The Zip Line Canopy Tour

It's only March and already the  Common Ground Canopy Tour is up and open for business! They are open 7 days a week with tours leaving at 10:00 and 2:00 and they are offering a reduced rate through March for $57.00 per person on weekdays and $67.00 per person on weekends Friday to Sunday. What are you waiting for?

Mother Nature is starting to warm us up and we are seeing some sunshine so why not make some plans to come out to Common Ground, only 9 miles from us, and zip your way into spring! No need to go away on spring break when there are so many great things to do right here in Lorain County! There's adventure at the zip line and bike path, history at the Heritage Center, art at the AMAM, great food at our restaurants, shopping at our quaint shops, movies at the Apollo and excellent overnight accommodations at Hallauer House. 

And one last note - our pool will be opening in 6 weeks!!! We're on a count down!

 Enjoy the zip line pictures!

 We heard that the oldest 'zipper' so fat at Common Ground was 84 years old! So what are you waiting for!

 FUN! FUN! FUN!

Geocaching - New Event

So how many of you know of or have participated in GEOCHACHING?  If this is a new term for you then let me explain what  geocaching is. It is a global scavenger hunt involving deposits of information and items hidden around areas in communities where you use your GPS to navigate to the hiding places. Website Geocaching.com gets more than 123 million visits annually and it noted geocaching has grown by 30 percent a year in recent years. The directory of GeoTours spans from our local Lorain County to Alsace, France, to 44 geocaches in the Andes Mountains of Peru. What a great way to explore the world! Extensive details can be found at the geocaching website.

Beginning in October this popular activity is coming to Lorain County and you are invited to participate! This is an adventure for individuals, couples, families, cyclists, teams. Come and play the game then stick around to enjoy the Metro Parks, the wineries, the shopping, the Zip Line, the museums, the fall colors, and much more. 

The kick off is this Saturday, October 4 where the cache coordinates will be revealed. There already are 49 geocaches hidden along the North Coast Inland Trail between Kipton, Oberlin and Elyria, and the trails that connect High Meadows, Bur Oak, Day’s Dam and the Steel Mill Trail of Lorain and Sheffield Village. There is also an Underground Railroad geocache trail around Oberlin. To find out the coordinates attend the breakfast from 9:30-11 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Black River Landing Transportation Center, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain. The new geocache trail coordinates will be released at 11 a.m. Then you are off and running or driving or biking. Have fun! And remember we have great accommodations here at Hallauer House so come, play, and stay!

Check out this article in the Morning Journal for some more information.

Winery Entertainment in Lorain County

Coming to Lorain County this weekend? Do you like wine? How about entertainment while you drink wine? Then check out what is going on at the closest wineries to Hallauer House B & B.

Matus Winery is the closet at 3 miles down US Rt. 20 to Gore Orphanage Rd. Y
This weekend  drink wine or peach mango and sangria slushies while you listen to guitar music by Dan Robertson.

Paper Moon Winery offers acoustic entertainment by Big Fin and on Saturday enjoy jazz by Two-Bari Saxes.

And if you like classic cars and good food, you must go to Vermilion Valley Winery where they are hosting a clam bake and a classic car show on Saturday and Sunday the 6th and 7th.

Have a great time and enjoy the wine!

Cleveland Segway Tour

Cleveland has really been in the news lately with the Gay Games, the Republican convention, and the return of Lebron James! And Oberlin is a neighbor to this robust and amazing city! So when you come to visit us here, plan a day to drive the 40 minutes into down town Cleveland and find out what the hoopla is all about!

The best way to really get the history and feel of Cleveland is to take a tour just like you would do in one of the mega cities like New York or San Francisco. We took the Trolley tour a few years ago and discovered many new and interesting things about the city and we've lived here for over 40 years!  Then just today in my inbox there appeared a Groupon for the new  Segway tour. These seem to be all the rage in cities around the country. So why not grab a Groupon for the Segway Tour and find out why Cleveland is for sure 'the best location in the nation!' Click for the link for the Groupon.

