7.29.2005To Do: Ohio Ballet Summer FestivalI love ballet and I love free stuff, so the Ohio Ballet Summer Festival is right up my alley. The dance company, based at The University of Akron, is giving free shows now through the end of summer in the Akron/Cleveland area:No other professional ballet company in the nation offers free theatre-quality staging, sound, lighting and costuming in a casual, family-oriented setting during an outdoor summer series of performances. The free performances require no advance reservations, are conveniently located in easily accessible neighborhood parks, and are family friendly with flexible, open seating.This is a great way to introduce yourself to ballet... the performances are usually a great mix of traditional and modern ballet. If I was reviewing it, I'd give it... hmmmm, maybe I should review it. In which case I don't want to ruin my blimp rating status. Anywho, here are the upcoming show details: FIRESTONE PARK (Mia :: To Do: Ohio Ballet Summer Festival) Better BagsIf you love Kaufmann's, you've only got about a year left to love 'em. In fall 2006 all the Kaufmann's stores will undergo a name change.The Akron-Canton area's six Kaufmann's department stores will be converted to the Macy's nameplate in the fall of 2006, Federated Department Stores announced Thursday.So what? It's a name change. They will still carry the same crap that my Grandma buys everyone for Christmas, right? Kaufmann's shoppers should expect to see some changes beyond the marquee, company officials said.Oh no, Grammy's gonna be pissed. The BJ :: Kaufmann's out in fall '06 (joe :: Better Bags) 7.27.2005Thinking Out of the BoxJust got a new press release...Forward this on to your artist friends; this could be some great Akron exposure that helps keep the arts alive in the 'Kron. AAAA (joe :: Thinking Out of the Box) Reality TV HopefulsCalling all fans of The Bachelor, this weekend you can attend the casting call that might find the next single man of stardom.The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is currently working with ABC's hit reality romance show "The Bachelor" to find America's most eligible man as the show heads into its eighth season. Candidates should be handsome, ambitious, charming, successful and between the ages of 25 to 35. If you or someone you know is an accomplished CEO, doctor, lawyer, entrepreneur or businessman and is Bachelorific, please encourage them to join us for the open casting call.If you're not looking to apply for The Bachelor, then maybe you want to do some husband hunting of your own. If ABC's looking for rich, hot, single men then any single lady (or guy) who is looking for a rich, hot, single man should flock to The Galleria on Saturday. This is husband hunting made easy. ABC and The Greater Cleveland Film Commission are doing some prescreening for you; take advantage of it. You never know, you might walk away with Mr. Good-Enough-For-Reality-TV. *Thanks to Liz from RCCC and Liz's Mom for this one! (joe :: Reality TV Hopefuls) 7.26.2005School SpiritWhen I was in school I learned a valuable lesson: Quitters Never Win. It's just that simple. Districts around the state are floundering for cash. Programs that enrich the lives of students are being cut just to make ends meet. We can all agree that something needs to be done to fix this hemorrhage, but none of us know for sure how best to do it. But making money costs money, and that's something that we don't have to spare.Akron was one of the founding members of the group that filed Ohio's school funding lawsuit.The more I read about the state of our schools the more upset I get. Sports and music are pay-to-play far more then I care to think about. Trade programs are being shut down. Bussing is minimal. Classes are crowded. Kids aren't passing the graduation test. I don't know what qualifies as a crisis in Ohio, but this seems pretty damn close. I'm not going to pretend like I have all the answers and spout out some smart-ass idea. This problem is big, really big, and it needs fixed. The municipalities of Ohio cannot afford to take care of the schools, charter schools cannot educate kids to pass standardized testing, districts cannot pass levies. The state needs to step in and provide some real solutions. Sometimes I think of Ohio as a deadbeat dad. There are tons of kids suffering because the bastard won't pay child support. Instead he spends his cash on cockamamie ideas, like charter schools, that end up hurting the kids even more. Maybe Ohio will step up and do the right thing, but until then I fear we're in for some pain. The BJ :: Akron to quit funding group (joe :: School Spirit) 7.25.2005RevitalizationI'm totally into urban renewal. There are so many hyper-hot places around Akron, that