Purple Paint, Black & White World

Meh. My mind.

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Small Business Sundays: Thai Thai

Small Business Sundays: Thai Thai

Small Business Sundays is back and this week, I’m featuring Thai Thai in Lakewood, OH. This cozy, Bangkok-inspired eatery along Madison Ave, one of the business districts in Lakewood, gives Ohioans a taste of Thai street food. Fitting no more than four or five tables and a long bar, this is a hidden gem with a killer instagram account.

I kicked off the meal with an order of steamed potstickers…

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Lift Akron: January

Knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel, the winding roads greeted me as I made my way deeper into rural Ohio. We’d just gotten our first real snowfall of the year, but looking back, it was nothing compared to was to come only a couple of weeks later.

After driving past my destination and having to circle back, I pulled into the small lot right off the main road through what I like to…

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This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore. Over the course of nearly three weeks, we explored five countries, eight cities and their surrounding towns and parks. It was an ambitious trip, and we were exhausted by the end, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. All Travel Logs focused on the trip will be linked with #Akron2Europe. I’ll also provide some small tips that helped make our lives easier. 

Amsterdam, with its winding canals that crisscross the city, has a sort of charm that I don’t think I appreciated as much while I was there. Starting as a 13th-century fishing village, Amsterdam has grown into a major hub for business, culture, and tourism. Much of its characteristic cityscape developed in the 17th century, during the city’s Golden Age. Towards the end of this age, the Dutch Republic was under attack by both the French and English, but still remained an important hub and financial centre of Europe. Today, the city is known for its extreme tolerance. My fellow LGBTQ friends will find themselves right at home here.

This city is home to some of the most famous museums and artists in the world. Does the name Vincent Van Gogh sound familiar? Its language has Germanic roots and, similar to Ireland, I don’t think I realized how expansive its use was. I always thought of Netherlands as a country where most people spoke English. I know how foolish that was of me to assume but I’ve learned my lesson. This was the moment when it settled in that we were in a completely different part of the world.

The most diverse city in Europe, Amsterdam boasts over 180 different nationalities and is 45% ethnic minorities. Because of this diversity, we blended in fairly well and many people who approached us spoke in Dutch, which was a bit jarring. We had an incident where we had to wash clothes in Zaandam and we went to a laundromat where none of the employees spoke English. We had to use non-verbals and, with the help of a customer who spoke patchy English, we were able to get our closed washed, dried, pressed, folded, and packed for 16 Euros!

This is the first city where we actually got a chance to try out their public transportation system. Taking the Sprinter train from the airport to Zaandam was one of the smoothest experience I’ve had while transporting luggage. We stayed at the Easy Hotel Zaandam, a budget hotel that gives you the bare essentials, but it was clean and simple for what we needed (and later I’ll talk about why I’d probably not choose this hotel again event though it was a good experience).

Zaandam is a city on the Zaan river in North Holland next to Amsterdam. The architectural style is incredibly funky when you step out of the train station. You could tell that this was a shopping centre and overall isn’t a very exciting place to be. Many of the restaurants close early and we ended up arriving during Pentecost Sunday and Monday which hindered a lot that we could do. Needless to say, we didn’t stay in this area very long on any given day.

The Openbare Bibliotheek (Amsterdam Public Library – Central Library) was one of my favorite stops in the city. The towering library reminded me of Seattle’s Main Library  with its large glass windows, clean aesthetic and pops of color. The dim lighting and backlit shelves in certain areas were an interesting choice and made me feel like I was in a cozy cavern. I found the comics section relatively quickly and I weaved my way through the shelves chuckling as I flipped through Calvin & Hobbes, not understanding a word of Dutch.

Most of the days in the city was spent wandering the canals and I will admit that I did not enjoy my time in the Red Light District. I was disheartened to find that a lot of the shop windows sat empty and people were gawking at the women who where there. I understand the attraction of the area, but I wish that it was less of a spectacle. Everyone has to make money somehow.

I was thoroughly impressed with their biking culture. Approximately 58% of people in Amsterdam over 12 cycle daily and the city has nearly 480 miles of cycle paths crisscrossing the city. Many of these paths are separated, elevated cycle tracks, and they’ve used the physical landscape to force drivers to conform to the set speed zones (30mph and 18mph). These traffic-calming elements like narrow streets, speed bumps, and textured pavement pepper the area and not once did I feel like I would get hit by a car. A bike, on the other hand, is a different story.

In my line of work, we often point to cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam as examples of how biking can be a viable transportation option. This frame of thought is fine as long as we make sure to balance it out with the realities we face in American cities. Both Amsterdam and Copenhagen have not only undergone a cultural transformation, but also a physical one that has taken decades to accomplish. These cities are also very flat. When approaching building a bike network in a hilly, Rustbelt city like the one in which I live, we have to provide different solutions to address these different obstacles. I’m not saying that it can’t be done, but we have to think creatively about it and work with those who, despite the barriers, are already cycling regularly.

As an artist by nature, I cannot not stop by the area’s art museum. This bold, beautiful building took my breath away. Rijks Museum is the Dutch national museum lated in Museum square. It was 17.50 Euros per person (set to increase to 19 Euros in 2019). It features many of the greats including Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, but also some stunning costumes, wood work, and ceramics.

I could take two days to explore this place and probably barely scratch the surface. I find it very interesting how curators organize exhibits and what stories they wish to tell about the history of a place. When I decide to go back, I’m going to spend more time exploring Museum square. On our way back, we did stop into a couple shops and an art gallery that was showing Banksy’s work. It was really cool to see their work in person after hearing so much about them and seeing them used through memes across the internet.

