Are you as original as Gino’s? Compete by designing a pizza that reflects your slice of the 419!
Official Rules
No changes can by made to the Original Gino’s crust or sauce recipes
Can name the pizza anything, does not have to be a “localized name”
You list the toppings & create the “name” of your pizza
No age limit
Can enter multiple times/multiple pizzas
1st Place Winner – Gets a 4-pack of Cedar Point tickets, winning pizza recognition on the menu, free pizza once a month for 1 year, My slice of the 419 “Original Gino’s” t-shirt
2nd Place Winner – Gets a 2-pack of Cedar Point tickets, free pizza once a month for 6 months, Original Gino’s t-shirt
3rd Place Winner – Gets a 2-pack of Cedar Point tickets, free pizza once a month for 3 months, Original Gino’s t-shirt
Please review the rules and provide your email to enter!
Make birthday parties easy-peasy by taking the party elsewhere! Check out these three out-of-the box and affordable ideas for birthday celebrations. Do yourself a favor, avoid the setup and cleanup that comes with hosting your own party!
Aerial students looking at life upside down at Yogaja Yoga
Make it a birthday party to remember by soaring at Yogaja Yoga in their aerial yoga hammocks! Your private aerial yoga instructor can tailor the class to the needs and desires of the party, keeping things simple and fun for younger kids or teaching older children how to hang upside down. Gena Collier, Yogaja yoga and aerial instructor, shares, “Aerial is just fun— it feels like flying. It’s yoga with a cool prop, and with the help of the aerial silks, everyone can do an inversion!”
Parties can be scheduled for any weekday afternoon, weekend afternoon or evening. One hour of studio time with your own personal private instructor costs $150. For younger ages, a shorter class is often suggested, with remaining time to open presents or eat cake. Special music requests can also be included.
Gena adds, “I encourage my parties to contact me ahead of time to plan the perfect experience—how intense of a class, what kind of music would you want, what moves do you want to practice, will there be food, presents, etcetera.”
Private parties cost $150 for up to 15 participants and $10 per person, for each additional attendee. Aerial yoga can accommodate up to 14 total participants for older kids and up to 7 younger children accompanied by a parent (who can also participate).
For children who prefer to keep their yoga firmly rooted on the ground, regular yoga parties can fit up to 30 people at a time, including time for yoga games, yoga poses, breathing exercises, and, of course, final relaxation/meditation.
Kylie Jaffe celebrating with her animal friends at Indian Creek Zoo
Explore the world of animals up close with a birthday party at Indian Creek Zoo, just over the line in Michigan! Invite 20 of your friends to experience camel rides and feeding the animals at the petting zoo, enjoy a private party area for birthday celebrations, and receive a gift for the birthday boy or girl.
Rachel Jaffe gushes, “We love Indian Creek Zoo! They gave us an up-close and personal, interactive experience with the animals [that] we haven’t had anywhere else. [My daughter] got to feed a little monkey and play with baby goats that were just born that morning!”
Mother and teacher Catherine Sadowski echoes the sentiment: “Cooper (my son) had a birthday party there— we love Indian Creek Zoo— [and it] was such an amazing, up-close experience. It feels like you are walking through someone’s backyard! Every time we go, there is a new animal to see.”
For those who want to keep their festivities indoors, pay $250 ($225 for members) for up to 20 people, paying $10 for each additional person. The outdoor pavilion is slightly less at $200 ($175 for members) for 20 people and $10 for each additional person. Birthday party-goers can bring any food, drink (non-alcoholic), cake, ice cream and decorations that they choose.
Party times are weekends from 10:30AM to 1PM or from 2PM to 4:30PM. Choose to add on “animal encounters” for $50 to experience a few of Indian Creek’s “furry, feathered and scaly friends” up-close.
Clara J’s Tea Room
219 West Wayne Street, Maumee. 419-897-0219 | clarajsat219.com @ClaraJsTeaRoom
Host a themed tea party for your child this year! From princess themes to Harry Potter, Clara J’s Tea Room offers something for all the little ones, ages 4 to 11.
