$4.99 U.S./$5.50 Canada SEPTEMBER 2022 PLUS BACK TO PELEE ISLAND Inside: Shop the Shores Lakeside Living Big Picture Discover dozens of ways to live your best life on our Great Lake — from places to stay and dining destinations to golfing, bird watching, history tours and much more.
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lakeerieliving.com 3 New Miller Ferry! MaryMarketAnn... Fall Lodging & Events MillerFerry.com 800 -500 -2421 Feature 10 Best of Lake Erie 2022 From destinations to stay, dine, drink, laugh and kick-back and relax, discover dozens of ways to live your best life on our Great Lake. Lake Erie Living (ISSN 1940-4247) is published in March, May, July and September for a total of four issues annually by Great Lakes Publishing, 1422 Euclid Ave, Suite 730, Cleveland OH 44115. Periodical postage is paid at Cleveland, Ohio and additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to LAKE ERIE LIVING, 1422 Euclid Ave, Suite 730, Cleveland OH 44115. Subscription rates: US: $10.00 one year, $18.50 two years, $25.00 three years. Single issue $4.99. Canada and foreign add $10 per year. Ohio residents are subject to 8% sales tax. Copyright 2022 Great Lakes Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. Printed in the United States. Unsolicited manuscripts cannot be returned unless accompanied by a properly addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage. The magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or cartoons. BEST OF LAKE ERIE volume 16 • issue 4contents 6 Back to My Island Treasure Ohio resident Amy Weirick returns to her Pelee Island cottage after the pandemic kept her away for two years. 8 Shop the Shores Let your Lake Erie pride shine bright with locally made gifts everyone will love. Currents Departments 5 From the Editor 27 Lakeside Living Step inside the Gren family’s waterfront wonder on Chautauqua Lake. 30 Big Picture Step back in time and learn about the SS Lansdowne, one of the most venerable vessels on the Great Lakes during the late 1800s. 10 6 27 COVER: COURTESY ASHLEY MOREMAN
Chairman Lute Harmon Sr. President Lute Harmon Jr. Publisher Paul Klein klein@glpublishing.com Editor Rachel Hagenbaugh editor@lakeerieliving.com Copy Editor Karen Learner Beis Contributing Writers Laura Watilo Blake, Linda Feagler, Vince Guerrieri and Kristen Hampshire Art Director Ashley Moreman Contributing Artists Laura Watilo Blake Production Manager Jennifer Roberts Associate Production Manager Alyson Moutz Cowan Account Managers Julie Bialowas, Nichole Cardinale and Karen Hopkinson Traffic Manager Corey Galloway cgalloway@glpublishing.com Director of Digital Strategy Jacquie Chakirelis Developement Manager Daniel Klinzing Subscriber Services 1-800-453-1015 lakeerieliving@emailcustomerservice.com Chief Financial Officer George Sedlak Operations Managers Jennifer Roberts and Perry Zohos Accounts Payable Coordinator Geli Valli magazine Cleveland Magazine | Lake Erie Living | Ohio Magazine Community Leader Custom Publishing, Web Sites & E-newsletters 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 730 Cleveland, OH 44115 (216) 771-2833 | fax (216) 781-6318 www.glpublishing.com Be Part of the Art! Theater • Music Dance • Visual Arts 2928 W. 13th Street Ashtabula, OH 44004 ashtabulaartscenter.org facebook.com/ashartscenter (440) 964-3396 2 $12,000 First Place Prizes 2 $5000 Second Place Prizes 4 possible $1000 Honorable Mention Prizes 2022 Jurors: Kim Beck - Carnegie Mellon School of Art José Carlos Diaz - Andy Warhol Museum Naomi Fisher - Bas Fisher Invitational A New Juried Exhibit on display October 3-31, 2022 at the Ashtabula Arts Center reception & announcement of winners Saturday, October 8, 6-9 p.m. With year-round classes & workshops, an art gallery, indoor and outdoor theaters, free concerts, outreach, and more, we have a way for everyone to be part of the art! photo by Harry N. Schwentker 4 Best of Lake Erie 2022 PLUS BACK TO PELEE ISLAND Living Big Picture Discover dozens of our Great diningLake destinations golfing, historybird tours and much more. Give the gift of LAKE ERIE LIVING this holiday season! lakeerieliving.com/gift
from the editor
lakeerieliving.com 5 3835 W 12th Street Erie, PA 16505 (814) 836-1827 r e l i s h i n c . c o m
LAURA WATILO BLAKE
Come in - Browse our selection of wicker furniture, Lee Middleton Dolls, Chautauqua Tees & sweatshirts, Minnetonka moccasins, antiques, new & vintage jewelry. Our baskets make unique gifts. We have a barn full of ways to tell someone you care. Open 10-5 daily thru Labor Day. Call for winter hours. 5252 Rte. 430 Dewittville, NY 14728 716-386-4033 farmbell@hotmail.com the Farm Bell Basket Barn B ittersweet. That’s the most appropriate way to describe Lake Erie Living’s Best of Lake Erie issue. On one hand, it sym bolizes the end of summer. Labor Day weekend is approaching, which means seasonal shops will soon close, and we’ve started planning when to clean out our pools and winterize our be loved boats and other seaworthy vessels.
Rachel Hagenbaugh Editor
There’s no time like the present to take advantage of all of the amazing things to see and do along the nearly 900 miles of shoreline. But, Lake Erie’s magic isn’t limited to summer months. Autumn and winter also offer an array of desirable destinations to explore. Plus, if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of sup porting our local businesses all year long to help ensure their success.
Regardless of your favorite way to spend time, Lake Erie is chock-full of ways to kick-back, relax and recharge. Throughout these pages, we highlight the best destinations to dine, drink, shop, sleep, tour, hike, snap the perfect photo and much more. So wheth er you’re a foodie, adventure seeker, shopper, animal lover, historian, explorer or somewhere in between, Lake Erie is packed with activi ties for any age or interest.
P.S. Do you know someone with a unique story to tell about life on Lake Erie? Have you found a hidden gem you want to share? Email story ideas of interesting people, places and all things around the coast to editor@ lakeerieliving.com.
On the other hand, there are still plenty of warm days left to spend soaking up the best that our Great Lake has to offer. If you’re anything like me — won dering how the past three months passed by so quick ly — now is the time to seize the day and take advan tage of one of the Midwest’s most amazing treasures.
Maybe that means planning a day trip to explore the outdoors, tour a lighthouse, take a boat ride, grab a bite to eat at a pet-friendly patio or watch the sun dive below the horizon at rooftop bar.
To all of the readers of Lake Erie Living , thank you so much for your support. Until next year, stay in touch and share your favorite destinations, experiences and photos on Facebook and Instagram @lakeerieliving.
Seize the Day
Or, perhaps you have time for a weekend adventure that includes an overnight stay at a cozy boutique hotel and a few days filled with golfing, ziplining, biking, bird watching, kayaking or simply settling down on a beautiful beach.
By Laura Watilo Blake
Amy Weirick longed for a summer cot tage of her own on Pelee Island after years of visiting the Canadian island with her bestie’s family.
6 Best of Lake Erie 2022
LAURA WATILO BLAKE
“I remember that first visit as a teenager so distinctly,” she says. “I fell in love with their place, even though their cottage had no plumbing. We’d go out in the lake with a bottle of shampoo and ivory soap to scrub up. It seemed so adventurous to me. Our family didn’t do that kind of stuff.”
There were some things the Weiricks couldn’t tackle before the end of the season. Before she boarded the last ferry off of Pelee Island in November 2019, she handed the keys over to a handyman to repair some rot ten floorboards, replace flashing on the roof and remove a concrete base from a woodburning stove she had removed.
A lakeside cottage is an enchant ing place where time stands still and nostalgia mingles seamlessly with memories yet to be made.
For many, it symbolizes a dream come true.
“We were so busy that first season,” says Weirick. “The place was dark and dingy, and it was full of stuff we had to get out of there. It had become a repository for things people didn’t want anymore, such as 10 chicken fryers. It even came with an old Chevy Astro that hadn’t been driven in a decade judging from the flat tires and bulging battery. The Pelee lifestyle has one currents important rule: Do not throw anything away because there is no Home Depot. You never know when someone might need that rusty old bolt or chicken fryer.”
Back to My Island Treasure
“He said, ‘How do you feel about me living there while I’m doing the work?’” says Wei rick. “I was a little reluctant naturally, but I agreed since there were so many things to get done, and he discounted the cost of the work.”
After searching for a place for more than two decades, in 2019 she finally found the “one” — an old fishing cottage on the east shore. It had good bones, but it needed a lot of work.
“Pelee Island has a weird pull on me,” she says.”It’s like a crush on a boy. It’s that kind of feeling.”
As time went on, she felt she was making guest appearances in someone else’s dream. She wanted that Pelee Island lifestyle for herself, and later for her family of four — her husband, Dave, and sons, Mike and Jake. She spent most of her adult life saving to make it happen.
Darkness Falls Throughout the winter, the handyman would text photos of his progress to the Weiricks back in Columbus, Ohio. The mes sages tapered off as the work concluded. Pretty soon, there were other worries to consider. As the surge of COVID-19 cases spread around the world in early 2020, hope of getting back to the island dissipated for the many Americans with properties on the Ohio resident Amy Weirick spent a lifetime saving up for a cottage on Canada’s Pelee Island. Just when her wish came true, the global pandemic closed the doors on American homeowners. Now, she is picking up the pieces of her broken dreams and making up for two years of lost time.
Weirick spent the rest of the 2021 season cleaning up the place, tackling new tasks that popped up and catching up with people she had not seen for what seemed like ages.
“Losing business and not being able to go out to dinner didn’t bother me as much as not being able to get to Pelee Island,” says Weirick. “Part of it was that I had finally gotten my dream, and it was extra unfair that it was snatched away.”
