Tag: Coastal Ohio

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Friday Night Snack Shoes

hats, flip-flops and socks on display amidst the wine selection

Stadiapa Steps Out in Nikeys

My Dad wanted to head out to dinner to “The Steakhouse” on Woodville Road. The eatery sets across the street from an oil refinery and adjacent to an old, no longer existent Kroger store he used to service.

He forgot his shoes.

We ordered and on the way out I surveyed the dining room after washing my hands.

“That’s ok Dad,” I said. (I wore my Nikeys out, too). “One table of guys was seated with their ballcaps on. At the table next to them was a woman wearing her flip-flops with socks.”

I had the salmon with lemon butter sauce.

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The Old Party Shop

The Old Party Shop

now saturnalia for the health smart

One could smell and easily detect the ambiance of the old digs upon arrival. Uptown Amherst was home to “Amherst Party Shop & Video,” a carryall that catered to the town’s revelry and endless entertainment with store shelves stocked with beer, wine, liquor and every accessory to accommodate the occasion.
Everything’s now posh and new.
Everything’s now organic, fresh and wonderfully good for you.

A coffee, tea and smoothie bar has replaced the cigarettes, Teto’s and Sam Adam’s.

I stumbled upon the updates through the MindBody App. The Studio at Doc Watson’s is the new yoga loft above Doc Watson’s (Indoor Farmer’s) Market.
I twisted myself into Cat Pulling its Tail pose and headed downstairs for more deliciousness.

Here’s a look at the menu.

I ordered the Loaded Avo Toast.

Avocado smeared on sprouted grain bread with broccoli sprouts, feta cheese, Himalayan pink salt and everything but the bagel seasoning.
Post yoga deliciousness served with a smile by owner, Kelsey Watson.
I shopped the shelves and saw clean, sugar and caffeine free supplements; a big deal when the issue is heart health.
Bovine Collagen for restorative health has replaced the Bailey’s Irish Cream.

I grew up a kid in Amherst in the 80s. The bedroom community of twenty-five thousand residents was developed then with every amenity a youngster could want. The atmosphere was made alive with an uptown bowling alley, movie theatre, a Ben Franklin’s, library, public pool, sledding hills plus shopping.

I’m thrilled, during visits back to the 44001 homeland, the digs in 2023 a still fit the asterial ambiance of the Amherst Comets.

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Josie in Paradise EPISODE III

I just love this Episode if Josie in Paradise and I’m sure you will too. Myself and cameraman, Kim Kindinger, owner of the X5 Network, headed into the gates of North America’s premiere Catawba Cliffs neighborhood. Featured Videographer Theo Dunham also edited this entire episode. We also hit a low key waterfront restaurant nestled in a blue collar community on the Sandusky River. Here is what all is featured.

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Episode II Fitness: Beach Cruiser unfurl from a fury of activity

Easy breezy summer days are exceptionally serene when approached atop a beach cruiser bicycle. There isn’t any headache over trying to find a place to park and unless earbuds are in and there isn’t a stereo to shake up the placid peace. Again and again bicycling proves to be a Shangri-la mode of transport. To shoot Episode I we ventured onto South Bass Island with a bomber aboard the ferry and headed to the town hall for Hatha Yoga with Kathi Spayde.  An effortless cruiser fits every island escape.

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David Stover, the service manager at Fremont Cycle and Fitness readied the ride. “What you did was the basic which was a sixty-five dollar tune. That goes over truing the wheels, checking the shifting, putting the brakes in proper order and a light clean-up on the bike. That’s good for what you’re doing.”

Stover shared this in Josie in Paradise, Episode II about pedaling for a better fettle.

Josie in Paradise can be viewed every Sunday at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to the Florida Keys, across the nation via ROKU on the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.

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Josie in Paradise Episode II a fantastic north coast edition

What is even better than releasing the first episode of a new lifestyle show that showcases the talents and products of so many great people in a community is … working out a couple of kinks, ironing out imperfections and striving to be better with each release. Episode II of Josie in Paradise makes a mark of its own.

Here is who and what is featured. Cheers to everyone who participated.


 

Josie in Paradise can be seen on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton every Sunday night at 9:30 p, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel and here on this web page.

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EPISODE I: Hotel Freshwater Retreat live like its heaven on Put-in-Bay

Photos by Kim Kindinger

The owner and operator of Freshwater Retreat and Remedies has a pedigree Put-in-Bay resume one could not duplicate even if one worked around the clock.

Christy Ontko is not only a business owner, life and wellness coach, masters degree toting school teacher, columnist and author, she was born to a family of islanders. A status one can not aspire to.

“Its embarrassing sometimes to discuss, Ontko says when asked about herself humbly, “I’m just me.”

Ontko is intriguing, enchanting and educated. Setting up a retreat on South Bass Island directly across from the PIB airport which exemplifies what she stands for isn’t any surprise.