The International Gay Games Comes to Cleveland

Thirty-two years ago the first International Gay Games was held in San Francisco and every 4 years since has been held in cities in the US, Germany, Australia, Canada and The Netherlands. We are excited that this year, August 9 - 16, the games will be held in Cleveland and Akron, Ohio and expectations are that 9,000 athletes will participate and close to 20,000 guests, spectators, performers and volunteers will flock into the city and surrounding areas. Hallauer House Bed and Breakfast will welcome all participants and guests so come early, stay late, enjoy the games while you also enjoy a taste of history and the modern amenities at the B & B just 15 miles west of Cleveland right off of  I480/US Rt. 20.

The kick off ceremony to open the Gay Games will begin on Saturday, August 9 from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M. at Quicken Loans Arena as the participants march in according to geographic locations. And just like the Olympic games there will be entertainment with spectacular production numbers, dancers, music, speeches, and the raising of the Rainbow Flag. The closing ceremony will take place on Saturday August 16 on Mall C across from the Cleveland Convention Center.

And now the Games begin! There will be competition in:
basketball, bowling, power lifting, open lake swimming, pool swimming, rowing, triathlon, tennis, volleyball, rodeo, golf, diving, cheering, 10K & 5K road race, billiards, darts, ice hockey, martial arts, rock climbing, racket ball, road racing, sailing, softball, track and field, wrestling, body building, dance, cycling, water polo, beach volleyball, ice skating, sailing, squash, flag football, soccer, table tennis, and synchronized swim. Wow! Hope I didn't miss one!

There will be lots of entertainment in the way of comedy, theater, conferences, dancing, great food, tours to local attractions and museums, cruises, and much, much more. The Festival Village will be the hub of the games where participants, family, guests, and the public can gather to meet and greet and have fun times!

So we welcome all to come to our great Cleveland area. You may come as a stranger but you will leave as a friend! We are all one human family so we will "take the flame and pass it on."
Take the Flame (3’17”) By Henry Krieger, Bill Russell, Lyricist

Oberlin Summer Theater

Oberlin Summer Theater is back for its 6th season so be the first to get your FREE tickets to one or all of these fabulous plays. This festival has become one of the most popular and family friendly events in all of Northeast Ohio. Word has spread over the years and now people are making this a destination stop.

The Oberlin Summer Theater Festival is supported by Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory and is made up of professional equity actors, local non-equity players, and interns who are recent graduates and current Oberlin students. There will also be a summer Shakespeare Day Camp July 28 to Aug. 1st for high school students to learn the art of acting.

So this years festival will include the following 3 plays:

As You Like It by William Shakespeare
June 27 - August 1, 2014
A comedy appropriate for ages 6 and up.

Come Back Little Sheba by William Inge
July 5 - August 2, 2014
Adult themes so recommended for ages 12 and up.

The Secret Garden by Thomas W. Olsen
July 11 - August 2, 2014
For all ages from 5 up

Notice that the play schedules overlap. That is because each play is performed three times a week, each week. So if you come and stay for a week you will be able to attend all three play performances!

Click here for calendar of productions and complete box office details. And remember that tickets are FREE but must be reserved in advance so it is on a first come basis. Sell outs do occur!

Now if you want to see all three plays then make Oberlin your vacation destination. Stay at Hallauer House B & B, enjoy our amenities, and during the day explore all Lorain County has to offer from museums, to antique shops, to the Zip Line Tour, to Cedar Point, to Lake Erie, and much more.

The New Zip Line Canopy Tour!

Hold on to your hats! Strap yourself in! We have a brand new FUN and AMAZING activity coming this June to Lorain County and it is located just a few miles west of Oberlin! Did you ever want to go to the top of the trees and look down on the nature above and below you? Did you ever want to experience the thrill of riding down a zip line, walking up stairs to the top of a tree, or walk across a suspended bridge over 100 feet above the ground? Well you can do all of that and you can do it right here in Lorain County, Ohio!

Common Ground is a non-profit organization which "provides innovative programs that nurture the body, challenge the mind, and renew the spirit of each individual to: embrace who they are, realize their potential, and experience their connection to all things." And now they will be providing us an unprecedented journey through nature to discover our inner selves. Coming this June is the first northeast Ohio Canopy Tour! 