Finally, the Canada Border Services Agen cy issued a statement announcing the bor der opening for vaccinated U.S. citizens would take place starting at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2021. Weirick was one of the many people in line at the border just after mid night that day.
“There were a ton of people waiting to cross into Canada,” Weirick says. “I waited almost two hours, but if I had waited until morning, the line would have been even worse.”
The cottage has worked its magic.
She got a hotel in Windsor and spent the rest of the night there before heading to the ferry terminal for a 10 a.m. sailing in the morning. When she walked into her island treasure, she broke down in tears from a mix ture of joy and sadness and twinge of anger.
As much as she likes her alone time, being together with her family in the place she’s loved since childhood gives her the most joy.
The pain became even more acute when a Canadian neighbor on the island called her to say there were people — a man, wom an and two kids — staying in her cottage. Weirick knew it must be the handyman. As angry as she felt, she handled the situation with grace. “I was not confrontational,” she explains. “I just told him friends from Toronto were coming to stay and asked him to remove any of the tools that might still be in the house. He freaked out a little bit — after all, they had all of their stuff there — but I knew it would be resolved.”
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“All the trappings of the world don’t come in here,” she says. “There’s no WiFi, so we just hang out together, play euchre and tell ghost stories. It’s very old fashioned, but it’s nice to let go of all of the distractions in life and just enjoy one another.”
lakeerieliving.com
The Sun Finally Rises
LAURA WATILO BLAKE
“I would lay in bed watching the news, hop ing to finally get word that the border would open again,” she remembers. “We joked about getting a submarine or stealth plane.”
It would take almost two long years for Weirick to set foot in her island home again.
“My plan was to work my tail off in April and May, then relax starting in June,” she says. “My favorite thing to do is to float in the lake on a raft tethered to a pile of cin der blocks. I apply a million layers of sun screen, pop on a big floppy hat and float all day, sipping on a big glass of ice water or iced tea with lemon.”
“I really missed how Pelee Island feels like a four-month-long family reunion,” she says. This season, there was still a lot of work that needed to happen before the cottage could match what Weirick envisions for her getaway, but she still found time to kickback and enjoy island time.
“I opened the door, and the place was a mess,” she says. “It was dirty and dusty from the work — and living — the handyman had been doing while we were away. I felt violated, but I didn’t want it to consume me. Besides, I had a lot to do.”
Canadian territory. The border was closed to foreign passport holders. While she felt em pathy toward the millions of cross-border families and loved ones being divided in definitely, Weirick struggled with the forced separation from her beloved island and trea sured cottage.
Crafted from durable stoneware, these con versation pieces come in a variety of colors and multiple sizes. $14.95-$49.95, James Street Home Decor, Port Stanley, Ontario, 226-658-6000, jamesstreethomedecor.com
COURTESY INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES
8 Best of Lake Erie 2022 currents
Mega Million Dollar Producer, Wendy LaForce Zambo has over 43 years of experience in real estate. She has become a top professional who specializes in the luxury/waterfront market. She listens and has the insight to strategize a winning path to success for her clients’ dreams, while at the same time, being able to adapt to the current market challenges. Her joy has always come from her “very special clients,” thousands of which have become her dear friends. She says she loves seeing “happy” in their future. Her motto says it best, “Always Moving You Forward.” Wendy is in the top 5% nationally as part of the National Sales Excellence Team.Wendy LaForce Zambo* Wendy LaForce Zambo
Let your Lake Erie pride shine bright with thoughtful, creative, locally made gifts everyone will love.
By Linda Feagler
Shop the Shores
CONTACT Howard Hanna 2100 Center Road, Suite E, Avon 440-361-0606 wendyzambo@oh.rr.comwendylaforcezambo@howardhanna.com
WendyLaForceZambo WendyLaForceZambo
Lather up with a sudsy, creamy, chemical-free soap made with plant-based ingredients that comes in a range of fragrances, from cool cucum ber mint and lake house to velvet merlot, mad for chocolate, plain and simple and much more. $7. Sandbar Suds Soap Co., Conneaut, Ohio, 440-265-1266, sandbarsuds.com
PROMOTION
Get hooked on this Lake Erie Islands favorite, a tasty Bloody Mary Mix that includes seasonal tomatoes and real pieces of shrimp and crab. Just add your favorite vodka and pile it high with toppings, and you’re on your way to becom ing a star mixologist. $13.95 (32-ounce bottle), The Boardwalk, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, 419-285-3695, theboardwalkfamilyofrestaurants.com
Get guests giggling with the whimsical gur gling sounds made when drinks are poured from these colorful and creative beverage pitchers.
Shop in style while showing off your Lake Erie pride with a cus tom navy canvas tote bag featuring leather handles and a buckle closure. $128. Erie & Anchor, Vermilion, Ohio, 440-963-9447, erieandanchor.com lakeerieliving.com
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Whip up a sweet treat with a local flare with Johnson Estate’s French Crepe Kit, featuring organic white and buckwheat flours, a half-pint of Big Tree Maple Syrup and 2-ounce jars of cinnamon walnuts, Austrian chocolate hazel nuts and toasted pecans. For the perfect pair ing, also purchase the estate’s maple liqueur, which is sweet but has a dry finish. $25 (kit), $15 (liqueur), Johnson Estate Winery, Westfield, New York, 716-326-2191, johnsonwinery.com Treat yourself or a fellow lake lover to a beautiful, unique, locally made Lake Erie Water Basin necklace made from fine silver and Australian opal doublet on a sterling silver chain. $175. Jessie’s Jewelry, Put-in-Bay, Ohio, 330-608-4664, jessiesjewelry.com
your outdoor adventure in the heart of the Daniel
Forest,
COURTESY INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES
the “Cycling
upon winding scenic highways, and IMMERSE yourself
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10 Lake Erie Living 2022 CREDIT Best of Lake Erie 2022 Discover dozens of ways to live your best life on our Great Lake. LAURA WATILO BLAKE Stories by Linda Feagler, Vince Guerrieri & Kristen Hampshire
CASUAL DINING: BREAKWALL BBQ
The couple runs the inn with their son, Brian Shamak ian, and daughter, Elissa Petrozzi, for what has become “an adventure of a lifetime,” Shamakian says, adding that this pandemic was the fourth the mansion has lived through. Painesville, Ohio, 440-639-7948, steelemansion.com
For a decade, resi dents and visitors to Ashtabula County know to make a stop at Breakwall BBQ for delicious smoked meats and refresh ing drinks. The build ing doesn’t look like much from the street, but the inside — and on the patio — offers great views of a busy lakefront and mouth watering sandwiches, local beer and craft cocktails. Breakwall is also a venue for live entertainment, from bands to open mic nights. Conneaut, Ohio, 440-599-2264
ACCOM M O D ATIONS
CREDIT lakeerieliving.com 11
Buckeye Pride Palace: ALL STAR OHIO HOUSE
BA R B E C UE TRUE UNDERDOGS: UNDERDOG BBQ
Calling all Buckeye fans — this updated Put-in-Bay rental house is a home team win if you bleed scarlet and gray. A five-minute walk from the Jet Express dock, the familyand group-friendly house has five bedrooms, three bath rooms and can sleep up to 22 people. There’s no mistaking the Ohio State pride here, with decor boasting the col lege colors in a tasteful, clean-lined way. Lounge on large front and rear decks, enjoy the screened-in porch and plan a cookout in the backyard using the grill, fire pit and cornhole set. The kitchen is fully updated, and the rental includes VIP access to Put-in-Bay Resort, with a swimup bar and the world’s largest jacuzzi. Put-in-Bay, Ohio, 888-742-7829, allstarohiohouseputinbay.com
The story of Under dog BBQ is almost as good as the food. Glenn Stearns came to town as part of a Discovery TV series, Undercover Billionaire , and with just $100, started the restau rant in 2019. Upon his return in 2021, he sold the restaurant to kitchen manager Ashley Messenger for the same price it cost him to start it — $100. The restaurant features a variety of smoked meats and scrumptious sides. “My go-to combo is pulled pork and chick en,” Messenger says. “Our mac and cheese is killer.” Erie, Pennsyl vania, 814-790-4001, underdogbbq.com
Boutique Hotel: STEELE MANSION INN & GATHERING HUB
“Your eyes tell you that you’ve gone to a different time, but you are as comfortable as you could be in the finest home around,” Shamakian relates. Today, “it’s essentially a new building in old skin,” she says. There are 16 hotel rooms deco rated in period style, celebration and meeting spaces and picturesque grounds. You’ll get your lavish bedding and antique fixtures along with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, in-house bar and hot breakfast.
When Carol Shamakian and her husband, Arthur, pur chased the 1867 Steele Mansion a dozen years ago, “it was months away from the wrecking ball,” she says. A passion for its history as the “grandest home in Painesville” that once hosted U.S. presidents including James Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant and others — along with Harriet Tubman and Amelia Earhart just one year before her disappearance the couple set out to recreate its French Second Empire grandeur while adding modern amenities.
Storybook English Cottage: LANA’S THE LITTLE HOUSE
For an enchanting day and stay, book a reservation at Lana’s the Little House. Enjoy tea, a tour, a walk through the gardens or an arts workshop on the premise. Located in the heart of Chautauqua County, this storybook Eng lish cottage is a gem during any season. Experience Winter Wonderland, the Summer Garden in Bloom or Fall Beau ty. And yes, the property even includes a wishing well. Forestville, New York, 716-965-2798, lanasthelittlehouse.com
SOUTHERN STYLE: DINOSAUR BAR-B-QUE Dinosaur Bar-B-Que started in 1983 as a concession stand made from 55-gallon drums cut in half. Five years later, it put down roots in Rochester, New York, and now has six locations. It’s regularly heralded as one of the best barbecue places in the state, and its sauces and rubs can be found in local Whole Foods stores — or are available for purchase through the website. What’s the secret to success? If you ask John Stage, owner and founder, it’s tak ing traditional southern barbecue flavors and adding his own unique signature. Buffalo, New York, 716-880-1677, dinosaurbarbque.com
COURTESY STEELE MANSION INN / LAURA WATILO BLAKE
Fridge upon fridge stocked with craft beer are a focal point at Huggy’s Social House in Ver milion, which pours more than 900 craft beers, including its specialty house brews made by Elyria’s Unplugged Brew ery Dudley’s Golden Ale and Vermilion Red. “Dudley’s is really special to us because that was our first dog, and he was well-known throughout town,” says Jackie Freeman, who co-owns the business with her husband, Tom Hug. “We wanted to do something in honor of him, so the proceeds go to Golden Retriev ers in Need (GRIN).”