it's really a shame to see people leave this history for new homes in the 'burbs. Luckily, there are some programs that enable people to put money back into their homes and revitalize Akron bit by bit. Here's what's happening in Parkgate.Through the program, the city makes $7,500 available to homeowners as a grant and makes another $7,500 available that doesn't have to be repaid until [the homeowner] sells the home.Awesome. We need more programs like this. This gets the citizens involved in their neighborhoods and makes it affordable to create a nice place to live. Hopefully we'll be seeing more of this in the city. The BJ :: West Akron neighborhood gets face-lift (joe :: Revitalization) CampyKids.comI love it when the mail comes, especially gifts arrive! Today was one of those happy mail days. Today I got in the mail a shirt from CampyKids.com. They make rock and roll kidswear. I got a baby bowling shirt for my friends' kid Indiana. This shirt is freakin' awesome. You never know exactly what to expect when you can't see the product in person, but this shirt is killer. A baby shirt covered in flames: totally killer.Be sure to check out CampyKids.com when you need a gift for the baby in your life. They're pumping out some high quality stuff! When I get a picture of him in his shirt, I'll post it. CampyKids.com - Funkywear for Tots Our first post 'bout CampyKids (joe :: CampyKids.com) 7.24.2005Race for a RideI got a chuckle out of this. A Goodyear Blimp pilot was in a soapbox derby race over the weekend. The prize: A ride in the Goodyear Blimp.So there they were, the three finalists -- the blimp pilot [Jerry Hissem], the bank president [Tim Fitzwater] and the maintenance manager [Jim McCann] -- ready to roll. Each man was wearing a blue plastic helmet, each leaning forward with his chin down close to the steering wheel.In the end McMann took the ride on the blimp. But this brings me to my next point: the blimp is freakin' loud to ride in. I'm one of the lucky Akronite who can say they've flown in the Goodyear blimp. My mom works for Goodyear and was rewarded with some passes to go on the blimp what I was in fourth grade. So I'm going to describe the experience for you. You get out to the dock at Wing Foot Lake and there's the blimp looking huge and foreboding. There were like six or so guys holding the blimp with a series of lines to keep it from drifting too much on the ground. Then, one-by-one, you had to run to the blimp and jump on. The one-at-a-time thing was to ensure safety just in case the blimp shifts and you have to run from the giant propellers. And those propellers are super loud. Once inside the cabin which depending on the model can hold 8 to 12 people, you cannot carry on a conversation; the roar of the motors is too loud. But once you're in the air it's an incredible experience. It's awesome to see Akron from above. As you drift along, you can see the shadow that the blimp casts cover entire houses; it was really awesome. My flight didn't have a co-pilot, so we were aloud to take turns going up to the co-pilots seat and see what the pilot sees. We were also aloud to put on head gear so the hum of the engines was drowned out. The pilot answered all the questions we had about the blimp and it was pretty cool. Then it was time to land. I was the youngest one on the flight so the pilot wanted to make sure I remembered the flight, so he was going to let me stay in the co-pilot seat while he landed the blimp. Then I started hunting for a seat belt frantically. Blimps are, or at least were, seat belt free. I felt like I was going to fall through the glass of the cockpit and land on the earth below. I held on the seat for dear life. We landed safely and didn't fall out of the blimp. All in all it was a great experience, but my ears rang for a good hour afterwards. The BJ :: Blimp? Soap box? Tossup (joe :: Race for a Ride) 7.22.2005The $25 Dollar QuestionI just got this submission. It seems like it could be fun...Boutique beers from across the country, from Oregon to New Orleans, will be showcased at the first Brews, Blues & Burgers festival July 30 at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens.Twenty-five bucks is a bit steep, but it raises a good question: can I drink $25 in beer under 3 hours? Here are some important things to consider: There are 25ish breweries, each one has several beers, these are microbrews that are more pricey to begin with. I think I can do it so long as I don't eat. Eating takes up space in my stomach that I could dedicate to beer sampling. Without food, I could down, like, $40 in beer, no problem. So Stan Hywet, here I come! Blues and Brews at Stan Hywet (joe :: The $25 Dollar Question) 7.21.2005Ignorance Is BlissNorton is a "special place" full