Pivoting a bit, the Dutch countryside is a site to behold. We took a quick jaunt out to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills and try some of their incredible chocolate. This neighborhood in Zaandam features historic windmills and houses from the 18th and 19th century, as well as many handcraft shops and museums. It is, without a doubt, a tourist destination, but if you’re only in the area for a few days and you want a taste of the countryside, this is the place to go.

The main portion of the neighborhood smells of roasting chocolate that can be a bit overwhelming if you’ve never experienced it before. There are shops and residential areas that fill the space and people zigzag through the streets on bikes. It’s honestly very chill. We had a pleasant meal at a small shop that we quickly found out only took Euros (and Discover!), but had some of the best coffee in the area (luckily we carried just enough). It was early so we were the only two inside the restaurant, but the outdoors quickly filled up.

Across the bridge is a recreation of a historic village featuring the actual 18th and 19th century windmills that were moved down the waterway to this area. After a short stroll along the path and taking in the scenery, we took some time to relax by one of the canals. This felt like the first time we truly stopped moving during the whole trip. I can still feel the way the stress melted off my shoulders and I sighed in contentment.

There were a lot of laughs and a lot of exhausted moments by the time we made it to Amsterdam. We had been on the go for nearly five full days without rest and I believe that it may have colored my opinion on this place initially. When rating all the cities we’d visited, this ranks pretty low on the list, but with a few adjustments, I would be willing to give this place another try.

I want to leave you with a few suggestions for those who want to visit. Stay in Amsterdam; trying to be frugal and staying out in Zaandam was one of the first mistakes we made. When booking the hotel, I didn’t realize how long it would take to get into the city, so it hindered a lot of what we could do there. Stay longer; I’d recommend giving this place at least five to seven days to truly appreciate it. I wish I had given this place more time to grow on me because looking back, it was a unique and cool experience. Lastly, I do not understand the obsession with mayo and fries. I will never get it. I don’t want to get it and I hate every second of it. Same goes for hotdogs. No thank you.

Thanks for reading,

Travel Log: Amsterdam/Zaandam This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore.

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This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore. Over the course of nearly three weeks, we explored five countries, eight cities and their surrounding towns and parks. It was an ambitious trip, and we were exhausted by the end, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. All Travel Logs focused on the trip will be linked with #Akron2Europe. I’ll also provide some small tips that helped make our lives easier. 

Dublin, oh Dublin, be still my heart. Dublin has always captured my fascination. When I was a teen, I read a romantic fantasy novel series by Karen Marie Moning that was set in Dublin and since then I’ve been determined to set foot in the Irish city. It completely lived up to my expectations, and then some. This lush, green country with its hills, diverse city centre, and kind, but no nonsense residents captured my heart. This is a place that I would go back to again and again.

Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. A little more than 80% of the population is White Irish, while the other 20% are non-nationals, mostly from the UK, Poland, China, and the Philippines. It has a population of over 506,000 and about 1.2 million residents in the wider metropolitan area. Most of the residents speak English, but what surprised me the most was that Irish, or Gaelic, was still in use. I had no idea that the Celtic language had not gone the way of Latin. It is also surprisingly very progressive. While there, the city was in the midst of voting for an abortion referendum to repeal the eighth amendment to the Constitution focusing on the restriction of abortions. It won in a landslide victory, with 66% of the voters voting yes. But that’s not all. Ireland has an openly gay Prime Minister leading the country, and became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage.

Needless to say, I fell in love with this country. We ended up arriving during a rare hot, sunny week and did not run into a single bit of rain the entire time. People commented on the strange good weather they were having. Airbnb was a big help on this particular leg of the trip. We stayed with a wonderful couple with the most Irish of names, Helen and Seamus. Helen prepared tea and biscuits for us when we arrived and every morning made us a wonderful Irish breakfast. She was honestly one of the kindest people that I had ever met. Seamus had a thick, rolling accent that reminded me of my family members who live in the South. It was warm, rough and full.

  From the moment we stored our bags, we were off exploring. We only had about three and half days there and we wanted to make the most of it. It was a good 25 minute walk to the city centre where all the action was, but there was so much to see that it didn’t feel too long. One of the first things I noticed was the human-scale design of the buildings and the way they build their bike lanes. There were no skyscrapers reaching for the sky and they seamlessly accounted for different forms of transportation. The sidewalks were wide and there were protected bike lanes on some of the main streets that were on different levels than the road.

This was my first taste of the proper way to design public spaces for people in Europe. In the middle of the neighborhood where we stayed was a large park that sat across from the neighborhood library.  Children from a nearby school played in the designated children’s playground, as adults strolled through the park or used some of the outdoor exercise equipment. A refrain of mine on this trip was that Ireland created the color green. Everything was so lush and alive.

In the city centre you could find pockets of green space where people were lounging or watching others play soccer. We spent some time scouting the area before stopping at Trinity College where the Long Room is housed. The Long Room is a stunning, 65 meter library that stretches towards the ceiling and houses 200,000 of the library’s oldest books. It is one of the most spectacular libraries that I’ve ever seen. I’d love to peruse the shelves and discover what secrets they hold.

I could spend an entire blog post talking about the library, but that would be irresponsible of me because Ireland is so much more than just that space. You can feel the history in this place. From the cobblestone roads to the graveyards and ruins of monasteries, this is a place steeped in history. Settled by farmers and home to Celts to being conquered by Vikings, Ireland has changed hands a number of times over the centuries. Currently, the isle is split between the independent sovereign state, the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom. America has deep ties with the isle through the immigrants who moved to America for a better life during The Great (Potato) Famine in the mid-1800s.

We had originally secured a car to drive around the countryside, but after driving through Iceland, I had no nerves left to tackle driving on the opposite side of the road. We ended up saving some money and joining a DoDublin Tour. Normally I avoid all tourist attractions, but in a new country where getting out into the countryside would be a challenge, I was happy to break that rule. The less stress to deal with, the better.

