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Victory Dance
Karen Medina's dance experience stretches back 30 years, but it wasn't until she connected with the Lucas County special needs community that she shaped her business — and her life — forever. “I realized that dance doesn't have to be the perfect show — it really goes back to how it makes you feel,” she says. For the past three years, young adults with special needs have found an outlet for creativity and physicality with help from Medina, a local dance instructor.
Medina works in coordination with the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Harbor’s Quest Program, coaching a group of 23 individuals in her Victory Dance classes, sessions that allow dancers with special needs to find freedom, and joy, in music and movement. Though Medina had no previous personal experience with individuals with special needs, she says these classes have revitalized the idea of dance for her. She explains that she is not only impacting the lives of her dance students, but that they are having a huge impact on her. “Every week I'm humbled,” she says.
Though Medina recently had to move her classes to an interim location at the Collingwood Arts Center, she says the temporary stresses do not affect the dancers' spirit. “As long as I have music and a place, these kids will come,” she says. And even during this transitional period, Medina is optimistic about her goals for the classes. She wants to set up a non-profit organization to give the idea room to grow, and plans to reach out to others in the special needs community. In the future, Medina hopes to have a wheelchair class, a class for hearing-impaired school age children, and a class for those with sensory impairment. Anyone interested in getting involved with Medina's Victory Dance classes can contact her directly for information at [email protected].
Sugar Shop
When Amy Schacht and her son Anderson, who was 11 at the time, dusted off after a fun day creating sand art — pouring the grains into odd-shaped containers — she thought the craft might be the basis for a future business. Her son had a better idea: “I would never pay for this, but if you filled these containers with candy, that would be cool!” he told her. The idea for Schacht’s Sugar Shop was born.
At the Sugar Shop, aspiring “edible art” creators choose from 3 dozen different shaped clear containers, including alien heads, peace signs, hearts, and others (ranging from $1-$6), and then fill the containers with any mix of the 150 available sugar flavors. Popular flavors include root beer, blue raspberry, and extreme sour, but the shop also has gourmet flavors (cappuccino, peach cobbler), and even sugar-free options for the health-conscious. Don’t have a sweet tooth? Choose instead to paint ceramics from 2 Art Studio (the two businesses share space). —EM
122 W. South Boundary, Perrysburg. 419-260-0090. www.in2artstudio.com and www.facebook.com/In2ArtStudio. Open Tuesday & Wednesday 11am-8pm; Thursday & Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 11am-4pm (call in advance in case of private parties).
The Toy Box at Scoots
Fun the old-fashioned way is the goal at The Toy Box at Scoots. The Perrysburg shop, known previously for children’s shoes, shifted focus in 2012, now specializing in battery-free toys perfect for developing “creative thinking. “These are toys kids won’t outgrow,” owner Leslie Chapman promises. “We go to the New York Toy Fair each January, and look for non-commercial based toys. No Barbies or Batmans here!
Baby shower shoppers will love the selection, from silver banks to burping cloths to bibs, as well as the handcrafted booties that line the store window (“Our best seller,” notes manager Emily Servais). The eco-friendly musical instruments, puzzles, alphabets and farm sets are sure hits, as are the Play Box for Kids stickers that turn everyday household items into toys. One wall features a wide choice of hair bows, barrettes, and decorated headbands, and all kids will find favorites among the wooden trucks, trains and animals, kites, face art kits, and recycle kits. The shop also features wall art by local artist Stephen Fowler, as well as cards, notepads, and bookmarks a shopper might want to keep for herself. Saturday morning story times and craft projects extend the fun!
The Toy Box at Scoots, 206 Louisiana Ave., Perrysburg. Hours: Monday 11am-5pm, Tuesday thru Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. 419-872-7547. www.shopscoots.com —CH
Mary Poppins
Before England exported Supernanny, they gave us Mary Poppins, who taught us words like "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and made us dream that one day we too might have our sitter take flight with an umbrella. Introduce your children to this classic tale (and to the joy of big musical productions) when the stage version of Mary Poppins arrives at the Stranahan Theatre this month. The show, based on the 1964 film starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, recreates the story of the magical nanny who changes the lives of her young charges forever.
Tuesday, February 26 to Sunday, March 3, with 2pm and 7:30pm showings Saturday, and 1pm and 6:30pm showings Sunday. Tickets $28-$63.Stranahan Theatre, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. 419-381-8851. www.marypoppins.com. —AO
Indoor Mini Glow Golf
Black lights bring out the inner glow of hyper-color Tyrannosaurus, swashbuckling pirates, and fierce dragons at Sylvania Playland's new Indoor Mini Glow Golf center. In addition to their year-round-access indoor playground with swings, bounce houses, and 9,000 sq. feet of leg room, the new mini golf area will give children 12 and under fun in glowing environments. Owner Melissa Radkov says the indoor playground "helps kids burn off energy year round," and there are plans to add an arcade to the mix. Plus, they offer mini glow golf packages for parties, making it a great venue for this chilly month!
Open Monday-Thursday, 10am-8pm; Friday & Saturday 9am-9pm; Sunday 10am-8pm. Playground admission $5.50-$12.75, golf $7-$10. 3620 Centennial Rd., Sylvania. 419-517-9094. www.sylvaniaplayland.com. —EH