Northwest Ohio’s fame as the “Warbler Capital of the World” is celebrated every spring at Magee Marsh during the “Big gest Week in American Birding,” a 10-day festival for beginning and sea soned birders alike featuring guided birding trips, birding identification workshops and a birder’s marketplace.
For more than a century, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area has been a bird watcher’s paradise, renowned for its diverse array of wildlife, including the many waterfowl, waterbirds, songbirds and shorebirds inhabiting the wetlands. During spring and fall migrations, more than 300 species of birds have been spotted here. Autumn brings thousands of Canada geese, mallards, black ducks, gadwall and green-winged teal. Spring means flights of swans, sandhill cranes and shorebirds. The area’s for ested beach ridge provides a vital respite for more than 150 species of migrating songbirds.
1. Rosemary Garlic Wings + Vermilion Red Ale or Collision Bend’s Lake Erie Sunset
Oak Harbor, Ohio, 419-898-0960, wildohio.gov Oasis of Wildlife:
Located at the mouth of the Huron River that borders Lake Erie, Michigan’s Pointe Mouillee State Game Area wetland is the premier place to spot waterbirds, waterfowl and shorebirds. One of the Great Lakes’ top shorebird stopovers, the impressive diversity includes tundra swans, redheads and other migrants. Rockwood, Michigan, 734-379-9692, mi.gov/dnr
“Magee Marsh and the surrounding properties dotting the Lake Erie shore line act as stopover sites, providing a critical habitat for countless migrating birds moving through the area,” says avid birder Meredith Gilbert, publica tions editor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. “Birding at Magee in the spring is truly a sight to see, with flurries of warblers and other songbirds in every direction. Birders can experience unparalleled close-up views of many hardto-find rarities and be dazzled by the sheer number and variety of species.”
12 Best of Lake Erie 2022 BIRD W A T C HING
“The secret to our butter tarts is the dough recipe that’s been passed down by our ancestors,” says farm owner Meghan Snyder. “It has the perfect balance of texture and flavor, and continues to be a fan favorite for all of the families that visit.” Bright, On tario, 519-632-7356, snydersfarm.com
Wild Wetland: POINTE MOUILLEE STATE GAME AREA
The irresistible meltin-your-mouth soft ness of Snyder’s butter tarts de lectably moist, flaky little pies in flavors that include Oreo, Skor, apple caramel and pumpkin butter sweeten the trip to Slice of Heaven: SNYDER’S FARM BUTTER TARTS
2. Mango Habanero or Sweet Chili Wings with Twin Oast Brewing Co.’s Kelleys Island Pilsner or Olde Ohio’s Blonde Ale
“Everyone here is like family,” Freeman describes of the at mosphere. “You come in and feel comfort able — you just en joy it as if you’re at a small get-together.” Vermilion, Ohio, 440-714-1992 Craft Beer and Baked Wings:
ISTOCK
MIDDLE BASS ISLAND FORESTED WETLAND PRESERVE
Comprising more than 40 acres of Lake Erie swamp forest, Ohio’s Middle Bass Island Forested Wetland Preserve is a prime habitat for migrating fall warblers and nesting yellow warblers. Fall color abounds with blooming asters, goldenrod and great blue lobelia, while the ma ture forest and vernal pools beyond are home to wood ducks and great-horned owls and provide sanctuary for migrating thrushes. Nesting boxes provide homes for house wrens and black-capped chickadees. “Fall is a wonderful time to visit this preserve,” says Lisa Brohl, CEO of the Put-in-Bay Township Park District, which owns the preserve. “I’ve seen large numbers of hermit thrushes, and often catch glimpses of great-horned owls.” Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie Islands, 419-366-2087, lakeerieislandsconservancy.org
With 85 wing flavors — from the popular rosemary garlic dry rub to the spicy scorpion that Freeman says, “brings tears to your eyes” — this riverfront spot with dock space is an eclectic reflection of its owners. Hug owned a local coffeehouse for years that was a treasure trove of antiques, framing and coffee bar items, says Freeman. He al ways wanted to own a bar, and with Free man’s artist back ground and culinary craftsmanship, the couple is serving up a unique waterfront experience. In addition to an extensive selection of wing flavors, the menu also offers elevated bar fare. We’re talking handcarved raspberry al mond turkey wraps with fresh berries and house-made honeyraspberry sauce.
HUGGY’S SOCIAL HOUSE
3. Hickory Peach Porter Dry Rub Wings with Dudley’s Golden Ale 3 to Try this premier Ontario attraction. The destination, which is open from Labor Day to Christ mas, hosts a range of family-friendly ac tivities that include a haunted house, hay rides and visits from Santa at Christmas time. The bakery’s butter tarts are an ideal memento to take home.
Bird Watcher’s Paradise: MAGEE MARSH WILDLIFE AREA
The National Comedy Center just acquired legendary comedian Carl Reiner’s career archives, which in cludes thousands of creative papers, un published material, rare photographs and footage. It includes all 158 of The Dick Van Dyke Show scripts and the actor’s screen plays. In his honor, the center named its collections initiative the Carl Reiner De partment of Archives and Preservation. And the Carl Reiner, Keep Laughing exhibit showcases his work.
FIS H D I S HES lakeerieliving.com 13
LAURA WATILO BLAKE L A U G H S
One seafood people might NOT think of when they think of Lake Erie is oysters. But Josh Graffius, sous-chef and oyster bar manager at Bay House Oyster Bar & Restaurant is trying to change that. Opened in December 2021, the restaurant offers steaks and seafood — including a variety of oysters (from the east and west coast, depending on season) pre pared several ways. Oysters are available on the half shell or grilled on the coals of the Bay House’s Argentine grill — “When it pops, it’s ready to eat,” Graffius says. They’re also breaded and fried, with hot sauce, spinach and feta cheese. “It’s a passion project,” he says. “We really want to be the best at it.” Erie, Pennsylvania, 814-413-7440, upick6.com/bay-house All-You-Can-Eat Seafood:
National Comedy Center
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown is the most interactive museum in the country, with state-of-the-art technology that person alizes the experience based on the type of comedy you enjoy.
There are more than 50 exhibits inside. Here’s what’s in store.
FISH SHAK
When you think about fish in Lake Erie, you think about walleye (Port Clinton bills itself as the walleye capital of the world) and yellow perch. Both are caught by the ton by com mercial and recreational anglers, and many of them find their way onto plates at local restaurants, including the Fish Shak. Part of the Boardwalk complex on the waterfront in Put-inBay, the Fish Shak offers casual fare with hand-breaded Lake Erie perch and walleye sandwiches and baskets, as well as a generous variety of beer, wine and liquors and panoramic views of the water. Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie Islands, 419-285-3695, the-boardwalk.com
Jamestown, New York, 716-484-2222, comedycenter.org
A waterfront landmark in Grand River, Ohio, since 1982, Pickle Bill’s is known for its all-you-can-eat seafood. Diners can eat in a barge on the water, getting their fill of deep-fried scallops, shrimp, fish and chips, Lake Erie perch and wall eye or Alaskan snow crab. (You can also get all-you-can-eat prime rib, too.) The best part? It’s not a limited special. If the restaurant’s open and they’ve got it in stock, it’s available. Grand River, Ohio, 1-800-352-6343, picklebills.com
This is a museum for all ages, and a real win if you’ve got a younger set that loves digital entertainment. Looking for family-friendly laughs?
“When you come in, you create a sense of humor profile at a kiosk based on the TV shows, movies and comedians you like, and you get a ‘laugh band’ with an RFID chip,” explains Gary Hahn, vice president, marketing and communications. “Our system knows you are there and scans your band to deliver comedy based on what you told us you like, so if there are several people in the Stand Up Lounge, it will read the room like a good stand-up comedian would, find what everyone has in common, and bring up a stand-up act that appeals to everyone sitting there at that moment.”
All About Oysters:
An interactive table highlights the history of classic comedy props — things like banana peels, arrows-through-thehead, whoopie cushions and the anvil that ap pears in Bugs Bunny cartoons. “The table tells you about the prop, and you can watch a clip from a cartoon or an old TV show that features that prop,” Hahn says.
BAY HOUSE OYSTER BAR & RESTAURANT
Casual Catches:
COMEDY CONTINUUM “Whether you are 80 years old or 8, there is something for you,” Hahn says, pointing to this map-like feature where you touch a 60foot interactive screen to learn about a come dian or performer — and their act leads you to another comedy con nection. It’s like the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game for comedy. “You essentially create a web as you touch the screen there are pictures and videos, and it’s a way for younger gen erations to see today’s artists and their influ ences,” Hahn says.
PICKLE BILL’S
PROP STARS
CARL REINER, KEEP LAUGHING
Late Night Treat:
The refrigerated machine is stocked daily with the bakery’s cookies, cake pops, cheese cake on a stick and six packs of cupcakes, plus some items that are gluten-free. Fette can monitor purchases around the clock.
