Another stop on the Historic Homes Tour was the Charles H. Bigelow House. This private home on 2816 North Main Street will blow you away with its magnificence both inside and out. They are known for the outrageous Halloween displays, but the beauty of the house with all of the flowers blooming is really the sight you want to see.

We all love kids’ summertime activities like playing in the sprinkler, eating drippy popsicles, going on bike rides and playing catch in the warm sun. But…

…grownups like to have fun, too!

If you are in need of a great date night, girls day out, or a fabulous get-together with friends and neighbors, uncork some big-kid entertainment at the 4th Annual Riverside Wine Festival on Saturday, June 23 from 1-9p.m.at Riverside Park!

Stroll scenic Riverside Park and enjoy featured Ohio Wineries, gourmet and goods from local eateries and specialty shops, art, demonstrations and more, all while taking in live music from The Womack Family Band, Millstream Mojo Band, The Athen Ry, and Mahajibee Blues.

Admission: $20 in advance, $25 at the gate which includes a commemorative wine glass and 10 tastings. Designated drivers and those under 21 can attend for $10 each and children in strollers are free.  No pets allowed.

Tickets: Visit www.artspartnership.com, call the box office: 419-422-4624 or visit them at 618 South Main Street, Findlay.

We’ll see you there!

Recently, I was lucky enough to tour the William L. Carlin House, located on 1109 South Main Street. Although it is a private home, this is one of the shining gems of Main Street, and I was overjoyed when I found out that I would have the opportunity to go inside. Each piece within the home has been carefully curated by Cindy and Mike Leister and as I soon found out from the tour guides, almost everything had a story. Can you tell which piece used to be part of a piano?

You never know when you might be able to go into a house like this in Findlay. Stay tuned and you just might have your chance!

I’m a brunch girl. There is just something about mixing my two favorite meals into one big, glorious meal that makes me very, very happy. And well, brunch seems to be that one meal of the week where you can just relax and spend hours with your friends to catch up with no worries. So yes, I think it brings more than just two meals together.

Imagine my joy when I heard Fins Seafood & Grille is not only a fantastic seafood restaurant, but a great place to catch brunch on Sundays! What I love about Fins is that it carries its seafood theme from the moment you walk in to the food they serve. You are greeted with an amazing aquarium. The hostess leads you to a table that has shells and sand encased within. You feel like you are more in an accessible oasis than anything else.

After placing my drink order with the waitress, it was time to dig in. The brunch buffet is filled with all of my favorites, but my eyes caught the omelet station. Oh yes, that was where I was headed first. Omelets are cooked to order here and you have many choices. From cheese to sausage, it’s all here. And if you stick around, you can watch them masterfully flip your omelet. But they will garnish it and bring it right over to your table.

While my omelet cooked, I turned my full attention to the buffet. French toast, potatoes, carving station… Oh my! Sausage, fruit and biscuits and gravy… HEAVEN! I loaded up my plate with a little of everything. It’s a buffet after all!

I sat down with my treasures and started filling my belly with awesomeness. Each bite reminded me of why brunch is the way to start the week. And then my omelet came to add to warm, happy feeling I was experiencing. I finished it off by making an impossible choice between chocolate cake, apple pie and danishes. I really wanted all three. Great food, great service and great atmosphere. This is definitely a place that I could find myself every Sunday.

If you want to experience the yummy brunch Fins has to offer on Sundays, it is available every week from 10 am to 1:30 pm. And I highly recommend making a stop.

Sunday was a one of those perfect days in Findlay. The sun was shining, flowers were blooming and lots of people were out for the Historic Homes Tour. It was the perfect opportunity to capture the beauty of just a few of our historic homes.

Do you want to plan your own photo walk? Then check out our Historic Homes Walking Tour! And then share your pictures with us on Facebook or Twitter!

Findlay is celebrating an important birthday… and you’re invited!

Although it’s not very polite to ask a lady her age, we have it on good authority that this little city will be 200 this year. Take it from us: she’s still quite a looker!

Whether you grew up here, or are just stopping by for a visit, you won’t want to miss any of the fabulous activities planned for our Bicentennial. From parades and fireworks, to festivals, live entertainment, food and historic reenactments, there is sure to be something that will tickle your fancy and help you appreciate our fabulous community.