of "special people." Now they want to add a very "special rule" to the books. A townsmember who is, umm, advanced in age has been pushing for a city resolution to make English the official language.The all-English resolution has been floating around Norton Council for years. It has repeatedly been proposed by Norton resident George Tomko.I hate to be a bubble-burster, well, I take that back, I like to burst the bubble of ignorant people. The United States of America has no official language. That's right, Spanish, German, Zulu, Chinese, Japanese and countless other languages are all just as important English when it comes to our nation. Sure some are spoken more then others, but they're all important. Mr. Tomko seems to forget that America is not a lone island. We must act as a global community. If everything in America was taught in English and recorded in English, how would we deal with the rest of the world, you know, the rest of the world that drives our economy? This seems like an ignorant move on the part of the city, setting back civil rights. And why? To please a 78-year-old man. I wonder if Mr. Tomko has ever been to Lorain? Lorain is a Spanish-speaking Mecca in this area. Or has he been to Amish Country? The Amish who left Europe to avoid pursecution settled their own German speaking community. Or what about the Arabic markets over on Lorain Ave in Cleveland? The French bistros owns by immigrants? The Chinese import shop over on East Market Street? It seems we're surrounded by languages other then English. So should a man so blind, willingly or unwillingly, to the culture that surrounds dictate how our government should be run? I think not. The BJ :: Norton may say adios to, well, adios (joe :: Ignorance Is Bliss) U of A's New TowerThe University just had a new art piece installed in front of the Goodyear Polymer Science Center. The structure is a series of blue polymer chunks connected to form a tower. The massive piece was done by Seattle's Dale Chihuly. Chihuly's done awesome art all over the U.S. and it's sweet to have one of his pieces in our city.Check out The BJ's article for a snapshot of the new blue structure hanging out in the 'Kron. The BJ :: Polymer tower stands tall (joe :: U of A's New Tower) 7.20.2005A Lawsuit is the AnswerI'm confused by this whole annexation thing. If something is annexed it should be considered part of one town, not an overlapping part of two. But not in Ohio. Some people are getting double taxed. It's one of the mysteries of Ohio. But here's what's really important; The BJ made me laugh this morning with an amusing little title: Summit would like to be sued.For perhaps the first time, Summit County officials actually hope to get sued. A lawsuit may be the only way to clean up an annexation mess that perplexes officials.Isn't this why we had a Revolutionary War? No Taxation Without Representation! These peeps are getting taxed from two locales, but are only being represented by one! Don't be surprised if you hear about the Bath Township/Akron Militia revolting. The BJ :: Summit would like to be sued (joe :: A Lawsuit is the Answer) 7.19.2005OhioOh Ohio, what are we going to do with you? You lost the election, you passed an amendment that lets boyfriends beat up their girlfriends because they're not married, and your making it so people can carry assault weapons underneath their jackets. It just makes me so sad... so sad that I want to make fun of not only Akron but the entire state!That's right, we're starting a new side project that will keep tabs on all the stupid things that Ohio does! Check out the new site: DamnYouOhio.com (joe :: Ohio) Columbus: NRA Free Since 2005 UpdateThe state is being dumb... again. Now they want to override all local ordinances that ban certain types of weapons.The sponsor of Ohio's law allowing concealed weapons said Monday he wants the state to override local bans on types of guns, a move that would cancel Columbus' decision to outlaw assault weapons.[...]I'm sure the NRA is jumping for joy; squirrels and deer, on the other hand, are shivering in fear. The BJ :: Bill may pre-empt local weapons bans (joe :: Columbus: NRA Free Since 2005 Update) I Have a DreamI really want a tattoo, but I think I'm allergic to pain. Just the thought of a little needle poking me about a billion times freaks me out, but I love seeing the art on people. Tonight at 10:00 on TLC, Miami Ink premieres which will follow the lives of Miami Beach tattoo artists. It falls conveniently into my TV schedule. I can watch The Gilmore Girls at 8 on the WB, Blow Out at 9 on Bravo and end the night with Miami Ink.But you don't need to go to Miami to get a killer tattoo or piercing, we have a great shops right here in Akron. Right now, I'm really