“Although we have customers stop by at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning, Saturday is the most popular day,” says Fette. “We close on Satur days at 1 p.m., and by 5 p.m. it’s almost empty, so I will come over and refill it.” Erie, Pennsylvania, 814-464-0528, icingonthelake.com
Dine, sip and enjoy stunning views of Lake Erie’s bay front at Pier 6 Rooftop Bar and Restaurant in Erie, Pennsylvania. The city’s only indoor and outdoor rooftop bar and restaurant features indoor-outdoor fireplaces, a west deck with outdoor dining under large umbrellas and an east deck with comfortable lounge seating. The menu includes a large selection of craft beers, appetizers, flatbreads, handcrafted sandwiches, pub burgers and grain bowls — along with Sunday brunch and a kids’ menu. Erie, Pennsylvania, 814-413-7437, upick6.com/pier-6 Scene from Sandusky
LAURA WATILO BLAKE 14 Best of Lake Erie 2022
By the Bayfront: PIER 6 ROOFTOP BAR & RESTAURANT
Great Heights: BAR 32 See Cleveland like you’ve never seen it before. Perched atop the 32nd floor of Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Bar 32’s stunning vista encompasses Lake Erie and the iconic Cleveland skyline that make any visit a special occasion for the 21-and-older crowd. The small plate “coast to coast” style menu features fare from the East, West and Gulf coasts, as well as Cleveland’s North Coast, ranging from lob ster rolls and mushroom flatbread to jumbo cocktail shrimp. Save room for the sweet, warm carrot loaf topped with Cleveland’s own Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream and candied pecans. Cleveland, Ohio, 216-413-5000, bar32cle.com
Daily specials range from burgers to tacos to fried shrimp and boneless wings. This authen tic sports bar with 25+ beers on tap caters to hungry patrons seeking a satisfying tavernfood fix. And if you’re in a south-of-the-bor der mood, a generous taco platter and selec tion of fajitas will fit the bill. Monroe, Michigan, 734-243-0343, petesgaragemi.com
MUSTARD + RELISH Chow down on a delicious beefy burger at Mustard + Relish, where you can make it your own with ingredients such as local Jen sen’s cheddar, bacon onion jam, smoked ba con or house pickled banana peppers. Signa ture burgers come “as is.” So no messing with the menu. But you won’t mind with choices that include the bull — a grass-fed beef patty with grainy mustard mayo, smoked tomato ketchup, caramelized onion, smoked bacon, gorgonzola and iceberg lettuce crunch. Burg ers aren’t the only game. Other sandwich selections include the Rooster, the Lamb, the Fish, the Bison, the Stallion, the Chick en and the Garden. Port Dover, Ontario, 509-583-3337, mrburger.ca Chill Bar & Grill: PETE’S GARAGE
Here’s something that is seri ously sweet: a 24-hour ATM for fresh-baked treats. You can find this delight ful dispensary of desserts at Icing on the Lake, a cupcake shop in Erie. In spiration for this destina tion came from owner Heidi Fette’s desire to curb people’s late-night cravings and earn some money at the same time.
MOSELEY’S ROOFTOP BAR
Boozy Treats: FAIRPORT HARBOR CREAMERY Ice creams and goodies are made in-house, and the “adult menu” of boozy scoops includes yummies like chocolate ice cream infused with peanut butter whiskey, vanilla ice cream with espresso vodka and Kahlua, and mint ice cream melded with whiskey and creme de menthe. For the younger set, the curated menu of homemade flavors includes staples and origi nals such as Lighthouse, which is made up of vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries and soft chocolate flakes. Fairport Harbor, Ohio, 440-898-0030, fairportharborcreamery.com
Sip on a refreshing beverage and grab a seat in the heart of one of Lake Erie’s most desireable destina tions. Boaters and beach goers boast the magnifi cent views that can be found at Moseley’s Rooftop Bar, located atop Hotel Kilbourne, featuring unab structed views of Jackson Street Pier and Sandusky’s waterfront. Featuring a casual, relaxing atmosphere, this drinks-only location offers tropical refreshers, including pina coladas and daquiries, as well as ontap and canned beer and other mixers. “It’s normally packed on the weekends, and people love to come and watch the sunsets,” says Betsey Luipold, man ager of Hotel Kilbourne, adding that one of her fa vorite drinks is the strawberry basil mojito. “We grow our own basil up there, and it’s made especially for the upstairs bar.” Sandusky, Ohio, 844-373-2223, hotelkilbourne.com
Fabulous Farm-to-Table Fare:
Rooftop Views
ICING ON THE LAKE
FO O D I E F UN
Cocktail: ROSE
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Serving: 1 2 ounces tequila blanco 1/2 ounce pineapple juice 1 ounce grapefruit cordial 1 ounce lime juice of soda water Tajin chili seasoning all of the ingredients into a tumbler. Stir to integrate. Pour over ice into a clay jug garnished with Tajin, plus a dehydrated orange and mint leaves.
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WEST
MAKE Y O U R OWN LAURA WATILO BLAKE
• Splash
What does West Rose — a cool, hip eatery in Ellicottville, New York — have in common with the Mexican Revolution? The answer is the cool and refreshing can tarito, a cocktail that starts with tequila. The drink was born in the Mexican state of Jalisco with the aim of satisfying the thirst of ex hausted fighters going up against a ruthless dictator. Tequila was a very inexpensive alcohol that even the lower classes could afford. The drink was kept cool in clay jugs known as cantaros. Over time, the alcohol was mixed with other ingredients such as grapefruit soda and chili. West Rose’s version combines tequila, lime, grape fruit and pineapple for a delicious concoction served in handmade clay tumblers rimmed with Tajin and garnished with dried orange and mint. Ellicottville, New York, 716-699-9113, westrose.restaurant
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COURTESY PENN DIXIE FOSSIL PARK & NATURE RESERVE / ISTOCK / COURTESY RUFF LIFE ON THE LAKE 16 Best of Lake Erie 2022
Stay and Play with Pets: J.F. WALLEYE’S ISLAND RENTALS AND VILLAS Deluxe villas sleep six, are pet friendly and give you the flex ibility to cozy up on Middle Bass without the worry of board ing your fur buddy. The villas include a screened in porch, full kitchen, dining area, bathroom and sleeping spaces. Middle Bass Island, Lake Erie Islands, 419-285-2739, jfwalleyes.net
PENN DIXIE FOSSIL PARK & NATURE RESERVE
Taps & Tails’ outdoor seating overlooks a doggy obstacle course. “And we are always doing events like breed meet ups and singles night,” Grossman says. Cleveland, Ohio, 216-417-7384, tapsandtailsdogbar.com
Pampering for Pooches:
“Because we’re at the site of a former cement quarry, the fossils are right at the surface,” says Catherine Konieczny, the park’s direc tor of science. “The best tool to use in discovering them is your eyes.”
“I’ve always wanted to open a dog boutique, and I was a chef for most of my career. Cindy came up with the idea to do a combina tion of food for dogs and humans with a gift shop,” Salerno says.
FOUR - L E G G E D FUN
Blasdell, New York, 716-627-4560, penndixie.org
Step Back in Time:
TAPS & TAILS
Carleton, Michigan, 734-654-2622, calderdairy.com
Budding researchers can test their knowhow and learn something new at the Buf falo Museum of Science. See a bird egg that’s bigger than one laid by a dinosaur and a hive big enough to house 80,000 bees. Experience a storm which raged for hundreds of years. Meet what appears to be a mermaid, and watch a pendulum that tracks the earth’s movement. Designed for children, the museum’s multisensory SensERIE space features activities with a Lake Erie twist — including what it’s like to plunge into the lake in side a 16-foot research submarine and redesign Buffalo’s iconic sky line and create illuminated art with a larger-than-life light board. Buffalo, New York, 716-896-5200, sciencebuff.org
“We hope that offering visitors the opportunity to visit a real working farm helps bridge the gap between suburbia and agriculture,” says manag er Nicola Noble. “This is a great low-key outing for young and old alike.”
Voyage of Discovery: BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
RUFF LIFE ON THE LAKE
Dog-friendly dining and gifts galore are in store at Ruff Life on the Lake, where business partners Nina Salerno and Cindy Lindberg have created a go-to spot for families and fur buddies to enjoy eats, drinks and retail therapy. The patio seats 75, a doggy daycare gives owners a way to play around Geneva-onthe-Lake while their pooches stay.
Two-legged diners will enjoy the house-made crab dip and Ruff House Cobb Salad — pierogies and shrimp tacos are special ties. Pooches can nosh on scrambled eggs, a grilled all-beef hot dog or chicken, or Ruff Cup pup-ice cream. A kids menu includes mac ‘n cheese, grilled cheese or a Hot Diggity Dog. Geneva-onthe-Lake, Ohio, 440-361-3854, rufflifeonthelake.com
Pet-Friendly Pub:
FUN F O R A L L AGES
It’s easy to see why New York’s Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve is considered to be a global geological treasure that attracts 18,000 visitors an nually. In 2018, it claimed the Guinness World Record for Largest Fossil Dig. Collectors can take a guided tour and keep what they find at the 54-acre park, where they’re invited to search for trilobites, brachiopods and crinoids from the Devonian Period that date back 380 million years. Trained staff and volunteers help explorers locate and identify the fossils.
Barks and brews is the concept at Taps & Tails, which in cludes a dog park, doggie daycare and full bar with spe cialty drinks on Train Avenue in Cleveland. It’s the first of its kind in Ohio. “We have a growing group of regulars, a mix of dog lovers and pet owners who share a common interest,” says the lead bark ranger, Chase Grossman.
Animal Magnetism: CALDER DAIRY FARM For 76 years, Calder Dairy has been providing dairy products to families throughout southeastern Michigan via old-fashioned home delivery and local grocery stores. The dairy’s farm in Carleton offers visitors the chance to see firsthand what farm life is like. They can watch cows being milked every day at 4 p.m.; feed ducks, geese and goats; visit donkeys, sheep and baby calves; and enjoy a peaceful moment or two at the pond. A bowl of ice cream made with the farm’s fresh milk in 34 scrumptious flavors, including Holstein Paradise and Blue Moo, makes the trip complete.