Parents can select one of three party packages, ranging in cost from $115 to $175, and each package automatically includes two sandwich choices (selections include turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, traditional cucumber, peanut butter and jam, or cream cheese and jam), various kid-friendly sides, such as pink lemonade or raspberry iced tea, and teacup cupcakes presented on a birthday pedestal with candles.
The “Vanilla” package ($115) includes all of the above plus an array of dress-up clothes. The “Strawberry” package ($145) adds on the option for children to decorate their own teacup hat to wear and take home. The elite “Chocolate” package ($175) includes everything listed plus a favor bag for each child.
Clara J’s foods are impressive. You would never imagine that a cream cheese and jam sandwich or ‘ants on a log’ could ever look so fancy and taste so delicious. The crustless sandwiches and sides arrive on a tiered, silver tray, complete with sprinkles. The tea arrived in a tiny, child-sized kettle. But watch your children carefully or they may start nibbling on a sugar cube instead of dropping one into their tea!
We went for “Princess Tea” one Friday afternoon, and the tables were set meticulously, with embroidered linen and fine China, and the tall windows provided the room with natural light. The owner popped in to check on us, making sure we were happy with our meals and giving our girls free party hats for their tea party. It was a wonderful lunch spent with my 3-year-old and her friend.
Clara J’s is available for princess tea parties for smaller groups— or even parent/child— and for birthday parties. Party packages include up to eight children accompanied by two adults, and teas are available from 11am to 12:30pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Adult meals, taxes and gratuity are not included in party package prices. Once attendence meets capacity, the cost per additional child is prorated.
Party Resources for Parents
WHERE to get THE CAKE
Cake Arts Supply
2858 W Sylvania Ave, Toledo
419-472-4959
Cake in a Cup
3144 Markway Rd, Toledo
419-720-1104
6801 Central Ave, Toledo
419-491-1104
Eston’s Bakery
5433 Monroe St, Toledo
419-885-9442
Michael’s Cafe & Bakery
101 Main St #7, Toledo
419-698-2988
7 Little Cupcakes
1021 Sandusky St, Perrysburg
419-252-0858
Need some pretty blooms this spring? Shop the Ability Center Flower Sale for hanging baskets, patio pots, and flats to contribute to a good cause. Proceeds from this flower sale benefit the Ability Center’s Life Skills Program, which hosts interactive classes and programs for disabled individuals ages 13-26. Life Skills classes include everything from problem solving and critical thinking to cooking/nutrition, self-advocacy, financial management and more.
Flower sale, Friday, May 10 from 11am-6pm and Sunday, May 11 from 9am-2pm. Ability Center, 5605 Monroe St., Sylvania.
A great way to eat healthy and support a good cause — join Bittersweet Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program. As a member, you can support Bittersweet’s mission of serving adults with autism. Bittersweet individuals that work in the CSA program learn and develop agricultural skills each week, such as preparing the soil in raised beds, planting seeds, transplanting vegetables, watering, weeding, harvesting a wide variety of crops and packing produce in CSA boxes.
Bittersweet offers two sizes for the CSA: a Standard Share, $300 per season (spring, summer, fall) and a Petite Share, $200 per season. Spring produce includes mixed greens, kale, cabbage, herbs, root vegetables, and spring garlic. Summer produce includes broccoli, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, zucchini, celery, and kale.
Get ready, get set, go check out the new attractions now open at Funagin’s, a 50,000 square foot indoor family fun center in Sylvania. Recently, Funagin’s completed major renovations to open a new roller rink, complete with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems. It’s the largest of its kind within Northwest Ohio. After skating, explore Skymaze, a 35,000 cubic foot climbing maze playground. Bounce, swing, slide, and climb your way through a variety of obstacles in one of the largest indoor playgrounds found in the Midwest. Funagin’s also has two outdoor paintball courses and an indoor laser tag facility. With so much to do under one roof, the whole family can have fun together. See their Facebook page for discounts and specials.
