2008-2009 (in no particular order)

1. I-280 Bridge
Officially named (take a deep breath) the Veterans Memorial Glass City Skyway Bridge, it carries three lanes of traffic in each direction. The road surface reaches a height of 130 feet above the surface of the Maumee River. The bridge is the most expensive project ever undertaken by ODOT, costing approximately $237 million. The main attraction of the bridge is the single pylon that contains 384 light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are capable of creating 16.7 million potential color combinations.

2. Toledo public Art
Not many cities are as committed to public sculpture as Toledo. The city has an impressive collection of public art, with large-scale sculptures, murals, and functional structures by noted artists from across the country. Many of these pieces were acquired through the pioneering 1977 ordinance that set aside one percent of Toledo's Capital Improvement Budget for the purchase, conservation, and public education of art. The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo administers the program.

3. The Maumee River
Without the Maumee River, Toledo would only be a town in Spain. The Maumee has the largest watershed of any Great Lakes river with 6,354 square miles draining into the Maumee River. Its watershed includes a portion of southern Michigan. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys Rivers, and flows northeast for about 130 miles through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into Lake Erie. The river was the interstate highway system on the 19th century and a critical hub of the canal system that transported people and goods. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the annual walleye run up the Maumee River is one of the largest migrations of riverbound walleye east of the Mississippi.

4. Lake Erie
Just to illustrate how big the Great Lakes are, Lake Erie is the fourth largest if the five Great Lakes, but that still places it as the tenth largest lake in the world, with a surface area of 9,940 square miles. People need water to live. Industry needs water to function. If you want it, you'll have to come to us. We've got it and we're keeping it, Arizona.

 5. The Toledo Zoo
Want to be one in a million? That's how many people come to the Toledo Zoo each year. And what a zoo! You can go from the Arctic tundra to the African savanna, to the tropical rainforest to the Sonoran Desert in a leisurely stroll. The zoo has over 5,300 animals representing over 760 species. And the kids love it. But Toledo Zoo isn't just the number one family destination of Lake Erie West. The Zoo is at the forefront in working to preserve endangered and threatened species. Here, you can attend some of the top concerts on the region at the historic Toledo Zoo Amphitheater. You can also visit the restored Victorian conservatory and the fine gardens designed and cared for by the Zoo's horticulture department.

6. Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr was born in Toledo. His first acting success occurred at age eleven when he won $2 in a local acting contest. His acting career included roles in The Blackboard Jungle, and The Greatest Story Ever Told. He was hired for one day's work as "Corporal Klinger" on a M*A*S*H episode and he played it so well that the day job became an 11-year career. Though he no longer lives in Toledo, he returns often, most notably for Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, an LPGA Golf event that has donated millions of dollars to local children's charities since 1984.

7. Put-in-Bay
High on the cool-index, Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island is a summer paradise to rival Key West. You can get there by ferry on the Jet Express or the Miller Boat 

Line, or take your own boat, anchor in the bay and wait for the water taxi to scoot you into town. Once there, you can take in the, restaurants, bars, 

hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, vineyards, wineries, walk, bike, rent a golf cart, visit the, take the elevator 317 feet to the observation deck of the Oliver Hazard Perry Peace Memorial, listen to live music or just relax in the park and watch the activity swirl around you. To put it plainly, Put-in-Bay rocks.

8. Wheeler Butterfly House, Whitehouse, OH
If I were a butterfly, I would want to be a Wheeler butterfly. Duke and Martha Wheeler love the little critters. So much so, that they invested their own resources, sought out experts, and traveled the world learning, working with native butterfly farmers (yes, that's what I said) and bringing back the most beautiful species available in the hope that you will fall in love with the winged wonders too.

9. Historic Perrysburg
The town that time didn't forget... Perrysburg has some of the oldest and newest commercial and residential developments in Lake Erie West. Prosperous, family-friendly and easy on the eye, Perrysburg has it all.

