MANSFIELD — A guy I know who sometimes drinks at The Happy Grape also happens to work at Mansfield’s Carousel Works, the local funhouse factory where they put together full-size working carousels featuring hand-carved wooden animals. “We’ve got a new wood carver,” he told me. “Fredy, from Peru. Interesting guy. You should meet him.” I […]
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Posted inBusiness
Carousel Works creates a worldwide reputation with magic in Mansfield
MANSFIELD — On a cold Monday morning recently I drove out to the Carousel Works’ large unassuming building a few miles north of downtown, just off Olivesburg Road. I had never seen the place, and curiosity and intrigue spurred the visit. Inside I met with owner Art Ritchie who, along with Dan Jones, was also […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Dairy Queen helps the day roll by
Regular readers of this column may get the impression that I like nothing better than taking part in different social activities and events, gallivanting around town while chatting to all and sundry. This is true to an extent, but I also jump at the chance to do nothing. When the opportunity presents itself, I grasp […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Steve Russell gate crashes Mansfield Brew Club meeting
For some time I’ve been wanting to gatecrash one of the meetings of the Mansfield Brew Club, a long-established group of local beer enthusiasts and home brewers who get together regularly to share recipes, plan events and sample each other’s brews. I asked around and discovered the next get-together would be at the Meadowood, a […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Burlesque show at Suzy’s Smoke Room features Appalachian Punk band
Have you ever seen a burlesque show? You’ll get a chance on Friday when a traveling band of entertainers from Cleveland known as the Red Hot Heathens brings its riotous act to Suzy’s Smoke Room in downtown Mansfield. What is burlesque? It’s a form of cabaret featuring musical numbers, bawdy humor, striptease and often some […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Loudonville band, The Up All Nights, highlights Martini’s on Main keg party
This weekend Martini’s on Main is throwing one of its highly-anticipated patio keg parties: an outdoor extravaganza of beer, food and live music put together with the folks at Jackie O’s Brewery. At last year’s fest, I saw a white-hot band of brothers from Columbus called The Up All Nights. These boys played incendiary rock […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Russell Slow Rolls with Richland Moves during community bike event
I‘ve always loved the idea of cycling to work – from my part of town this would take me spinning down Marion Avenue and along Park Avenue West – but I’m scared of riding in traffic. So I jumped at the chance to join the Slow Roll, the new community evening bike ride that gets […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Clear Fork Adventure Resort to host Morel Festival May 13
BUTLER — If you know your mushrooms, you’ll know that it’s morel hunting season. And this year you’ll have a chance to enter your prize ‘shrooms in a local competition. On Saturday, May 13, the Clear Fork Adventure Resort in Butler will host its first Morel Festival. Mushrooms will be judged, recipes will be tasted, […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Celebrating St. George with a few pals and a few pints
The Irish have St. Patrick’s Day, the Scots have St. Andrew’s Day … and on April 23rd, the English have St. George’s Day. But St. George doesn’t seem to have caught on in quite the same way. With no official festivities planned locally, I decided to gather the handful of fellow Englanders I’ve met in […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Russell: Bill Baker to take “The Sustainable Journey,” Alaska to Argentina
MANSFIELD — Bill Baker is a familiar face around Mansfield. As an advocate and organizer, he’s been involved with many local campaigns and initiatives, from backyard chickens to community gardens to bicycle cooperatives. Next month he intends to give all that up and head off on what he’s calling “The Sustainable Journey.” It’s a journey […]