diggin' what the guys at Pain Hate Pain Studios are doing over in Highland Square. Check out our latest art review to get our take on their studio. I've been thinking about what I'd get if I were getting a tattoo and I keep coming back to the same idea. I'm a nerd and I want to pay homage to that. I want to get my favorite Shakespearian quote on my art: Out, out, brief candle!I then want to translate the quote into binary code and get the code on my as a band. I know it's going to hurt like hell to get, but it would be so cool. Miami Ink Pain Hate Pain Studios Pain Hate Pain Review (joe :: I Have a Dream) 7.18.2005Columbus: NRA Free Since 2005Columbus passed an ordinance banning certain type of assault weapons. I think that's fine; deer and duck hunting with an assault rifle seems like overkill to me. But to the NRA it seems just about right. The group has decided to move its 2007 national convention to a new location in protest of the city ordinence.City lawmakers called the decision unfortunate but said the organization had been told about the potential ban.The BJ :: NRA moving Columbus convention to protest weapons ban (joe :: Columbus: NRA Free Since 2005) Whirlpool + Maytag = $1.37 Billion DealMaytag has aquired some serious debt. Being in the hole $969 million seems to be a big selling point. Maytag has recieved two offers to buy them out. Triton Acquisition Holding made the first offer, and now Whirlpool has come in and trumped their offer. For $1.37 billion, Whilrpool whats to aquire Maytag, its holdings and all its debt.The BJ :: Whirlpool Corp. offers $1.4 billion for Maytag (joe :: Whirlpool + Maytag = $1.37 Billion Deal) Events, Events, Events!Events has been updated! Start planning your September fun!Akron Events (joe :: Events, Events, Events!) 7.16.2005Happy PrideHey, Gays! This weekend is Akron Pride Weekend! Tonight you have your choice of parties at the bars throughout the city. My personal picks will be the beach party at Babylon and The Big Fag Party at The Interbelt.Tomorrow is the big, finale to Akron Pride Weekend: A Day in the Sun. It'll be held at Pine Valley Lake Park. I'm totally against the outdoors this weekend, but if you're into humid weather, check it out. It costs $10 and proceeds benefit The Akron Price Center. Check out their site for more info. Akron Pride Center (joe :: Happy Pride) 7.15.2005Harry Potter PartyHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince come out tomorrow. If you want to be the first on your block to dive back into the world of Hogwarts, there are several midnight release parties in the area. At ever Borders Books and Music there is a Midnight Magic Party. The party starts at 9 pm and ends when the line for the book ends. Barnes and Noble is also doing a similar thing but they're starting a bit later at 10:30. Parties at the stores are being sponcered by Project LEARN.Borders Midnight Magic Party The BJ :: HARRY POTTER EVENTS (joe :: Harry Potter Party) Downtown Veggies: Part IIIThe new farmers market is a little smallish. There were about 20 or so vendors selling their wares. There were plenty of fresh veggies, herbs and baked goods, but I was sort hoping for something bigger. I got some great zucchinis and I'm going to try to make zucchini bread with them. I've never made it before, but it'll be a learning experience.The market, operated by the Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy, opened Thursday afternoon and will be open from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday until mid-October.If you're a farm market fan and liked the first one downtown, CVCC, who puts on the market, has a "country" market to balance out their "city" market. It's located in Peninsula. Here's the info for that one: Time: Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m.Cuyahoga Valley Countryside Conservancy The BJ :: New farmers market seen as lure for downtown, UA (joe :: Downtown Veggies: Part III) 7.14.2005Stopping Brain DrainFinally, this is what Ohio needs to stop the brain-drain and start reviving our economy. Small businesses are key to keeping an area thriving and here's a great example of one.The startup company [O-Web Technologies] in the village of Orange, a suburb southeast of Cleveland, specializes in Web design for PDAs such as Palm handhelds and Blackberries; it has 55 clients.Hey Akron venture capitalists, here's a investment oppurtunity. What? No, not O-Web, your very own RubberBuzz! Why don't you give us money so we can, I don't know, advertise? Then one day, maybe, we'll figure out how you can get you money back! I make killer super chocolate chunk brownies; maybe you'd could get paid back in those! The BJ :: Students' startup is signal for region (joe :: Stopping Brain Drain) Punk Rock KidsI