10. The Toledo Reparatory Theater
In the midst of the Great Depression, Toledo's first community theatre group opened with Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, at Collingwood Presbyterian Church. The following year, they mover the 10th Street Theatre they still call home. They're still making us laugh, cry and ponder in the great tradition of American reparatory theater.

11. The Lucas County Courthouse
We can't let this one fall to the wrecking ball of "progress." Built 1899 (the same year the U.S. Congress first approved voting machines for federal elections), the courthouse has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. Photo: Joel Rossol (2007)

12. John Justus, Musician
John Justus was born in 1926 in the small city of Fort Payne, Alabama, and the same small town whose biggest claim to fame is being the Sock Capital of the World. For the first time ever, the man many consider to be one of the best musicians and guitar teachers in the region, has released a CD featuring his genius on both guitar and fiddle. John's 2007 CD debut, "John Justus at Indian Ridge," is a wonderful mixture of jazz, folk, and bluegrass-standards, covers, and originals.

13. Mary Pat Anderson
One of the matriarchs of Toledo's Venerated Anderson clan, There's too much to say about Mary Pat Anderson in just a few lines. You'll have to go back to the May 2008 issue of inToledo for a full review of this remarkable woman and Great American Mom.

14. Downtown Toledo lofts
It's not just a collection of buildings; it's a neighborhood. Downtown living is chic and hip. You would be amazed at what resides behind the century-old brick warehouse facades. Architectural Digest just might come calling.

15. Toledo Museum of Art and the TMA Glass Pavilion
Got art? The Toledo Museum of Art was founded in 1901 with substantial support from glass tycoon, Edward Drummond Libbey. Its collection of over 30,000 works of art ranks among the finest in the United States, including paintings and sculptures by, Cézanne, Calder, Degas, van Gogh, El Greco, Matisse, Miró, Monet, Picasso, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Turner. In 2007, the TMA dedicated the new Glass pavilion, which quickly garnered national and international architecture awards.

16. The Sawyer Homestead, Monroe, Michigan
Dr. Alfred I. Sawyer, one of the early proponents of homeopathic medicine, built the house in 1873. Dr. Sawyer's daughter, Jenny Toll Sawyer, gave the home to the City of Monroe in 1938. It now serves as a special events center and one of the finest examples of Italiante-style architecture in the city.

 17. John Rockwood and Voodoo Libido
Voodoo Libido isn't just a band, it's a musical fellowship that plays in different combinations of musicians but always sounds sweet and low down. Front man and harpist John Rockwood puts the hoodoo on the Voodoo. With a harmonica to his lips, Rockwood sounds like he just pulled a Hammond B3 organ out of his vest pocket. He's also a music producer and an ace photographer who has captured some of the greatest names in the world of Blues and Rock.

18. The Toledo Botanical Garden
Feeling lucky? You should. Not many cities have a place like this, where nature, art and music come together with such sublime harmony.

19. The Ballet Theater of Toledo
You have to be on your toes to keep up with BTT's dynamo directors Nigel Burgoine and Anne Marie Getz. They love what they do, and it shows.

20. Jon Hendricks, Jazz Legend
What can you say about a living legend in just a few lines? Hendricks has sung with all the giants of jazz, his vocal innovations have influenced generations of musicians and, now in his 80s, his energy and intellect are miles above the crowd.

21. Murphy's Place Jazz Club
If you want the best jazz anywhere, don't go to New York. Head to downtown Toledo and it will come to you. Murphy's Place is a national treasure and a legend across the country.

22. Toledo Society of the Archaeological Society of America 
Archaeology isn't just for eggheads. Fabulous illustrated, non-technical lectures are free, fun and open to the public.

23. The Toledo Opera
You'll be so enthralled, you won't want the fat lady to sing. A short lecture beforehand will help explain the plot. Monitors around the stage give you the English translation. But you'll come to realize that the human condition is universal and transcends language. Some of the finest opera talent in the world will convince you of that simple truth.

24. Rosary Cathedral
"Wow!" If you've never been inside the Cathedral on Toledo's Collingwood Blvd. that is likely to be the first word you utter. The craftsmanship, the detail and the scale are all breathtaking.