Picture yourself at the top of the trees 100 feet above the ground. You will climb the treetops, zip down, go up the staircase, walk across the aerial bridge, zip some more, all across the 29 acres. As you stop at each elevation your guide, who will be with you through the entire journey, will point out the nature that you are observing. Your last stop, 2 1/2 hours after you began, will be to repel down from the top to the ground level. Be prepared to scream and shout with delight as you experience the beauty and exhilaration of life and nature in the fast lane!

The Canopy Tour website will be on line about the middle of April and then you can register and reserve your spot on-line. The cost is $85.00 per person for a 2 1/2 hour experience. In the meantime check out the Common Ground website and register your email for updates.

So start planning that vacation! Come to OHIO and experience all that we have to offer! A Canopy Tour Package deal is coming so check back for details. When you stay with us we can help you plan a different activity for each day that you are here. And don't forget, when your day is done or the heat has you down, come back to us and take a swim in the POOL!!!!!!!!

Come on! Give us a call! Set up your Canopy Tour and reserve your stay at the historical Civil War themed 1830 Hallauer House Bed & Breakfast!!!! You know you want to!

An Evening at the Theater

We are so lucky to live so close to one of the up and coming revitalized cities in the country. I could start naming all the wonderful things going on in Cleveland, if you want to read a whole long list, but perhaps one of the best and most important things is the fantastic theater district. Cleveland has the best theater district second only to New York. Would you believe that Cleveland now has 10 theaters in Playhouse Square, all within the downtown area! We have the Allen, the Hannah, the Ohio, the State, the Palace, the Westfield Studio, the 14th Street, Kennedy's, Second Stage, and the Lab Theater! A variety of productions take place year round. And now many restaurants are moving into the area offering great food for enjoyment before the theater production begins.

It was our great opportunity to attend a theater production at the Palace Theater this past week - the Broadway play, "War Horse." It was fabulous! And the "horses" were unbelievably realistic with the mannerisms and movements of a real horse. The puppeteers were excellent! We had a great time. The Palace is beautiful. Our seats were on the balcony level with an unobstructed view of the stage.

Two upcoming popular productions coming soon are "The Lion King" and "The Book of Morman". We are looking forward to attending both! So what I'd like everyone to realize is that Cleveland is THE PLACE! Why fight the big city congestion when you can vacation in Northern Ohio and see some great theater! Give us a shot at making your day! And remember that Oberlin and Hallauer House B & B are just 40 minutes west of Cleveland. We'd love to  have you stay with us on your trip to the theater! Give us a call!

WINE TOURISM DAY!

Yeah! The first annual National Wine Tourism Day is being celebrated on Saturday, May 11, 2013! Special events around the country are being held that day to honor the grape that brings us "the liquid of the gods!" Wineries, hotels, restaurants, and other wine tourism businesses, like Hallauer House Bed & Breakfast, are offering special events and special deals to celebrate the importance (and fun) of wine tourism.

North Coast Grapevine Tours in Lorain is offering a special tour, visiting 4 wineries, sampling wines at each stop, and having lunch at one of them. We thought it would be great to offer a deal also. If you read our previous post about Inn Rewards, you will see our special deal for guests coming to us from that website. We are extending that deal to anyone who is celebrating WINE and visiting Ohio wineries on May 11, 2013. That deal is: stay with us one or two nights and upon check-in receive a complimentary bottle of Ohio Wine from one of our local wineries and a snack tray of cheese and crackers. And don't forget that May 12 is Mother's Day! Don't you think Mom would just love visiting a few wineries and staying at a B & B to enjoy more fine wine? We only have 2 rooms left so call now to reserve your spot to celebrate wine and mom! Be sure to mention this post from FB or the Blog to get the wine deal. See you soon!

Fantastic Celeveland Museum of Art

By being members of Positively Cleveland, we were given the opportunity to visit the Cleveland Museum of Art at an after hours networking event. The evening was a chance for everyone in the tourism industry to get to see the new and improved museum that was over 3 years in renovation.

Three years ago the Cleveland Museum of Art, home to over 900 works in 20 galleries, spanning 300 years of art history from the height of the Baroque age in 17th-century Europe to the rise of industrial cities in early 20th-century America, closed its permanent-collection galleries to start a massive expansion and renovation. Then on June 29,2012, the museum opened the doors to grand, newly renovated galleries on the main level of its original neoclassical white marble home, known as the 1916 building. The two new wings rose to stand on each side the 1916 building and the 1971 education facility which were all joined by a huge indoor atrium.

