Canton OH Archives - There Goes Connie

Looking Back at my 2018 Travels and Recommendations

01/07/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t just looked back at my calendar and all of the photos I took. During 2018, I visited 23 destinations, finished construction/decisions/moving involved with our new house and hosted the 11th Annual Cousins Camp. You might think I’d be ready to stay home for awhile, and yes. I truly do savor days for writing, thinking and “just being.” But, those of you who know me best, know that I always LOVE planning. So, happily my calendar is filling up with more amazing places to explore in 2019.

A few of the trips I made in 2018 were purely for fun, but 100% have or will end up as blog posts or articles in other publications. And, 100% of the places I visited can be wholeheartedly recommended for you. The vast majority were in my heartland, a.k.a. The Deep South, but I also got on a few airplanes along the way.

I began the year with Steve on Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL, and we ended our travel year seeing New York City at Christmas time. In between, there were fabulous restaurants, hotels, museums, attractions of all kinds and stunning displays of nature. Here are some highlights, pretty much in order as I saw them through the year. Maybe one or more of them will capture your attention and draw you in for a closer look. Please stick with me as we explore more hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems in 2019.

Shellhunting with the shorebirds on tranquil Captiva Island, near Fort Myers, FL in January of 2018.

The iconic tree in Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 2018.

February is a wonderful time to visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. There are many activities and advantage for snowbirds, and of course, the seafood is always fresh and delicious.

A search for the many painted mules in Jasper, AL is a fun pursuit. While there, the shopping and dining options are plentiful.

The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum is an important destination. While in town, try some of the great restaurants — Highlands Bar and Grill, Galley and Garden, Chez Fonfon, etc. — and take the elevator to the top of the Vulcan.

It was so much fun to share a “Gone with the Girls” tour with my daughter and granddaughter. Clay and Henry Counties and their towns of Jonesboro, Locust Grove and McDonough (just a few miles south of Atlanta) are full of great eateries. shops and attractions, among them is the Road to Tara Museum.

Oxford, Mississippi is home to the University of Mississippi, 4 restaurants owned by John Currence and Rowan Oak, home of novelist William Faulkner. What a great town!

In addition to famous recording studios, boutique hotels, the University of North Alabama and good Southern eats, be sure to visit the store and workshop of Natalie Chanin and get a close look at her fabulous textile artistry.

The historic and beautiful Dunhill is a great place to stay in downtown Charlotte. The rooms are comfortable, the location is great, and The Asbury, adjoining restaurant, has award-winning chefs.

Biltmore House and Gardens is a MUST when visiting Asheville, N.C. Also, consider one of the delightful B & Bs in the area.

While visiting the Old 96 District of South Carolina, I highly recommend staying at The Inn on the Square in Greenwood, S.C.

Historic Brattonsville is an informative attraction in the Olde English District of South Carolina, between Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC.

Canton OH is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and SO MUCH MORE!!

Downtown Cleveland is filled with sports venues, hotels and restaurants. A little further out are attractions for history, art and music lovers, and don’t forget the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Columbia, TN has a great historic downtown, the James K. Polk Home and the Blythewood Inn Bed and Breakfast. Be sure to plan a stop when you’re in the Nashville area.

Gadsden, AL has Noccalula Falls within its city limits, plus a wonderful Main Street with shops, restaurants and a very active cultural center.

Corinth, Mississippi is the site of important Civil War history. Here is a poignant fountain outside the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center.

The Palm Court, ornate restaurant inside the Plaza Hotel in New York City, is where one of America’s most famous Afternoon Tea parties takes place.

Go. See. Eat. Experience. There’s a great, big, fascinating world out there.

(Just scroll back through my blog posts to read about these places in greater detail).

Public Art in Canton, Ohio

11/05/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

By all means, plan a trip to Canton, Ohio, to visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It is an amazing facility . . . . and still growing.

While you’re there, take one of their awesome food tours. Enjoy a great progressive meal (i.e. different courses in different restaurants) while hearing stories of the town’s history and famous people. I wrote about it here.

Visit the lush, gorgeous 55 acres of the Gervasi Vineyard and enjoy a superb meal. I described it here.

But, before you leave Canton, do yourself a huge favor and spend an hour or two strolling through downtown admiring the great displays of public art.

You’ll see painted murals — even in the parking garages.

3 Stooges

The back side of Basil restaurant.

You’ll see vinyl installations of famous photographs.

Football is a prevalent theme.

You’ll see a wide variety of sculptures.

Birth of the NFL

“Shattered Expressions”

And you’ll be impressed that even the trash receptacles have been “art-enhanced.” Eighteen local artists are featured.