25. Campbell's Soup Can water tower
The biggest "Warhohl" artpiece that Andy never actually made, the gigantic Campbell's soup can is actually the water tower (but ground level) at the largest food factory in America: the Campbell's factory in Napoleon

26. Ottawa Hills Sculpture Garden
Arrowhead Park at the gateway to Ottawa Hills (where Bancroft Street, Secor Road and Indian Road meet) is the site of one of the region's best sculpture gardens. Eleven sculptures are rotated through each year while three are on permanent display.

27. Toledo Area Metroparks
One of the great treasures of Lake Erie West! Whether it's nature walks, weddings or bird watching and much more, you'll find it here.

28. Toledo Animal Shelter
Hey, you cat and dog lovers, the TAS has a pet for you. They won't euthanize them just because they haven't been adopted. The rest is up to you.

29. Old West End Historic District
In the interest of full disclosure, I live here. Nevertheless, this is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Lake Erie West, with the largest collection of restored Victorian, Edwardian and Arts and Crafts homes in the United States. The OWE is also home to the Toledo Museum of Art, the TMA Glass Pavilion, the home of Edward Drummond Libby and the Collingwood Art Center.

30. Bryan County Courthouse
One of the prettiest in the state! Photo by David Grant 2007

31. Archbold Community Theatre
Performing in Pettisville, this is one of the very best community theatre groups in 8 counties!

32. Bryan Community Theatre
Another absolutely outstanding community theatre group!

33. Henry County Sheriff Building
The antique weathervane atop the Sherrif's Office in downtown Napoleon is designed in the shape of the keys to the jail! Try to find that anywhere else in America!

34. Historic Maumee, Ohio
Great family residential area and great history. Maumee was one of only 10 communities to be awarded All-America City status by the National Civic League in 2006.

35. The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo
With a golden, 30-foot-high geodesic dome and two towering minarets, Perrysburg's Islamic Center is a beautiful and important gathering place for the Islamic community of Lake Erie West.

36. Maumee River Dragon Boat Festival
Friendly team competition, colorful dragon boats and a fun, festival atmosphere make this a one of the top events of the summer.

37. Mennonite cabinetmaking shops in Archbold, OH
Designer quality and craftsmanship at good prices.

38. The Art Galleries of Lake Erie West
20 North Gallery, Space 237, American Gallery, The Hudson Gallery and the Truth Gallery are just a few of the many artistic hot spots that make Lake Erie West the place the be for quality of life.

39. Mr. Atomic
Twin painters Mike and Mark Kersey are influences by the great painters of the past and the comic book genre to create their wild, colorful and delightfully fun artwork.

40. Katie Morgan Lusky
The owner of Ahava Spa in Toledo's Warehouse District has a mission of service to others. The spa offers free all-day spa experiences and lunch to cancer survivors.

41. The River Raisin
The river was named by French explorers who noted the wild grapes growing along its banks, since the French word for grape is raisin. The River Raisin flows approximately 150 miles through Southeast Michigan.

42. Scott High School, Toledo
Amazing architecture and a great history make this an important Toledo landmark and symbol of educational attainment. Jazz legend Art Tatum graduated from there, as did singer Anita Baker, Champion Spark Plug Chairman Robert Stranahan, Pro football player "Mean" Joe Green, Foy D. Kohler US Ambassador to the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and many other notable figures in business, the arts, sports, science and politics.

43. Steve Klein, photographer
You see his photographs in every issue of this magazine. A delivery truck driver before he got injured, Steve decided to pick up his camera and walk around Toledo and Lake Erie West. Though not formally trained, he has "the eye."

44. Funhouse Writers Group
The Toledo group of writers, poets, singers and musicians has just completed their 60th variety show. Originally formed by advocates for those with mental illness, Funhouse is now wide open to artists of all stripes.

45. Downtown Latte
Owners Pam Burns and Connie Dick don't just serve up free-trade coffee, they offer their shop as a home for many community groups and events. They also strongly support local artists by offering space in their mini-gallery. Watch for new artists each month.