Funagin’s Indoor Family Fun Center,
5340 Centennial Road, Sylvania 419-517-1750 | funagins.com
Kid-friendly: Yes. To avoid wait: Friday nights are the busiest Noise level: Moderate Bathroom amenities: No changing station High Chairs: Yes Got milk? Yes Kids’ menu? Yes Allergy info: No peanut oil is used. Make server aware of all allergies at time of ordering.
Through the years I’ve denoted several restaurants as “hidden gems” when referring to great little establishments many people may not even know exist. The kids and I recently discovered another little “hidden gem.” And when I say “hidden”, well, I mean that literally.
Over the river and through the woods
A couple years back when searching on the internet I remember seeing something about the Black Forest Café in Oregon. As I had never heard of the Cafe previously, I was intrigued by the photos and committed to “ stop in one day.” It took us awhile, but we finally got there.
You may be familiar with the German/American Festival, established only, say, 41 or 42 years ago! The largest ethnic festival in Northwest Ohio, it is held at Oak Shade Grove on Seaman Rd. in Oregon. And the beautiful park, filled with lots and lots of trees, is actually private property. But Monday through Friday way in the back of that parkland you will find a quaint German restaurant, nestled in the woods, that opened to the public seven years ago.
Old World atmosphere
Restaurants serving Italian and Mexican fare are plentiful around town. Not the case with German food. Thoughts of potato pancakes and spaetzle danced in my head as we made our way over the river to the Cafe that resembles an Old World chalet. Step inside and cross the globe. The large wooden light fixtures, stone fireplace, grand cuckoo clock, and countless collectibles from Germany will no doubt make you excited for what comes next……authentic German fare! One of the things I loved most about our visit was our great dinner conversation discussing Germany and other European countries, including their different cultures and customs. I even briefly allowed a phone out at the table (making an exception to our family rule) so we could look at the map and see exactly where all the countries were located.
According to the manager of the “front of the house”, Sue Bigelow, the restaurant is run by seven societies. These local organizations might be dedicated to preserving and promoting German song, promoting German and Bavarian culture in Toledo, or even preserving the culture and music of Switzerland.
Authentic German favorites
As you would expect, the menu is comprised of countless German options, joined by some great stand-by favorites like Ruebens, BLTs, veggie burgers, patty melts, and more.
The kids and I started with a couple soft pretzels served with a Bavarian cheese spread. We also gobbled up the potato pancakes served with sour cream and applesauce. They were reminiscent of the ones my dad used to make.
According to Sue Bigelow, the Jägerschnitzel is very popular — a thinly pounded pork cutlet, freshly breaded and fried crisp then covered with Jäger gravy consisting of mushrooms, bacon, onions, and red wine. I opted for the Hübnerschnitzel a similar dish, but made with chicken and served with a different style gravy or lemon wedges. Of course, I had German potato salad and delicious spaetzle for my sides. The Cafe boasts three different kinds of wurst (sausages). And as you might expect, the Black Forest Café has quite the selection of beer.
My youngest literally annihilated a HUGE Black Forest Burger. It was a third of a pound burger topped with two slices of smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried egg, and Weisswurst served on a huge pretzel bun. Delish. The Perch sandwich and BLT were enjoyed at the table as well. But if you crave chicken paprikash, it’s only served the third Friday of the month. If your little ones eat much less than my growing boys, they offer a basic kids’ menu for those 12 and under for only $4.50.
Bottom Line:
Hidden off the road amidst a “forest”, you will find the Black Forest Café with a taste of the Old World charm and authentic German fare. It’s one of the only places around town where you can enjoy a large selection of German food and your family will love the atmosphere. For the less adventurous you are safe with a kids’ menu that will please even the picky eaters. Take note it is only open Monday-Friday.
Black Forest Café Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd. Oregon 43616 419-593-0092 Mon-Fri: 11am-9pm blackforestcafe.net