From my perspective, all of these efforts tell me that the people of Canton care greatly about the impression their town makes on visitors and how much pride they want their townspeople to have in their city. Good for them. I wish more cities would follow their example.

5 People Who Went Above and Beyond

09/07/2018 By: CCPearson2 Comments

One of my favorite aspects of being a travel writer is getting to meet new, fascinating and passionate people. Typically, they are the owners of restaurants, B & Bs or historians and tour guides at attractions of all kinds. On my most recent trip to Canton and Cleveland, Ohio, however, the travel/tourism staff members themselves were the ones who impressed me with their professionalism, their work ethic, their knowledge and their courtesy. You might think, “Well, that’s just part of their job.” And, in some ways, you’d be right. But, five people I met in Ohio definitely went “above and beyond” their formal job description. In my opinion, they “went the second mile,” and I was the grateful beneficiary.

In Canton, I encountered Tonja Marshall, the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Visit Canton. She supervised the necessary details of my trip and devised an itinerary that made sure I saw as much as possible in the time I was in her city. But, here is where she “went beyond.” One attraction on the itinerary was a visit to the Gervasi Vineyard. I wrote about it here on Monday’s blog. It turned out to be a wonderful few hours, and I’m very glad I went. But, I was nervous about it. I don’t apologize or regret my decision to abstain from drinking alcohol, but I didn’t want to cause embarrassment or awkwardness for Visit Canton, for Gervasi Vineyard or for my fellow travel writers in the process. I had communicated with Tonja before I arrived that I was looking forward to seeing the vineyard but that I didn’t drink alcohol, but I had no idea how that scenario would play out. When we got to the wine-tasting event, we were seated in an amazing room with a stunning chandelier made out of wine bottles. Understandably, this place was ALL IN in terms of wine. Imagine me fidgeting and perspiring a bit by now. But, no, as the various wines were served to my fellow travel writers, I was never even offered a glass. My water glass was kept full, but no wine appeared at my place setting. What a huge relief! Tonja had discreetly and carefully handled the situation for me. I didn’t have to say or do anything. She made the experience easy, relaxing and extremely enjoyable. Thank you, Tonja.

Later that same afternoon, our group traveled to Cleveland where we were joined by four more travel writers. That is where I met the staff of Destination Cleveland/TheCLE/ThisisCLE/ThisisCleveland or whatever name you want to give them. 🙂

Kristen Jantonio, Communications Specialist, was indeed a “special communicator” before I set foot in her town. My emails received her prompt attention, and she patiently answered all my questions. (That’s saying a lot when your nickname is “The Queen of Questions.”) I mostly think of Kristen as the person responsible for an exquisite night of dinner at LockKeepers and a concert by the Cleveland Symphony at Blossom Music Center. She saw my elation at having such a wonderful experience. She joined us on other tours and helped me set up my very first Uber appointment, too, but I see her face when I think of that music. Thank you, Kristen.

Nick Urig, Communications Manager, led an informative walking tour of downtown Cleveland, showed us the ropes for ordering dinner at The Greenhouse Tavern and took us to breakfast at the West Side Market Cafe. That is where Nick REALLY came through for me personally. I saw pierogis on the menu (not for breakfast, of course, but yet it was on the menu). And I had never tried a pierogi. Not only did Nick goodnaturedly explain the making of and various types of pierogis, he ordered some for our table, and I got to taste my very first one. It was great! I’m ready for another one! And, as a side note, Nick is tall, attractive and exceedingly polite. I felt safe in that big city when he was with us. That’s huge when you’re a prissy Baby Boomer from Alabama traveling without your husband. Know what I mean? Thank you, Nick.

Stephanie Sheeley, Communications Coordinator, is a fun-loving young woman with a mass of shiny black curls and what I would call “statement fingernails.” Last week they were long and yellow. I found her to be very self-confident. That trait came through one morning when she walked out the door of her house, only later to discover that the zipper on her dress was broken. Her exposed skin in the back didn’t slow her down one bit. She carried on as if nothing was wrong. She also gave me some helpful hints about the hair of my own Ethiopian granddaughter. In other words, she related to me as a person, not just as part of her job, and I liked that a lot. Thank you, Stephanie.

