9 Bistro at Grey Hawk

Restaurants crowded in Oberlin? Do you want a place with a great atmosphere, excellent food, an expansive outdoor deck overlooking a golf course? Then we have a suggestion for you!

Joe and I had an early dinner today at 9 BISTRO at GREY HAWK in LaGrange, just 5 miles east of Oberlin. We chose to sit on the deck, placed our order and watched the golfers finish on the 18th hole. A couple of them got caught in the sand trap! I ordered the grilled salmon and it was cooked to perfection and served over risotto and grilled asparagus. Joe ordered the satay skewers - marinated steak, napa cabbage slaw and soba noodles tossed in a sesame oil vinaigrette. His ums told me it must be good!

The restaurant offers a variety of appetizers, interesting salads, sandwiches, soups, lobster bisque, entrees of seafood, pasta, flat breads, ribs, chicken dishes, and steaks and chops. There is a full bar with spirits, wines and beers. Check the link here for the complete menu.

And if you are a golfer this is the place to go! Play a round of 9 or 18 holes of golf and then enjoy dinner afterwards on the outside deck or in the dining room. We had a great time and I am sure that you will too! And don't forget that we are just a few miles away to make your overnight stay one to rememnber! Come to play, dine, and stay!

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.

Oberlin's Amazing Smartphone Race

Do you have a smartphone! Do you like to solve clues? Do you love history?  Do you like to walk? Do you like friendly competition? Do you like solving clues? If you answered yes to all of the above then you should come to Oberlin and take part in the Amazing Oberlin Smartphone Race! All that is needed is 2 to 4 persons per team, with one person on each team with a smartphone. You start at the Oberlin Heritage Center where you are texted the first clue. When a team figures out an answer, they send a text or photo back to the center and receive the next clue. Now there are a total of 14 clues, covering about 2 miles, and should take you about 90 minutes if you are not side tracked for ice cream, coffee, or a beer!

This is a super activity to add to that list of things to do when you visit Oberlin, Ohio during your 'Staycation!' You may find there are so many activities to schedule that you will need several days to get it all in! You need to make time for the Oberlin Heritage Center and tours, the Oberlin Art Museum, the Oberlin Theater Festival, the Zip Line Canopy Tour, the antique shops, the quaint downtown shops, and then you need to take time to stop, smell the roses, and relax by the pool at Hallauer House Bed & Breakfast. You can race from now til  October!

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!

It's Time for B & B's for Vets!

November is quickly approaching and with it comes Veteran's Day on Sunday Nov. 11, when bed and breakfasts around the country say thanks to all of our active duty military personnel and veterans by offering a FREE night! This year, we here at Hallauer House, are holding all 3 of our rooms for active duty military and vets. So gather up your wife, husband, partner, or friend and come enjoy a well deserved fall getaway in Oberlin, OH, a little college town with unique shops, fabulous restaurants, and great music. And military people really love our Civil War theme with swords, uniforms, and military history! All branches of the service are welcome- Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard. And a shout out to our Coastie daughter, Emily, down there in Key West!

So what to do on this free getaway! Two events at the college on Sunday, Nov. 11 are:

The Oberlin Opera Theatre with the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra presenting an opera by Franz Josef Haydn: "Il Mondo della Luna." Single Tickets: $12 Public, $8 Seniors. All tickets $3 more at the door. Admission by individual ticket. Tickets can be obtained through Oberlin College Central Ticket Service (CTS) at 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178.

and, A guest recital by Stanley Yates on classical guitar. Admission is free. Program TBA.

If you would rather pass on the opera and/or the classical guitar, you can always stay here at the B & B and enjoy one or all of our fine amenities. Unfortunately the pool will be closed for the season but the exercise room/rec room will be open for you to enjoy. Play some ping pong, shoot some pool, work out on one of the machines, or play some board games. There is also the Asian spa with whirlpool tub and the far infrared sauna, a real hit after a good workout! And because it is Sunday, Sunday, I'm sure there will be a football game somewhere on our satellite TV for you to enjoy! And there is nothing like wrapping up in a blanket in the evening and sitting by the fire in the fire pit at the pavilion, sipping some fine wine while listening to the running stream and the call of the frogs!

So this is a first come, first served deal. Check our website for oodles of information and to see which room you would like to reserve. First one to call gets first choice of the Suite! A complimentary, four course breakfast is served in the morning along with stories of the Civil War, and Oberlin's involvement in the Underground Railroad. You must have military or veteran ID upon checking in.

So don't procrastinate as the rooms will be gone in a flash. And if you live too far from Oberlin or you find us full, then check out other participating B & B's at the website B & B's for Vets.