The museum now has a new Gallery One educational center, which includes a 40-foot-long interactive display wall, said by the museum to be the largest in any U.S. art museum. It was like a touch Wikipedia! Touch a picture and the art comes to life right in front of you! The museum has also unveiled ArtLens, its free new mobile application for the Apple iPad, which visitors can use along with the “Collection Wall” in the Gallery to customize their own individual  tours. You can borrow an IPad to take with you on the tour so you have all information about any and all art that you want to see. Now I only hope they will develop an Android app!

The evening was fabulous, the Museum is fabulous, and we highly recommend that you make some vacation plans to come to Northeast Ohio, stay awhile, and visit ALL of our fabulous museums. Below are just a few of the pictures of the new atrium.

Visiting the Cleveland Art Museum collections is FREE but there could be a charge for viewing Special Collections. Hours are 10:00 to 5:00 except on Wednesdays and Fridays when hours are extended to 9:00 p.m. The Museum is closed on Mondays. Enjoy the pictures that I took but do come and see the Museum up close and personal. You won't be disappointed! And also located in University Circle is the Contemporary Art Museum, Natural History Museum, the Crawford Auto Museum, and Severance Hall. And Hallauer House B & B is located just 40 minutes from the Museum, an easy drive on the Interstates.

2012 Country Autumn Tour

It's that time again - Fall and the changing of the colors. The trees seem to be giving off their colors early this year, maybe because of the dry summer, so it is now time to plan that drive in the country to 'ooh' and 'awe' at all those yellows, oranges, and reds of the leaves!

So gas up the car and let that drive bring you to Wellington and southern Lorain County for the annual Country Autumn Tour. This a a "Drive Yourself Adventure" around the county and will be held on October 19, 20, and 21, and again the following weekend, October 26, 27, and 28. Times on Friday and Saturdays are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. and on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Since you may not be able to get to every location in one day, you might want to plan a getaway stay here at Hallauer House B & B. Start on Friday or Saturday, stay here for the night, wake up to a fortifying breakfast, and then resume your tour. What better way to celebrate a fall weekend!

You begin the Country Autumn Tour in Wellington or at any of the participating businesses. Then visit each business, have each of them stamp your map, and deposit your completed map at the last business that you visit on the tour. All maps that have stamps from all the participating businesses will be entered in a drawing to win "The Basket of Bounty" grand prize which will include gifts from every business. Also you can search each shop for a small wooden Block with a letter on it. Play the Word Jumble Game! Collect a hidden letter from each of the stores on the tour and solve the word puzzle. Winner of the Jumble picked from correct entries will receive a $25.00 gas card!

The participating businesses are:

• Ravenwood Antiques - 16441 Pitts Rd., Oberlin
• Black River Antiques - 105 E. Herrick Ave., Wellington
• The Grainary - 18359 Rowell Rd., Wellington
• Dolls and Minis - 106 W. Herrick St., Welllington
• All Ohio Train and Toy - 109 E. Herrick St., Wellington.
• The Pumpkin Factory - 9324 Zimmerman Rd., Homerville
• Bonnie Brae Farm Tours, Ltd. - 27717 Quarry Rd.
• Honey Bee Treasure - 6080 N.L. Section Line Rd. 21, New London
• Days of Yore Herb and Flower Farm - 42925 Jones Rd., Penfield
• Spencer Feed and Supply - 227 N. Main St, Spencer
• Spencer Restaurant - 107 E. Main St., Spencer
• North 40 Creations Country Store - 105 Public Square #2, Lagrange
• Hook's Greenhouse - 50740 St. Rt. 18, Brighton

So check your calendar, gas up the car, and head to Lorain County! You will have a good time!

Coming Soon! Tough Mudder!

So many calls for rooms for the weekend of April 13 and 14th followed by the question, "What is going on in Lorain County that weekend that has filled up all the hotels and B & B's?" We can answer that in two words - Tough Mudder. Now if you've never heard of this, you are not alone. This is the first year that a Tough Mudder  event will be held in Lorain County Ohio and it is bringing in over 10,000 participants plus thousands more spectators! That relates to a lot of hotel and B & B rooms!