just learned about a great site that's offering some kick-ass kids clothing. The site is called Campy Kids. The owner, Angie, is doing some amazing kids clothes in a variety of vintage-inspired fabrics perfect for the rocker/hipster-baby in your life.I'm pretty partial to the bowling shirt. I can picture little pre-school boys pickin' up the chicks after naptime in this studly number. And for the li'l ladies out there, there's the TLC Sundress so you can sport your favorite campy fabric. CampyKids also offers shorts sets, diaper dresses, and jumpers. Speaking of fabrics, CampKids.com has a full line of hyper-hot fabrics to choose from for your clothing. I'm totally diggin' on Toasty Tommy, Bombshell Babes, and Suzi Sushi. All of the clothes are made in Akron by Akronites. High quality. Be sure to check them out. ![]() Campy Kids (joe :: Punk Rock Kids) 7.13.2005Harry Potter Gets Bene-DickedWith only three days until the release of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, letters have arisen that denounce the Harry Potter series and are signed by former Cardinal-turned-Pope Ratzinger.In a letter dated March 7, 2003 Cardinal Ratzinger thanked Kuby for her "instructive" book Harry Potter - gut oder bose (Harry Potter- good or evil?), in which Kuby says the Potter books corrupt the hearts of the young, preventing them from developing a properly ordered sense of good and evil, thus harming their relationship with God while that relationship is still in its infancy.The Vatican doesn't want young people reading about magic healing potions, broomstick travel, jellybeans of every flavor and whomping willows. No, they want you to read about transmutation of water into wine, miraculous healings and necromancy. Personally, I feel any books (with the exception of erotica) that get kids reading are good books, no matter the subject matter. When I was growing up, I used to read The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis' drawn out allegory of Christ. No one was up in arms about these. Perhaps if someone spent some time and found some sort of deep meaning in the Harry Potter books there wouldn't be a modern witch hunt happening. LifeSite.net :: Pope Opposes Harry Potter Novels (joe :: Harry Potter Gets Bene-Dicked) Free Softball GamesMy friend Lisa just sent this over to me and I want to be sure to share it with you all. The Akron Racers, Akron's Women's Pro Fast-Pitch Softball team, is doing some free game promos this weekend to help fill the stands at Firestone Stadium.Are you looking for something to do this weekend??Akron Racers (joe :: Free Softball Games) 7.12.2005Little League: The New WWEDavie G. has at least one kid and said kid plays some kind of sport. And for all I know, Capital G has never punched or thrown things at a ref/umpire at any of Lowercase G's games.In light of the recent attacks on community members and umpires, we're reminded that these kind of attacks are far more common then we'd like to believe. As much as any of us would like to say we're shocked because this sort of thing just doesn't happen, it doesn't take much searching to prove that statement wrong.So now we know this is happening and probably a lot more then we'll ever hear about. So how do we fix it? Again I'll defer to The BJ. I've been to games where the crowd is lectured briefly before play begins. The official tells fans how they are expected to behave, and what will happen if they don't. There always seems to be a better temperament at those games.Hmm... that seems a little weak. I think all refs at the beginning of every game should get a bucket of water balloons. Whenever a parent acts up, throw a balloon at them. Maybe then they'll remember that this is a KID'S GAME. Let the kids have fun, they're too young to be stressed out by yelling parents. Win or lose, sports are supposed to be about the experience and learning to work as a team. I think the parents in the stands could learn a few things from the kids on the field. First, there's teamwork. Maybe the parents could work together. If an ump seems unfair, work as a team and bring the issue before the league. Don't go all vigilante on his ass. Next, if you see something of interest, like a neat bug, wait until a break in the game before you pick it up. If you're a parent and you see your kid do something stupid, like put a glove of their head or pick a flower in the soccer field, wait until a break in the game and then tell then nicely what's up, all the while remembering they're kids. Don't yell at them or embarrass them in front of their peers. The BJ :: Tell adults how to act at games (joe :: Little League: The New WWE) 7.11.2005Caffeine HighThe Caffeine section of the site has been updated. Check out my first exerience with Bubble