Around Akron with Blue Green

In this premiere episode of the Akron-centric series, host Blue Green features Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, entrepreneur and Peaceful Fruits founder Evan Delahanty, muralist Jessica Lofthus and more.

This episode of the Akron-centric series features BMe Akron, an organization that helps promote strong leadership in African-American males; the Vaill brothers, owners of The Rialto Theatre; local musician Zach of The Big Love Network and Sweet Mary’s Bakery.

In this episode of the Akron-centric series we learn more about musician Ryan Humbert’s Christmas Extravaganza benefit show; hip-hop artist A-Minus; and Stan Hywet Hall.

This episode features interesting stories about Life Is Good No Matter What, RunningDog, One of a Kind Pets, 7th Floor Clothing, Art Bomb Brigade and the art of Matt Miller.

Find out more about Dream Team Boxing & Learning Center, Nepali Kitchen, piano player Kofi Boakye and Springfield Roller Rink.

Find out how Elec Simon, a performer with the Cleveland Cavaliers QStix drum team, uses music to offer an anti-bullying message to young people. Then meet Karen Starr of Hazel Tree Interiors, who is a self-proclaimed community dreamer. We visit Akron Coffee Roasters, which roasts specialty coffees in Akron, and then we sit down with Ted Sikora, a filmmaker, musician and comic-book creator.

This episode is all about the interesting, the underground and the eccentric people, places and things in Akron. Season 2 kicks off with visits to The Dragon's Mantle, The Bomb Shelter, Aqueduct Brewing and Bob Jones's amazing car collection.

This episode we visit the Mustill Store Visitor Center at the Cascade Locks Park Association and learn all about the deep history of this location. We take a trip to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and learn all about the history of this gem of the National Park Service. We also visit with David DiDomenico of the Waters Park Renewal Society to learn all about the fascinating history and restorat

Enjoy a chat with JT Buck, creative director of Coach House Theatre in Akron. Then learn about Christmas in Akron with author Joanna Wilson, plus downtown Akron's amazing window displays in the O'Neil's, Polsky and Landmark buildings.

This episode is all about hip-hop in the Akron area. Enjoy interviews with Dre Live Borders (Dre Live), Josh Land of LSquared Photography, Forrest Webb (Forrest Get'em Gump) and Floco Torres. Photo credit: LSquared Photography.

So many talented artists in our area! Find out more about the creative works of April Nicholson-Couch, wildfowl carver Tom Baldwin and carver Ron White, plus visit Summit Artspace.

It's all about "Things in the Air" this month. We're visiting the Medina Raptor Center, MAPS Air Museum, Akron-Canton Airport and aerospace photo illustrator James Vaughan.

Visit some of Akron's oldest buildings including the Akron Soap Company Building, The John Brown House, The Selle Gear Company Building and The Quaker Square Complex.

Akron-area bands including The Numbers Band, The Waitresses, The Bizarros and more continue to influence rock ‘n’ roll. See more from Around Akron with Blue Green at https://westernreservepublicmedia.org/around-akron-with-blue-green.htm.

Enjoy profiles of noteworthy people in our community including Travis Lee, founder of The House of Kung Fu; Eartha L. Goodwin, photographer and dark room developer; Jason Prufer, author of “Small Town, Big Music: The Outsized Influence of Kent, Ohio, on the History of Rock and Roll”; and Chris Miller, co-founder of Akronist.com.

To kick off 2019, we reflect on the first two seasons of AROUND AKRON WITH BLUE GREEN, spotlighting some of the most popular stories. See more from Around Akron with Blue Green at https://westernreservepublicmedia.org/around-akron-with-blue-green.htm.

February is all about love for independent media in Akron. This month Blue Green sits down with 330ToGo, Akron Hip Hop.Com, The PLX Live and The Devil Strip. See more from Around Akron with Blue Green at https://westernreservepublicmedia.org/around-akron-with-blue-green.htm.

Gain insight from musicians Hayden Gilbert and Jeri Sapronetti, learn about The Akron Children’s Museum and travel back to when Akron had a pro football team.

The Season 4 premiere features an interview with filmmaker Dray Evans, exploration of murals around town and visits to Angel Falls Coffee and Showcase Meats.

In Portage Lakes, visit the new restaurant Pick’s and the area’s Polar Bear Club. Also, find out about The University of Akron’s esports program and visit with magazine collage artist Deborah Shapiro.

Get to know artist P.R. Miller, craft knife maker Jared Lees and longtime Acme employee Scott Fox. Also, visit CNC Training Center.

Visit the Akron Aviators basketball team, Akron Henna Art and Akron Blind Center. Then travel to Canton for a stop at the First Ladies National Historic Site.

Visit two local libraries—The Emily Davis Gallery at The University of Akron and the National First Ladies’ Library in Canton. Find out about Akron’s very own futsal team, the Vulcans. Meet video producer Josh Gippin, owner of Joshua Tree Video Productions.