46. Gretta Laskey
The former president of Port Lawrence Title is a Bhuddist and a member of the DOVE Fund, an organization working to bring education and basic services like electricity and clean water to Vietnam.

47. Historic Vistula neighborhood
A lot of people have tried to write off this neighborhood just to the north of Downtown Toledo, but it is hanging on and slowly improving. It's importance is hard to exaggerate. Vistula actually predates Toledo and is now the city's oldest surviving neighborhood, with many beautiful examples of Victorian architecture. Perhaps its greatest claim to fame is that Edward Drummond Libbey decided to move to Toledo because he met and fell in live with his future wife at a Vistula party.

48. Eagle Isle Resort and Spa
When we say, "Eagle Isle," we mean eagles. Lots of them. Some with nests the size of bathtubs. Eagle Isle is a day spa and bed & breakfast situated on the picturesque Sandusky River and along an important migratory bird flyway, you have to work hard at not relaxing once you get there.

49. Dr. Tom Barden
A Professor of English, University of Toledo, Barden is the author of several books, recognized authority on American Folklore. He is currently researching the non-fiction of John Steinbeck, including his ethnographic, journalistic, and war correspondence writing. He is director of the University Honors Program.

50. Jane Petitejean
Another one of our favorite artists, Petitejean has an international clientele who appreciate her bold colors, sweeping brush strokes and whimsical subject matter.

51. Candice Coleman
Musician, singer and songwriter, Candice Coleman has star quality written all over her. She made it to the semi-finals in the 2003 season of American Idol and she's still going strong. Remember her name.

52. Larry Dillin
He's the boldest and most innovative developer in Lake Erie West. He loves this region and has its best interest at heart. Dillin is one of the people charting the future of our region and we're lucky to have him.

53. Art Tatum Memorial Jazz Festival
The best of the best in Lake Erie West. This is the signature music festival of the summer, drawing thousands of music lovers and the best local and national acts around.

54. Owens Corning World Headquarters
Built in 1996, the Owens Corning world headquarters was designed by renowned architect Cesar Pelli. The design included advanced environmentally focused features and the headquarters is one of only a few dozen buildings in the country to earn Silver Certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program.

55. O-I Building
Located in Perrysburg, Ohio this is also a LEED building, the designers of the O-I building have thought of everything from waterless urinals to a system to irrigate the grounds with water from a pond. The building features prairie grass plantings to reduce the need for irrigation, pesticides and lawnmower emissions. It offers bike racks, outlets for hybrid vehicles and a measurement and control system for lighting, heating, cooling and air quality.

56. Toledo Yacht Club
The TYC is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the Midwest. It might be best known for its spectacular Commodore's Ball, the rousing Back to the Bay Party or its hosting of the prestigious Mills Race, however, family activities also include Pig Roasts an Easter Egg Hunt and an unforgettable brunch with Santa.

57. Levis Commons
Levis Commons is designed the way people used to live, with homes, shopping, work and entertainment in close proximity. It practically thumbs its nose at the car culture. You can walk or bike from one end to the other in minutes, but there's so much to do in that small (but growing) space, it'll take you much longer.

58. The University of Toledo
In 2006, The University of Toledo and the Medical University of Ohio (now The University of Toledo Medical Center) merged to form the third-largest public university operating budget in the state of Ohio. With 20,000 students, and an impressive set of research credentials, UT continues to graduate the next generation of leaders and innovators.

59. Center for the Visual Arts
On the Toledo Museum of Art campus, the Frank Gehry-designed building is the home of the University of Toledo Art Department. While the eccentric design sparked some controversy when it was introduced, Gehry has since established himself as one of the groundbreaking architects of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, making the CVA an important Toledo Landmark.

60. Bowling Green State University
BGSU offers over 200 undergraduate programs, as well as various master's and doctoral degrees, including the nation's first Ph.D. program in photochemical science and one of the first undergraduate programs in neuroscience. In addition, BGSU has accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools to offer full degree programs online.