Here are some birthday celebration highlights:

• June 8: Bicentennial Boogie: Live music and libations, 6:00 PM, Main Street in Downtown Findlay

• June 9 & 10: Bicentennial Festival: Inflatables, games, food, music, vendors and booths to view our history. Saturday, 12:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Sunday, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Hancock County Fairgrounds.

• June 10: Forte Findlay, A Musical Celebration: Amazing community concert featuring local church choirs, Night Jazz and more, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Koehler Center on Campus at The University of Findlay.

• June 12: A Night at the Museum: Enjoy a special evening at the Hancock Historical Museum, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, Hancock Historical Museum.

• June 13: Time Capsule Dig: Join us as we dig up the Time Capsule from our Sesquicentennial. The Time Capsule items will be on display during “Music in the Park” at Riverside Park, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Riverside Park.

• June 14: Bicentennial Parade & Fireworks: Floats, bands and performances! This will be like no other parade held in Findlay, Ohio. Directly after the parade, stay downtown for fireworks! 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, Downtown Findlay.

• June 15: Bicentennial Rally in the Alley: Live Music, food and libations. Sponsored by The Chamber! Bring your Time Capsule items to be buried later in the summer, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Latham Courtyard.

• June 16: Findlay Service League Bicentennial Gala: Black Tie optional. $75 per Ticket and $150 per Couple or Reserved Table seating for 10, $900. The tickets go on sale at The Arts Partnership Box office on April 16th, 2012. The Findlay Inn has a special rate of $55 + Tax for a room the night of the event. Get your tickets early! 7:00 PM to 12:00, The Findlay Inn & Conference Center.

• June 30: The Great Race & Taste of Findlay: Vintage car race make a pit-stop in our Downtown, taste samples of local food, events for children, tethered hot air balloon rides! 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Downtown Findlay.

And, there’s even MORE!

For a complete list, visit Findlay200.com, or check out our community calendar.

I’m in full-on baby and wedding shower season. You didn’t know that it had a season? It does. And this year, I’m blessed with lots of baby showers and a few upcoming weddings. That means I’m on the lookout for lots of original gifts. Yes, I could go off of the registries, but I’m just not that person. I want to find something unique and that my friends will cherish for years to come.

Luckily, Bella’s Gifts is in Findlay. When I walked in, I was just amazed at the sheer amount of jewelry. You can find all kinds here and the first room is chock full. What’s neat is that they are arranged in a very unique way. You can find some items hanging from dress forms or even a bird cage. To boot, the room is given the perfect mood lighting and painted perfectly for those of us that want to spend hours reveling in being a girl.

But don’t leave yet. It is way too easy to get lost in this first room and not discover the other rooms. I entered the baby room off to the left next. This room is painted a beautiful mint green and has a crib as its centerpiece. Every inch is filled with beautiful items that would work for everything from a baby shower to a baptism. Needless to say that this was where I ended up spending most of my time, as I eyed an adorable big green frog on that was just asking to be hugged and loved by a little one.

Next, I stepped into the clothing room. There is a little secret that not too many people know about Bella’s: They have some great clothes. A lot of them seemed very easy, breezy. They screamed girl in all the right ways and yet seemed easy to wear. And everything I saw had serious potential for being dressed up and being dressed down. So if you are looking for some great functional pieces, you might want to add Bella’s to your list.

I finally ended up in the front room where there were gifts galore. Everything from candles to cutting boards are represented here. You can easily find something special for your mom here or for that bride-to-be. Just like the rest of the store, this is carefully curated and carries items that are to be cherished for years to come.

I enjoy my trips to Bella’s Gifts. I always end up buying a few extra items to have on hand for last minute gifts, and I also always end up finding the perfect gift for the perfect person. And yes, sometimes that perfect person is me. It would just be a shame to only give their wonderful items to others!

The warm summer months bring lots of events with them in Findlay – from parades to festivals! But, nothing brings our community together more than great food…

So, be sure to mark your calendar for an event that will bring you the best of both worlds: The Taste of Findlay!

A part of Findlay’s Bicentennial celebrations, the Taste of Findlay will be held on June 30, in conjunction with The Great Race, a vintage car race that will be passing through Findlay on their race circuit! Attendees will have the chance to visit with drivers, enjoy lots of delicious local food and beverages, and participate in a host of other fun activities as well!

