Japanese artist Itchiku Kubota’s colorful exhibit of painted kimonos is on the last leg of its US tour, opening today in Canton, Ohio. 
Each of these beautiful over-sized kimonos took nearly a year to create, and the 40 in the exhibit make up a life’s work.  Kubota died in 2003, and his family now carries on the kimono artistry.
Kimono: The 20th Century Masterworks of Itchiku Kubota is on display at the Canton Museum of Art (located in the Cultural Center for the Arts, 1001 Market Avenue North), and will run February 8th – April 26th.  This is the last …read more

If you’re a fan of eating (and drinking) local, you’ll want to be traveling through Cleveland during the holiday season.  That trip will give you a chance to tipple a little Christmas Ale, a holiday beer from Great Lakes Brewing Company.
This limited production brew is only available from November through December, and in past years (2007, 2006, and 2005) has won several Gold Medals from the World Beer Championships.  I didn’t even know there was such a thing!
Christmas Ale is robust ale brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon, and is supposed to be THE …read more

With a rousing speech from the front porch of his home in Marion, Ohio, Warren Gamaliel Harding launched his campaign for the presidency of the United States.  Historians may argue that Harding, our 29th president, was one of the least effective Presidents, but he was certainly an interesting and colorful man, leading an administration filled with scandal and intrigue right up to his death.
The Harding Home, located at 3890 Mt Vernon Avenue in Marion, Ohio, has been restored to its original Victorian splendor, and now serves as a historial site dedicated to Harding’s life and Presidency.  Nearly all the …read more

Nearly 10 years after her death, Princess Diana still casts a spell over people around the world.
We saw her beauty and glamour in countless photographs.  We saw her compassion and grace as she traveled the world for causes that she believed in.  We saw her poise and pain as she struggled through a very public breakup and divorce.  And, we saw her commitment and love as she raised two young sons. 
Visitors to Cleveland, however, will have an opportunity to get a little closer glimpse into the life of this beautiful woman who became a Princess, as the Western Reserve Historical Society presents “Diana, …read more

Today is Admission Day for Ohio, our 17th State, admitted to the union on March 1st, 1803. 
The date of admission was actually determined retroactively, because no formal date of statehood was set by the original legislation.  It wasn’t until 1953 that the date of admission was set as March 1st, 1803, the date that Ohio’s first legislature convened.  (Photo above of Ohio Statehouse)
Back in 1835, Ohio fought a war with Michigan, known as the Toledo War.  Somehow, my US History class missed this important battle, but as a result of it, Michigan got the western part of its Upper Peninsula as …read more