Wednesday, May 24 2017

9 amazing winery destinations to visit right here in Ohio

Hello Wednesday. It's James.

It might surprise you to hear that Ohio has wineries, but it turns out Northern Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie, is actually terrific grape growing country. So yeah, Ohio wine country is a thing, and we've got the nine best wineries for you to check out the next time you find yourself in the Lake Erie area.

The Rundown:Weather: 69. 30% chance of precipitation, and thunderstorms are possible.To do: It's going to be a nice cool night, perfect for checking out the Clippers (assuming the rain holds off.) Top 5 prospect in all of baseball Gleyber Torres just got called up to the Clippers opponent Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (what a team name, right?!?), so you'll have a shot at seeing him in the lineup. Columbus takes on Scranton at 6:35.

Navigator Originals:BrewDog Is Making Ohio HomeChelsea Wiley takes an in depth look at BrewDog, who will be up and brewing at their Canal Winchester location in June. Lots of great pictures of their new bar and brewing facility.Ohio State Is Breaking Ground On A State Of The Art Athletic District, And The Pictures Are StunningOhio State's new athletic facilities look incredible. Many Buckeye non-revenue sports have recently been dominating, and these new facilities should only help that continue.26 Must-Visit Fruit And Veggie Festivals In OhioIf you've been in Ohio for awhile, you might have noticed town festivals often have a theme. Madeline Keener takes a look at the cornucopia of fruit and veggie festivals around Ohio.Ohio To Get A New Crime Lab Dedicated To Testing OpiatesEvidently there are different types of opiates going around, some of which can be lethal through touch, due to being absorbable through skin. Ohio is getting a new lab to test opiates to get a handle of the potency of what people are using.Earn Prizes And Gift Cards By Taking Public TransitThe Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission is partnering with COTA to sponsor “The Central Ohio Commuter Challenge." Central Ohio commuters will have the opportunity to win Visa gift cards, movie tickets, and t-shirts by using public transportation.

The Wednesday Conversation:Columbus City Schools is running a food truck this week to foster interest in school lunches. The truck is on loan from Columbus Recreation and Parks, and will feature a variety of burgers and sides. [Sega/CU]Did you know Columbus has a professional women's soccer team? Columbus Eagles FC play out of Otterbein College, but they will also be playing a game at Mapfre stadium June 24th.  [Schudel/Massive Report]WOSU takes a look at the continuing question this week of WHO YA GOT? Nashville vs. Columbus. The New York Times reporter seems to walk back the article a bit here. [Roth/WOSU]

Longread for your lunch break:Workers removed a statue of Robert E. Lee last weekend, the last of four Confederate monuments to come down following a decision by Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2015.Before the removal, Mayor Landrieu gave a speech that I believe in the future will be viewed as historic. An excerpt:

It is self-evident that these men did not fight for the United States of America, They fought against it. They may have been warriors, but in this cause they were not patriots.

These statues are not just stone and metal. They are not just innocent remembrances of a benign history. These monuments purposefully celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy; ignoring the death, ignoring the enslavement, and the terror that it actually stood for.

After the Civil War, these statues were a part of that terrorism as much as a burning cross on someone’s lawn; they were erected purposefully to send a strong message to all who walked in their shadows about who was still in charge in this city....

Another friend asked me to consider these four monuments from the perspective of an African American mother or father trying to explain to their fifth grade daughter who Robert E. Lee is and why he stands atop of our beautiful city. Can you do it?

Can you look into that young girl’s eyes and convince her that Robert E. Lee is there to encourage her? Do you think she will feel inspired and hopeful by that story? Do these monuments help her see a future with limitless potential? Have you ever thought that if her potential is limited, yours and mine are too?Pulse Gulf Coast: The full transcript of Landrieu’s remarks

Did that friend you've always admired for their intelligence and good looks forward this to you? Subscribe!Have a wonderful Wednesday.