So what is Tough Mudder? According to all accounts it is the toughest competition on earth having been designed by British Special Forces. The Tough Mudder events are held worldwide throughout the year and are designed to test “strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie,” according to the company’s website. It is not a race, but a personal challenge, the website says. The course will be 12 miles long and include 24 obstacles, including 12-foot walls, mud, water and even live wires that deliver a shock. The obstacles have names like “Kiss of Mud: Eat dirt as you crawl on your belly under wires set only eight inches from the ground” and “Boa Constrictor: Crawl through a series of pipes that may force you into freezing, muddy water.” Sounds to me sort of like CBS's "Survivor!" But I don't think anyone gets voted off the island!

Now you have heard of Tough Mudder and if you would like to be a spectator, you may still be able to get tickets. If you would like to read more about it then check out their website. If you are coming to Lorain County for the events and have not secured accommodations, you may have to book in a neighboring county. April 13 and 14 should be a fun filled weekend!

Herbie Hancock Comes to Oberlin!

On Tuesday, March 13, 2012, Oberlin College and the Oberlin Community will be welcoming one of the best icons of modern music, the one and only Herbie Hancock!  Mr. Hancock is not only a legendary pianist and composer, but also an Academy Award winner and winner of 14 Grammy Awards, including 2008's Album of the Year. He redefined jazz, introduced the post bop sound, and was one of the first jazz musicians to embrace music synthesizers and syncopated drum beats. Hancock's music crosses over to embrace elements of funk, soul, and jazz   In his jazz improvisation, he possesses a unique creative blend of jazz, blues, and modern classical music, with harmonic stylings.


Herbie Hancock will perform at Finney Chapel at 8:00 P.M. on March 13th with reserved seating. Reserved seating tickets are $42.00 for the general public and $32.00 for seniors. Tickets will be $3.00 more at the door on the night of the performance so it would be wise to order tickets right away. Ordering can be done on-line at www.oberlin.edu/artsguide; by phone at 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178; or in person at the box office in Hall Auditorium.

Now since the performance begins at 8:00 P.M., it will go late so why not plan to stay the night with us, have a FREE breakfast the next morning and then head back home. If you mention this BLOG post when you book your room, we will give you a 20% discount making the room rate for one night just $109.00! What a fabulous evening this will be! Go ahead and call or Book On-Line. You know you want to!

Oberlin Underground Railroad Bicycle Tour

Spring is coming and now is the time to start planning that summer vacation! So let me ask you a few questions to help you get your planning started. Are you a biking enthusiast? Do you like adventure? How about history? If you answered yes to those questions, then you may be interested to know that Adventure Cycling has added an Underground Railroad alternate spur route that will begin right here in Oberlin!

Now here are some good things to know. If you want to go the entire route of this new spur be prepared to plan well for the 518-mile journey that will depart from Oberlin, and then take you through Toledo and Detroit, around Lake St. Clair, tracing the shoreline of Lake Huron before heading to Owen Sound, your final destination.

                                                                                             There is a ferry option across Lake Erie
from Sandusky, Ohio, through Windsor, Ontario. Along the way you will find numerous historic sites to visit and super B & B's to stay in. 

The maps on the left are from Adventure Cycling and are available from Cyclosource, Adventure Cycling's online store and catalog.

We have had several adventurers on the Underground Railroad tour coming from the Alabama route who have stayed here at Hallauer House so it is exciting that this new route will actually be starting right here!

 Now back to your trip planning. While on your overnight bicycle tour you will probably camp out a lot but we would recommend that you try to stay a few times at local B & B's along the way. Remember, B & B's are the Better Way to Stay so why not treat yourselves to a good nights sleep and a hot shower occasionally.  Now get started on that planning! And why not plan to stay your first night here with us. The pool opens in May so you can relax and gear up for a really great adventure! When you reserve, mention this Blog article and that you are starting the Oberlin to Canada Adventure Cycling tour and we will give you our tour discount.

P.S. If you really like cycling, then definitely be sure to check out Adventure Cycling's website. They offer maps, packing tips, and much, much more. 