“We have many followers and friends who return — it’s just fun.”
Time to Relax: INASPHERE ESTATE WINERY & FARM MARKET
“The battle was small in the scope of the War of 1812, but the impact is still being felt today,” Keegan says. The River Raisin National Battlefield Park offers walking and biking trails, as well as the Visitor and Education Center, which includes a state-of-the-art theater where guests can view the park’s new film, The Untold Legacy of the River Raisin,” for free. Monroe, Michigan, 734-243-7136, nps.gov/rira Making Art Matter:
See the Light: ETERNAL FLAME FALLS
The Bosgoed family invites you to “come for the view and stay for the flavours” at Ontario’s Inasphere Winery. The breathtaking setting en compasses 105 combined acres of grapes that produce a diversity of wines — including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Riesling and Pinot Gri gio — and fields of cabbage, roma tomatoes, squash, onions, cucumbers and beans. Visitors are invited to visit the “Cabin” to purchase farm produce and bottles of their favorite wines to take home, relax at the tasting bar and kick back on the patio to enjoy the ambiance. St. Williams, Ontario, 519-410-5930, inaspherewines.ca
Photo Ops
The stone skeleton of the Vin Villa Winery lay in ru ins just beyond a locked metal gate on Pelee Island’s north shore, but what lies beneath the surface would make Bacchus, the god of wine and pleasure, ex tremely proud. There, a team of investors has turned one of the underground wine cellars of Canada’s first commercial winery into a den of decadence rivaling some of the best wine cellars in the world. The price for a dinner party for 28 guests starts around $200 per person, but the space is rumored to have hosted a $64,000 meal for 10 people. Double wrought-iron doors adorned with working torches and knobs in the shape of Vs lead to the long windowless cellar with an arched ceiling. A long antique wooden table with red-leather chairs runs the length of the space, but the most impressive detail is a 48-footlong chandelier with metal grape vines creeping across the hand-hewn stone ceiling. Hidden among the iron branches are 50 LED lights, not to mention some of Pelee Island’s rare and endangered animals, such as the blind salamander and blue racer snake.
The restaurant had a World War II era theme, re sembling a French chateau, but its look has been modernized. “We tried to keep the bones, but get a little more modern,” says President Khadar Soussou. And the former gift shop is now an events design cen ter, with options for linens, china and other decora tions, living up to the facility’s slogan of “imagination without barriers.” Cleveland, Ohio, 216-770 5300, aviatorcle.com
LAURA WATILO BLAKE VIN VILLA: THE POMPEII OF PELEE ISLAND
For decades, the 100th Bomb Group was a destina tion for dinner and special events. But the restaurant closed in 2020, its World War II-era memorabilia dis bursed and the planes donated to the MAPS Museum in Stark County. Today, it’s the Aviator. Opened in April 2022, the facility still features a boutique restaurant and bar (executive chef Jon Standen worked with Michael Sy mon) but is leaning into being an events center, with a total of five rooms, from a room accommodating 30 people for smaller events to a banquet center that can hold up to 350. A rooftop bar is also planned — so revelers can watch planes take off and land from the Cleveland airport.
Take a tour of the ruins with Pelee Island Adven tures, the most affordable way to go beyond the gate. The one-hour walking tour includes a tast ing of Pelee Island Wine in the Vin Villa cellar, a visit to the island’s legendary Hulda’s Rock and a primer on why Vin Vill is one of the most histori cally significant viticultural sites in North America. Guests also walk away with a limited-edition replica of the bronze medallion the winery won at the 1878 World’s Fair in Paris.
Battlefield Park: RIVER RAISIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK As a native of Monroe, Michigan, Jami Keegan didn’t hear much about the battles at River Raisin during the War of 1812 — in no small part because they resulted in severe losses for the U.S., with more than 900 of a force of a thousand either killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
“There were a lot of horrendous things that hap pened,” says Keegan, now the chief of interpretation and education at the River Raisin National Battlefield Park, which opened in 2011. The battle in what was then the western front of the war was a resounding victory for Native Ameri can forces that had allied with the British — and its effects have rippled to the present day. The slaugh ter of wounded Americans following surrender — estimates run anywhere from 10 to 100, with the truth likely somewhere in the middle — led to the enforcement of the Indian Removal Act throughout the rest of the 19th century.
H I S T O R Y
Some visitors are mesmerized by the cascade. Others are spellbound by the grotto that emits an 8-inch-high flame believed to have been lit thousands of years ago by Native Ameri cans or simply the result of a natural gas leak. Either way, Eternal Flame Falls has become a popular New York attraction in Chestnut Ridge Park. The 35-foot waterfall is well worth the 40-minute roundtrip hike along the path that’s clearly marked with signs and a creek bed. Orchard Park, New York, 716-858-8355, nyfalls.com/waterfalls/eternal-flame-falls
It’s not hyperbole to say that Roger Tory Peterson was the father to modern field guides. Starting with his Guide to the Birds, published in 1934, Peterson wrote more than 20 books on nature, filled with colorful il lustrations and photos, many done by him. “It can’t be overstated how important the field guides are,” says Arthur Pearson, director of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, dedicated to being a living embodiment of his guides. The facility includes a 27-acre nature preserve as well as a lodge designed by Robert A.M. Stern reflect ing Greek influences as well as the early 20th century Arts & Crafts movement. The institute is home to more than 100,000 pieces, from artwork to illustrations, photos and movies — many of which were done by Peterson himself. The in stitute hosts three exhibits a year, not just of his work, but of established nature artists as well as those on the rise. Jamestown, New York, 716-665-2473, rtpi.org Renovation: THE AVIATOR
“In the 1800s, the Europeans snubbed their noses at new-world wines,” explains Clayton Walls, owner of Pelee Island Adventures, “but the win at the World’s Fair put North American wine on the map.” Pelee Island, Ontario, 226-724-4742, peleeislandadventures.com
There’s nothing as dreamy as seeing the warm glow of sunset from the 200-foot-long ADA accessible pier at Painesville Township Park. The Northeast Ohio park, which is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, offers year-round sweep ing views of Lake Erie in all its seasonal glory. Portions of the pier are covered, and there are plenty of benches for visitors to sit a spell and enjoy their surroundings. Painesville Township, Ohio, 440-354-3885, lakemetroparks.com
ROGER TORY PETERSON INSTITUTE
lakeerieliving.com 17 Tour:
Romantic Retreat: THE PIER AT PAINESVILLE TOWNSHIP PARK
LAURA WATILO BLAKE / COURTESY SKYSAIL.ORG 18 Best of Lake Erie 2022 in Lucy’s Hometown Plan your trip at ComedyCenter.org or call 716.484.2222 203 W. 2nd St, Jamestown, NY LAUGH ALL DAY! In Our Two Museum Experiences Jamestown, NY The Perfect Family Day Trip! “BEST NEW MUSEUM” IN THE COUNTRY USA -TODAY Images of Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz licensed by Desilu, too, LLC. All rights reserved.
Fredonia, New York, 716-680-0397, tourchau tauqua.com/destinations/high-tyed-ski-schooland-parasailing
Kelleys Island AdvenTours
Tour Kelleys Island by bike, winding through state parks and along beach trails. “I show you all the fun spots on the island,” says Dawn Soldner, owner of Kelleys Island AdvenTours, which offers excursions in the woods, quarries and on Lake Erie by kayak. You don’t need the gear. AdvenTours takes care of the details while you explore nature.
OUTDO O R A D V E N TURES
Sky Sail Balloons
Book a private balloon ride for parties of two to four people with Sky Sail Balloons, and float 500 to 1,500 feet above ground. Locals might know Sky Sail for one of its characteristic Easter-themed “He Is Risen” balloons emblazoned with a Jack Jewell portrait of Christ. Daily, Sky Sail’s vibrant-colored “envelopes” (the name for the balloon, or bag) dust across the Chautauqua landscape, making the expe rience a memorable family adventure or special oc casion affair. Sky Sail has seen its fair share of wed ding proposals and anniversaries. Ashville, New York, 716-782-2280, skysail.org
High Tyed Ski School and Parasailing
“Our Treasure Tour goes from preserve to pre serve by kayak,” Soldner describes. “We get out, explore and we also offer sunset tours that go from the state park to the North Shore and end at West Bay.” Kayakers get a ride back from Soldner’s crew for this one-way kayak trip. Soldner also offers a two-hour private golf cart Eco-Tour that is guided. You’ll learn Kelleys Island his tory, the development of winemaking and how the is land has evolved over the years. Kelleys Island, Lake Erie Islands, 419-708-4228, kelleysislandadventours.com
Parasail over Lake Erie and get a true bird’s eye view — or take advantage of High Tyed’s range of watersports, from wakeboarding and water skiing to tubing. If you’d prefer to cruise in a boat rather than flying high above it or travel ing at high speeds behind the stern, check out High Tyed’s sunset cruises and fishing charters with complimentary food and refreshments.
Amazing Ambiance:
“Throughout the restaurant are pictures from the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie — snippets of information,” says Courtney Kihm, manager. “You get a little history lesson as you walk through the restaurant and see the collections of pictures and beautiful bay views.”