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!

A Lively Conversation: Liberal and Conservative

Need something to do on Tuesday, March 7, 2012? Then come to Oberlin for a lively conversation between 2 columnists - the liberal, Jonathan Alter, a former editor at  Newsweek and now at Bloomberg View and author of the book 2010 book, "The Promise: President Obama, Year One," and conservative Ross Douthat from the New York Times. He wrote the book "Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream" (Doubleday, 2008). It should be a very interesting exchange of views! The conversation takes place at 7:30 P.M. at Finney Chapel at Oberlin College. It is FREE and open to the public. Get ready!

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! 

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!!!

Big 'Wacky' Parade

There is a lot going on in Oberlin this month and tomorrow, Saturday, is the kick off that begins with the 10th annual Big Parade! It evolved on a whim 10 years ago as a form of self expression without any centralized organization. Individuals and organizations were free to express themselves as they saw fit and it has been a way for Oberlin College students and the Oberlin community to work together on a common goal. Planning and preparation began months ago and all 'floats' will be presented tomorrow as they progress from Eastwood Elementary school to Tappan Square. The Oberlin High School band will lead the way and the Kendal at Oberlin Precision  Lawn Chair Drill Team usaually brings up the rear. Rumor has it that there will be a 30 foot, incredible dragon float, and characters from the movie 'Up.' The parade will begin at 12:00 noon and go down College St., ending with a community festival at Tappan Square with lots of music and perhaps some food! If you haven't seen one of our 'wacky' parades then you are in for a real treat. Come on over and join in the fun! Hope to see you there! The parade goes on, rain or shine! The pictures are from past parades so you can get an idea what to expect!

And the Civil War Began On This Day

One hundred and fifty years ago the Civil War began and it did not end until over 625,000 people were killed. Over the next four years communities across the country will be commenorating this war with reninactments, talks, activities, and much more. Most of the battles occurred in Virginia, Mississippi, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and the Carolinas so people often wonder what role Ohio played in this part of history.

Bluffington, Ohio was the site of one battle between John Hunt Morgan (Morgan's Raiders) and some rag tag Union squirrel hunters and Ohio home guard. Morgan  and his troops were captured and imprisoned in Columbus but they eventually escaped. Ohio also housed a Confederated officers prison on Johnson's Island in Sandusky Bay.

But before the war actually began and for four years thereafter, Oberlin and Lorain County played a major role in events that shaped the future of the United States. A book has been written by Nat Brandt about Oberlin, "The Town That Started the Civil War" that details the trial that challenged the Fugitive Slave Law and sent the south on a head long plunge toward war. Oberlin and Lorain County also offered save houses on the Underground Railroad that protected runaway slaves as they made their way to freedom.

The Oberlin Heritage Center is engaged in a four year project to highlight what happened here 150 years ago. Read their Blog and delve into local history.

Over the next 4 years you may be planning to visit numerous Civil War battlefields and we would recomment that you do not miss Antitem and of course Gettysburg. But we also recommend that you add Oberlin to your list of Civil War places to visit. No battles occurred here but much history did transpire. Approximately 5000 to 6000 slaves made their way through our town to freedom. This is the story you will find here. People helping people. This is our story.

While you are planning your Civil War travels, be sure to take a look at our History Buff Package which includes a copy of the book "The Town That Started the Civil War" as well as a Civil War penny rug and complimentary tickets to the Oberlin Heritage Center. Stay for 2 nights and at breakfast each morning you will hear reviting stories from the very knowledgable innkeeper about Oberlin's role in the war and the Underground Railroad. While you are here you will see authentic Civil War swords, Confederate and Union reproduction uniforms and pistols, many books on the Civil War and the players involved, Civil War magazines, games, and iron toys.

If you have not already been to our website, be sure to navigate to there as we have a Civil War factoid on each page as well as some Civil War recipes. We hope to see you in the next 4 years and come back to this Blog frequently to get updates on any specials or activities that commenorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Give us a call. You know you want to!

A Bartered Bride?

A bartered bride? Does that wet your appetite?

Well "The Bartered Bride" is the opera being performed this weekend at Oberlin College. It is a comic opera in three acts and was written by Bedřich Smetana, and is set in a small Czech town where a rich peasant couple (can you really be rich and a peasant at the same time?)has bequeathed their daughter to an extreme and elegantly dressed guy who is really stuck on himself. Now Marzenka, the daughter, is really in love with Jenik so Jenik sets out to prove his love for Marzenka and what transpires is some clever tricks and lots of miscommunication. There are traditional folk dances, authentic costumes, opera music with with a libretto by Karel Sabina, and a message of true love winning out above all odds.

