North Canton Gone Mad

I've long been jealous of people who are invited to Mad Men-themed costume parties, wishing I had a reason to dress in period style with other people involved for once. And finally! Finally my dreams came true. I was invited to join a fine committee of Canton-area business owners to plan and put together a fundraiser for the community of North Canton, Ohio. Our theme? Mad Men - of course. And boy if our big '60s party didn't knock the knee socks off of any Mad Men viewing party I had ever hoped to attend! A funky soul band, cigarette girls toting yummy cake pops, bustling casino games with funny money, delicious food and drinks, great style everywhere, and Mad Men nostalgia galore! I'm still a littled tickled just thinking about it all.

My biggest contribution to the fundraiser was coordinating with Adam of Main Street Modern (seller of impeccable mid-century furniture and housewares!) to put together a 1960's living room photobooth in a corner of our North Canton venue. I set up my lights, turned on my charm, and had a ball meeting new people and capturing their excitement on camera. I'll share a few of those photos tomorrow.

As much as I enjoyed taking photos in my little corner all night, I was happy to get away at the end of the evening to shake it '60s style on the dance floor. Wesley Bright and the Hi-Lights totally wowwed the crowd with their perfect soul style that kept me dancing all night- even if it was only from behind the camera.

What more is there to say? Check out my friend Rob Netro's photos from the night, and you'll begin to wish as I do- that you all could have been there too!

all photos by Rob Netro

A Visit to The Rag Refinery | Ohio City

It's really lovely to visit local vintage shops, but after a while of frequenting the same overstuffed places where new stock is a rarity, I kept wishing a new shop would spring up. A place well curated with modern sensibilities. Lucky for me, Ohio City's Leigh Ring recently opened a gem of a vintage boutique- The Rag Refinery.

The Rag Refinery also doubles as the Pink Eye Gallery, with the shop walls covered in fresh art installations every month and parties on the first Saturday. I was really surprised at how affordable and desirable every single item was, and am already thinking about when I can visit again.

Next door you will find the gourmet Chili joint, Palookaville, where apparently the chili is to die for. I didn't get a chance to stop inside, but next time I visit, I'll be sure to step inside for a bite.

Leigh, owner of The Rag Refinery, is a really charming girl who I loved talking to about design and vintage shop keeping. Who knows, maybe in the near future Canton will find a new vintage shop springing up downtown? :)

Friday Night Part Two | Warehouse Jam Session

You live in the same small city long enough, and it's pretty easy to become bored with the same ol' hangouts and the same ol' activities. Last Friday was really a fun time, but threatened to end just like any other night, at our favorite dive bar, George's. But that was before we decided to see if anything was happening at the warehouse.

If you're from the area, you might be confused, thinking that I'm referring to The Warehouse nightclub that used to be The Closet Door. But this warehouse is actually the Industrial Arts Complex, where artists and craftsmen hang out and create crazy cool things, just down the road from the club.

On a Friday night, you might be wandering the streets, dangerously close to the infamous "other side of the tracks," and hear music filtering through the alley way, beckoning you to discover its source. And if that happens, you might have found the warehouse of which I speak.

Sometimes you might show up and the place will be full of art supplies littered with beer cans, a full band set up, and lots of crazy dancing. Another night, there might be just one dude on the drums and a bunch of middle aged people drinking way too much. That's how it was on Friday night before we arrived. Then we brought not only the funk, but a fun Italian to play on the bongos.

The great thing about the warehouse is that not a lot of people know about it, so it's really special that it's sort of a secret spot. There's a crazy wide variety of people who might be there- different races and ethnic groups, ages and socioeconomic statuses, and wildly different choices of beer drinking, that's for sure. Needless to say, I was really inspired by the community I felt while we were there, and even my friends from larger cities can't stop talking about it.

Calling all locals! WMC Fest 2011 is here.

Around this time last year, I was graduating from college, working in a cubicle, and feeling bored with my life. WMC Fest came at the perfect time, encouraging me with inspiration from other young creative professionals who were taking their own leaps of faith into living the life of their dreams.

Come on out this weekend to make some great connections, enjoy some amazing live music, and refuel your creative tanks. Hope to see you there!