• What:  The Taste of Findlay at the Great Race

• Location:  The Taste of Findlay will take place in the First Federal Bank parking lot on S. Main Street, and The Great Race festivities will be on Main Street and will run from E. Main Cross to Hardin Street.
• When:  Saturday, June 30th, 2012

• Time:  Festivities will begin between 3:00 and 4:00 and end around 8:00 pm.  There will be a kick-off and welcome to the Great Race drivers at the courthouse at 4:30!

• Tickets:  Tickets to sample food will be sold for $1.00 at a central ticket booth. The “cost” of each sample, or the number of tickets required, will vary depending on the item.  It is up to you to decide how many tickets are necessary for you to taste your way through all of our amazing local dishes!

• Other Activities: Kids games, Hot Air Balloon Rides, and more. Watch for more information to come!

Be sure to ask your favorite restaurants to participate – the more the merrier! Download this application and bring it to them the next time you enjoy one of their meals. The deadline for signing up is Friday, June 1st.

I walked into The Landing Pad and well… I had to use the ladies room. I wouldn’t mention this if it weren’t for the wonderful experience that greeted me. At first, I just heard the game. Nice. Every sports bar should have the game playing in the bathroom. But then I saw it. There was a television… IN THE BATHROOM. This is either the greatest thing ever or a sad reflection on how much my life revolves around baseball. We’ll go with the greatest thing ever.

I found a place at the bar and was right away greeted by Chelsey the Bartender. I ordered a beer and was presented with beer as it is meant to be. It was in a frosted glass and was so cold that it was on the verge of freezing. I found my happy place. I placed my food order and then took in the rest of my surroundings.

What is great about The Landing Pad is that it has everything you’d expect of a sports bar: Loads of televisions playing the important games that evening. But the rest of the decor is sleek and I would totally be happy to have my boyfriend take me there on a date. In addition, the service provided by Chelsey was impeccable. No one at that bar wanted for anything. I believe I have found heaven in a restaurant.

My appetizer arrived. I selected the mozzarella wedges and they were perfectly stringy while still maintaining the ooey gooey that you’d expect. It was the perfect comfort food to go with my frosty beer. And then my vegetable wrap arrived. The wrap itself had a bit of saltiness mixed in with the sweetness of the fresh veggies. The fries that came with them were also fresh and had the perfect amount of crunch to them. Total love.

I finished my food and paid my check. I left with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I finally found a place that I would not have to trick my boyfriend into going to. Score! The Landing Pad is a definite must try and I assure you that it will make you as happy as it made me.

I wasn’t prepared for Main Street Deli. All I knew was that when I mentioned lunch to some people, they instantly replied, “Well, you have to go to Main Street Deli.” A place that had such universal appeal had to be tried.

When I walked up to the door, I instantly found myself giggling. There was a sign posted that said, “No crabs allowed, so be nice.” I kind of love this philosophy and even found a similar sign inside. Now, the real test would be whether the staff lived up to this.

I walked up to the counter and instantly froze. The chalkboard behind it is massive and filled with so many choices that I didn’t even know where to begin. The guy taking the orders saw my dilemma. He slid me a paper menu slyly and said, “This should be easier.” Okay, so first guy passes the nice test. I didn’t even have to say I had a problem and the problem was solved. Now onto more pressing issues like which of these amazing sandwiches was I going to try. I settled on The Skye. Let’s be honest… It had the words “melted provolone” in the description. There was no contest.

I placed my order and then took a seat, which is when I really took in the decor. I was surrounded by pictures and artifacts from Findlay’s history. As I was trying to take in every single piece I could without climbing over other patrons, my eyes flicked up for a just a second. That was enough to realize where I should really be looking was the ceiling tiles. Each one is beautifully painted with different scenes and could be considered pieces of art themselves.

As I was staring open-mouthed at the beauty that was above me, I heard my name called. Snapping out of my stupor, I said, “Yes?” Just a question on my order. This happened a couple of times. It became like I was an old friend and they wanted to make sure their friend got the perfect sandwich that they were dreaming about.

Finally, my name was called and I was able to retrieve my order. I hunkered down in my booth, ready to do some damage to this sandwich and the chips surrounding it. The Skye definitely lived up to my hopes and dreams and the staff of Main Street Deli lived up to the nice test.

In the end, I feel like Main Street Deli is almost a mini-version of Findlay. We’re a little different here. But if you give us a bit of your time, we’ll give you great food, great art and make you feel like home. And can you really ask for more?