Tea at Boba. Also find out where you should go for a great gelato treat.Boba Review (joe :: Caffeine High) Meth MythThe BJ stretch the truth? No... Never... Not to make a story seem bigger then it is...It's embarrassing enough that Akron was dubbed Ohio's "meth capital" by the Beacon Journal. Akronites, already tired of defending their turf, will now have to suffer jokes about hillbillies and Sudafed.Scene Magazine :: Bad Science OSAM Network Meth Stats from OSAM Network (joe :: Meth Myth) 7.10.2005Poocher FunTalk about poocher fun. Saturday the 9th was the 4th Pet Day in Canal Park which raised about $14,000 for the Humane Society of Greater Akron.Nobody blamed dog owners for dominating the event. These are, after all, the dog days of summer, deadpanned Dick Goddard, the chief meteorologist for WJW (Channel 8) in Cleveland, well-known animal lover and celebrity guest who led a pre-game pet parade on the field and sang the national anthem.If my dog were there he'd be poopin' everywhere, but the event had prepared for just such an occasion. A couple of dogs did their business on the field during the pet parade. Not to fear, though, Ms. Poop-Scooper Gwen Barlow-Martinez was there with a 3-foot shovel to make quick work of the on-field errors.The BJ :: Four-legged friends feisty, fetching in pet day parade (joe :: Poocher Fun) Ken Stewart's in the Wall Street JournalThe Wallstreet Journal costs money and I'm firmly against paying for it. Luckily, my friend Sage likes to spend money on things to read, and one of his readables is the WSJ. On Friday I came into work and sitting on my desk was a Wall Street Journal story about creative cocktails. They featured 10 restaurants and bars from across the nation, and Akron's own Ken Stewart's was in the featured ten.Now why were they in there you ask? Simple: 2 parts vodka, 1 part dry vermouth, shaken over ice, garnished with a whole pickled baby octopus. Makes me want to vomit, but I guess it's "creative." (joe :: Ken Stewart's in the Wall Street Journal) 7.08.2005Events UpdatedChristi over at Boba has sent over a list of new events that will take place this month. On July 21, there will be belly dancers, henna artists and a drum circle. Belly dancing is super hot and fun to watch; I've already put this on my calendar. Also, on the 28th, Boba is hosting a Spa Day. You'll be able to create custom masks and get a massage. This one could be pretty fun.In any case, be sure to stop by Boba and try their killer gelato. If they have it, get the peanut butter gelato; it's killer. Events (joe :: Events Updated) And Another Thing!It's just a great news day for Akron... now our practically-still-new marathon has been included in a new book, From Fairbanks to Boston -- 50 Great U.S. Marathons.The Akron marathon made the prestigious list -- compiled via a variety of sources -- in large part for what was cited as exceptional organization and top course quality.Awesome. The 2005 marathon will take place on Saturday, October 1. You can register online for the Road Runner Akron Marathon until Wednesday, September 28. If you're not in any shape to run this year's race... start training now for 2006. Beacon Journal :: Akron marathon strides onto a prestigious list (Mia :: And Another Thing!) So Long StarkleThe BJ has been all up in Highland Square the past few days. First the Two Amigos/Lilly's thing and now this: the beloved Starkle Market is closing its doors for good on August first.Star Market, which struggled to compete with larger stores for years, has seen revenue fall in recent years. Beth Henretta, who with her father, John, owns the Star Market, said business "has been tough for the last five years."The BJ :: Star Market decides to bag it (joe :: So Long Starkle) Let's All Get Sick!Good news for Akron... our hospitals rock! In their annual report on "America's Best Hospitals," U.S. News and World Report has ranked both Akron General and Summa as two of, well, America's best hospitals. In fact, Northeast Ohio in general is like the place to get sick...If you're a Northeast Ohio resident with a serious illness, chances are good you won't have to travel too far to get top-rated medical care.That's great news, right? But what does it really mean for the average Akron resident? Big!New!Signs! Expect to see hospitals sharing their status on the prestigious list with potential customers. Hospitals tend to use the rankings in billboards, advertisements and banners to market their services in competitive health-care markets such as Akron and Cleveland.Yep, we know those signs well. And there will be many new signs & banners springing up near the city's hospitals anytime now. Akron General's will tout their expertise in respiratory diseases (#45) and heart and heart surgery (#35). Summa's will point out that they're even better at respiratory diseases (#28, take that AGH!) and can also handle you're digestive disorders (#48) and orthopedics (#49). What Summa is probably not gonna mention on their signs? This: Summa fell off the list in three other specialties for which it was recognized last year: heart and heart surgery; geriatrics; and ear, nose and throat care.Oops! Better luck next year... Anywho, congrats to all area hosipitals who made the list! Beacon Journal :: Akron hospitals earn honors USNews.com :: America's Best Hospitals 2005 (Mia :: Let's All Get Sick!) Cleveland's Jab at Rebecca RyanCleveland wants to help Akron be younger and hipper! The Plain Dealer's Minister of Culture Michael Heaton has some suggestions that make Rebecca Ryan's crazy suggestions seem, well, crazier. Here are some of his suggestions:Back in 1973, the Rolling Stones played the Akron Rubber Bowl. Mick Jagger came onstage looking slightly dazed. He asked the crowd where he was. He squinted and looked at the sign above the stadium.It makes opening up a few new bars seem really petty. Check out the rest of the article. The Plain Dealer :: Inflating Akron's hipper image calls for professional hot air (joe :: Cleveland's Jab at Rebecca Ryan) 7.07.2005Two Amigos MystiqueTwo Amigos is expanding into Lilly's House of Style. This is bittersweet news to those of us Highland Square addicts. Two Amigos has a huge fan base and is bringing tons of people to The Square for a visit. Not only is it great for Two Amigos, it's also great for other businesses."It's sad to see an old business go, but if you need that space to expand, that's what has to happen," said Adam Yuratovac, owner of Revival, a clothing store down the street. "It's good that Two Amigos isn't moving. They send us a lot of business."What Adam is referring to is Two Amigos' love Highland Square. When they get slammed they take your cell phone number and encourage your to go wander around the square, have a drink at one of the local bars and do some shopping. My first visits to many Highland Square businesses happened because Two Amigos was packed and I needed something to do to kill 45 minutes. I think this is the case for a lot of people in The Square. So, sure, I'm sad to see Lilly's leave. It's always sad to see an established business with a devoted following leave a neighborhood, but it is great to see Two Amigos be able to expand and stay in Highland Square and not leave for another location. Maybe some good will come out of this. There is a definite need for more quality retail space, maybe developers will see this. And developers don't need to shy away from this area. Sure, the neighborhood and the HSNA wants the new building to keep the look that is established, but they are all interested in seeing new businesses enter the area. Work together and everyone will benefit. The BJ :: Restaurant to serve up expansion, clip salon (joe :: Two Amigos Mystique) Another Sad DayThe events that took place in London this morning are tragic. Hundreds have been injured and 40 lives are lost. What does this mean to us? I don't know, but I can tell you what it means for The BJDo you have friends or relatives in London? The Akron Beacon Journal would like to hear from you. Please call (330) [xxx]-[xxxx] today to speak with a newsroom reporter.Yep, that's right. It's another story. Ohio.com (joe :: Another Sad Day) 7.06.2005Loving Davie G.I guess I'm not the only one out there who loves Davie G.; he was recently given the "Best in Show" award as the best columnist in Ohio.The newspaper also captured several first-place awards, including reporter Bob Downing for best coverage of the environment for his articles on E-Check. Television critic R.D. Heldenfels won first place for best media criticism for a series of columns on Election 2004, and sportswriter Tom Reed won first place for best sports profile for "Greece Calls Akron Man Home."I think next year me and Mia will sweep these awards. Who else but us is out there actively making fun Ohio and The BJ? Plus, I really want a trophy for my desk. Even if we don't get a little trophy, I'm still going to go buy an old bowling trophy over at The Salvation Army and put it on my desk. That way I'll feel important. The BJ :: Beacon Journal wins journalism awards (joe :: Loving Davie G.) That's It. No More Adults at Games.Wow. First there was a death and now this.Howard B. Claflin, 57, of Cuyahoga Falls was assaulted Friday at the Ballpark at Hudson at the high school after he ejected a 14-year-old from the game when the boy apparently threw his helmet into a dugout after striking out, Hudson police said. Witnesses reported the boy received a warning and then kicked his helmet, at which point Claflin ejected him.That's it, no more adults at baseball games. Ever. The BJ :: Umpire attacked at kids' tourney (joe :: That's It. No More Adults at Games.) 