Ashland's Hidden Treasures

On days slightly more temperate than we’ve been experiencing in February 2015, the lovely Madelyn Simone and I like to visit the playground at Cahn Grove Park on Ashland’s Southeast side. When I finally coax her off of the swings, we usually head back home, but if an act of true love ever allows warm weather to return to Ashland’s own version of Arendelle, we’re going to spend a day in the park’s neighborhood. Yes, I’ve watched “Frozen” one too many times, but “baby, it’s cold outside.”

Here’s my plan when the weather decides to cooperate. We’ll start our day at The Dairy Bar with some home-cooked breakfast, although I do really like their French fries and the burgers with grilled onions. We’ll miss seeing Alan Hart at the grill, the big-hearted owner who died in late December, but the regulars will still be at their favorite tables. We’ll make our car payment to the welcoming people at Directions Credit Union, and then we’ll spend some time at the playground, where I’m going to teach this child to “pump” so I don’t have to push her on the swing for hours on end.

As a bribe to get her off the swings and across the street, I’ll give her a dollar and let her roam the aisles of the Family Dollar store to see what she’ll choose from its assorted merchandise. I’m hoping to talk her into bubbles instead of candy - we’ll see how that goes. By then, the pizza  ordered from Donna D’s should be ready, and we can head back to the park with our delicious lunch for more outdoor play.

After another stint at the playground, we’ll wander over to Ashland’s great pie restaurant, AKA the Lyn-Way. Will they have any raspberry pie, or will I have to settle for apple pie a la mode – or maybe coconut cream? I’ll convince Madelyn to order something I like, because she’ll end up eating mine anyway. Who can resist, “Can I taste yours, Nana?”

Our last visit to Cahn Grove Park was cut short by the arrival of heavy rain, but that won’t send us hustling home if the skies open up again. Instead, we’ll visit the new location of Local Roots Market at 1221 Cleveland Avenue. This wonderful cooperative of farmers, producers and consumers first gathered in the South Street warehouse, and then spent some time out on Route 60. But they’re back in town, and it’s now a gathering place for all kinds of locally-produced items and fascinating, friendly people.

You never know for sure what you’ll find on the shelves of Local Roots, but their Facebook postings alert their friends to the arrival of new items nearly every day. They carry an assortment of gluten free treats, locally grown produce, and yummy baked goods. You can also purchase Ecuadorian tamales (call ahead for availability), free range eggs, Millie’s essential oils, and Miss Kitty’s low suds laundry detergent. If you’d rather do some gift shopping, they display a wide variety of items from local crafters and artisans, and they’re now stocking books written by Ashland authors, including yours truly. It makes my day when Madelyn looks at one of my books and says, “That’s your picture, Nana,” so we’ll be sure to check out the book display. She may even notice her picture on the cover of “Family Ties: Reflections of a Smitten Grandmother.”

There’s one last critical stop before we head for home. The meat counter at the Cleveland Avenue Market will save my marriage as it provides the answer to the perpetual question, “What’s for supper?” That, along with a take-out pie from the Lyn-Way and we’ll be good to go.

Can’t wait till summer? While the park may be in hibernation for a few more weeks, its neighboring businesses are open and inviting. Pies are in the oven at Donna D’s and the Lyn-Way. Local Roots has heat, wi-fi, music and Miller’s Creamery Caramel Corn, so who needs summer? We’re supposed to have a tropical heat wave today (in the 20s), so maybe I’ll see you out and about at one of these hidden treasures here in Ashland, Ohio.  

Downtown Magic

I grew up in a New York community about the size of Ashland. As a carpenter, my dad sometimes got hired onto jobs that were out of town, leaving very early on Monday morning and returning late on Friday evening. His absence, along with my mother’s lack of a drivers’ license, meant that our family did a lot of walking, and we’d often head downtown to Grants, Twin-Ton, and Parsons Drug Store. As a teen-ager, I gained the independence of a bicycle, and have fond memories of the hot fudge sundaes at Zeffrey’s, the old-fashioned ice cream parlor on Niagara Street, a taste that’s never been replicated.

My early love affair with Main Street America stayed alive through Urban Renewal and the advent of the big box stores that imposed their identical landscapes across America. Give me a choice, and I’d much rather wander through a community’s downtown than head to the mall. The fact that the home we purchased is within walking distance of downtown wasn’t the deciding factor but it sure is a welcome extra.

Life in small town, downtown America provides an opportunity for small business owners to open a shop with personality, creating a space for gathering, for individualized service, and for living out their dream. It is definitely a risk, as some days the local foot traffic is slow, and money for marketing is in short supply. But a number of new business owners have taken the plunge, and it’s fun to wander through our downtown and get to know our new neighbors.

In Ashland, Virginia, one of our sister communities, the Ashland Main Street Association gives out a “you’ve been noticed” award when small businesses make a difference in the downtown. I love that idea. Kind of like getting a gold star on top of a spelling test. So here’s what I’ve noticed recently.

My “Say Yes to the Dress” obsession has been relegated to the memory of my early grandmothering days, but I’m excited that Jessica Neff of Juliana Bridal has brought the romance of saying “I do” back to our downtown. I dropped in as a bride was seeking The Dress, and what a fun time that was. There doesn’t appear to be a wedding on the horizon for our family at this point, but I’ll be sure to stop back if the need arises, as she carries “mother of the groom” dresses too.

Around the corner on Union Street is a short block that’s had a number of reincarnations in the years I’ve been in Ashland. One of its newest tenants is Kimberly’s Closet, a charming space with wonderful consignment finds, as clothing, purses, and shoes fill its shelves and racks. It’s one of those shops where the merchandise changes often, so I may need to put a standing date on my calendar each month so I don’t miss out.

While I haven’t made the plunge yet, Aubrey Bates has opened a yoga and pilates studio in that same block called Studio Rise. Here’s how she describes what’s happening: “A community is forming, a space where, together, we can root into who we are, grow into the potential of who we are meant to be, and shine the light of our discovery into the world we live in.” Love it!

I haven’t been convinced to join that particular community yet, but her words extend beyond the walls of her studio. They embrace a downtown that is breathing, that is connecting people, and that is alive. This weekend is a great time to head downtown to shop, to run into friends, and to sample the unique flavor of downtown Ashland, Ohio. Treat yourself to a cupcake at Enjoy! Stand at attention as the American flag passes by in the Memorial Day parade on Monday morning. And if you didn’t get a chance to belt out “Let it Go” with Elsa from “Frozen” on Friday night as Ashland Main Street hosted its first Walk-in Movie of the summer, mark your calendar for “Ladder Forty-Nine” on June 27^th. Downtown Ashland may not be “the first time in forever,” Elsa’s sister Anna envisioned,” but “there’ll be magic, there’ll be fun” – just look around!