We visit popular area businesses, including Metro RTA, Summit Metro Parks, Akron Civic Theatre and Akron-Summit County Public Library, to learn how they are addressing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The show’s Season 5 premiere includes visits with violinist Justin Curry, performance consultant Staci Jordan Shelton, glass artist Bob Pozarski and producer Eric Vaughan of Red Point Digital.

Find out about all the cool downtown developments, including the reopening of Main Street, from Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan. Then take a short trip to North Hill to visit interesting shops and restaurants. Finally, visit with photographer Jef Janis, photographer at NASA and portrait photographer.

Jennifer L Worden Arts uses recycled glass to make art. Chad Jenson is one of the voices of PBS Western Reserve. Community Tool Library helps homeowners tackle improvement projects. Gypsy Grace & the Vintage Goat makes old things new again. It’s all happening in Akron!

Learn more about two local businesses that have served the Akron area for decades: 2 Live Music is a superstore that specializes in urban music, while Dontino’s Italian Restaurant serves old-world Italian cuisine to its customers. Also visit Rail N Road Hobby, which offers model train and slot car equipment and supplies. Finally, learn more about the man behind the show’s camera—host Blue Green.

Visit North Hill Veterinary Hospital, which has been in continuous operation since 1927, and Global Ties Akron, which sells products from all over the world. Eliza Beth Vild tells us about the land management approach called permaculture, and local Lego artist Todd Wolf shows us his creations, including a replica of Stan Hywet Hall.

The spotlight shines on two iconic Akron businesses: Don Drumm Studio and January Paints and Wallpaper. Then we focus on Community Support Services, which offers preventive care, disease management and wellness support. Finally, we learn about the podcast Rubber City ReSisters, which covers women’s rights, racial inequality and much more.

Learn about architectural treasure The O’Neil House Bed and Breakfast in Akron. In Cuyahoga Falls, the organization Friends of Keyser-Swain Farmhouse strives to preserve the 144-year-old homestead. A ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is a great way to explore Ohio’s only national park. Also, host Blue Green hangs out with the local band Detention.

Celebrate all things artistic with visits to Sassy Sunflower boutique in Copley and Standing Rock Cultural Arts in Kent, plus a chat with painter Danny Ratcliff. Then travel to Klein’s Seafood in Akron—a locally owned retail fish market and carryout restaurant.

Local artists and shops featured include 1474 Art Gallery, The Hideaway Studio and Herbal Gift Shop, Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce and NoTique Boutique.

Mac Love of creative firm Art x Love discusses murals, art, the Akron Stories Rubber Worker Project and Akron on Deck playing cards. A trip to Summit Metro Parks leads to exploration of the park’s trails, Himelright Lodge and land conservation efforts. African dance troupe The Black Beanz shows why they are Akron’s newest sensation.

Host Blue Green visits Purplebrown Farmstead, which is part of the Countryside Initiative Program in Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Then it’s off to the popular diner Bob’s Hamburg in Akron. Black Culture Candles in Akron creates candles that celebrate cultural experiences. In Wadsworth, find out about SydeQuest Games and Opal Dragonfly Boutique.

Fun happens at Stonehedge, which offers bowling, a putter park, an arcade and more. For a different kind of entertainment, Rage Room Ohio is a place to release all your pent-up anger by breaking things. Two of our area’s gastronomic treasures are Hartville Potato Chips and The Pierogi Lady. Visit them all!

Find out how Progress Through Preservation of Greater Akron supports historically and architecturally significant areas and buildings, and learn about the Special Collections Division of Akron-Summit County Public Library. Visit with artist Michael Gearhart, who has been painting murals in Akron since the 1980s, and LOLO, an artist, skin care therapist and owner of the brand LOLO KNOWS.

Host Blue Green travels to Cuyahoga Falls to visit Jenks Building vendors and Falls Outdoor Company. Then it’s off to Coral Reefs Marine Fish to learn about aquaculture, saltwater aquariums and more. At Bereka Coffee & Kitchen in Akron, he learns about their products and experiences an Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

Summit Artspace in Akron strives to support artists through every step of the creative process. Artists featured include Jessica Skinner, Mike Alejandro and Izzy Aronhalt.

Creativity abounds at Summit Artspace in downtown Akron, where ZaBre Inspire specializes in designing Christian-themed apparel and Susie Lilley Flashes of Life Photography combines two media—photography and clay. In Cuyahoga Falls, visit Ruff Guide Maps, which creates custom trail and race maps. Back in Akron, Galenas offers soil-grown medical cannabis.

Rubber City Clothing has a new location on the west side of Akron. Table tennis coach Samson Dubina talks about his nationally recognized training center, Samson Dubina Table Tennis Academy. A new plaza and monument in Akron will honor Sojourner Truth and the celebrated speech she gave in 1851.

As one of the largest honeybee removal services in Stark and Summit counties, Hatch’s Honey is dedicated to saving honeybees and providing quality raw honey. At Hale Farm & Village, it’s time to learn about 19th-century maple production. Then it’s off to Akron to learn more about family-owned Lucky Shoes.