1. The Akron Zoo

It is the little Zoo that could. Recent renovations have made this menagerie a can’t-miss for new parents with active toddlers. The paths are easy to navigate and the whole circuit takes about an hour. Plenty penguins, tigers, and lemurs to fascinate. There’s also a petting zoo, where youngins can feed sheep and goats for $1. The zoo’s central hub houses an excellent (though slightly-pricey) food court, classic Frogger arcade game, and a “touch tank” full of starfish and other slimy sea creatures.

2. Mayor Don Plusquellic

Some estimates put Plusquellic’s reign as Mayor of Akron at something like 172 years, but it’s hard to tell for sure, as he was first elected before recorded human history. He helped Akron rebound economically while other cities slipped into the Great Recession. Highland Square. The Art Museum. UA Stadium. Downtown. Furnace Street. And, though he has his detractors (rabble rousers attempted to recall him last year), he’s quickly becoming the Teflon Don of the Ohio River Valley; try as they might, Akron police have yet to nab him with drunken driving. Even the stink over his bizarre attempt to sell the city’s sewers has died down. Now, if he can learn to temper his ego a bit, he might have a lasting legacy.

 

3. The Akron Art Museum

They took an old post office and turned it into a world-class modern art museum that looks like something out of Metropolis. The city and the Viennese architectural firm Coop Himmelb(l)au did everything right here, though some have described its structure as an Imperial Star Destroyer docking with an Ikea. On display you’ll find Chuck Close’s Linda, Andy Warhol’s silkscreen Elvis, among others. Current exhibits include The Legend of John Brown and Nuclear Enchantment: Photographs by Patrick Nagatani. Psst: Free Admission the first Sunday of every month!

4.  LeBron

Akron had him first. Residents there were the first to hear rumblings about a kid with some talent playing for the Fighting Irish at St V-St. M. Soon, these school games became more exciting to attend than the lackluster Cavs. Celebrities like Shaq flew in to watch him shoot. Not that he had to make the trip; by then, the Akron games were being broadcast on ESPN2. Every townie under 30 has a story about seeing him in town or talking to him in the halls at St. V-St. M. Most mention his oversized ego and then accept it in the same breath. Who can blame the kid for having a big head? LeBron could play. And Akron got to come along for the ride.

5. Music Venues

Annabell’s Bar is where new Rust Belt music is tested and created, a place for loyal fans of Akron noise (their top-notch sound system scores points with local bands). Also a stop for Dropgun, Sweet Spot, Encroachment, the Dog Uglys, Algernon, and Dead City Dealers. Don’t miss Mr. Feeney’s Punk Night. Matinee is good, too, but is more of a gamble—though that can also be exciting. Newer club, Musica (below Rubber City Clothing, behind the Chop House) is getting a lot of attention these days, with headliners like The Black Keys. The stage is great and a kitchen is in the works. Upcoming shows include Copeland, Polysics, and Numbers Band.

 

6. Legacy of Beer

FYI: The first beer sold in Cleveland following Prohibition was from Akron! When the 18^th Amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933, Renner beer—brewed in Akron—was delivered to waiting masses in Cuyahoga County. The microbrewery tradition continues today with RooBrew (brewed on contract through a partnership with Thirsty Dog), the Ohio Brewing Company (reopening soon!), and Hoppin’ Frog. Check em out.

7. Local Filmmakers

In the summer of 1986, zombies invaded Akron. The flesh-eaters could be seen around town, on the set of J.R. Bookwalter’s film The Dead Next Door, about a team of commandoes tracking the undead. The film was secretly financed by Sam Raimi, who saw a bit of himself in the young director. Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, Broken Flowers) grew up watching campy sci-fi movies at Akron theaters. The Akron Film Festival, which screens at the Art Museum in September this year, is quickly becoming an event of some merit among the independent filmmaker community.

8. The All-American Soap Box Derby

How wholesome! Seriously, Akron. I want to eat you up every time I see pictures of kids gliding down that big hill in their homemade cars. It’s like stepping back into the 1950’s, except without the Rod Serling voice-over. God, you’re cute.

9. The Goodyear Blimp Fleet

Those living outside NE Ohio get freaked out when they visit us and see a Goodyear blimp on the horizon for the first time. We take these zeppelins for granted, though. But, really, how cool? Think about. Giant balloons controlled by air propellers. It’s like something out of a Tim Burton cartoon. Plus, the blimp hangar is so big it makes its own weather. It rains inside the building! The government is currently building a colossal blimp in there at the moment, one that can fly into the stratosphere and film everything happening below in minute detail. Scary. Cool.

 

10. AA

Are you a friend of Dr. Bob? Wink. Wink. Nudge. Nudge. Dr. Bob, as in Dr. Robert Smith, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. Yes, the 12-step program got its start in a the Gate Lodge at Stan Hywet where Dr. Bob met Bill Wilson, a recovering alcoholic with some ideas on how to stay sober in a group of drunks. The Program now helps millions across the country. Strange, given the fact that the only way to really survive the Akron Winter is long draughts of whiskey.

11. Luigi’s

With the endless lines and somewhat curt service, Luigi’s better be damned good. They are. And they know it. Good, hearty Italian fare. Pizza is fine. Spaghetti Ala Luigi is better. But their baked rigatoni is better than your momma’s. Get there early for lunch, if you want to make it back to the office. However, everyone knows Luigi’s is really about killing hangovers—open till 4 a.m. on the weekends—it’s the best place to fill your tummy after a night partying with Plusquellic at Lux. FYI: Like Tony Soprano, they only accept cold hard cash.

12. Drive-ins

Are you Team Swensons or Team Sky-Way? Akronites loves them some greasy drive-in food! Swensons fried mushrooms and seasonal milkshakes are effing addicting. But a SkyHi Sandwich will make you believe in Jesus. But why are all the carhops twinks?