The tour we selected was to Glendalough and Powerscourt. It was one of the best decisions we could have made. It took nearly seven hours round-trip as we rolled on a big double decker bus winding through Wicklow County. We passed the Docklands’ countless sheep before we reached the historic, monastic city of Glendalough. This place is a site to behold. We weaved our way through the old graveyard and ruins of the old 6th century monasteries before hitting the trail to the lakes which unfolded before us. Honestly, Ireland created the color green.

After this stop we wound our way around The Great Sugarloaf (Beannach Mhór) Mountains and into the town of Enniskerry, where Powerscourt is located. The Powerscourt Estate and Gardens was formerly a 13th century castle that was converted into a mansion by the 1st Viscount Powerscourt in the early to mid-1700’s. After a tragic fire and falling into disrepair, the estate was restored to its former grandeur. Now, the estate is open to the public and its gardens are some of the best and most diverse in the world. We snagged a really great lunch there and were able to spend around an hour exploring the estate. It is truly a beautiful place.

The rest of the time was spent eating, drinking, and exploring. The food here was not bland by any stretch of the imagination and pretty standard in terms of expensiveness. I had some of the best bangers and mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) that I’ve ever had. I drunk some fine Guinness, although the newer microbreweries and whiskey distillers starting are even better than those that have dominated the market in the past. For dinner one night, we went to Boxty’s in Temple Square, a tourist haven, but the food was some of the best that I had on the entire trip.

On the last full day, we decided to take it slow and visit the visited The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland and the National Gallery of Ireland. The gardens were around 10 minutes by foot from our Airbnb and Helen gave us some of the most thorough directions that I’ve ever seen anyone give. We didn’t have to pull out our phones the entire walk. As we strolled through the neighborhood, we did get a chance to see a different side of the city. It was a Saturday and many of the children were taking their first communion. It was a slower pace than the inner city, but the area still buzzed with activity.

The National Gallery of Ireland is an incredible art museum with a range of works that reflected both Irish and world history. There was a painting of a Toy Seller by William Mulready that fulfilled something within me that I hadn’t realized that I was craving. It’s rare to see images of black people who are not slaves or servants in works as old as this . To find an image like this in Ireland of all places is making me reevaluate the way that I perceive art in museums and the intentions of curators. It was an experience that truly stands out above the rest.

Ireland is one of those places where I feel like I will never get enough of it. This is honestly just the tip of the iceberg for me with this country. I plan on going back several times over the next few years and truthfully, I would hop on a chance to live there. Next up from this trip is Amsterdam and Zaandam!

Thanks for reading,

Travel Log: Dublin This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore.

[purplecoloredglasses]

This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore. Over the course of nearly three weeks, we explored five countries, eight cities and their surrounding towns and parks. It was an ambitious trip, and we were exhausted by the end, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. All Travel Logs focused on the trip will be linked with #Akron2Europe. I’ll also provide some small tips that helped make our lives easier. 

I never would’ve thought that I would end up in Iceland. Up until booking the trip, I knew little to nothing about the European island country that was relatively the size of Kentucky. We had about a 20-hour layover that began around 9am, so we set up to get a hotel and a car to explore.

Before I get into the city, I wanted to tell you a little bit about Iceland. Most of it is this barren wasteland of a place. I say that with the utmost respect. It was an interesting place to look at from the airplane window, with nothing but volcanic rock covering the land. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t necessarily it. Anyway, Iceland began with a settlement of Vikings, which is no wonder that my boyfriend was mistaken for a local with his blonde hair and blue eyes. Twice in the 18th century, the volcano Laki spewed lava for eight months straight. That is why the landscape is as barren as it is and, due to this, not much can grow here. A lot of the food is imported, but it being an island has given it the advantage of having a plethora of seafood available. There are a lot of natural hot springs and lagoons, which I’m so sad we didn’t get a chance to check out.

If you want to see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), this is the place to go. Between September and Mid-April you can see the lights every night, if the skies are clear. Another fun fact is that this little island produces the most books per capita in the world. I’m adopting their tradition of giving books on Christmas Eve this year. If you’d like to learn more interesting facts about this country, visit the History Channel website.

Getting into the city is not as big of a challenge as I thought it would be. We rented a car that was pretty cheap, but surprisingly nice and it took us around 40 minutes to get to the capital, Reykjavík. We also had the luck of the roads and cars being situated on the side of the road that I’m used to. I would recommend just renting a car instead of using a bus to get in and out of the city. It’s cheaper to get the car, and you have more freedom to explore the countryside.

The city is actually really beautiful. It definitely has an entirely different feel than what I’m used to. There’s a lot of Scandinavian influence and is at human scale. I did not see many skyscrapers, if any at all that I can remember. There was a lot of public art, which was surprising. The roads are tight, but that wasn’t too hard to navigate. We ended up splurging on high speed data through our cellphone provider to get around and it was one of the best decisions. I can not speak a lick of Icelandic, so it was a lot of fun trying to figure out how to pay for parking in a parking lot in the city centre. Me and a parking meter guy had a full conversation through nonverbals and it worked out well enough. Don’t forget your credit cards.

This is not a destination to visit if you’re trying to be frugal. Food was a huge expense in the 20 hours we were there. Because farming is tightly regulated, labour is expensive, and a lot of the food is imported, so meals are incredibly expensive. The street food restaurant we went to during lunch had some of the best lamb stew, but a bowl of stew, a plate of eggs and salmon, and two drinks were over $40 USD. I will admit that they were endless, but still that was a little on the higher side than we were expecting when we walked in.