Emily Lauer, Senior Director of PR/Communications, was the one I got to spend the most one-on-one time with. The two of us attended the Indians/Orioles baseball game on a warm Friday night at Progressive Field. That girl knows her Indians!!! She taught me about the HotDog Relay — when the mustard, ketchup and onions race from 3rd base to 1st base. She knew the names and a good bit of the history of each player. She pointed out the guy way up in the stands behind the outfield who played the drum to encourage every Indian batter — and has been doing that same thing for FORTY YEARS!!! She sang along with me to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Hang on, Sloopy.” She let me talk about my family and show her pictures of my new house, and I heard some about her life and career path. She walked for blocks and blocks with a cast shoring up her sprained ankle and then chauffeured me back safely to my hotel after the Indians pulled out the win. I hope I wasn’t too boring of a companion, but mostly I know Emily went out of her way to be nice and to be sure I had a great time — which I truly did. Thank you, Emily.

I wish I had gotten pictures of all these special people. I do have pictures of them in my mental images of Canton and Cleveland.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talked a lot about doing the unexpected things, about going beyond what is required, about being exceptionally generous and kind. “Love your enemies.” “Pray for those who persecute you.” “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.” And the admonition that applies today: “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” (all verses found in Matthew 5)

I’m so glad I got to visit a part of the country I’d never seen before, but mostly I am glad I got to meet these people who made a deep impression and represented their organizations so very well.

VisitCanton

This is Cleveland

Gervasi Vineyard: 55 Stunning Acres in Canton, Ohio

09/03/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

I expected to enjoy the NFL Hall of Fame and the Canton Food Tour on a recent visit, but I was amazed and enchanted by the beauty and excellence I observed at the Gervasi Vineyard (1700 55th Street N.E. in Canton, Ohio). The work of a winery, especially one that offers exceptional food, luxury accommodations, much-sought-after event spaces and immaculate landscaping, is worth appreciating. When you are curious about pretty much EVERYTHING — as I tend to be — the process involved in turning grapes into wine is a fascinating one.

Driving through the archway entrance into Gervasi, you immediately sense that you are in for a special treat.

My fellow travel writers and I began our visit in the Tower Room of The Crush House, one of Gervasi’s fabulous restaurants. Andrew Codispoti, the Director of Winemaking, gave us an enlightening presentation about the various wines produced on the property as well as others that are brought in from around the world. I learned a lot about “the persona of wine” as Andrew explained that every wine has a longitude, a latitude, an altitude, and he smiled and added “an attitude.” A wine’s persona is the sum total of all the affecting factors: soil, slope, exposure, rain, fog, breeze, wind and, of course, temperature. Andrew also talked to us about “ice wine” (as opposed to “iceD wine”). In the case of ice wine, grapes must freeze on the vine when the temperatures have been in the teens for a number of days in a row. Then the grapes are pressed while they are still frozen, so the juice is highly concentrated. See? I told you it was fascinating.

Ted Swaldo is the owner of Gervasi, and the name of the vineyard was chosen because it is his mother’s maiden name. His son Scott is the General Manager. Scott is pictured here in the blue checked shirt beside Andrew.

Andrew Codispoti and Scott Swaldo

Lunch at The Crush House was fabulous. Here are some photos of appetizers, salads and main dishes. Oh my!

Crispy Fig Crostatas

Italian Loaded Potato Chips

Chickpea-crusted Chicken Breast

Greek Chicken Orzo

Rosemary Roasted Beef Sandwich with Crush House slaw

We walked the lush grounds and saw the variety of event spaces available for special occasions of all kinds — the Pavilion, the Villa Grande, the Gazebo, etc.

We toured a couple of the villas, which are Italian-inspired guest suites, each with a fireplace, heated tile floors and walk-in showers. Gorgeous! I MUST find an opportunity to return.

lLiving room in a villa.

Bedroom in a villa with a fireplace and heated floor.

Tile and marble bathroom with walk-in shower.

In The Bistro, Gervasi’s most upscale dining option, we met Jerry Risner, the Executive Chef, who is putting Gervasi on the map with his creativity and skill. He has a highly-trained staff, meeting the desires of all the guests who dine on the property.

One of the dining areas in The Bistro.

Jerry Risner, Executive Chef

Culinary classes are held on the grounds. The main instructor and the coordinator is Julianna Wilmoth. Her mantra is to use whole, fresh, local food when you’re cooking and to have fun doing it. Check out the schedule of classes here. Who wants to go with me?

Julianna Wilmoth, director of Culinary Classes

Of course, you wouldn’t want to leave Gervasi without a stop at the Marketplace to have a look at the vineyard-themed merchandise available for purchase.

Marketplace — gift shop on the grounds.

Some of the merchandise for sale in the Marketplace.

I understand there is even an event during harvest time every year where visitors can actually “stomp the grapes,” Lucy Ricardo-style. Wouldn’t that be a blast?