61. Historic Churches of LEW
Lake Erie West has a wealth of churches that represent some of the finest building design and craftsmanship anywhere. If you call ahead, some will give you a tour. Take your camera and your sense of awe.

62. Bowling Green
The city is home to Ohio's first utility-sized wind farm. There are four turbines that are 391 feet tall. These turbines generate up to 7.2 megawatts of power-enough to supply electricity for some 3,000 residents. The turbines can be seen for miles and have become a local attraction. At the site, a solar-powered kiosk gives visitors current information on wind speeds and the amount of energy being produced by the turbines.

63. Toledo/Lucas County Library System
The Downtown Toledo Library is our neighborhood branch and there's a lot to brag about there. The Art Deco architecture is beautiful example of one of the last distinctive architectural styles before the glass and concrete box became next big thing. The library system programs, services and libraries within the library (Children's, Rare Books, Art Tatum etc.) are top quality and accessible.

64. Sterling State Park, Monroe, MI
Michigan's only state park on Lake Erie, Sterling State Park's 1,300 acres offers great recreational opportunities including over one mile of beach, boating, shore fishing on the lake and the fishing lagoons, lakefront camping, wildlife viewing and 6 miles of trails.

65. EPIC
Engaging People, Inspiring Chance (EPIC) makes it cool to be in school...the school of life, that is. Under the auspices of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, EPIC is an organization of young professionals positioning themselves to the leaders of the future and having a heck of a good time in the process. From martini networking to the EPIC Race (teams travel to the kinds of places and events listed here, take pictures and write stories, and the best and most complete presentation wins), these young professionals learn to lead and have a ball.

66. Magee Marsh Wildlife Refuge
This is a birder's Mecca. Take your binoculars and/or camera.

67. Maumee State Forest
Hunt, fish, snowmobile, motorcycle, mountain bike, hike, ride a horse, rinse and repeat.

68. Toledo School for the Arts
This place rocks, and sings the blues, and lays down a jazz riff, and sculpts, paints, acts, sings, and dances. In their spare time, they have one of the best academic records in Toledo.

69. Dick and Jeanne Micka
How they find the time and energy to do all they do, I just don't know. Dick, a retired La-Z-Boy executive is a founding member of Lake Erie West, past president of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance and a founder of the Monroe International Friendship Association, which has a Sister Region relationship with Tomsk Oblast, Russia. Jeanne is past president of the Monroe County Historical Society and the Historical Society Guild and President of the Lotus Garden Club. She chaired the restoration of the Sawyer Homestead, an 1873 Italianate mansion near downtown Monroe and also helped plan and implement the move of three historic buildings in Monroe. And that's just for starters.

70. Toledo Blade
"One of America's Great Newspapers." Blade writers Michael D. Sallah, Mitch Weiss and Joe Mahr won a 2004 Pulitzer Prize for their powerful series on atrocities by Tiger Force, an elite U.S. Army platoon, during the Vietnam War. In 1992, John Kaplan won a Feature Photography Pulitzer for his photographs depicting the diverse lifestyles of seven 21-year-olds across the United States.

71. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza
The Historic Central Union Terminal, Toledo, Ohio, opened with great fanfare in 1950. Now owned by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, up to 100,000 passengers pass through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza each year, making it Ohio's busiest passenger rail hub. In 1996, the Port Authority completed an $8.5 million renovation and it now serves as a modern, intermodal train and bus terminal and office complex.

72. Sam McCoy
Now retired the Maumee Valley Country Day science teacher made science accessible and inspired numerous students to undertake science-related careers. Among his former students are James Willey, M.D., founder of Gene Express (see inToledo Magazine, September 2007), Dr. Audrey Bohnengel-Lee, founder and Director of the Ohio Organ Donors Consortium, Dr. Marc Rayman, Project Manager for the NASA Deep Space 1 mission, and Dr. William Bemis, Director of the Cornell University and University of New Hampshire Shoals Marine Laboratory.

