Saturday, June 28, 2008

FoJo Coffee Works - Fostoria, OH


We're close to finishing the coffee house side of the building. Our electrical and plumbing upgrades have been completed and soon we'll be buying the espresso maker and coffee brewing system. I have to say, considering what we started with, the place is looking great. Once we have our final electrical, plumbing and building inspections, then the county health department will inspect and give us the go-ahead to open for business. It's been an arduous process so far; more so than I expected, but I think it will pay off. I can honestly say that this is gonna be the coolest place in town to hang out. Please enjoy the following 8 min. 20 sec. video tour...



Sunday, June 15, 2008

Put-In-Bay, OH



Put-In-Bay is a city on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. The island is accessed by boat, ferry or small plane. Once on the island, most people get around by foot, bike, scooter, taxi or golf cart. Others bring their cars or motorcycles across on the ferry. I took my truck across on Miller's Ferry, which leaves from Catawba Island.


The Rental - For the 3rd straight year, we rented the Chalet at the Bay. It's an A-frame house the sleeps 14. There's a huge yard with horseshoe pit, fire pit, volleyball net and grill. Two of the guys brought their cornhole sets with them. Our cornhole matches on Friday night got rained out and sent us inside for some spirited games of euchre. Once the rain stopped, it was downtown to the Barrel House for some drinks. A LOT of drinks. For those of you that I drunk dialed on Friday, my humblest apologies. On Saturday, we paired up into teams and made it through two double-elimination cornhole tournaments. I got destroyed in both of them.

The Chalet


Tallying the score


Cornhole consists of throwing bean bags with one hand and holding a drink with the other


The Battle of Lake Erie - Put-In-Bay was the site of a War of 1812 naval battle between the Americans and the Brits. The Americans were victorious under the command of Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry. A monument was erected on the island in his name.


View of Perry's Monument from downtown


A seawall near the monument


Kind of a bland monument, if you ask me


The Bar Scene - Put-In-Bay is known for it's active bar scene. In addition to the aforementioned Barrel House - which claims to have the world's longest bar - the Round House bar and Frosty Bar are island institutions.


Frosty Bar


Round House

A Tour of the Island - On Saturday evening, I drove around the island to see the sites.


A man and his goat


Catawba St. in downtown


Now how did this picture get in here?


Did not know this


The Doller House


The Crew's Nest - a private club


Do you really need anything else?


Crown Hill Cemetery


Old school farm implements


Put-In-Bay airport


Beautiful house near Perry's Monument


The marina


Gibraltar Island from South Bass Island