Tag: Dining

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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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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 Hotel Amenities: PIB Condos outfit with mainland luxuries

The luxury lakefront Put-in-Bay Condos are outfit nicely inside with modern kitchens, everything one needs to cook and prepare meals, two balconies, an in suite washer and dryer, plus a flat screen tv next to the open kitchen.

Outside of the PIB condos are community grills, plenty of umbrella covered patio tables. and a pool with lounge chairs.

“This is real laid back. Bring your own beer there’s a ledge in the pool where you can sit down in the water,” highlights PIB Condos Manager Tony White.

Plus, golf carts ready for rent on site.

 

Josie in Paradise can be seen every Sunday at 9:30 p on AT&T U-Verse from Key West to Boca Raton, through any ROKU box across the nation on the Ohio X5 Channel, and here.

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Episode II: Real Estate $.5 M buys bragging rights on Catawba Island

Realtor Alex Morgan Johnson is showing a four-thousand square foot, four bedroom, four and one-half bathroom home on Ohio’s north coast. Located at 1101 NW Catawba Road in Port Clinton this unshakable structure showcases the builder’s and contractors’ skills. The initial home plans were drawn out at only half of the size of the final product.

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Here is the home tour as seen in Episode II.

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

 

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EPISODE I: Fitness Wellness Making Waves at PIB Hatha yoga moves into town hall

Rolling out their mats, and rolling into Put-in-Bay’s town hall is a collection of visitors to the island, retirees, workers, islanders, and bartenders. The yogis are as eclectic as their island paradise nestled directly off of Ohio’s north coast.

“I retired from NASA after thirty-four years working as an aeronautical engineer,” says Sue Prahst. “I was fortunate enough to leave and be able to live my life here on the island.”

Prahst is putting herself into the Hatha yoga poses alongside her husband, Steve.

“I’m getting up there in years so its really a nice way to feel good for the rest of the day and it releases a lot of stress. Its so nice to get here and get it all out and relax. This also involves a lot of stretching. This helps with my back problems and my wrist. I recently had surgery on my wrist because I broke my wrist this winter. I asked Kathi to add another class. I would be here every day,” the missus makes solid statements.

She had two more years in with the national agency all about aeronautics and space travel than her groom.

“I put in thirty-two years with NASA,” Mister Prahst confirms.

This is one guy all about exercise.

“I like to go to the gym. I’m kind of a gym rat and I like to bike ride, and swim and kayak. I think the thing about exercise is you have to keep doing different things. You don’t want to get into a rut and do the same thing over and over again so I’m always looking for something different to do. Yoga was never convenient or whatever and here it is on Put-in-Bay. Kathi has this class twice a week and its works in just fine,” Mister Prahst proves the benefits are as evident as the moon phases.

“Hatha Yoga is a combination of physical and mental self-control through postures, breathing and balance,” enters instructor and islander Kathi Spayde. “Yoga enhances breathing, balance, posture, flexibility (and) strength. It also lowers cholesterol, reduces stress, and provides better sleep.”

Sleep is something most vacationers find themselves lacking after a few days away from the mainland. Spayde recently added this amenity to South Bass Island and those such as the Prahsts are proving the instruction is what the island craved.

“Today I had three walk-ins they happened to see the sign out front and said, ‘hey, let’s go to yoga class,'” Spayde remarks.

The craving was created simply by the craziness one can only experience on an island fueled with an influx of visitors, revelers, and party-goers once season hits. To service them the workers have to work. Rita Overmier is one of them. She bartends at The Boardwalk Restaurant and has visitors surrounding her space from sun up to well past the hours when the sun finally sets.

“I like taking time to do something for myself. (I’m) relaxing, stretching, being around people who enjoy yoga,” Overmier admits. “This is the only thing on the island that I have time to do.”

The Prahsts are proof the hours with Spayde doing the downward dog and settling into goddess squats are an effective way to destress.