Freshwater Retreat is a luxurious place to stay. This five-bedroom guest house features five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and all organic linens. Two bedrooms are located downstairs and three are upstairs. The home was constructed back in 1985. Ontko’s great-great grandfather was on the island during this unforgotten era working as a stone mason.

Ontko reflects, “We’re thinking he probably did help build the house.”

Here’s more of Ontko’s interview and tour of her B&B as featured in Josie in Paradise, Episode I.

There’s more on this true Island Girl. She shares the Freshwater Retreat amenities. Note this property also has a converted garage or a barn where a list of wellness (not spa) services can be administered to anyone able to make their way to Put-in-Bay for the day or to stay and be guided to an adventure by this true island woman.

Josie in Paradise can be seen every Sunday night at 9:30 p from Key West to Boca Raton on At&t UVerse, on the Ohio X5 Roku Channel and here.

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Unerring Competition up against enhancement

Pictures by Kim Kidinger

The conversations have erupted across the east coast of the United States. Trust me I hear about them from aunts in Palm Beach to my dad’s girlfriend in small town Ohio. The swimwear photos that have been taken of me over the past decade are this and they are that and so-and-so had a conversation about the photo at this family gathering….

To which I kindly refer to the insight I was given early in my television career:  

In the media business the audience is given a plethora of white static personalities to watch. These pros play the game safely in line with industry standards and mimicking moves their counterparts lacking creativity are making. Let’s examine Instagram sensation Tash Oakley for 10 seconds. She allows me to make two points.

1.) She did not play the game “safe”

2.) She is twenty years my junior, and admits to photoshopping her not-so-perfect physique.

We DO occasionally remove the lines and circles around my eyes. If a body part peeks out of a bikini we erase the goods we don’t want the public seeing. This isn’t Playboy. This is Paradise. Plus, when workout bra tan lines ruin the ambiance of an image we shade in uneven skin tone.

Josie in Paradise is about living well, and being an overall achiever realizing dreams. A healthy physique represents smart living and is earned as is everything else in life — with sweat. Only the naysayers, the critics, the liars, the posers and the groupies are gonna hate on health. True health lies in physical, emotional and psychological well-being. Plus healthy finances.

Josie in Paradise, featuring Real Estate, Hotels, Hotel Amenities, Fashion, Fitness, Spas and a Spoonful + Business airs on AT&T UVerse in Miami and the Florida Keys every Sunday night at 9:30 and can be seen via the Ohio X5 Network on Roku.

 

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Into the water and onto the courts yoga studios are not all you'll see

Pics by Denise DeCrow and Travis Yednak

There is a notable fitness segment in the show, Josie in Paradise, and on my website. We do hit a couple of yoga studios straight off of the bat for local shoots; but definitely know this, we are not going to to stop with showing only a yoga or Pilates studio. Remember being immersed with me in The Dive Report with Divers Direct.

This segment is sure to submerse us all, including myself, into a wondrous and adventurous world.

Here’s what to expect: most of us don’t think about how many calories are burned in a batting cage.

Or, realize the swim training involved if the desire is to dive into ocean depths at one-hundred and twenty feet plus.

How about tumbling and tennis?

Have zero fear, the fitness segment is going to educate the masses from everything from “Birdie Girl Golf” to the Oriental Martial Arts Studio. Make space for a sports locker and plan to start ditching your desk for some activity.

 

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Write a Mystery in a Wrap Anukshah label emits exotic vibe

All pictures by Kim Kidinger

“Such a perfect summer ensemble,” the marketing Director for The Mermaid’s Tale comments via Instagram.

“The look” isn’t orchestrated. The Panama Jack topper is by the Augusta Hat Co. The shades are Vera Wang and flip-flops are from the hard to access St. Hazards Waterfront Resort & Brewery gift shop on Middle Bass Island from the 2016 Hangin’ 10 on Lake Erie promotion.

The bangle charm bracelet a showcases a blue full moon from The Mermaid’s Tale’s Moonglow collection. The jewelry line touts marking momentous life occasions by wearing the moon phase from which they occurred.

In the end, the Indian-inspired resort wear, Anukshah, stole the show during this shoot at Dock’s Beach House Bar & Grille. This outdoor eatery is nestled on the western edge of Ohio’s oh-so-vogue vacationland.

 

Anukshah is a native of India and is inspired from her travels abroad and her native country. She loves to use colors and beautiful trims. She studied design at Fort Lauderdale Art Institute and interned in New Delhi under Kamaali and Miami’s Rene Ruiz. The latest fashion show hit Nikki Beach (Miami Beach). Her designs are sold exclusively at boutiques and resorts around the globe.Visit Anukshah’s website or follow her on Instagram. This is a for this must-have label for the ladies who love the ocean, lake, sun, sand, and salt.