We didn’t stay too long in the city centre because we had just gotten off a 6-hour overnight plane ride that pushed us four hours ahead, but we made sure to check out the Hallgrímskirkja, a towering Lutheran church that is one of the largest structures in the country. This church has a statue of Leifur Eiríksson, the Viking explorer who sailed to America well before Christopher Columbus stumbled his way here, in front of it. The statue was a gift from the US and is the only statue in Iceland that has a guard permanently protecting it.

After touring the city, we went out to Þingvellir (Thingvellir), the country’s expansive national park, to explore. We ended up not going far enough into the park to see some of the greener areas, but it was beautiful and the weather changed so much that I felt right at home. I’ve linked to a blog post that shows some of the stunning views once you get into the Golden Circle area. The roads to get out there are incredibly smooth. For a land that gets snow, ice, and rain often, the infrastructure was incredibly well maintained. That fact reminded me that I was not in the US at all. I will say that it is very winding and it made me nervous at several points winding through the countryside (and I’d recommend the standard insurance on the car because the place is full of lava rocks which are prone to jump up and put nicks in the cars). One of my favorite memories is listening to Janelle Monae’s latest album, Dirty Computer, on repeat as we wound our way through the park. If you haven’t listened to it, you definitely should.

We only had 20 hours and had to be up at 3am for our flight to Dublin, so I think we covered a lot of ground in that bit of time. Next time we go back, we will definitely be prepared to spend a few days there to explore the park. We’ll also be prepared for the food expense a little better and tack on the Blue Lagoon, the geothermal spa, as a fun little addition. Last tip, we went in mid-May and it doesn’t get fully dark at night during this time. Make sure you’re in a room that has heavy, dark curtains! Iceland only seems to get an actual nighttime between early-September and late-April.

Overall, I enjoyed seeing the range of Iceland. I don’t think I’d go back more than once more to explore, other than for long layovers. It’s a bit too spread out for my tastes, although it is a beautiful country and the people seem to be nice. I didn’t get stared at, which is a giant plus for me. Next up will be our trip to Dublin!

Thanks for reading,

Travel Log: Iceland This past Spring, my boyfriend and I took a trip across Europe in celebration of him graduating and getting a new job, along with my need to explore.

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Today, to complete my “Hiker’s Choice” for the Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree, I returned to an old favorite: The Gorge. I’ve completed two of the eight trails thus far, and I have a little over three weeks left to wrap up the last six before the spree is over. Instead of tackling the Gorge Trail, I decided to take a route that I’ve never done before: Glens Trail. This winding, rocky trail takes hikers along the Cuyahoga River and up towards Front Street by Triad Advertising before having you turn back around, which provides an equally stunning view of the path you just trekked.

The trail is listed at 1.8 miles, similar to the Gorge Trail, and is rated strenuous with a mixed class of accessible, basic, and primitive. Personally, I wouldn’t say that this is the most accessible trail. It’s incredibly rocky, with many thin sections of the trail possibly proving a challenge for those who are not steady on their feet. You do get some spectacular views of the river along the way, as well as the natural ledges with flowing springs. It is hands down one of the most beautiful trails that I’ve had the privilege of exploring in the area.

The Gorge has always been one of my favorite metro parks because of its variety of views. This is an area with a very obvious Native American history, especially around the Mary Campbell Cave area on the Gorge Trail. The ledges add a lot of texture and visual appeal to the trail, and the narrow turns and paths upward challenge me to push myself more. I’m someone with a pretty significant fear of heights, but I force myself to face that fear every time I go climbing in a place like this. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished more than when I stick to easier paths.

The Gorge is beautiful year-round, but this time of year is especially breathtaking. As you can see from many of the photos, the gold of the trees, the river, the way the ledges jut out in angles create an image that is hard to forget. It reminds me that this kind of beauty takes a long time to create. We tend to see the here and now, but forget that it took thousands of years to establish something as beautiful. The same is true about life, the work that I do in my community, and the art I create. It takes time to build something beautiful, but the journey can be just as fulfilling. We are all a work in progress.

I’m going to try to carry this thinking through the end of the year and into the next. In this constant quest for self-improvement, I’m going to make mistakes. I’m going to slip up, but I have to make sure to brush myself off and try again. I cringe at things I’ve done or said in the past, but that cringing reminds me that I’m learning from those mistakes and just need to keep moving forward towards a better me.

Hiking Spree 2018: Cascade Valley

Thanks for reading,

Hiking Spree 2018: The Gorge Today, to complete my "Hiker's Choice" for the Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree, I returned to an old favorite: The Gorge.

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It’s been a busy year and needless to say, I’ve been behind on my posting. I’m working on it and focusing on being intentional about writing for the blog. Once I catch up, I’m hoping that I can be a bit more consistent with my posts. It’s just been an overwhelming task right now. Anyway, today I decided to kick off the Hiking Spree by Summit Metro Parks. I have less than a month to complete eight trails, but I think that I can do it.

The Summit Metro Parks Fall Hiking Spree is the longest-running of its kind. Participants have the option to conquer eight out of 13 trails, including one hiker’s choice. The event spans September 1st to November 30th and those who complete it for the first time receive a badge and hiking stick. Veteran hikers receive a badge to add to their hiking stick. I’ve completed the spree at least once and got halfway through last year. This year, I plan on completing it in less than a month, hopefully.

So, I kicked it off with a harder but shorter trail. Cascade Valley’s Schumacher Trail is 1.2 miles with a Basic class and rating of 3, which means it’s strenuous. This trail takes you downhill the first half and uphill the second half. It’s a big loop that includes points where you can look down to a beautiful valley. There’s one place to sit along the trail that’s about 1/3 of the way through. Today was particularly muddy because of the morning rain, but I completed the trail in about 38 minutes, including the time it took to stop and take photos.

