Turning to Toledo’s high school, middle school, and elementary students for ideas on what should fill racks in the Swamp Shop, the Toledo Mud Hens have wrapped up their second annual “Design a T-Shirt Contest.” Mud Hens staffers have narrowed the submissions, gathered over four months, from 30 schools in Ohio and Michigan down to the top three winners in each of two categories: high school designs and middle school/elementary designs.
The first place designers in each category won a $100 gift card and their t-shirt design will be sold throughout the season, with their school receiving 20 percent of the proceeds. This year’s first place winners are Phillip Mosley, a senior from Woodward High School, with his “Skyline T,” and Griffin Preuss, a third grader from Whiteford Elementary, who designed the “Bird is the Word” t-shirt.
The winning t-shirts can be purchased at the Swamp Shop at Fifth Third Field or online at www.mudhens.com.
Bird is the word
Maumee Summer Fair/Taste of Maumee
20 area restaurants serve food and desserts. The parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday morning with clowns, dance groups, classic cars, wild imaginative floats, singers, pets and children on bikes. Featuring 4 blocks of art and craft booths, a variety of entertainment, a kid’s fun zone and talent show. Also on Sunday, August 21 at 10 a.m. Uptown Maumee. 419-893-5805.
www.maumeesummerfair.com.
Journey to the Top of the World
Tibetan Buddhist monks from the Gaden Shartse Monastery in southern India present a performing arts production, “Journey to the Top of the World.” Elaborate costumes and ceremony surround the ancient Tibetan cultural arts. This performance features traditional music, dance and chanting from “The Roof of the World.” Tickets available at the door. 7pm. $15, free for children 12 and under. Millennium Theatre (Campus of MVCDS), 1715 Reynolds Rd., Toledo.
419-360-4750. www.mvcds.org.
Taking It Up A Notch
The Black Pearl restaurant opened this past November across from the Stranahan Theater, replacing the once popular but then closed H.J.’s Prime Cut. Prime rib and seafood were claime Black Pearl specialties, and that sounded like something we definitely needed to try. Though not a formal restaurant, I was glad my family opted to wear their nicer threads that evening. Not that we would have felt terribly out of place a little underdressed, but the restaurant is a few notches above the local grill or diner, and I was glad my children weren’t wearing their cut off shorts and popsicle stained t-shirts.
We chose to dine on a Wednesday evening because they offer their petite cut prime rib special for $13.99; (regularly $16.99). They take reservations, but the call ahead is generally not necessary during the week. After my family’s long day of summer adventures we were famished and we began our meal with lightly fried calamari. Oh, and wonderful homemade French Onion Soup because I can never pass that up.
The menu offered a larger variety than I had expected, including several prime rib options, a variety of fresh fish dishes, pork chops, pastas, veal, sandwiches, and even cold water lobster tails! According to general manager Brad Holler, a popular section of the menu is the “Best For Less! $11.99”. “With the current economy we lowered the price [of that section of the menu] and added a couple more items”, said Holler. Some of those entrees include chicken alfredo, fish and chips and beef tips. Served with salad and a side or vegetable, $11.99 is definitely a great deal.
The Black Pearl also offers kids’ meals for those 10 and under for $5.99, including the drink, fries, and a side of applesauce. That’s a bonus since many kid meals don’t include the drink. Suddenly you find yourself paying $8.00 for each meal. Bypassing the Grouper fingers and spaghetti, which are rare finds on most kid menus, my three still went with the standard mac and cheese, chicken fingers, and a hot dog. Oh well, at least they tried the calamari.
My husband’s prime rib was done just right, and the flavors were fabulous in the chicken asparagus mushroom alfredo I devoured for $14.99. My portion was so big I made a small feast of the leftovers for lunch the following day. When I mentioned how much I enjoyed the dish to Mr. Holler he said, “That’s one of my favorites. I invented that dish, actually.” Mr. Holler spends about 80% of his time in the kitchen making sure everything is done right, and I’m guessing he’s perfecting the next great entrée.
I must mention, unfortunately, that our service was simply not up to par. Honestly, I am quite easy to please, but an hour after our arrival we still hadn’t seen our entrees. If my four-year-old asked one more time what was taking his hot dog so long I was going to scream. I’ll spare the frivolous details regarding a simple glass of water, but in the end, I simply drank out of the kiddie cup my daughter was given, and she actually never even asked for water! My husband’s potato went without the sour cream after a couple requests, but, I suppose, at least he saved a few calories on the waistline.
However, in defense of the Black Pearl, it did appear that maybe we just had bum luck with the waitress for our table, as everyone around us seemed to be having much faster service. That part of the expererience was disappointing because we really did enjoy our meals once they arrived. Eyeing the other tables assured me our next visit would probably be better.
The Black Pearl apparently has many regulars already, as I heard ‘See you next week!’ exchanged between customers and their servers on more than one occasion. The food was definitely good and I’m all about second chances, so we’ll be in again sometime down the road. After all, there are lots more tempting dishes on the menu we’d like to try.
Bottom Line: The Black Pearl features wonderful prime rib and seafood and they do their specialty well. Your children will be made to feel welcome, and the menu will please everyone in your group, even if beef and seafood isn’t what they crave.
All you need is love
Because Our Love Is Needed is a nonprofit group started by Toledo Area resident Brenda Siebenaler to help children and their families who are suffering from illness, poverty, and other significant life challenges.
After tragedy struck her own family when her son Colin, 5, was hit and killed in a car accident, Siebenaler was warmed and moved by the kindness that her friends, neighbors, and community showed during that difficult time in her life. “I survived that due to the overwhelming support that I received from my friends, neighbors, and strangers within the community.”
Death, injury, and lasting conditions, says Siebenaler can have a ruinous effect on a family—straining relationships with unforeseen emotional, physical, and financial burdens.
Because Our Love Is Needed is a tax exempt charity that assists families facing impossibly difficult situations surrounding a child’s death, illness or injury. The organization alleviates some of the financial burdens and allows the family to focus on what is most important: the child.
And for those who have been through the loss or suffering of a child, Because Our Love Is Needed offers another opportunity for healing: the opportunity to give what you can to help others in similar situations. The organization accepts In Honor, and In Memory donations of any amount, and there are other ways to help, too. Those who wish to be more involved with the nonprofit charity can volunteer to help at community events and fundraisers, share the organization’s message and information with their friends and family, or contact Because Our Love Is Needed directly with ideas or interest in sponsoring a fundraiser.
Saturday, August 14, the organization is hosting a fundraiser 5K Walk and 1 Mile Kids Fun Run at Woodland Park in Perrysburg. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m., the kid’s run starts at 8:30 a.m., and the 5k Walk commences at 9 a.m.
Running the organization has helped Siebenaler honor her son and bring communities together for a greater good. “My husband and I have learned how important it is to reach out to others in times of need, especially when a child is involved,” she says. “Not only did we want to do something great in honor of our dear Colin but selfishly we wanted others to remember him and to hear his name said out loud.”