Akron, OH

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance.-- Cicero, 55 BC !!!!"

My question this Thanksgiving week! Why must history continually repeat itself??

God Bless America and have a great Thanksgiving! We have so much!

City of Akron Holiday Lighting Spectacular

Date: Friday November 27th, 2009
Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Historic Akron Ohio Lock 3 Park

The Lighting Spectacular is the official opening of the 6th Annual Holidayfest and Chriskindl Market. Families and out of town guests are invited to kick off the Holiday Season as downtown comes alive! The 1/2 hour show will include the lighting of the city's buildings and official Christmas Tree and end in a fireworks display. This show will start promptly at 7pm.

The Polar Express - Akron Northside Departure | 7:00 PM

Click here for schedule!

How's this for fun with the entire family? Pajama clad families board the train for this magical journey! This fun-filled evening excursion includes hot cocoa and cookies, a reading of the classic story, a lighted North Pole Village, caroling and a visit from Santa himself - all set to the music soundtrack of the famous movie! Don't miss this fabulous journey! Your children will talk about and cherish this day for years, if not forever! Heck, my daughter is an adult now and we may go again!

Holiday Tree Festival

John S. Knight Center
Tuesday, November 24-Sunday, November 29
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Thanksgiving, 2-6 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The 2009 Holiday Tree Festival features magnificent displays of more than 200 decorated full-size trees, wreaths, miniature trees, gingerbread displays and countless holiday creations. It also includes local entertainment surrounded by 85,000 strings of dazzling lights. All display items are for sale and proceeds help to support patient care programs, education and research at Akron Children's Hospital.

Click here for more information.

Santa's Holiday Wonderland Arts & Crafts Show

John S. Knight Center
Friday, November 27 & Saturday, November 28, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Sunday, November 29, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Held during the annual Holiday Tree Festival, not only will you be able to begin (or continue) your holiday shopping with one-of-a-kind gifts but you'll be able to enjoy the shimmering lights of hundreds of decorated holiday trees.

Admission: $2 adults and children 14 and under free. A portion of the admission fee will be donated by the event promoter to Akron Children's Hospital.

Click here for more information.

Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner

Vegiterranean Restaurant
Thursday, November 26-Saturday, November 28

Join Vegiterranean (Chrissie Hynde's restaurant in Akron Ohio) for a Vegan Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving and on Friday and Saturday. $28 per person which includes - appetizer, salad or soup, entree and dessert paired with wines selected by Chef Scot. Please make reservations by calling

330-374-5550

Click here for more information.

Welcome Santa Parade

Downtown Akron Ohio
Saturday, November 28, Noon

"Oh Come All Ye Faithful" to the 23rd annual "Welcome Santa" Holiday Parade, Saturday, November 28, at noon in Downtown Akron. The City of Akron Recreation Bureau and local radio stations WAKR, WONE, and WQMX proudly present this year's parade.

Downtown Akron's Main Street will turn into a winter wonderland with over 70 parade units including costumed characters, floats, musical ensembles, marching bands, and the man himself - Santa! The parade begins at the corner of Main and Cedar streets and runs north along Main to Bowery Street. The parade will continue west on Bowery where it will end at the intersection of Water Street.

Click here for more information.

Ballet Theatre of Ohio: The Nutcracker

Akron Civic Theatre
Saturday & Sunday, November 28 & 29 and
Friday-Sunday, December 4-6

And how can you miss this annual event for your children? Voted Akron's #1 Holiday Show by Akron Beacon Journal readers, this classic has become a treasured holiday tradition for families of all ages.

Ballet Theatre of Ohio's "Nutcracker" is a holiday Akron Ohio "must do" tradition. Roger Durbin of the West Side Leader wrote, "... the production levels in Artistic Director Christine Meneer's version - as well as her engaging choreography - capture the audience and transport it for a couple of hours into a magical, wonderful, escapist wonderland."

Click here for more information.

What a wonderful city Akron Ohio is to live in and have this much "Family" holiday entertainment!

For everything living in Akron Ohio Homes has to offer, always go to The Downtown Akron Partnership for the latest information. This is a fabulous website and organization.

"The Downtown Akron Partnership's mission is to promote and build a vibrant
and valuable downtown Akron Ohio. Since its inception in 1995, the partnership has been a catalyst for enhancing the downtown environment by supporting existing community programs, while also developing new, innovative programs designed to create interest in and to attract people to downtown Akron Ohio."

It's Thanksgiving week so events are a little trimmed down in Akron Ohio homes and neighborhoods. The things I want to do are the Christmas Tree festivals of which we have some good one's. The events are for chairity and the trees are usually amazing and gorgeous, hand made by folks every year.

Happy Thanksgiving !

What a welcoming sight here in Portage Lakes, Ohio!
The fall color of these maple trees along the driveway
to the VanDevere farm are the last color of the
season. Portage Lakes is a great place to enjoy the
fall season with the lake as a back drop. The fall will
gently turn to winter when we will eventually see the
lake take a different look as the temperatures drop and
the shimmering waters turn to ice. The skaters will be
out and the snow mobilers will buzz over the ice in
search of a warm place to share a meal and a drink
in one of the cozy establishments along Portage Lakes.
Come out and visit Portage Lakes, you will want to
stay for the lifestyle!!!

The Goodyear Blimp is a common
sight in the skies over Akron, Ohio.
Portage Lakes sees the blimp often
because they cruise over the lakes
and the Firestone Country Club
during golf tournaments! No matter
how many times you see the blimp
you still get as giddy as a school kid
when you see that familiar airship!