This time of year is one of the few where I feel forced to reflect and slow down. My anxiety has been in a weird place over the last two years, but this past one has been a bit less of a rollercoaster. I’ve taken the time to exercise consistently, but have left my mind to fend for itself beyond regularly going to therapy. The more time I spend on social media and not meditating, physically writing, or drawing sends my anxiety through the roof. My attention span has not been what it once was and I’ve picked up this really bad body insecurity that is new to me. A lot of that has been traced back to my social media use and this consistent pressure to be “on” all the time. Burnout has been an ever-present feeling, and I’m trying to face it head on before it gets to me.

Autumn is one of my favorite times of year. It’s the time when things begin to prepare for hibernation and everything just feels different. I think that we spend so much of our lives going from one thing to the next and we don’t take enough time to just be. I’m trying to just be for a little while. I’ve taken on my last community activity and have begun to roll off of others that I have no more energy to give. I’m slowly working my way back to being creative again and giving myself a bit of grace when I’m not up to the level that I think I should be. I’m forcing myself to be bored again and building a group of friends that I really enjoy being around and can grow from. It’s been a long process, but I feel better about where I am in life than I have in a while.

Here’s to hoping I’m successful in this endeavor.

Thanks for reading,

Hiking Spree 2018: Cascade Valley It's been a busy year and needless to say, I've been behind on my posting. I'm working on it and focusing on being intentional about writing for the blog.

[purplecoloredglasses]

Well over a year ago, I had the opportunity to attend a learning journey to Kansas’ largest city, Wichita, hosted by the Wichita Community Foundation. Kansas was the last place that I would have thought that I would’ve ended up for work, but my job has allowed me to reevaluate the way that I view cities around the world.

Wichita, once known as Cowtown, began as a trading post along the Chisholm Trail in the 1860’s. Prior to its development into a city, Wichita was inhabited by what Spanish explorer Francisco Vazquez de Coronado dubbed “Quivira,” or Wichita, people. The US purchased the land from the French via the Louisiana Purchase and it became part of the Kansas Territory in 1854.

Being along the Chisholm trail made the area a destination for cattle drivers traveling from Texas. The immigration that resulted because of this led to a speculative land boom and expanded the city. Several colleges came about, with one of the most notable being Wichita State University, which opened in 1886.

Fast forward to the 1920’s. The discovery of oil and natural gas led to a second economic boom and created the fortunes of oil moguls Archibald Derby and Fred C. Koch. Aviation and aircraft manufacturing developed, creating a third economic boom during World War II. They quickly became the “Air Capital of the World,” being the first city to mass produce commercial aircrafts. Growth slowed in the 70’s and then the city, along with local organizations, began working together to revitalize the city in the 2000’s. (Note: This is not a full historical overview. I’ve a provided link above for those that want to read a fuller history of Wichita.)

Those who know the history of Akron (my hometown) know that this is a similar timeline. Akron began as a pass-through area due to the canal and eventually a town cropped up around it. It went through economic booms due to the rubber industry and went into decline only for the local government, community members and area organizations to begin efforts to revitalize it.

Their current challenges reflect Akron’s, namely the need for more small businesses, lack of use of public spaces beyond special events, and the hurdle of reversing the trend of people moving away from the city centre. They’re not completely similar; in fact, Wichita has more than double the population that Akron has and their major industries and families continue to play an active role in its future. The largest employers in Wichita are still in aircraft manufacturing. But due to the similarities, I quickly felt at home and it made me want to learn more.

Geographically, the city is very flat with the large Arkansas River (host site for Wichita Riverfest) dividing the eastern and western parts of the city. Wichita’s history as one of the first organized lunch counter sit-ins (the Dockum Drug Store sit-ins) during the Civil Rights Movement appears to be relatively unknown to many. Sculptures tucked in a park off the main street tell the story of this important, but often forgotten time in our nation’s history. Student-led with little support from the area’s NAACP chapter, the protests lasted for a month before the owner finally allowed the black students to be served. But, as with the rest of the nation today, racial inequality is an ongoing problem.

The city’s complicated relationship with the Koch Brothers fascinates me. The Koch family has provided tens of millions of dollars to support area nonprofits in the arts, sciences, sports, and more. But they’ve also provided just as much money and influence on things less visible. The brothers are most often known around the nation as conservative mega-billionaires that have nearly unmatched power and influence.

During my trip, I got a chance to visit the WSU Innovation Campus makerspace facility, GoCreate, and it was incredibly inspiring and heavily funded by Koch. Open to the public through memberships, this facility is state-of-the-art, innovative, and community focused. They have spaces for woodworking, metal and welding, textiles, design (3D, graphic, etc), and electronics. There’s a co-working space, private rooms available for rent, mentorship opportunities, and classes to train people on the equipment and to better their projects, small businesses, etc. I’d be over the moon if we had something like that in my hometown.

The Positives

Flag: I think that my favorite thing about Wichita is their flag. Designed in 1937, it means freedom, happiness, and home. The Native American symbol for home sits in the center.

Public Art: Wichita has a lot of public art. My favorite is a collection of beautiful, interactive sculptures by Georgia Weber that stretches along Douglas Ave, commissioned by the DeVore Foundation. And I can’t mention public art without highlighting the Keeper of the Plains, a 44-foot tall statue at the meeting point of the Little and Big Arkansas rivers. It was created by Wichitan and Native American artist Blackbear Bosin.

Infrastructure: Unlike Akron, Wichita saved most of its old buildings. Small businesses have begun to pop up in downtown and development has started to grow.

Cost of Living: The cost of living in Wichita is well below the national average. A downtown 2-bedroom apartment will cost you around $1000 per month.

