Holden Arboretum’s Vanishing Act
If you are familiar with Holden Arboretum you may remember last summer’s special exhibit – Gnome and Garden – where life-size garden gnomes were created by local artists for display in the gardens at the arboretum. Well, this summer’s exhibit, “Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat,” is sure to make an impact on the way we all perceive the outdoors and endangered species.
The folks at Holden say it best, “Siberian tigers. Giant Pandas. Fraser fir? Trees rarely make the list when we think about species threatened with extinction, yet around 10 percent of the world’s tree species are at risk of disappearing from our planet.”
This traveling exhibit will open April 27, during the arboretum’s Arbor Day celebration, and will be open to visitors until October 28. The exhibit is dedicated to educating visitors of the importance of trees to people and our environments. The exhibit will feature an “Ohio Trees Under Threat Tour” suitable for hikers over age 14. The easy, one-mile trail will highlight six native Ohio trees threatened by past, present or future diseases and pests. Tours will take place each Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Family activities and special programming will also be part of the summer-long exhibit. Don’t wait too long…this exhibit will vanish before you know it!
Additional information on Holden Arboretum’s Vanishing Acts exhibit can be found here.
Lake County Debuts Craft Vodka Distiller
Kevin Suttman’s love of quality vodka caused him to escape the executive world travel grind to create Northeast Ohio’s first craft vodka micro-distillery, Seven Brothers, in Leroy Township, Lake County, Ohio.
Suttman, 45, endured the maze of federal and state regulations and permit procedures, enabling him to create a “low temperature” distillation process – a first, he believes.
“Low temperature distilling takes a tremendous amount of time, a gentle technique for delicate, smooth vodka,” said Suttman.
Seven Brothers is distributed by the Ohio Department of State Liquor Control agency to about 60 stores from Lorain to the Ohio border near Erie, Pennsylvania, and south to Portage County. C.K.’s Steakhouse at Quail Hollow Resort, John Palmer’s Bistro 44, Flannigan’s, The Greenhouse and Don’s Lighthouse are some local restaurants serving Seven Brothers vodka.
Suttman urges partakers to drink the vodka straight or on the rocks to appreciate the smooth, sweet, almost caramel like aroma.
“From grain to glass” is Suttman’s motto. “I use spring water from Sunrise Springs, soft winter wheat and corn from Fowlers Mill. Almost all of the vodka on the store shelves is mass produced in huge factories – even the ones that claim to be ‘hand-made.’ Mine is truly hand-crafted”.
The 300 gallon still was self-designed by Suttman, who has no engineering background, but a designer’s intuition.
“The vodka is hard to make – 120 hours in the still – not an efficient way. But most vodkas are produced as a flavorless commodity. Most mass produced vodkas have a medicinal taste, but mine has a sweet, nutty character and a very smooth finish.”
Suttman went through many trial recipes, distilling styles and blind tasting tests until he created a formula he thought was a winner.
“The email response is encouraging. We have had many lifelong vodka drinkers who were blown away that a local distillery could produce a great product.”
“The distilling process starts with the mixture of ingredients in a mash tank of 300 gallons. The starches are converted to sugars. Then yeast is added for fermentation, which eats sugars and converts the mixture to alcohol.”
The still then separates the alcohol from the mixture. The first alcohol collected is the “heads.” This foul-smelling alcohol is discarded. Next comes the “hearts” – this is what will eventually be carbon filtered and bottled. The last alcohol to come out of the still is the “tails” – it too, is foul smelling and must be discarded.
The key to pure tasting vodka is making good “cuts” from the heads to the middle to the tails. “I am the stingiest craft distiller alive,” he claims. “I keep only the purest part of the hearts.”
The alcohol is purified by carbon filters and diluted to the proper proof using spring water.
Suttman plans on scheduling Saturday tours by May 1, 2012, or by special arrangement for groups of 12. Cost is $5 per person, which is credited towards any purchase. Tastings should be available pending application approval by the State of Ohio for a new tasting permit.
Suttman is planning another craft spirit – whiskey infused with real local maple syrup.
Visitors can sign up for tours by emailing Seven Brothers at promo@seven-brothers.com or
through Facebook.
Oh, Kevin is one of seven brothers, but he also has one sister. “She was angry that she was not included in the name, so I named my first signature drink after her.” The “Angry Sister” martini has two parts Seven Brothers Vodka, one part Limoncello and half part Chambord.
