview Beach: Lake Erie's beautiful winter landscape from here can be stunning. Frozen views of the Lorain Lighthouse are spectacular. The new Rose Cafe is now open. From here you can enjoy a meal or Sunday brunch from the warmth of this cozy new hot spot.
Jackalope Restaurant: Another great spot to get in out of the cold and warm up with awesome views of Lake Erie and the Lorain Lighthouse.
Oberlin
Back Roads and Beaches is all about combining outdoor adventure with the arts, history and culture. This weekend is an especially good time to experience all these in Oberlin.
February 5–March 23: Carroll Dunham Prints
Oberlin College Allen Art Museum, Ripin Gallery.
Carroll Dunham (b. 1949) is one of the most prolific printmakers of his generation. This survey exhibition of Dunham's graphic work is drawn entirely from the holdings at the Addison Gallery of American Art and documents the artist's engagement with printmaking from the mid-1980s to the present. A prolific and inventive draftsman and painter, Dunham combines abstraction, biomorphism, and cartooning in a lively and playful way to explore a wide range of images that he adapts to the special demands of the printmaking medium. Dunham's graphic vocabulary is broad and the present exhibition includes lithographs, etchings, wood engravings, screenprints and recent monotypes. Dunham will be on campus during February to lecture and work with Oberlin College students.
Saturday, February 16, 8pm: Evening of Song, Oberlin College. Mezzo-soprano Keri Alkema will present a program of songs by Mozart, Rossini, Turina, Ravel and others. Warner Concert Hall, 77 W. College St., Oberlin. Tickets are $5 and available by calling Oberlin's Ticket Service at 440.775.8169
February 17–March 28: Six-State Photography show. This Sunday, join the staff of FAVA at the opening reception at the FAVA Gallery. For more information call, 440.774.7158
Sunday, Feb 17, 12pm–5pm: Conversational Tour of the Weltzheimer-Johnson House (Morgan St., Oberlin). The Weltzheimer/Johnson House at Oberlin College is a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian House that sits on a 3 acre lot several blocks from campus. Designed in 1948 and completed in 1950, it is the first Usonian house in Ohio and one of the few in the nation open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/flwright.html
Check out the following wineries which have a variety of special events such as Lenten fish frys, live entertainment and Valentine dinners:Matus Winery,Single Tree Winery
While in town, check out fine galleries, shops and restaurants.
If that's still not enough to keep you moving this month, keep in mind, in a few short months, you'll want to be in great shape for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure in June and the Vermilion Harbor Triathlon in August. Both will be utilizing portions of the Back Road and Beaches Route. So keep checking back for more information and updates. As the weather warms up, so too will the activity along BRaB!
Labels: arts, cross country skiing, events, Findley, GOBA, Jackalope Restaurant, Lakeview Park, Lorain, Lorain County Metro Parks, Oberlin, triathlon, wineries, winter
Friday, November 16, 2007
This weekend around the Back Roads and Beaches route
Although the weather is getting colder, there is still lots of activity along the Back Roads and Beaches of North Central Ohio. There is still a lot to do to keep active!
The Lorain County Metro Parks always has a full calendar of outdoor activities throughout the year. This weekend there will be a brisk walk into the wilds of the Copper Hollow Loop Trail at the Vermilion River Reservation.
For swimming and working out, check out the Splash Zone at the Lorain County Metro Parks. The facility is located in Oberlin, right along the Back Roads and Beaches Route.
Oberlin Opera Theater will be presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Hall Auditorium, Friday and Saturday, November 16th and 17th at 8pm, and Sunday, November 18th at 2pm.
Saturday evening, November 17, Single Tree Winery will be having a steak fry from 5–8 pm. Cost is $20 per person. There will be live music from 7–11pm. (Single Tree photo by Mark Teleha)
The Weltzheimer-Johnson House, will be open Sunday from 12–5pm. The Weltzheimer Johnson house is a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian House several blocks from Oberlin College campus.
This weekend, the FAVA gallery opens its Holiday Show with an opening reception, Sunday, November 18th from 2–4pm. This show presents works of the FAVA members. Silk painter, Susan Socotch will be demonstrating during this event.
Labels: architecture, arts, autumn, back roads and beaches, Lorain County Metro Parks, Oberlin, Splash Zone, wineries
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Back Roads and Beaches Bike route spectacular autumn weekend
Not only is there a weekend full of art, architecture and bikes (see post below) but we've learned that there will also be a firewalk this Saturday evening, October 6th, at Common Ground: The Cindy Nord Center for Renewal. Common Ground is located on Baird Rd. in the northwest part of the route.
The weather report is predicting temps to be in the 80s this weekend, and with the leaves continuing to turn brilliant reds and golds, this is the perfect time to bring your bike for a visit and a trip into rich art, culture, history and transformational experience.