Industry Support: This is a city with deep roots in manufacturing that has stayed over time. The family of one of those businesses lives in the city and aids the city through financial support.

Engagement: From what I saw (because I was there for work), Wichita has a growing art scene full of diverse creatives who are engaged and ready to roll up their sleeves to make their community better. The Wichita Community Foundation has does some great work in supporting initiatives to get people engaging with others and public space. The ICT Pop-Up Urban Park is a prime example of that.

The Negatives

Downtown Living: Wichita struggles with getting people to live downtown and bridging that city/rural divide. I believe things are beginning to change, but it’s a common challenge with midsize cities.

Walkability and Public Transportation: The city’s walking, biking, and public transit could be improved. I checked into their WalkScore and TransitScore and they’re pretty low. This means that most errands need a car and there aren’t many bike lanes.

Industry Support: This one is a double-edged sword because that heavy investor in the city may have a lot of influence in the way the city takes shape. It could also leave the city vulnerable if they were to leave.

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Wichita and would love to go back to take a deeper dive into all that the city has to offer. Data USA, a website and visualization engine, has a deeper dive into Wichita’s story through public US Government data.

Have you been to Wichita? What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading,

Travel Log: Wichita Well over a year ago, I had the opportunity to attend a learning journey to Kansas' largest city, 

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*Warning: Photos beyond this point are not for those uncomfortable around raw meat.*

On today’s edition of Small Business Sunday is The Farmer’s Rail, a local butcher and artisanal meat shop in Bath, OH. I was first introduced to this business by a chance encounter with the farm that runs it, Brunty Farms. I’m an avid farmers’ market goer and Brunty is one of the vendors at Countryside Conservancy’s Howe Meadow and Winter Farmers’ Markets. Up until recently, I still purchased my all-natural meats and seafood at Giant Eagle, but I’d been itching to go local ever since I made the switch for most of my in-season vegetables and fruits. I believe it was December of last year (2017) when I first decided to bite the bullet and try Brunty. Needless to say, I fell in love.

I suppose that I should share a bit of background as to why they’re so great. Brunty Farms is an area farm that sells pasture-raised meats and eggs located in Akron and Ashland, Ohio.  All of their products are fresh, all natural, and locally processed. I don’t think you can get any more local than that unless you raise animals yourself!

After my first introduction, I craved more, but I prefer not getting my meat frozen. I did some digging and found that they do sell directly from their farm and have a CSA program where you could buy “shares” from the farm. This intrigued me, but I was never able to get out there to visit. This led me to learning about The Farmer’s Rail.

Located on Cleveland-Massillon Rd., it’s a bit out of the way for me, but distance never stops me from getting quality food. The shop is larger than it seems, but it’s constantly filled with people. They have everything ranging from seafood to cheese and jerky. They even have coolers and freezers featuring other local products like pierogies, lemonade and soda, hot sauce, and pickles.

If you’re interested in getting fresh, local meats, I’d recommend The Farmers’ Rail because their quality is unparalleled in the area. I also find that their prices are on par with what I used to spend for high-quality meats at Giant Eagle, so if you are used to that then you won’t even noticed the switch in your budget.

The Farmer’s Rail

1572 N. Cleveland Massillon Road

Bath, Ohio 44333

Tuesday – Friday 10am – 7pm

Saturday 10am – 6pm

Thanks for reading,

Small Business Sundays: The Farmer’s Rail *Warning: Photos beyond this point are not for those uncomfortable around raw meat.* On today's edition of Small Business Sunday is The Farmer's Rail, a local butcher and artisanal meat shop in Bath, OH.

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On the heels of a successful membership campaign, the Akron Art Museum gives us Blurred Lines, a stunning, thought provoking exhibit by renowned artist Jun Kaneko. This exhibition features splashes of color, cracks of mistakes, cultural inspiration, and the question of: who are you?

Jun Kaneko, most notably labeled as a Japanese ceramic artist, is a powerhouse of a creative who has an affinity for promoting civic engagement. The septuagenarian was born in Nagoya, Japan in 1942. He studied painting with artist Satoshi Ogawa before coming to Chouinard Institute of Art in 1963. Kaneko has taught at some of the nation’s best art schools, including Rhode Island School of Design and the Cranbrook Academy of Art. His work is featured in over seventy museum collections and he’s done over sixty public art commissions and designed costumes and sets for three operas. You can read more of his bio here.

His exhibit in Akron ranges from ceramic sculptures of varying sizes to paintings featuring brilliant strikes of color. Repetition, straight lines, and wild colors juxtaposed against black or white dominate the exhibit. It is playful, yet thoughtful exhibit. The artist plays careful attention to color and the emotions that they evoke. Here’s a piece of the museum’s statement:

“Among the most acclaimed artists working in contemporary ceramics today, Jun Kaneko has spent decades pushing the boundaries of ceramics, sculpture and painting, repeatedly blurring the lines that have traditionally separated the world of fine art and craft. Jun Kaneko: Blurred Lines, opening February 17, 2018, presents an array of the artist’s monumental works while providing insight into his thinking and artistic process. Informed by early experiences in a Zen Garden at Ryōan-ji in Kyoto, Japan, Kaneko’s work contains ongoing references to rhythm and pattern and sound and silence. His artworks are often covered with stripes, simple geometric shapes, and spirals and dots, suggesting opposing but complementary forces of light and darkness, mass and space and present and past.”

Read the rest here.

  In one room, the museum’s curators placed egg-ish shaped ceramic pieces that featured cracks filled with gold using the Japanese art of pottery repair, Kintsukuroi (“golden repair”). This technique is tied with a philosophy that “illuminates the breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something in disguise.” I also think of this as a nice tie-in to the museum’s work with Artist Rachel Sussman, who used this same technique on the museum’s floor last November as part of the Alchemy: Transformations in Gold exhibition.