TheLodgeAtGeneva.com 4888 North Broadway Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH
“Salmon and halibut are our bestsellers,” Kihm says. Erie, Pennsylvania, 814-920-9666, oliversrooftop.com
There’s so much to take in at Sole at Wood land Beach — beach games, live entertain ment, the Sandbar with favorites from the local family restaurant Ilio DiPaolo’s like the Sole Sausage Sandwich and custom cocktails like Sandy Cheeks made from grapefruit and pineapple juices, soda and peach schnapps. Sip on a Breeze of Tito’s vodka, pineapple and cranberry juice. Located Woodlawn Beach, the set ting is billed as a top spot for New York weddings, while Sole is a go-to for fun and sun. Blasdell, New York, 716-8243500, soleatwoodlawn beach.com
COURTESY SUNSEY BAY BEACH CLUB / LAURA WATILO BLAKE / COURTESY SOLE AT WOODLAWN BEACH lakeerieliving.com 19
Nightlife: SUNSET BAY BEACH CLUB
Outdoor Event and Concert Venue:
SOLE AT WOODLAWN BEACH
The Beer Garden features a sig nature brew from Rusty Rail Brewing Company called Ship Faced! It’s pet friendly, offers limited boat docking and serves up food from Oliver’s own food
This waterfront dance club offers in door dancing, an expansive waterfront patio bar, live music, DJs — no won der it draws a vibrant beach crowd day and night. Happy Hour isn’t just for weekdays, with two-for-one drinks. Aside from the club, Sunset Bay’s five acres of beachfront also offers attractions like Cabana Sam’s Beach Bar & Grill for casual bites and beverages, including kids’ meals, Sunset Bay Deli, Beaches and Cream for cones, and a snack bar. Irving, New York, 716-934-9953, sunsetbayusa.com/beach-club
Fall is the one season everyone agrees on. In Ohio Wine Country, you can embrace the natural beauty of the season. Enjoy convenient shuttles that transport guests to local wineries, plus lodging at our lakeside resort and private cottages. Plan your autumn getaway now.
OLIVER’S BEER GARDEN Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal wide and open views of Erie’s bayfront and the historic US Brig Niagara ship — and energy from the bustling Harbor Place fills the rooftop restaurant and outdoor beer garden. It’s the crown jewel atop the Hampton Inn & Suites and chock full of entertainment.
Hot Spots truck. Inside the restaurant, Chef Rick handcrafts dishes with a focus on sea food, especially in summertime.
FALL perfect
Q: Tell us about how Middle Bass Island crops up in White Spider Night.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first book release of Rainbow’s End this year, Putin-Bay author Bob Adamov is unleashing a trifecta of his mystery-adventure novels in 2022 that follow local personalities and in corporate island character that is inspired by his growing up days visiting Lake Erie’s South Bass Island. April 1 marked the release of Sunset Blues , and White Spider Night hit the shelves on July 1. A new edition of Rainbow’s End will be released in October. Meanwhile, Adamov’s Alzheimer’s disease-based novel, Memory Layne, won Best Fiction Novel of 2022 at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the largest international book program for inde pendent and self-pub lishing authors. Lake Erie Living sat down with Adamov for a preview of his titles and to learn more about his island inspiration.
Q: Tell us about the hero of your books and how you incorporate local flavor.
20 Best of Lake Erie 2022
October 8th & 9th 2022 Bayfront Convention Center Erie, PA FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT RELISHINC.COM
Q: What makes Sunset Blues an interesting mystery?
A: It involves the disappearance of our hero’s aunt after her house explodes on Put-in-Bay. There’s a chase that leads our hero from the island to Detroit to Key West and in volves a Russian taxi cab company that was running Lon don-style cabs on Put-in-Bay and Key West. There is a link and interesting twists.
Erie Author: BOB ADAMOV
A: Throughout the years, I’ve had several folks who live on the island ask why I don’t include Middle Bass Island in my adventures. So, I went over for a speaking engage ment, met many people and they arranged interviews for me. It felt like a family reunion. I was working on a murder mystery set in Put-in-Bay and found a way to work Middle Bass Island into the story.
A: The novels include the misadventures of Emerson Moore, an investigative reporter who lives with his aunt on Put-in-Bay. He’s not a James Bond, just a regular guy who makes stupid mistakes like we all do. Readers tell me they’d enjoy sitting down with him and having a beer. I have a knack for placing real people in my novels and enjoy the looks of surprises on their faces when they find themselves while reading.
Q: How did you come up with the concept for White Spider Night ?
A: It came from a legend of Put-in-Bay’s Roundhouse Bar. On Labor Day, after the Miller Ferry has a big send off for the last ferry that marks the end of the vacation season, people would return to the Roundhouse Bar and take all of the half-empty white liquor bottles and mix them together in a vat. Then they would drink it. The next day, they would ask each other, ‘Did the white spider bite you last night?’ It became White Spider Night
Scenic Experience: THE BLUFFS
Something for Everyone: THUNDERBIRD HILLS
ISTOCK lakeerieliving.com 21 ONE ARCHITECT. ONE FAMILY. TWO HOUSES.
restored.
PHOTO: Matthew Digati
Toughest Par 4:
VISIT Experience Frank Lloyd Wright in Western New York through Martin fully
the
PHOTO: Meccay Photography
WRIGHTINWNY.ORG
With two separate courses, Thunderbird Hills has something for any type of golfer. The north course, which opened in 1960, is hilly, with tree-lined fairways and smaller greens, for the more skilled duffer. The south course, which opened in 1995, features views of the Huron River, more hills and larger greens. Huron, Ohio, 419-433-4552, thunderbirdgolfcourses.com
G O L F I N G Love SIGN UP TODAY Get the latest updates on events around the Lake Erie region delivered straight to your inbox with The Splash email newsletter. lakeerieliving.com
RIVER OAKS GOLF CLUB
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Riv er Oaks Golf Club was designed by Desmond Muirhead, a creative designer whose crown ing achievement is probably Muirfield Village in Columbus. The links-style course, unusual for the area, features rolling land, fescue and heather. The second hole, a 434-yard par 4, is regarded as one of the toughest in New York. The course is private, but the restaurant, Ell den’s Grill and Banquet, is worth the trip.
“Everything’s good there,” says Ryan Hig gins, who’s been the club professional for 10 years. “I’ll eat anything off the menu.” Grand Island, New York, 716-773-3337, riveroaks-golfclub.com
Built in 2000 on what was previously farmland, The Bluffs overlooks Lake Erie, not far from Port Stanley’s beach. The nine-hole course has been expanded to 12, covering 3,700 yards, and thousands of trees were planted, making the course even more verdant. Port Stanley, Ontario, 519-782-7447, thebluffsgolfclub.com
family’s city and summer homes, now
FINE
22 Best of Lake Erie 2022 1715 E. Perry Street Port Clinton, OH State Rte. 163 • Exit off Rte. 2 419-732-3382 We NOW Have Beer & Wine! Featured Items: Lake Erie Yellow Perch Lake Erie Walleye • Lobster Bisque • Oysters • Jumbo Shrimp • Waffle Fries • Homemade Onion Rings • Fresh Breaded Mushrooms Try Our Power Bowls! Chipotle Quinoa over Kale Crunch, topped with Black Bean Corn Salsa, Avocado, Egg, and Radish Garnish, Then topped with protein of your choice: • Seared Ahi Tuna • Shrimp • Chipotle Black Bean Patty • Salmon New Lakefront Location with Lake Views! Large Lakefront Patio! 2 Doors West From Our Former Location! BEACH Lakeview Beach Lorain, Ohio 440-245-1193 loraincountymetroparks.com Nickel Plate Beach Huron, Ohio 419-433-8487 cityofhuron.org Barcelona Harbor Beach Westfield, New York 716-753-6842 westfieldny.com BED AND BREAKFAST Chateau de Charleston Lorain, Ohio 440-670-1445 chateaudecharleston.com Maple Springs Lake Side Inn Bemus Point, New York 716-386-2500 mslsi.com Barcelona Lakeside Bed and Breakfast Westfield, New York 716-326-3756 barcelonalakeside.com CHEAP EATS Avon Brewing Co. Avon, Ohio 440-937-1816 avonbrewingcompany.com Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern Bemus Point, New York 716-386-4422 guppystavern.com Fairport Family Restaurant Farport Harbor, Ohio 440-354-7474
FESTIVAL Lorain
FireFish
Lorain,
READERS’ PICKS You cast your votes, and here are the results — the best of Lake Erie in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, Michigan and the Lake Erie Islands.