Tommy Flowers in Oberlin!

Okay, so you ask, who is Tommy Flowers and why is he in Oberlin and why should I care!  

"Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone" is the new production coming to Hall Auditorium at Oberlin College this week. You should care because it is a hilarious flash back to the 60s "now-generation." It is made up as a series of vignettes, and skits that portray the life and attitude of  Tommy Flowers who is an irrepressible cut-up, determined freeloader, and disenchanted rebel against society. In the course of his adventures he befriends a destitute old actor, acquires an over-sized sheep dog (his best friend), and finds love with a beautiful music student (whom he meets in the ladies' room at Bloomingdale's). But as Tommy moves from scene to scene, his bright red shopping bag at the ready for pilfering and his agile wit poised to hoodwink everyone in sight, we also glimpse the root causes of his alienation, from a complaining mother; to an unhappily married brother; to a former girlfriend who has settled for a suffocating domesticity; and to more rejection than acceptance. In the end, betrayed yet again, but still buoyantly defiant, Tommy devises his final rip off! To find out what that rip-off is, you will have to attend the performance! So make plans now for a quick get-away! Come to Oberlin early, explore our town, do some Christmas shopping, have dinner at one of our fine restaurants, take in the play, and then spend the night at Hallauer House B & B! We'll keep the holiday lights on for you! Give us a call! You know you want to!


Dates for the Production:


Thursday, December 8, 2011, 8:00 P.M.
Friday, December 9, 2011, 8:00 P.M.
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 8:00 P.M.


Tickets:   $8.00 for general public, $6.00 for Seniors. All tickets $3.00 more at the door so call early or book on line. Phone: 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178
On-line: www.oberlin.edu/artsguide

A Wedding

Your invitation has arrived! You are cordially invited to attend "A Wedding," the comedic opera based on Robert Altman's 1978 witty and hilarious film. The operatic stage performance, being sung in English, depicts the comedic drama of  two very dysfunctional and hilarious families during the Corelli and Brenner wedding. The ceremony gets off to a terrible start when the vacant "fuddy-duddy" type minister flubs his lines. Then the Corelli matriarch proceeds to drop dead but the unaware guests continue to talk to her because Dr. Meecham has concealed her lack of life so as not to spoil the party! And just like many weddings, the guests are busy drinking, making out, and letting secrets and infidelities out of the bag. I think you can start to see the picture!

The music is as complex as the plot with sambas, arias, rock and roll, and Broadway tunes all rolled out to make this a fun performance. So mark your calendar and plan to attend one of the performances at Hall Auditorium, Oberlin College. Your choices: Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 8:00 P.M.; Friday, Nov. 18 at 8:00 P.M.; Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8:00 P.M. and Sunday, Nov. 20 at 2:00 P.M. Ticket prices: Single ticket - $12.00, Seniors - $8.00 but all are $3.00 more when purchased at the door. Buy on-line at www.oberlin.edu/artsguide; phone 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178 to reserve early.

And why drive home after the performance? Have a night cap at one of our fine restaurants and then stay the night at Hallauer House B & B and wake up to a full 4 course breakfast in the morning. What a way to start the holidays! Go ahead! Pick up the phone. Make your reservations. You know you want to!

Oberlin Honors

If you need a new magazine to read this month, then be sure to pick up the November issue of Ohio Magazine and read about it's recognition of Oberlin as one of "Ohio's Best Hometowns." This is the sixth annual contest sponsored by the magazine where nominations are done on-line by it's readers. The city finalists were determined by the editorial staff and then visits were conducted to each community. Evaluations were based on community spirit, environment, culture, education, entertainment, health and safety, and business.

So now you just might be wondering why Oberlin is such a good town in which to live and work and why you might want to put us on your list of places to visit.  We have community picnics and events in the park, things like Doggy Do, the Wacky Parade, Juneteenth, history walks, free concerts, to name but a few. The town is well on the way to being a leader in environmental sustainability with our many LEED buildings. We have over 300 cultural and entertainment events a year in conjunction with Oberlin College and the Conservatory. We have live theater, dance, operas, and musicians visiting from all over the world as well as a world renowned art museum and a fabulous heritage museum.  The College and the Conservatory attract students from every state and every country, The public schools have the IB program and have achieved an excellent rating from the state and 100% college attendance for the class of 2011. Look for entertainment coming up from the Cleveland Orchestra, Apollo's Fire, Marilyn Horne, and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few.