Kaneko’s work prompts viewers to move within the negative space that his pieces create, developing a relationship unique to art beyond the 3D instillation/sculpture sphere. Care is taken to each piece and the detail is awe-inspiring. The piece above is an approximately 65-foot canvas featuring a gradient of lines shifting from yellow to red, but using the colors of the rainbow to do so. In examining this piece, views are able to see that Kaneko dripped paint on the top and bottom of the canvas to create the lines. His style of work falls perfectly in line with the Akron Art Museum and their quest to connect art to all residents regardless of age, race, and socio-economic status as well as engage them in unique ways.

To that end, in November of 2017, the Akron Art Museum signed up approximately 15,000 new members for free in a single day. This show-stopping spin of Giving Tuesday was, in part, thanks to the generous donations by the John S. and James L. Foundation, as well as the J.M. Smucker Company.

Over the last several years, the museum has ingraining itself deeper into the community by developing projects and programs that explore what art is and how you can perceive it. For example, the museum created a Living with Art exhibit in which they partnered with Hazel Tree Design Studio (formerly Hazel Tree Interiors) to create spaces like living rooms where people can imagine interacting with art in their home. From there they moved to Inside|Out, an exhibit placing reproductions of the museum’s pieces in the area neighborhoods, rotating every quarter or so. This aligned with the opening of the Bud & Susie Rogers Garden, which is becoming a living room space of sorts in Downtown Akron, and this year we’ve reach another transformational point with the Akron Art Library. This art library is a partnership between the museum and the Akron-Summit County Public Library in which residents can borrow local art to be placed in their own home for weeks at a time.  Look for more information about that in a later blog post.

Overall, this exhibit stands out in my mind as one of the museum’s best that I’ve had the opportunity to view. Not only is it unique by way of compelling medium/positioning, but it is also the first that I know of that CEO Mark Masuoka curated himself. Masuoka drew upon his 35-year relationship with the artist to bring this collection to the area and I am thankful for it.

If you get a chance, please go check it out. Blurred Lines will be up through June 3rd.

Thank you for reading,

Jun Kaneko: Blurred Lines On the heels of a successful membership campaign, the Akron Art Museum gives us Blurred Lines…

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Small Business Sundays: Goods

Small Business Sundays: Goods

Small Business Sundays are back! I got a little busy with some work and vacation travel, so I wasn’t able to keep up as much as I’d like. Well, I’m back and ready to hit the ground running. I’m starting off celebrating an all natural small business started by a local black woman. Randi is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I always enjoy running into her and I love that she’s created a…

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Boston. Beantown. The birthplace of the American Revolution. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US and the oldest city in Massachusetts. The area was originally inhabited by the Massachusetts tribe of Native Americans who were virtually wiped out by yellow fever and small pox brought by settlers soon after the arrival of Captain John Smith (Pocahontas anyone?). Puritans settled soon afterwards and became the Massachusetts Bay Company.

I’m not going to dig too much into the history, but let me hit the highlights: King Phillip’s War, Salem Witch Trials (in the area), the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere, and The Great Boston Fire. Boston was one of the first places that slaves landed in America and tensions rose rapidly between abolitionists, the Irish laborers, and freed slaves during the Civil War. Between 1880 and 1920, Boston’s population more than doubled from 362,000 to over 748,000 residents.

Home to many famous authors ranging from Julia Ward Howe, Isaac Asimov, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Boston is the kind of place where you would write a novel or listen to poetry readings at a local craft cocktail bar. Because of its rich history it feels like intellectually stimulating conversations weave around every corner, sweater vests are the norm, and you can’t find a poor cup of coffee in all the city (not true because Dunkin’ Donuts are everywhere).

  Due to all of this, this city fascinates me. I’ve spent a lot of time traveling this year for both work and pleasure, but similar to Philadelphia, Boston continues to stand out. I was there for a bit of a breather following my and my boyfriend’s birthday (we’re three days apart). Neither of us had ever been to the New England area so this was a perfect excuse to fly out. We only spent about two and a half days out there, but I wish it could’ve been a week. I fell in love with its brick buildings, tight, winding roads, and proximity to Cambridge. I admit that I’m totally projecting an idealistic image onto it, but there’s something about this city makes me not care (as much).

Okay, okay, I do care. Let me take off the rose-colored glasses for a second to mention that as with many big cities, Boston has a major inequality problem. In 2014, it topped the list of a Brookings study as the most unequal city in the U.S. Its high student population should be taken into account for its lowest 20 percent of income earners, but still, that’s huge. This divide falls along racial lines and this city is one of the most residentially segregated cities that scores incredibly low on social and economic mobility.

According to this Wired article:

“White families in Boston have a median net worth of more than $240,000 (likely based on home and business ownership), while African-American families have a median net worth of essentially nothing. More than 60 percent of all jobs in Boston are filled by (largely white) commuters, who are overrepresented in high-paying sectors like finance and technical services.”

But, things are currently looking up (hopefully). With initial funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Mayor’s Office is launching an Economic Mobility Lab with the goal “to embed in all city departments an ongoing commitment to data collection that will shed light on systemic racism as well as programs and policies that appear to mitigate its effects.That commitment will be designed to survive any change in mayoral leadership. Then the city can adopt policies and gather support for efforts to make the ladder of opportunity real in Boston.” This is huge because there appears to be nothing like this anywhere else in the country! That keeps me hopeful that real, substantial change can happen in this city that I’ve fallen in love with.

Instead of taking the touristy route, we wandered a lot. I’ve learned over the last two years with my boyfriend that we have very different exploring styles. I’m more of a wanderer while he’s a planner. The best time is spent somewhere in between. The two-and-a-half days in Boston were spent hopping from coffee shop to library to school building and back. We had some authentic lobster rolls in the Italian neighborhood, grabbed a couple books from the MIT bookstore, and got a chance to relax.