CHOCOLATE Brummer’s Chocolates Vermilion, Ohio 440-967-2329 brummers.com Suzin L. Chocolatier Elyria, Ohio 440-323-3372 suzinl.com Faroh’s Finest Chocolates Lorain, Ohio 440-752-1057 farohscandy.com Deli & Restaurant Sandusky, Ohio 419-625-9100 Deli Amherst, Ohio 440-985-3354 yourdeliamherst.com Deli Rocky River, Ohio 440-333-7890 myjoesdeli.com International Festival Ohio loraininternational.com Woollybear Festival Vermilion, Ohio vermilionohio.com Festival Lorain, Ohio firefishfestival.com DINING Dodie’s Dockside Lorain, Ohio 440-742-7209 dodiesdockside.com
DELI Dianna’s
Your
Joe’s
HISTORIC SITE Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie Islands 419-285-2184
LAKE ERIE FISH American Slovak Club Lorain, Ohio 440-245-2146 americanslovakclub.com Jolly Roger Seafood House Port Clinton, Ohio 419-732-3382 Erie Beach Hotel Port Dover, Ontario 519-583-1391 eriebeachhotel.com
Paddle Bar Sandusky, Ohio 419-502-1044 paddleandclimb.com Grace and Abe’s Westfield, New York 716-232-4056 graceandabes.com
Lincoln-Bedell Statue Westfield, New York 866-908-4569 tourchautauqua.com
stansgardencenter.com Westfield
SUMMER COCKTAIL Speak of the Devil Lorain, Ohio 440-434-4286 speakofthedevillorain.com Annex 25 Westfield, New York 716-232-4331 annex25.com
cahoonnurseryandgarden center.com Stan’s
LIGHTHOUSE Lorain Lighthouse Lorain, Ohio lorainlighthouse.com Marblehead Lighthouse Marblehead, Ohio marbleheadlighthouseohio.org Barcelona Lighthouse Westfield, New York parks.ny.gov
CJ’s Pizza & Subs Westfield, New York 716-326-4629 Purola’s Billow Street Pizza Ashtabula, Ohio 440-964-7089 purolasbsp.com
YACHT CLUB Vermilion Boat Club Vermilion, Ohio 440-967-6634 vermilionboatclub.com Catawba Island Club Port Clinton, Ohio 419-797-4424 cicclub.com Lakeside Yacht Club Cleveland, Ohio 216-432-3270 lakesideyachtclub.com
HOT SPOTS Geneva-on-the-Lake Ohio 800-862-9948 visitgenevaonthelake.com Presque Isle State Park Erie, Pennsylvania 814-833-7472 dcnr.pa.gov Point Pelee National Park Leamington, Ontario 519-322-2365 pc.gc.ca Kelleys Island Lake Erie Islands 419-746-2360 kelleysislandchamber.com Niagara Falls New York 877-325-5787 niagarafallsusa.com Monroe Michigan 734-243-0700 monroemi.gov
Brazill’s On Main Westfield, New York 716-326-2203 brazillsonmain.com
Sandbar on the Beach Turkey Point, Ontario 519-426-4009 sandbaronthebeach.com
Cahoon Nursery
HOMEBUILDER/ REMODELER Wayne Homes Sandusky, Ohio 866-253-6807 waynehomes.com Affordable Renovations Vermilion, Ohio 440-453-9934, afford ablerenovationsohio.com
PIZZA Fran’s Pizza Lorain, Ohio 440-282-7544 eliseospizza.com
ICE CREAM Toft Dairy Ice Cream Parlor Sandusky, Ohio 419-625-5490 toftdairy.com Simply Scoops Port Burwell, Ontario 519-874-1390 simplyscoops.com Boxcar Barney’s Mayville, New York 716-222-9925 boxcarbarneysicecream.com
Mojito Bay Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie Islands mojitobaypib.com
Chez Francois Restaurant & Touche Bistro Vermilion, Ohio 440-967-0630 chezfrancois.com
MARINA Oasis Marinas at Port Lorain Lorain, Ohio 440-822-3160 portlorainmarina.com Huron Lagoons Marina Huron, Ohio 419-433-3200 huronlagoons.com Romp’s Water Port Marina Vermilion, Ohio 440-967-4342 romps.com
HOME DECOR Lee’s Landing Nautical Gift Shop & Art Gallery Vermilion, Ohio 440-967-0750 Catawba Interiors Port Clinton, Ohio 419-734-5888 catawbainteriors.com Rosie’s Workshop Westfield, New York 716-597-4453 rosiesworkshop.com
John Spain Builders Lorain, Ohio 440-988-2382 johnspainbuilders.com
UPSCALE HOTEL Ariel Broadway Hotel Lorain, Ohio 440-246-6669 arielbroadwayhotel.com Sawmill Creek Resort Huron, Ohio 419-433-3800 sawmillcreekresort.com Fallsview Casino Resort Niagara Falls, Ontario 888-325-5788 fallsviewcasinoresort.com
WINERY Vermilion Valley Vineyards Vermilion, Ohio 440-965-5205 vermilion-valleyvineyards.com Put-in-Bay Winery Put-in-Bay, Lake Erie Islands 419-285-3343 putinbaywinery.com
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Guppy’s Restaurant & Tavern Bemus Point, New York 716-386-4422 guppystavern.com
HAPPY HOUR Speak of the Devil Lorain, Ohio 440-434-4286 speakofthedevillorain.com
OVERALL DINING Oliver’s Rooftop Erie, Pennsylvania 814-920-9666 oliversrooftop.com Wine Vault Vermilion, Ohio 440-963-7443 Briquettes Smokehouse Ashtabula, Ohio 440-964-2273 briquettessmokehouse.com
SUNDAY BRUNCH Parkview Cafe Westfield, New York 716-326-3600 parkviewcafeandcatering.com
Johnson’s Island Sandusky, Ohio 419-625-2454 johnsonsisland.org
TOWN Lorain, Ohio 440-204-2002 cityoflorain.org Westfield, New York westfieldny.com Amherstburg, Ontario 519-736-2001 amherstburgchamber.com
GARDEN CENTER Westlake, Ohio 440-871-3761 Garden Center Erie, Pennsylvania 814-899-5424 Nursery Westfield, New York 716-326-3032
Peek’n Peak Resort Clymer, New York 716-355-4141 pknpk.com Wake Up and Waffle Sandusky, Ohio 419-502-1030 wakeupandwaffle.com
lakeerieliving.com
WATERPARK Cedar Point Shores Sandusky, Ohio 419-627-2350 cedarpoint.com Kalahari Resort Sandusky, Ohio 866-493-1946 kalahariresorts.com Splash Lagoon Erie, Pennsylvania 866-377-5274 splashlagoon.com
HAMBURGER Broadway Mary’s Lorain, Ohio 440-654-4789
Johnson Estate Winery Westfield, New York 716-326-2191 johnsonwinery.com
Congrats! to the 2022 Best of Lake Erie Winners LAKE Best of ERI 2022 W INNER
MOJITO BAY 389 Catowba Ave. Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456 mojitobaypib.com Drink in hand, toes in sand! Mojito Bay is located in the heart of downtown Putin-Bay. Enjoy a refreshing Mojito as you relax on a swing barstool under the tiki hut! The Mojito is a refreshing tropical beverage. We start with our house-made Simple Syrup, muddle fresh mint and lime wedges to release and infuse the natural oils, add ice, rum, and a splash of charged water. Shake and enjoy!
Cahoon Nursery has spent the last 71 years building relationships to help you succeed in your yard. If you need help with a gardening or landscaping project, Cahoon Nursery makes it easy.
The Anchor Boutique Hotel is a quirky, oneof-a-kind, couples hotel with lighthearted, mildly rebellious room details. We are honored to be chosen as “Best Accommodations” in Lake Erie Living’s Reader’s Best of Lake Erie contest. For a relaxing Ohio getaway, tour and book one of our nine casually elegant rooms online today at anchorinnpib.com
LORAIN COUNTY METRO PARKS Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave. Lorain, Ohio 44052 440-245-1193 loraincountymetroparks.com Park Open Daily, 8 am-sunset Lorain County Metro Parks’ Lakeview Park offers 20 acres of green space and lakefront beach. Come enjoy Lakeview’s historical fountain, memorable rose garden, and impressive sunsets.
ANCHOR INN BOUTIQUE HOTEL 500 Catawba Ave. Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456 419-285-5055 anchorinnpib.com
CAHOON NURSERY 27630 Detroit Road Westlake, Ohio 44145 440-871-3761 cahoonnursery.com
THE LODGE AT GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE 4888 North Broadway (State Route 534) Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio 44041 866-806-8066 thelodgeatgeneva.com Plan a trip to Ohio Wine Country! Visit over 30 wineries, see the longest (and shortest) covered bridge in the U.S., splash in Lake Erie and more!
DODIE’S DOCKSIDE 301 Broadway Ave. Lorain, Ohio 44052 dodiesdockside.com Located on the main floor of the historic Ariel Hotel on Broadway, Dodie’s Dockside features coastal Italian fare, craft cocktails and scenic views in a spacious yet welcoming setting with a cool vibe. With a mission of “Bringing People Together with Food,” Dodie’s is the perfect place to share a meal with friends or out-of-towners and show off Ohio’s charming lakeside.
LAKE COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU 105 Main St. – B101 Painesville, Ohio 44077 mylakeoh.com Remarkable Lake County, Ohio! Home to Ohio’s Wine Country, award-winning beaches, picturesque lighthouses, largest outdoor arboretum in the country and historic, diverse cities, find out what makes Lake County remarkable!
ARIEL BROADWAY HOTEL 301 Broadway Ave. Lorain, Ohio 44052 440-246-6669 arielbroadwayhotel.com Welcome to the Ariel Broadway Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in Lorain, Ohio. Enjoy great views of Lake Erie, the Lorain Lighthouse and the Black River from the rooftop and the event center. Located within walking distance to activities like fishing, boating, hiking, kayaking, Lakeview Park, 1 Mile Pier, Downtown Lorain and the Palace Theater. Book your stay or event today!
WAKE UP AND WAFFLE 122 E. Water St. Sandusky, Ohio 44870 wakeupandwaffle.com Wake Up and Waffle is honored to be chosen as “Best Sunday Brunch” in Lake Erie Living’s Reader’s Best of Lake Erie contest. a Brunch style restaurant hardy classic (a traditional Belgian from to for boutique hotels and lakeside dining destinations to acres of parkland, scenic beaches and activities for all ages and interests, discover dozens of ways to live best life on Great Lake.
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STEELE MANSION 348 Mentor Ave. Painesville, Ohio 44077 440-639-7948 totally renovated 1867 mansion combines historic 1800s charm with modern this 16-room boutique hotel and event center.
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OLIVER’S ROOFTOP RESTAURANT & BAR 130 E. Front St. Erie, Pennsylvania 16507 814-920-9666 oliversrooftop.com Panoramic views and delicious cuisine are waiting for you at Oliver’s Rooftop, located atop the Hampton Inn & Suites on Erie’s Bayfront! PEEK’N PEAK RESORT 1405 Olde Road Clymer, New York 14724 716-355-4141 pknpk.com Peek’n Peak Resort is your perfect destination for adventures year-round! Try our variety of snow sports, aerial adventure park and golf course for endless fun! PUT-IN-BAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 148 Delaware Ave. Put-in-Bay, Ohio 43456 419-285-2832 visitputinbay.com We’re over the moon about being voted as the Best Historic Monument! Rising 352 feet over Lake Erie in Put-in-Bay, Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial honors those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. The memorial celebrates the long-lasting peace among Great Britain, Canada and the U.S. Go to the top for a breathtaking view of the island! PUT-IN-BAY NOVELS BY BOB ADAMOV Mystery Adventure Novels bobadamov.com Award-winning island author celebrates 20th year of writing by releasing Sunset Blues, White Spider Night and a collector’s edition of Rainbow’s End in 2022! Put-in-Bay Novels By Bob Adamov SPLASH LAGOON INDOOR WATER PARK RESORT 8091 Peach St. Erie, Pennsylvania 16509 1-866-3-SPLASH splashlagoon.com Enjoy weatherproof fun! Swirl down slides, play on our new interactive treehouse and win big in the Treasure Island Arcade!
