RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: January 2006

1.31.2006

I So Remember This

Today's news is history!

11:47 a.m., Jan. 31, 1986.

A force equaling 20,000 tons of dynamite rippled through 10 states and Canada.

Although there were just two seismographs in all of Ohio, quake experts quickly traced the epicenter to our own backyard: Lake County, just north of the Geauga County line.

It lasted maybe five seconds, long enough to vibrate merchandise from store shelves, crack plaster and break windows.

But mostly, it was a novelty that people got a kick out of as they donned their ``I Survived the Quake of '86'' T-shirts.

I was at my great-grandma's house. She thought it was a tornado so she made me go into the basement, you know the safest place to be during an earthquake.

The BJ :: Akron quaked, rattled, rolled

(joe :: I So Remember This)

1.20.2006

AIDS Benefit

I know this event isn't exactly in Akron, but it'll benefit people in the city.

Friends Together For Life, Inc. presents the 6th annual Evening of Entertainment and Illussion The Sensational Sixties-A Salute to Motown with guest emcee TV 5's Adam Shapiro to benefit local AIDS charities. Canton Marriott McKinley Grande. 6:30 cocktails, 7:30 dinner, show begins at 8:30. Tickets are $50 purchased at the Colanade Room, or by calling 330-477-0806.

There's also going to be a silent auction with all kinds of stuff up for grabs.

I know it seems like a lot of cash but it's helping a great cause. I also heard a bit about the show that's being planned; it sounds like it's going to be awesome. Friends Together for Life has gotten some awesome local talent to perform. If you can go, check it out.

(joe :: AIDS Benefit)

1.19.2006

Pizza Pizza

I was inspired by e-mail to get my ass in gear and do something new of the site. So here's a lovely listing of pizza shops. I've seperated out the chains from the Mom and Pop places for y'all. My favorites: Luigi's, Italo's, and Emidio & Sons.

Akron Pizza Shops

(joe :: Pizza Pizza)

1.16.2006

Square Survey

The Highland Square Neighboorhood Association is conducting a survey development in the Square. But you got to act fast to make sure your vioce is heard! Tuesday, January 17th, at 7.30 in Portage Path Elementary there will be a public meeting to talk about happenings in the Square. The survey results will influence this meeting.

Here's the survey info or you can visit HighlandSquare.org for more info.

With the news of the development agreement between the City of Akron, Albrecht, Inc., and the A.S.C.P.L., the Highland Square Neighborhood Association would like to know how residents and property owners in the Square might prioritize the following options. Please take just one minute to answer this one question. We would like to have replies in time for the Jan. 17 public meeting about the development, so please reply BY NOON ON JAN. 17.

You can respond to this be sending an e-mail to:

artinthesquare@yahoo.com.

Indicate which of the following would be your preferred way for development in Highland Square to proceed. For background information, please refer to:

http://www.ci.akron.oh.us/News_Releases/2005/1228.html

http://www.highlandsquare.org

We ought to continue to work with the city and
property owners to:

1. Put design guidelines in place before anydevelopment on the North Side of Market starts, evenif this delays or halts current development plans.

2. Encourage the Planning Department to consider a high priority concern (such as sharing parking) now,but otherwise support the current development plans.

3. Support the current development plans without anyeffort to alter the designs at this stage.

4. Support the current development plans but encouragethe Planning Department to pursue design/zoning guidelines for the South Side of Market St.

Thank you!!

Support your Square, support the survey.

HighlandSquare.org

(joe :: Square Survey)

1.13.2006

Water Worries

What happens when a professional wine taster gets ahold of Akron water? A funny story from Davie G.

Sample No. 1

Location: My house, Akron's Highland Square neighborhood.

Field notes: I figured this would provide a good baseline, since I'm most familiar with the water's flavor here. The night before our testing, the tap water had reverted to an especially strong ``potting soil'' flavor.

Nose: Clean.

Palate: Traces of garden soil, with slight metallic undertones.

Finish: Balanced, with a hint of clay; entirely drinkable and noticeably improved from the night before.

The water here tastes less like potting soil and a little more like old socks. Luckily, the water filter's taking a lot of the taste out.

The BJ :: A bitter toast to Akron water

The BJ :: Algae. Algae. Algae. Algae.

(joe :: Water Worries)

Two Enamigos

I had an unfortunate run-in with one of the owners of Highland Square's Two Amigos. I was at Adam's Street over by the hospital on Wednesday night. Every Wednesday and Friday they have a causal piano bar; it's a nice change of pace from the standard bar scene.

I was with a group of friends, when this man come up to us cursing and swearing telling us to shut up. Granted we were being a little loud, but we're at a bar. People are going to talk. Well the yelling gentleman, sat back down and preceded to keep bad mouthing a friend of mine call her a fat b-i-t-c-h more time then I care to discuss. Finally, I had had enough of this guy. I turned around and went off on him. Saying that if we were too loud, then he could have asked us to be quiet instead of being an ass about it. We sparred back in forth for a few minutes resulting in my using the lamest put down of all time. I called this guy "an ineffective human being." I don't even know what that means. Eventually, he stopped bad-mouthing my friend and within an hour he left the bar. I was even thanked by others in the bar for telling him off.

After my tirade, I found out this guy was one of the owners of Two Amigos. Earlier in the evening, he had been complaining about how rude people are and how they need to learn some manners. Sure, my outburst wasn't proper, but neither was calling another human being "fat bitch." He needs to take his own advice.

I guess I'm not the first to have such an encounter with one of the new Two Amigos owners. Check out the forums at HighlandSquare.org. There are other horror stories.

I feel terrible talking about a local business owner, but it comes doen to a simple question: why should I support a local business owner who doesn't seem to support the community around him? When you own a business, you represent it 24 hours a day. Everyone you meet is a potential customer. Why would you want to endanger that relationship?

So there's my side of the story. Two Amigos Guy, if you're out there I'd love to hear your side. In fact I'll publish it here. I want to be fair to you. I don't know your side; I shouldn't judge you. Maybe you can address your behavior in public places and in your restaurant to all of Akron once and for all.

(joe :: Two Enamigos)

1.09.2006

Color Test

This isn't at all about Akron, but it's still fun.

Joe took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test!

"Needs recognition. Ambitious, wants to impress and..."

Click here to read the rest of the results.

I don't agree with all of the results, but a few things in the profile are really close to correct. If nothing else I was entertained for a solid five minutes.

ColorQuiz

(joe :: Color Test)

1.03.2006

Elinore Korow

Art! Thursday! Woot! For more information, check out ArtToGoGallery.com.

(joe :: Elinore Korow)

New Year, Not So New Me

I've opted in for a New Year's Resolution this year, but it's not your standard type. I'm sick of gaining 5 pounds instead of losing the 15 I promised myself. (I really hate all of those damn weight loss commercials that are on this time of year, especially on Lifetime.) I get frustrated trying to be nice to people I hate. And it's tough to only go out one night a week even though I can save cash. So this year my resolution is to stop making unrealistic promises.

Now it may seem trite, but I think it's a good one and it has all kinds of practical implications. I'm not going to make promises to do things months in advance. I'm will not set crazy life goals for myself. And most importantly, I won't have to say "I'll give you a call and we'll do something" to someone I haven't seen in years; I know won't so I'm not even going to bring it up as an option. It'll be nice to not have a perpetual feeling of guilt.

(joe :: New Year, Not So New Me)

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