The Good

It’s Brick Heaven: Boston is filled with some of the most beautiful and classical architecture that I’ve ever seen. You can tell that this is such an old city because the vast majority of its buildings are built with brick and granite.

Its tourist traps are tinged in history. Because it’s such an old city, Boston’s touristy spots teach you a lot about American history.

Walkability: It’s incredibly flat, so walking 8 miles each day was no problem for us. Everything was fairly close together and there were always sites to see. Boston plans on becoming the most walkable city in the US by 2030. Currently, it sits at number three.

Boston Public Library: This library is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever been. One half is very old and feels like a place one would go to study the rich history of law. The other side is bright, colorful and interactive with a new anchor area on the first floor.

Distinct Neighborhoods: I love that each neighborhood has its own personality. LOVE!

The Bad

The Drivers are Awful: We didn’t do much riding in a car so I can’t comment on the congestion, but like most bigger cities, the drivers are awful!

Intellectual Hierarchy: This is such a double-edged sword. One one hand, I love the air of intellectualism, but on the other side, I can seen how this city could shut out those that are not on its presumed level. This is where the inequity piece comes in.

Cost of Living: Like most big cities, this is an expensive place to live. Most monthly rent for a standard 2 bedroom apartment is upwards of $2000.

Despite the negatives, I still deeply love this area. The history buff in me was jumping for joy as I wandered those streets filled with so much rich history. I’ll probably be back some time next year, so I can explore the area a little bit more.

Thanks for reading,

Travel Log: Boston Boston. Beantown. The birthplace of the American Revolution. Founded in 1630, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the US and the oldest city in Massachusetts.

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Small Business Sundays: Restore

Small Business Sundays: Restore

This week on Small Business Sundays, we’re looking at my favorite cold-pressed juice shop. Born in Ohio, Restore is high-quality, raw, organic, cold-pressed juice shop that uses locally sourced items when possible. There are three stores in Northeast Ohio; the one featured in the photos is the Hudson location. The other two are in Cleveland and Canton with another popping up in New Jersey soon.…

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Small Business Sundays: NOTO Boutique

Small Business Sundays: NOTO Boutique

Today on Small Business Sundays, I’m featuring NOTO, a two store boutique located in Downtown Akron and the Northside District. NOTO is run by fashionable Akronite, Lauren Ward. She’s a sweet soul with an incredible eye for fashion. By picking out everything in her shop by hand, Lauren has built one of the best boutiques in town. You may have seen Lauren’s shop on the blog before. I’ve featured…

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Coffee Hop: Akron Coffee Roasters

Coffee Hop: Akron Coffee Roasters

Much like bookstores and libraries, coffeeshops are often my safe haven. There’s something about the smell, look, and atmosphere that makes me let out a sigh in relief. Akron Coffee Roasters is no different and in fact, it may be truer here than most. About three and a half years ago, Albert Masco started roasting coffee to sell at farmers’ markets and craft shows. His story is relatively common…

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The Learned Owl is one of few independent bookstores in the area that focus on new and not used books. I’ve been coming here for a few years, but I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to get it up on my blog yet. Since kicking off Small Business Sundays, I get to showcase all of my favorites.

This bookstore was established in 1968 on the historic Main St. of Hudson. Over the years it has changed hands many times, but it was founded by Jean Isabel and her husband Bob along with a partner. Since its opening, it has hosted hundreds of author and book events. They expanded a bit to the space they have now and went from two employees to ten.

This is such a cute little shop that spans two floors and basement. They seriously have everything and if they don’t have it then they’ll order it for you. One of the best parts is the staff. They’re all readers and offer some of the best recommendations. Cole is my favorite because we have similar tastes in books. If you need good Sci-fi recommendations, he’s the guy to go to. We often trade book recommendations. I got him to read Nnedi Okorafor’s “Binti” and he loved it.

If you’re ever in the area, you should check this place out. I can’t go in there without buying one or three new books. They also keep track of your purchases if you sign up for their rewards, so you’ll know if you’ve bought something before and you can get coupons! I’m all about coupons.

Business Name: The Learned Owl

Type: Bookstore

Current Owner: Kate Schlademan

Location:  204 S Main St.

Hudson, OH 44236

Thanks for reading,

Small Business Sundays: The Learned Owl The Learned Owl is one of few independent bookstores in the area that focus on new and not used books.

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Tucked in the back of a small plaza learn the heart of Hudson sits Heartwood Coffee Roasters, a new coffee shop in the area.  Since coffee is my lifeblood, I couldn’t wait to check it out. Opened in early June, Heartwood is cute and quaint. The style is modern with natural elements and a welcoming atmosphere.

I stopped by a couple of times over the last week to really get a feel for the place. The first time, the owners were there and they were incredibly nice. This is one of the few coffee shops where I didn’t have to put my headphones on because they were playing pretty much the same playlist that I listen to when I work.

In addition to roasting their own coffee, they sell Brimfield Bread Oven pastries and bread, in addition to making their own peanut butter. The staff is really nice and the shop is aesthetically pleasing. I got the Chocolate Latte, both over ice and hot, and they were pretty good. I’ll have to try a pour over the next time I’m there, so I can give an appropriate judgement of that.

Overall, I really like this place and recommend it to anyone who wants to get away.

Heartwood Coffee Roasters

46 Ravenna St unit D2

Hudson, Ohio 44326

Thanks for reading,

Coffee Hop: Heartwood Coffee Roasters Tucked in the back of a small plaza learn the heart of Hudson sits Heartwood Coffee Roasters…