Sue shares, “I feel like a million bucks. Obviously on this island there’s a lot of partying going on…”

In their own backyard.

“We happen to have our own vineyard we make our own wine. People find us,” Sue expanded with her husband chiming in, “We have our place here. We grow some grapes and make some wine ourselves.”

Noting that their PIB home is the place to be.

“This is the best place to vacation in Ohio. Right here. We got the islands. The Lake Erie Islands are the place to go,” Steve said.

Spayde solidifies everything they’ve said, “we have a great community of people here and residents. Its not party time all the time. We enjoy the parties but not as much as the visitors do on the weekends. We’re bombarded constantly by people who want to come here.”

That means a decompression chamber was in the cards, hence Put-in-Bay Yoga.

“Its really cool to be here doing yoga in this historical place in the Put-in-Bay City Hall right in downtown (PIB), Its just a great feel,” articulates Steve.

Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.

The F I T N E S S segment from Josie in Paradise Episode I is here.

Josie in Paradise airs every Sunday night at 9:30 p from Key West to Boca Raton on At&t UVerse, on Ohio’s X5 Roku Channel, and here.

 

 

 

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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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Picky isn’t for Paradise seeking pleasure not perfection

Pictures by Kim Kindinger 

The process took forty years but I finally let go of perfection. But not without a fight. I have been sitting with Josie in Paradise Episode I for over one week. I did hand over all material, including that which was shot for the J O S I E BEACH commercial and the show open to the editor and never logged any of the shots. Nope. Over half was shot in swimwear attire for my new line and I didn’t critique, make suggestions, write or attempt to manage anything.

 

Remind you my middle initials are P.I.A. for Pain in the you-know-what. I strive for perfection. The observation has been made that one simply can not be trained or educated to the level at which I do things; one has to be genetically miswired.

This being said, there are a couple of adjustments I wanted made to Episode I before I posted the show. Journalistically, from a perspective of broadcast news techniques, there are a couple of jump cuts and over modulated sound. I wanted more two shots, I wanted to see more of the real estate listing, I felt we didn’t show enough of the yoga video…

Plus, I never wrote anything. I don’t know sometimes you just let go because you can’t do everything. I learned and finally executed how to let other people help.

Episode II I DID take the raw footage, log and write and create organized folders, but never reviewed the final product. The show was sent to South Florida with the approval of someone else!
I learned I have better things to do with my time than edit away sports bra tan lines, to spend time telling other people what to do, and how I want them done, or to list corrections which must be made… or even worse alphabetize the spices while everyone else is out boating. Critics will always be around the bend.

In this business the task of letting go is tough. One’s DNA is shown all over one’s work to anyone who wants to watch, listen, or read.
Being picky isn’t synonymous with Paradise.

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Airing from Key West to Boca Raton show shot 30 miles from Canada

Compartmentalizing one’s entrepreneurial venture is never an easy task. The concept of my show started while I was the Bureau Chief for a local newspaper. Back then I cared about my title. I needed a title. I wasn’t sure if the title even fit so I grabbed a copy of Vogue and scanned the brag list to see what kinds of “bureau chiefs” the global publication listed. Even after seeing them in London, New York and Brussels I wasn’t satisfied.

I did have the cutest toddler in tow.

But, that path led me directly to where I am today hosting a new lifestyle show. After working with chamber executives, the public, curious friends and family, and advertisers for over two decades I determined this is what viewers mobs of viewers want to see. The people they do business with!  Fishing, boating and some local good news you can find elsewhere. We shot the first episodes on Ohio’s north coast with possible plans to expand nationwide.

Josie in Paradise, the show chock full of Real Estate, Hotels, Hotel Amenities, Fashion, Fitness, Spas and Dining + Business airs every Sunday night at 9:30 on At&t UVerse in the Florida Keys to Boca Raton and on the Ohio X5 Roku Channel.

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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.