Bob Ulas, Lake County Visitors Bureau Executive Director
“Hot from the Oven” opens spring theater season
The Fine Arts Association’s 16th Annual One Act Festival – “Hot from the Oven” can’t get any hotter April 20 – May 5 as 12 one-act plays from across the country come to Lake County Ohio.
The Fine Arts Association reads many 10-minute play submissions ranging from comedies to dramas to find the right combination of plays for the festival. This year’s line-up can be found on the Fine Arts Association’s website.
Tickets are available online now for $22 or $20 for seniors and students. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Other Arts & Culture Activities
Spring Progressive Wine Dinner in Northeast Ohio
Several times a year, three Lake County wineries host progressive wine dinners allowing guests to enjoy a delightful menu paired with local wines. This April 20 progressive dinner is sure to be delightful as the early spring will make a night at the vineyards all that more special!
This progressive dinner starts with Caprese Skewers with balsamic and olive oils and honeydew wrapped in prosciutto appetizers and is paired with a refreshing salad at Grand River Cellars in Madison, Ohio.
The entrée will be served at Debonné Vineyards. Guests may choose from either grilled chipotle and lime rubbed beef fillet or grilled citrus seasoned chicken breast. Both will be served with grape salsa, grilled Redskin potatoes with fresh garlic and pepper rub, mixed vegetables and hearth baked bread.
The final stop of the evening is scheduled for South River Vineyards for a surprise dessert that will surely satisfy the sweet tooth. Reservations are required by April 17. Seating is very limited and will sell out early. This is a prepaid, non-refundable ticket event. Tickets are $47.50 per person, which will include wine pairing with each course, gratuity and tax. Learn more about the Grand River Valley Progressive Dinner here.
Celebrating Arbor Day in Lake County’s Outdoors
The first Arbor Day took place on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska as a way to celebrate the importance of trees. This year, the Holden Arboretum is bringing the celebration to Lake County for a weekend-long event April 27-29. (And admission is free!)
Activities for the weekend will include the kick-off to Holden’s summer exhibit, Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat. This traveling exhibit looks at 15 different tree species in danger of vanishing from our landscape and features many different activities, lectures and exploration opportunities.
An exciting addition to the schedule this year is The Great Lakes Timber Show. Daring performers showcase their chainsaw carving, axe throwing, wood chopping and log rolling talents for guests while discussing the roles lumberjacks play in responsible tree harvesting.
And of course, if you want to simply explore the gardens and trails of the 3,600 acre arboretum, you can do that too every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
So if the enticing lure of fresh air (or maybe it’s the axe tossing!) convinces you to visit the arboretum to celebrate Arbor Day, you can find a full schedule of events for outdoors lovers of all ages on Holden Arboretum’s website.
Lake Erie is Birder Territory
Ahh…fresh air, birds singing and sunshine…A sure sign of spring. And this early arrival of spring in Northern Ohio has jump-started the bird watching season on the Lake Erie Birding Trail.
The trail, established in 2011 by The Ohio Division of Wildlife and The Ohio State University’s Sea Grant program, includes 84 areas where birders search the skies for any of the area’s indigenous birds as well as rare finds. Nearly 400 species of birds have been seen along the trail including many migrant songbirds throughout the spring and fall seasons.
Covering the entire 312 miles of Ohio’s shoreline, the trail includes the lake’s greatest bird watching areas divided into seven loops consisting of different types of habitats. Lake County is part of the Cleveland loop which features sites that are among the most famous birding hotspots in the Midwest. Eleven of the birding sites are located in Lake County including Headlands Dunes State Nature Preserve, Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve, Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve, Holden Arboretum, Eastlake-CEI Seawall and several Lake Metroparks sites.
So why not enjoy the fresh air, grab the binoculars and start birding! Learn more about The Lake Erie Birding Trail here.
PHOTO CREDIT ~ Judy Semroc
More Outdoors Events
Celebrate National Park Week with Free Admission to James A. Garfield NHS
Free things are always great. But fun, family-friendly, free things are extra great! And that’s what you’ll get if you visit the James A. Garfield National Historic Site during National Park Week. National Park Service sites are free of charge during National Park Week.
For James A. Garfield National Historic Site, this means entrance fees will be waived the weekends of April 21-22 and April 28-29 (since the site is closed Monday-Friday during April). Guests are encouraged to walk the grounds, visit the museum exhibits, watch the film and take a guided tour of the Garfield home for free!
National Park Week is an event supported by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation.
More Family Events