Oberlin may be a small college town but we offer the residents and visitors a great variety of shops in which to explore. We survived the 'Big Box' invasion! There is the bookstore, the bead shop, the vintage 5 and 10, the artists gallery, the bike shop, antique shops, African ware, furniture, yarn of all varieties, candles and gifts, crafts, flowers,  jewlery, clothing and more.

Need good food? We have that covered with your choice of dining in over 14 different restaurants, from fine dining to casual pizza. 

All of this in a town of under 10,000 resident! Read the article and then plan your visit. Stay a few days and you'll see why we are one of Ohio's Best Hometowns! Give us a call here at Hallauer House. 440-774-3400. We would love to have you stay with us during your visit. Come on. Pick up the phone. You know you want to! 

Civil War Comes to Hale Farm!

The Union cavalry, decked out in official uniforms, began their march through the streets of the village on their way to prepare for the battle that was drawing near. The horses seemed anxious but the soldiers appeared calm and ready to engage the enemy.



On the opposite side of the road the Confederate foot soldiers were also making their preparations for battle. They appeared more 'ragtag,' wearing makeshift clothes put together to make somewhat of an official uniform.

While the soldiers march and prepare for battle the two Confederate officers make plans for bringing in the canon. (Our guest, Doug Taylor in the white hat and long coat is the Lt. Colonel of the Confederate regiment and is in charge of the company canon.)

The battle began with gunfire in the distant woods and soon escalated into the open field. The lines were drawn with the Confederate and Union troops standing opp     opposite each other and firing on command.



The Union cavalry soon arrived from the neighboring woods where they had been grouping and swooped down to attack the Confederate infantry, sending the foot soldiers scattering in all directions.


The battle intensified with horses and men scurrying in all directions and

more smoke began to fill the air.

                                                   But wait!!! All is not lost with the Confederates as the Lt. Colonel and his troops brought in the big canon and began blasting rounds at the Union line, forcing the foot soldiers and the cavalry to scatter. Perhaps the tide would turn and the Confederates would get the upper hand.

The Confederate canon brigade keeps firing.

And the canon smoke soon fills the field with smoke, sending some of it into the air to form smoke ring signals, as if calling out to someone to send reinforcements.

The field is now so thick with smoke from the canon that soldiers could not identify who was on what side, Union or Confederate.

                                                   But the Union cavalry soon regroups and in one final charge they are able    to overpower the Confederate canon and claim the victory.

Back in the village, the Union army celebrated its victory as the fife and drum corp played for all to hear. The battle ended and camp life got back to normal.

                                                          Our guests, Doug and Debbie, invited us to be their guests at the evening Civil War reenactors dinner which the women prepared while the men were involved in battle. And a fabulous meal it was! Jambalaya fit for a king along with fresh baked corn bread made in the authentic Hope oven and cobbler to top every thing off! We had seconds and needless to say, we did not leave hungry!  Reenactors must be authentic down to every detail so when you attend one, you will see life as it was really lived in the 1860's.

This was, by far, the best Civil War reenactment that we have attended and because, for the next 4 years, our country will be commemorating the 150th anniversary of this war, we would highly recommend that you make plans to attend a reenactment next summer or the next 3 summers. There will be a huge reenactment at Gettysburg in July of 2013. Doug and Debbie will definitely be there. And we want to thank Doug and Debbie for the great time we had in August at Hale Farm! They will be there next year so make your plans now for next August. One more great thing to do in Northeast Ohio!!!! 

                                                      

Debbie Kopnitsky at the stove!! Great meal Debbie! Thanks so much!                                                      

Fun Time in Cleveland!

Last week we took a one day 'staycation' and ventured into downtown Cleveland! We already know a lot about Cleveland but thanks to a Groupon that I purchased, we had two tickets for the Cleveland Trolley Tour. Our tour started at 2:00 at Nautica in the Flats area of Cleveland and was due to last for 2  hours. Now I know that some people make jokes and get a good laugh at Cleveland's expense and this made us wonder if there really could be any new facts to learn about our neighboring big city which, by the way, is only about a 40 minute drive from Oberlin.