13. That Weird Indian Head

There’s a weird-ass, inappropriately stereotypical, carved Indian’s Head sitting in front of an elementary school on West Market. I don’t know why it’s there. I don’t want to know. I will respect it so that the Indian Gods do not bring more snow.

14. XTC

Okay. You can’t throw a dead cat in Akron without hitting a strip joint. These dens of sweet sin have been erected on just about every street—with prosaic names like Georgie’s Girls and Lucky Corner. Some are 24 hr. joints and trust me, you don’t wanna venture in at 5 a.m. on a Tuesday. But XTC gets it right. Cute, not trashy girls—the sort of women who really might be putting themselves through college. Classy main room and cheap drinks. Private little corners. A safe place to drop some money. And next door is a little sex toy shop in which you don’t have to constantly look over shoulder/

15. The Summit

The best radio station in NE Ohio. Period. No commercials. No corporate play lists. And lots of local music (though, enough Pat Carney, already!). 91.3 on the dial. I’ve picked it up as far North as Independence. Stream it online if you’re from beyond.

16. Rubber City Clothing

You gotta own some RCC Tees if you’re gonna set foot in Annabell’s or visit the Akron Film Festival. Must haves: “Akron: Where the weak are killed and eaten.” “Akron Witnessed First” and the Rt. 8 sign. Find their store on North High or shop online.

17. Hower House

Located on Fir Hill, near the University, the official story is that this is merely the historical home of a local cereal magnate. But ask the caretakers, the young female students who volunteer to live in the house during the school year, and they’ll tell tale of a presence; sounds at night, lights switching on and off…and more. Easily one of the most haunted spots in NE Ohio.

 

18. The National Inventors Hall of Fame

Did you know Akron Invented Inventing? Must be true, since the Inventor’s Hall of Fame is located there. The NIHF has inducted 405 inventors, including the lady who invented wrinkle-free cotton and the dude who invented the remote control (damn you!). The museum is currently closed for construction but will reopen soon!

19. Don Drumm

If you’ve lived in Akron for more than a year and you still don’t have a piece of Don Drumm art (plates, jewelry, sculpture) then you don’t have any friends. Drumm pioneered the use of cast aluminum as a medium. His artwork is instantly recognizable and hard to imitate. His large sculptures and sandblasted brick reliefs can be seen across Summit County. Odd fact: his steel sculpture at Kent State was rendered priceless when a National Guardsman shot a bullet through it in 1970.

20. West Point Market

This is the place you shop if you’re trying to impress a girl. Pick up a jar of pasta sauce, a bottle of reserve wine, and a package of lemon bars and she’s yours. A great place for English tea, if you’re a Fancy Lad.

…And 5 Reasons We’re Kind of Crushin’ on Kent

 

1. The Bar Crawl

The Warehouse District got nothin’ on Kent’s downtown, when it comes to bars-per-square-mile. In the space of one and a half blocks, there’s Mugs (good live music), Ray’s Place (awesome food, more draft beer than you can count),  Zephyr Pub (cool hippy hangout), The Loft (awesome dive, wood seats, worst mens room ever), BW-3 (if that’s your scene), Dominik’s (great townie bar, respite from college kids), FireFly Hookah Bar (not entirely sure how that’s legal), and Water Street Tavern (not to be missed—some great blues nights, ridiculous drink specials, hot chicks at the bar, and Cajun Daves just opened in the kitchen—good eats!). Do it all. Make it a night.

2. The Kent Stater

Hands down, the best college rag in Ohio. Its circulation rivals the local daily, for God’s sake, and often covers news better. Former Stater writers include Rachel Dissell (the Plain Dealer’s best young muckraker), Mike Polk (former columnist, current YouTube sensation), Mandy Jenkins (former columnist, now the Cinci Enquirer’s social media editor), Patrick O’Connor (former Stater cartoonist, went on to LA Daily News after graduation).

 

3. The Enduring Mystery of Terry Norman

What happened in Kent on May 4^th, 1970 is no secret. But if you spent some time researching the shootings, you might be surprised to learn that no one can agree on how the shootings actually started. The protestors claim some members of the National Guard made a conscious decision to turn and shoot—some even believe a command was given. Members of the National Guard claim they only opened fire after someone fired at them. And that’s when people start whispering about Terry Norman. This much we know: Norman was posing as a protestor but spying for the FBI. The day of the shootings, he had a loaded pistol drawn at the time the shootings began. Was he an agent provocateur? Did he fire that shot that started it all? We’d ask him if we could get to him. He lives on the top of a secluded mountain in North Carolina and keeps visitors at bay with a padlocked fence.

4. May Day

What is it about May that makes a man want to light fire to an old couch? Dunno. But it’s one weird goddamn tradition that the Kent cops can’t stop no matter how hard they try. Last weekend before Spring finals, parties sprout up at Old Townhomes and Frat Row, building in bodies and excitement until the hoards spill into the streets. Cars tip over. Fights break out for no good reason. And, eventually, someone drags out a couch and sets it ablaze. About then all hell breaks loose. A team of Kent police in full riot gear swoop in, shooting tear gas into the crowd and arresting anyone who looks at them. May Day is primal. It’s about letting go the tension of school. It’s about getting laid one last time before summer. And it’s about townies versus spoiled college kids. It is a microcosm for everything that is wonderful and perverse in humans.

5. Rockton Masonic Lodge

Atop Main Street hill, this old mansion looks like some sanitarium that has been refurbished by Stephen King. Local Masons meet here—no doubt, to plan the Illuminati’s New World Order. Whatever is going on in there, it cannot be good. It is the creepiest haunt in town.