7.04.2005Sad Part 2A few weeks ago an elderly woman was murdered for $4 used to buy drugs. Saturday, a man may have been killed over a $5 parking fee used to raise funds for a summer sports program.Robert Abrams, who would have turned 41 today, died at 1:40 a.m. Saturday at Akron City Hospital, where he was taken after he hit the ground during the fight Friday night by the fields at Springfield High School on Sanitarium Road in Lakemore.[...]All over $5... Our thoughts go out to the Abrams family. The BJ :: Brawl at kids game fatal (joe :: Sad Part 2) Level 6Happy Fourth of July... well happy for those of us who aren't fighting a war or who don't have loved ones in a war or who don't know someone who has been lost to the war. During my pokings around on the Net today, I ran across a great site called Level 6 News. It's news dumbed down so a 6-year-old can grasp it. It made me laugh in a Daily Show with Jon Stewart kind of way. Here's their latest post for a sample of their fun site.Check 'em out when you have a chance. The rest of their posts are equally as great. Level 6 News (joe :: Level 6) 7.03.2005Sky HighGasoline isn't the only gas with a soaring price tag. Natural gas has also been on the rise. The BJ's Betty Lin-Fisher has assembled all the info you need to help you pick your next package when it comes to your natural gas provider. She's done all the research for you and gives you the best options for your personality. Think of her as a gas company matchmaker. Here are the options she's come up with:- Willing to ride the ups and downs of the market with a safety net to save money? Go for WPS' one-year offer with a price cap of $10.35/mcf. It comes with the possibility of lower rates if market prices decrease. The opening rate is $9.85/mcf.Be sure to check out both of Betty's articles on gas; there's a ton of important info I didn't quote that is important if you find yourself looking for a new natural gas contract. The BJ :: Let's make a new gas deal The BJ :: You ask, we answer on gas deals (joe :: Sky High) An Open Letter to FMA![]() Dear FMA, I saw your show last night at the Akron Metal Assault! I was the one in the orange polo shirt and the khakis in the sea of black t-shirts and ill-fitting denim. I didn't know what to expect when I heard about the Akron Metal Assault at R/E Nightclub, but have to say, your band really impressed me. I've been involved in music for a majority of my life and I know how easy it is to have something get in your mind and ruin a show. Early on in your performance, something went wrong with the bass equipment, but you didn't stop the show. You kept playing through keeping the crowd entertained. Speaking of entertained your front man did a great job at getting the crowd involved in the show. Those are two of the most important factors to me when it comes to bands: rolling with the punches and having a front person who can handle a crowd. Later in the show your bassist took his shirt off. That was appreciated, but he's no Dreamy Kevin. -RubberBuzz [To all you non-FMA members out there, if you're interested in checking out one of their shows, FMA will be playing at the Concrete Jungle on July 15.] (joe :: An Open Letter to FMA) 7.01.2005E-CheckmateIf only my car were a year newer, then I wouldn't have had to pay the $20 to get my car E-Checked.The future of E-Check in Ohio is finally certain with Gov. Bob Taft signing the state budget bill, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.Here comes my torn feelings o this issue. Come 2007, will our air really be cleaner or will we just accept that we are living in our own filth? Two more years of monitoring emmissions doesn't seem like it'll fix the problem; it'll just make it look like we care. The BJ :: Northeast Ohio drivers won't have to pay for E-Check (joe :: E-Checkmate) Boat ParadeI totally forgot about one of the coolest parts of the Fourth of July Weekend: The Portage Lakes Boat Parade. I read in the papery version of The BJ that it'll be this Sunday from 1:00 until 4:00. I don't know the route the parade takes, but its always been fun.I used to always go to the parade when I was growing up. People on the boats used to throw candy to all the kids. One year someone threw little rubber lizards; it was the coolest thing ever. I haven't been to the parade in years, but I'll be there on Sunday. I hope it doesn't suck. Oh and if anyone from The BJ knows where I can snag some info about the boat parade from Ohio.com, let me know. I'd be glad to post it and link to it. (joe :: Boat Parade) |
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