Have I sparked your interest in visiting Canton and Gervasi Vineyard? I believe you’ll love it.

A Canton Food Tour for an Alabama Food Lover

08/27/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Last week I was in Cleveland, Ohio with a group of fellow travel writers, all members of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers), and decided to go up a day early to take in some of the attractions and restaurants in nearby Canton. The first thing that likely comes to mind when you say “Canton, Ohio,” at least to the male members of the human race, would be the NFL Hall of Fame, and admittedly, that is a HUGE deal in Canton. Who knew, then, that there was such a great foodie culture in this town of 71,000, give or take a few hundred or so?

The Evening Hall of Fame City Food Tour costs $63 per person and includes a walking tour of downtown blocks showcasing important buildings, lively public art, lots of Canton fun facts and trivia and the culinary offerings of at least 4 participating restaurants. With a minimum of two courses at each eatery, the amount adds up to an abundance of food. For that reason, the walking involved is actually a very good thing. Plus, it’s the best way to get the vibe of the neighborhood. And, don’t worry if you’re not in top physical condition. The area is only about 4 blocks running north and south and 2 blocks running east and west. Very doable. I promise.

Cathy Wyatt was our tour guide. I found her to be extremely knowledgeable, attractive and enthusiastic. She also generously allowed us to visit her apartment at Onesto Lofts for a birds’eye view of downtown. Cathy is heavily involved in the civic happenings of Canton and owns Carpe Diem Coffee Shop right in the heart of the action.

Cathy Wyatt, Canton Food Tour guide and owner of Carpe Diem Coffee Shop.

Cathy Wyatt and her coffee shop.

Entrance to Onesto Lofts, repurposed downtown building.

Ornate lobby of Onesto Lofts.

View of the angels atop the Stark County Courthouse from near the top of Onesto Lofts.

Cathy educated us about the connections between President William McKinley and Canton, primarily through his wife Ida Saxton McKinley who was born and died in Canton. She pointed out the murals in progress depicting the 11 most important events in the history of the National Football League. We saw the Stark County Courthouse with its 11-foot high angels adorning the top and several examples of sculptures. Even the trash receptacles are painted with an array of themes.

NFL Monday Night Football mural

But, most of the time, we ate . . . and ate . . . and ate.

Our first stop was to Benders Tavern (circa 1902). There we had a sampling of Turtle Soup, which was a flavorful mix of snapping turtle morsels, celery, carrots, red pepper, sherry and herbs in a tomato base. Great start! That was followed by Sauteed Perch, straight from nearby Lake Erie, with homemade hummus and green beans with charmoula sauce.

Bender’s Tavern

Lake Erie perch at Bender’s.

Street Side Mexican Cantina is a new place which just opened in January of 2018. In addition to a collection of vintage signs on the walls, there was a deer head over the bar decorated for football. Street Side features fresh Mexican cuisine. We were served homemade tortilla chips with four sauces: queso, guacamole, salsa and fresco. All were good, but the queso was the crowd favorite. Next came small servings of BBQ beef tacos and Pork Belly Tacos with housemade quick pickles. New twists on old favorites.

Wall in Street Side Mexican Cantina.

Pork Belly Taco and BBQ Beef Taco.

George’s Lounge (1959) came next. Very much sporting the atmosphere of the iconic Cheers television show, George’s is known for its crazy-good burgers and live music. They feature a Burger of the Month and a Shake of the Month. We had samples of each. First, the burger topped with a fried green tomato, pimento cheese and jalapeno/pear jam, then a small portion of a brown butter peach cobbler shake. It’s a good thing the portions were small. Wow. Yummy!

George’s Lounge in the Music Block of downtown Canton.

Burger of the Month at George’s.

Our last stop was at Basil Asian Bistro. We were served a Sushi Platter and a cooked sushi creation designed to look like its name “Shaggy Dog.” Fun AND delicious. The two entrees were served family style, so we all got to taste Pad Thai and Green Mango Grouper. Basil is a family business. The parents are Chinese who grew up in Vietnam. The present owner is a first generation American. The menu is a mix of Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese and Burmese. Very interesting.

Basil Asian Bistro.

Beautifully-presented sushi platter at Basil.

Sushi aptly called “Shaggy Dog” at Basil.

All four restaurants are popular, and our service was outstanding. I’m glad Food Tours are popping up in more cities. They are great ways to sample regional specialties while learning fun facts about the area. The Canton Food Tour is very well-done, and I highly recommend it. If you’re lucky enough to have Cathy for your guide, you’ll be in for an extra-special treat.

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