Make plans to spend the weekend here, pedaling the route and visiting the gallery open houses and architecture tours. You can find bicycle-friendly lodging information here. If you'd like a map based guide of where to stay, click here. As you mouse over the icons, information on lodging and services will pop up.
photo: Cyclist on Baird Rd. in front of Common Ground.
Labels: architecture, arts, back roads and beaches, biking, events, fall
Friday, September 7, 2007
Art, Architecture and Bikes
Next month, riders along Back Roads and Beaches have the opportunity to take in some of the areas finest arts and architecture events while pedaling the scenic, autumn route. The weekend of October 6+7 is an especially good time to visit for arts lovers. There are several, great Oberlin events taking place this weekend. Spend the weekend riding, visiting wineries, and attending these wonderful events. Click here for information on lodging along the route. October is a great time to bike the Back Roads and Beaches route since the brilliant foliage, combined with roadside stands and active gallery open houses and exhibits make it a perfect weekend for biking and sightseeing. Combine these with a visit to two wineries Matus and Single Tree, located in the same vicinity. And don't forget to stop in at the Allen Memorial Art Museum on the Oberlin College Campus to check out all the new exhibits. The following are events taking place October 6:
Oberlin Area Studio/Gallery Open Houses Saturday, October 6th and Sunday, October 7th, Noon to 5:00
BREUER POTTERY
Chris Breuer and Paula Aghajanian
47361 West Hamilton Street, Oberlin, OH 44074
440.775.2340
Fine one-of-a-kind pottery vessels, bowls, teapots, sculpture and tiles beautifully presented in the artist’s studio/gallery. Enjoy the gardens, wine, hor d’oeuvres and desserts.
RIVERDOG 
Deborah Banyas & T.P. Speer
13818 Gore Orphanage Road, Henrietta Township, OH 44889440.965.8309
Unusual whimsical sculpture and paintings on display in a lovely country setting with complimentary wine tasting. Refreshments and hiking trails.
riverdog@centurytel.net
Both galleries are located in scenic areas of the route. Breuer Pottery is located right at the edge of the North Coast Inland Trail in Oberlin. Riverdog is a bit off — but in close proximity to — the route.
Click here for a link to the Back Roads and Beaches bike map. To find Breuer Potter, just scroll to the bottom of the map and click the Oberlin inset to expand. Roll over the icons to check out the local businesses.
Maps will be available at both studios.
About a mile or two from Breuer Pottery is the Oberlin Heritage Center. Plan to make a reservation soon for
"A Tour of Oberlin's History through its Architecture around Tappan Square" — the Oberlin Heritage Center's new 1 hour and 15 minute guided walking tour accompanied by a wonderful selection of historic photographs. The tour will be offered three times this fall by Oberlin Heritage Center staff member Prue Richards, including Friday, September 14 at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 6 at 1 p.m., and Friday, October 12 at 1 p.m.
Tour fee is $6 per person ($4 for Oberlin Heritage Center members). The tour begins at the Oberlin Heritage Center's Monroe House at 73 1/2 South Professor Street. Reservations are required and may be made by calling (440) 774-1700 or by sending an e-mail to tourinfo@oberlinheritage.org. The tour will be canceled and refunds will be made if it is raining at start time.
Know of any other great events for the October 6-7 weekend? Feel free to leave a comment...
Labels: architecture, arts, back roads and beaches, events, Oberlin, wineries
Friday, August 31, 2007
Labor Day Weekend Sun Shines on BRaB
The forecast on the Back Roads and Beaches Bike Route is sunny skies and mid 70s-low 80s all Labor Day weekend. Perfect for a weekend bike tour of North Central Ohio! While you're on the route, check out the Farmers Market at Black River Landing in Lorain.
Black River Landing Photo ©Rona Proudfoot
Black River Landing is located in the city of Lorain, on the shores of Lake Erie. Traveling further east on SR6, along the Back Roads and Beaches route, you'll find True North Cultural Arts Center. They will be open Saturday, 10am-4pm.
The Back Roads and Beaches bike route highlights and links nature and parks, culture and the arts, history and healthy food options together in an easy to follow route. So it's worth mentioning the new collaboration between True North and the Lorain County Metro Parks. Another great partnership that utilizes all the best the area has to offer!
While riding the BRaB route, you'll find arts opportunities all throughout. Check out the website for many opportunities to combine your biking tour with culture and the arts. Galleries and museums listed on the website all welcome touring cyclists in cycling attire.
Labels: arts, Avon Lake, back roads and beaches, events, Lorain, Museums
May 3, Oberlin Farmer’s Market, located next to Oberlin City Hall, Oberlin. 9am–1pm. Locally grown, organic and prepared foods opens for the season once again! 440.775.2423