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By Kristen Hampshire Building Memories at Bemus Point COURTESY BEMUS BAY ARCHITECHTURE lakeside living
lakeerieliving.com 27
Discover how the Gren family transformed their Chautauqua Lake property into a home with a sense of place that will stand the test of time.
W
hen the Gren family began spending summer days and sunset evenings on their Chautauqua Lake property in Bemus Point, New York, all that stood were grassy, wild meadows sloping down to a steep waterfront entry and woods. On weekends, they’d boat and gradually tamed the land. During this, they unearthed a 50-foot built-in rock wall with a built-in fireplace and patio area.
“It is gorgeous — the highlight — and it has been here since the beginning,” says Aubin Gren, whose parents gifted her and her husband, Jon, the property when her father passed away.
In the beginning, the longtime Jamestown family built a dock where they could launch boats, “and we used this as our backyard for 25 years before we built,” Gren says, not ing the lakefront lot was minutes from their downtown Jamestown neighborhood.
COURTESY BEMUS BAY ARCHITECHTURE
lakeside living
A few years ago, the couple enlisted ar chitect Keri Belovarac, with Bemus Bay Architecture PLLC, and project manager John Neail, with Empire Development, to transform the idyllic, characteristic lot into a family home suited for adult children, en tertaining and a legacy of enjoying the lake.
Finishing Touches. A round kitchen ban quette complements the rounded black walnut ceiling, and the same cozy wood features are incorporated in doors flanking the living room fireplace that enter into a second living room that accommodates overnighters or lounging. The two-way fireplace warms both rooms with ambiance. Black walnut also graces the dining room ceiling, defining the space in the openconcept floor plan. Gren loves the kitchen coffee station with walnut doors that open and slide back. “It looks like a stand-alone cupboard,” she says.
“The private property is set off the road and includes a back hillside with a front that tapers down to the lake, so we needed to bal ance the slope,” Neail says. The foundation for the design was the special stone patio space the family cherishes and wanted to incorporate into the design as a family focal point.
Family-Friendly Flow. Positioning the kitchen off of the garage entry allows fam ily and visitors to enter into a mudroom that transitions into a butler’s pantry before en tering the cooking/dining area. “We wanted it to be as functional as possible,” Gren says. “It’s easy access for bringing in groceries, and if you’re coming in from outdoors the mudroom is conve nient.” Pocket doors on both sides of the butler pantry close off the space while pro viding easy entry.
“We wanted the house to flow naturally into that while taking advantage of lake views in the front, and we wanted to make it all feel natural — a home with Hamptons-style flair that fits in with local architecture,” she says.
Basically, the Grens didn’t want a newbuild look. After all, the property and their memories there had staying power. The ma terials and design decisions reflect this pur pose. Gren says, “We wanted the house to look like it had been here for ages.”
Clare Opfer, director of sales and marketing for S&H Blinds & Floors in Sandusky, says window treat ments are booming — many of which are being au tomated. “People love an extra piece of technology in their lives,” she says. “If you want to be able to tell Alexa to open the shades, that’s another option.”
Inside, navy blue is a popular accent color, says Ju lianne Lee of Catawba Interiors in Port Clinton. It can be found in accent pieces like artwork, rugs or pillows.
Feeling Blue Lake Living. It’s all about outdoor spaces at the Gren’s 1-acre lakefront residence and re treat. “If you are standing on the back patio, you can look through gorgeous, wall-sized windows through the house to the bay win dow and see the lake,” Gren says, naming what she says is a top feature. Upstairs, a covered porch with lake views connects the primary bedroom and one of the kids’ rooms. The third room has a woods view out back. The Belvedere-style front porch overlooks the water and gives the home a time less East Coast character that accomplishes the Grens’ goal to create an established home.
lakeerieliving.com 29 COURTESY BEMUS BAY ARCHITECHTURE 2830 E. HARBOR RD., PORT CLINTON, OH 43452 CATAWBAINTERIORS.COM HOURS: MON–FRI 10AM–6PM · SAT 10AM–5PM CLOSED SUN · 419-734-5888 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM FOR INSPIRATION TO MAKE YOUR HOME UNIQUELY YOURS.
She’s also seeing a lot of use of tile — even in dark colors — in kitchen backsplashes and showers. “Window treatments and tile are like pieces of art,” she says. “Installers make it their palette, and people want them to be showcases in their homes.”
“But sometimes you’ll see it on bathroom vani ties or in the kitchen cabinets, traditionally where white can be found. You can see people will do white cabinets on the walls, and then have a blue island in the kitchen,” she says.
Glinn says Wayne Homes has started to offer painted cabinets, and navy blue remains a popular choice there as well.
Even light-colored houses are using dark ac cents in porch posts, shutters and doors.
When it comes to house decoration, a lot of people are getting the blues. Be it inside or outside, people are using the color in everything from accents to the dominant color. And it seems like the darker, the better. “We still have a lot of people who want white houses,” says Lauren Glinn, sales manager for Wayne Homes in Sandusky, “But it goes from one extreme to the other. They either want white siding, or something really dark. We offer a color called cast iron, which is almost black. And navy blue is popular, too.”
A nautical polar white and harbor blue exterior in resilient Everlast composite siding suits the setting. The couple planned ahead for parking, paving space for five cars by the house with a back parking lot to avoid trampling the lawn. With a lake in front and wildlife out back, the scenery is ever-changing and one of the aspects of the property the Grens enjoy most.
“Being on Lakeside and Bemus Point is central to everywhere on the lake, and we nev er could have done this without my parents,” Gren says. “I pay full homage to them.”
30 Best of Lake Erie 2022 COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
The SS Lansdowne crosses the Detroit River in the winter of 1904.
The SS Lansdowne sions. The ship was damaged a year after it was put to sea, colliding with the Clarion. Both ves sels survived their damages.
A more serious crash occurred in 1899, when the Lansdowne struck the Morley, a steam barge loaded with 2,800 tons of coal. The Morley at tempted its crossing to Detroit but sank. The Lansdowne returned to the Windsor dock and then sank. It was able to be raised and then re turned to service. The Lansdowne continued its regular com mute between Detroit and Windsor through the 20th century. It outlived the company that built it (which became part of American Shipbuilding at the turn of the 20th century) and the railroad that commissioned it (Grand Trunk was absorbed into Canadian National Railroad in 1923). When passenger trains stopped running in the 1950s, it switched to freight service, a relic in its own time, the last sidewheeler on the Great Lakes.
big picture
The end of its nautical life came in 1970, as Canadian National switched to barges propelled by tugboats. But it wasn’t the end of the line for the Lansdowne. It was moored near the Renais sance Center in Detroit. A pair of skytop sleep ing cars from the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawathan passenger train were put on the deck and the Lansdowne became a restaurant, known variously as the Lansdowne and as the Baja Beach Club. The restaurant closed in 1991, undone by a poor local economy, and the ship was towed first to dry docks in Lorain and then to Erie, Pennsylvania, with plans to revitalize it as a restaurant. The plans never materialized, and the ship sunk following a fire on Christmas 2005. The railroad cars were taken to a museum in Min nesota, and its iron hull, which had survived for more than a century, met its end as scrap. Vince Guerrieri
W
hen the SS Lansdowne was put to sea from Detroit in 1884, it was the longest ship on the Great Lakes at 312 feet. It wasn’t long before the ship’s size was dwarfed, but it would prove to be one of the most venerable vessels on the Great Lakes, if not the entire country.
The metal hulled ship proved especially use ful during winter in navigating the ice filled waters between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario and enabled it to survive a couple early colli
The ship, named for Canada’s governor gen eral at the time, Henry Petty‑Fitzmaurice, Mar quess of Lansdowne, was commissioned by the Grand Trunk Railway and built by the Detroit Dry Dock Co. It had pilot houses at both ends and a set of parallel railroad tracks, which could accommodate up to six railroad cars, with as many as 300 passengers.
THE CLEVELAND JANUARY 12-15, 2023. YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE 2023 SHOW AT THE NEWLY REDESIGNED IX CENTER. MORE BOATS. EXCITING ADDITIONS. GREAT DEALS.
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We are a non-profit 501c3 organization that advocates for all things water in Ohio. Great Lakes to Grand Rivers, there are so many ways to make your life a water life. Our focus is on water education, inspiration, and access to Ohio’s Waterways. We seek to share this knowledge and connect with programs and places on the water throughout the heartland.
We are a non-profit 501c3 organization that advocates for all things water in Ohio. Great Lakes to Grand Rivers, there are so many ways to make your life a water life. Our focus is on water education, inspiration, and access to Ohio’s Waterways. We seek to share this knowledge and connect with programs and places on the water throughout the heartland.
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We are a non-profit 501c3 organization that advocates for all things water in Ohio. Great Lakes to Grand Rivers, there are so many ways to make your life a water life. Our focus is on water education, inspiration, and access to Ohio’s Waterways. We seek to share this knowledge and connect with programs and places on the water throughout the heartland.
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Visit us at onthewaterohio.org & lemta.com
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CATAWBA ISLAND APRIL 28-30 NORTH COAST HARBOR SEPTEMBER CLEVELAND JANUARY 12-15
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THE CLEVELAND YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE 2023 SHOW AT THE NEWLY REDESIGNED IX CENTER. MORE BOATS. EXCITING ADDITIONS. GREAT DEALS.
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Introducing life after shoes, also known as our Lake Collection. A new cottage-inspired series of homes combining Wayne Homes’ signature quality and customization with floor plans designed to make life by the water easier, more beautiful and more possible. Learn about building your custom lake home at WayneHomesLakeCollection.com | Sandusky: 866-649-8678 Just add water.