So let me wet your appetite with a few new and refreshed facts that I learned  about Cleveland!

• Our Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the US after Lincoln Center in New York! We have 5 theaters all grouped together on Euclid Ave. with performances going continuous.
• In the past, Euclid Ave. was known as Millionaire Row with houses built by John D. Rochefellar, the Brush Electric family, the Murphy Oil family, and the Sherwin Williams family to name but a few.
• Of course we have the fabulous Severance Hall which is home to the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Art Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Crawford Auto Museum all grouped in the area of Case Western University.
• There is the Rockefeller Greenhouse with 27 acres of plants under glass and also the Cleveland Holden Arboretum. 
• The Cleveland Clinic is the number 1 heart hospital in the country.
• All of the 27 nationalities represented in Cleveland have constructed unique cultural gardens along Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Two great areas to explore are Ohio City and the Tremont area, home to The Christmas Story House.
• Can't miss the Great Lakes Brewery and the historical West Side Market, the best in the country!

 After the tour, you can drive back up to the 4th Street area and check out one of the fabulous restaurants. Cleveland  is now known as a great place for culinary adventure!

And that's just the beginning of the story!
For the rest of the tour you will have to plan your 'staycation' on Lolley the Trolley in Cleveland! We were surprised and impressed with all that is going on in downtown Cleveland. Things to come include the Casino, the Medical Mart, and much, much more! Come and be a part of our great northeast Ohio! We cannot be laughed at any more!

Cleveland really does rock!!!

Calendar Marking Time!

 Okay, it's time to get out the pen and mark your calendar for the 2011-2012 Oberlin College Recital Series! In this Blog posting I will give you an overview and then I will try (I PROMISE) to do a more detailed BLOG posting for each event throughout the year.

So let's start with September 2011! There will be 3 events - Itzhak Perlman on the violin will be in town on Ssunday, Sept. 11, 2011; Adrian Fenty's presentation comes on Tuesday, Sept. 13, and on Sat.Sept. 24 Ira Glass will take the stage.

October so far, has only Salman Rushdie in town on Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

November -Jaron Lanier presents on Wednesday, Nov. 9 and then Nov. 16,18, 19, and 20 are the dates for  the stage production of "A Wedding."

December is holiday time and the one funny stage production called "Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone" will be presented on Dec. 8. 9, and 10.

January 2012 may be cold and most of the students will be gone but the College will be busy and you can mark 4 dates on your calendar! Wednesday, Jan. 18 the Cleveland Orchestra will  be in town at Finney Chapel followed by Jeremy Denk on piano on Thursday, Jan. 19, followed by Apollo's Fire on Friday, Jan. 20, followed by the International Contemporary Ensemble on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012! Whew! Busy month and we hope  - NO SNOW!

Ok, we are now into February 2012. The month begins with A Theater & Dance Collaboration on Thurs., Fri., and Sat., February 9, 10, and 11 followed by The Tallis Scholars on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Tuesday, Feb. 21 we will welcome Soweto Gospel Choir and on Feb. 24 and 26 Marilyn Horne will conduct Master Classes.

In March we will see Jonathan Altar and Ross Douthat on March 7 and then the one and only Herbie Hancock will be in town on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. The Opera - "L'Heure espagnole &L'Enfant et les sortilegees", will be staged on March 14, 16, 17, and 18.

With the school year winding down, the April and May series will bring to town Edwidge Danticat on Thursday, April 19. The Theater and Dance students will stage "The Compromise 1895" Thursday -Saturday, April 19-21 followed by the Oberlin Dance Company & and Contemporary Music Ensemble's presentation on May 11 and 12, 2012.

The dates above are just for the Oberlin Arts. Click here to get complete information to help in setting up your calendar! There will be many more events and activities going on throughout the coming school year (2011-2012) so stay tuned and I will keep you apprised of what you will be able to see and do in Oberlin! And remember, we are here for your overnight accommodations so give us a call when you know the dates that you will be in Oberlin. We are looking forward to hearing from you! Come and visit! You know you want to!!!