Performance times are as follows:

Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 8 p.m.
Friday, November 19, 2010, 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 20, 2010, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 21, 2010, 2 p.m.

Ticket prices are $12.00 for the Public, $8.00 for Seniors/OC Staff & Faculty, and $5.00 for Students. All performances are at Hall Auditorium.

So if you're looking for something to do this weekend, check out the Opera.
And if you are already booked with us this weekend, you might really enjoy seeing a really great Oberlin College opera.

What's new in Oberlin

Downtown Oberlin will be seeing some new business faces in the very near future. The East College Street Project is just about finished and they will be holding an open house next Saturday, October 9, from 2:00 to 4:00. This revitalized corner on College and Pleasant Streets could turn Oberlin into a destination hot spot and create a hub for activity.

Already opened is the Slow Train Cafe, a locally owned coffee shop, wine and drink bar with musical entertainment. With their free WIFI, you can surf and sip til your heart's content! Soon to open is Magpie Pizza, a gourmet pizza shop featuring fresh, quality ingredients served in a casual atmosphere. Kim's Market is planning to sell Asian foods plus fresh homemade authentic Korean food for carry out. Cafe Sprouts, a vegan juice bar, just recently had it's grand opening. A unique furniture gallery called Tansu will open soon as will Isabella and Company accountant firm.

The East College Street Project is a LEED building and is available for both residential and commercial leasing. Just 1,600 square feet of retail space and 2,500 square feet of office and studio space remain to be leased so it will be fun to see what other new and unique businesses will move into downtown Oberlin. Of the 33 available condo apartments, only 8 remain to be leased.

So when you come to stay at Hallauer House B & B be sure to visit the new businesses in our bustling down town. We may be a small town but we have a big city atmosphere! We'll see you at the open house next Satruday, Oct.9.

Anna Han left yesterday and we will miss her! She is only 14 years old and was here for 9 days accompanied by her father, Wenhai Han and her piano teacher, Fei Xu. Anna was one of 43 competitors in the first annual Thomas and Evon Cooper International Piano and Violin Competition which is sponsored by Oberlin College and The Cleveland Orchestra. These talented young pianists, ages 13 to 18, came from all over the world for the 9 day competition. After five elimination rounds, each of the final 3 performers had the honor of playing a concerto with the world renouned Cleveland Orchestra at Severance Hall. Joe and I listened in amazement as these young people performed pieces that we thought only adults could play after years of study and practice.

Anna, of course, was our favorite to win! We watched several rounds of the competition and were dazzled at how she could make the piano sing, so soft, so smooth, so strong. She was fluent with pieces by Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofiev, Wagner/Liszi, Ravel, Brahms, and I'm sure I've missed many other composers that are her friends! Anna was chosen as one of the 6 finalists and after a 30 minute concerto in the fourth round that was absolutely amazing, she finished in 5th place. She has already won several other competitions at her young age and we certainly do hope that she returns in two years to Oberlin for the next Cooper International Piano competition.

Next summer the competition will feature violin students, again, ages 13 to 18. We hope that one of them will stay with us here at Hallauer House so that we can enjoy another young person's talent and enthusiasm for music.

And Anna, thank you for letting us get to know you and see you perform. It was tremendously gratifying to us as Innkeepers to meet a talented and budding star. Someday we will see you play with the Cleveland Orchestra! Thank you for your autograph! And thank you Fei and Wenhai for bringing Anna to Oberlin. See you all in 2 years!

And to everyone else, mark your calendars for July 2011 and plan to come to Oberlin to see and hear some great violinists. We absolutely guarantee that you will not be disappointed! Our only advise - Reserve early!

Lorain County Happenings

Who said that nothing ever happens in Lorain County?! Well this coming weekend there is so much going on that it will require that you make some major decisions!

Oberlin is hosting the fifth annual Chalk Walk on Saturday, June 26 from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Materials are being provided by the library so come on and visit, watch the professionals, and then take your turn at drawing on the sidewalk!

Wellington, just 7 miles south of here, is home to the Ohio Scottish Games. So if bagpipes, Scottish dancing and Scottish games are up your alley, then this is where you will want to be.

Seven miles north of us in Lorain is the International Festival at Black River Landing. There will be food booths set up on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday where you can sample foods and watch performers from around the world. On Sunday attend the International Parade complete with floats and marching groups.

A busy, fun filled weekend and I guarantee that there is even more activities than what I sited here. So come and visit! You know you want to!