73. Jeep
The most popular explanation for the name holds that the vehicle bore the designation "GP" (for "General Purpose"), which was phonetically slurred into the word Jeep. The vehicle won WWII (ok, with some help) and powered the Toledo economy to great heights. Jeep was born here, and we can thank the Chrysler Corporation subsidiary for many of the positive aspects of Toledo life.

74. The Mazza Museum
Located in Findlay, Ohio, this is a collection of original artwork by many of the most distinguished and honored illustrators of children's literature. It has the distinction of being the only teaching gallery in the world specializing in such art.

75. Flag City USA
During the 1960s, Findlay, Ohio began celebrating June 14, Flag Day, by decorating virtually every home and business in the city with more than 14,000 U.S. flags. This inspiring display led to a congressional declaration in 1974, when Findlay was officially christened "Flag City U.S.A."

76. Toledo Mud Hens
Play Ball! You know the Mud Hens, but did you know that the namesake is a marsh bird with short wings and long legs? The team received the nickname in the late 1800's when it played at Bay View Park because the marsh birds once inhabited the area near the playing field. The nickname "Mud Hen" has been voted the most popular nickname by readers of Baseball America.

77. The Docks
Great food and best views to eat by, overlooking the river the Toledo skyline, the Owens Corning World Headquarters and situated between the beautiful Martin Luther King drawbridge and the towering, graceful Anthony Wayne Bridge.

78. Anthony Wayne Bridge
Built at a cost of $3 million in 1931, the Anthony Wayne suspension bridge is 3,215 feet long including approaches and raises 104 feet above the water at its midpoint. The bridge's two towers feature various lattice patterns, and some of the structural steel is gracefully latticed as well. The superstructure was built by the same company that built the Ambassador Bridge linking Detroit with Windsor, Ontario.

79. MLK Bridge
Graceful arches accentuated by warm, yellow lighting make this one of the most beautiful drawbridges I've seen from the water. From the land, it's pedestrian-friendly and easy to approach at the water's edge.

80. Toledo Peddle Boats
The downtown Toledo pedal boat rentals are so much fun the owner, Bob Russ, has been nominated Toledoan of the Year.

81. Libbey Glass
We wouldn't be the Glass City without it. Libbey is currently celebration its 125 year anniversary in Toledo.

82. Downtown Toledo Skyline
There are few scenes on the Great Lakes as spectacular as the Toledo Skyline viewed from the east bank of the Maumee River. I never get tired of looking at it.

83. Fort Meigs
A War of 1812 fortification located in what is now Perrysburg, Ohio, Fort Meigs helped turn the tide in favor of the fledgling American state. After the war, the fort was burned down. It was reconstructed in 1974 and, along with the Fort Meigs Museum, serves as a center of education about the region's history.

84. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center
The Fremont, Ohio home of the 19th President of the United States is also home to his Presidential Library and Museum. The facility offers a number of special events including concerts, teas, lectures and carriage rides.

85. Collingwood Arts Center
This is one of the jewels of Lake Erie West. The CAC is the former convent for the Ursuline Order of the Sacred Heart, and later housed the Mary Manse College and St. Ursula Academy. It is a registered historical site in the Flemish Gothic and Romanesque styles. Now a self-contained artist community, it houses a 600-seat theater, artist studios and apartments and offers numerous concerts, stage performances, classic films, art shows and educational opportunities.

86. SS Willis B. Boyer
Upon her launching in 1911, the S.S. Willis B. Boyer, then called the Col. James M. Schoonmaker was proclaimed to be "The World's Largest Bulk Freighter." A contemporary of the Titanic, the Boyer was also luxuriously appointed for the owner of the shipping line and his guests, who included Andrew Carnegie.

87. Marblehead Lighthouse
Marblehead Lighthouse, on the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula, was built in 1822 and is the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes.

88. Edith Franklin
Barely five feet tall, Franklin is one of the giants of ceramic arts in Lake Erie West. Now in her 80s, she is still creative, energetic and generous with her time and talents.

89. Tony Packos
The original Tony Packo's Cafe is located in the Hungarian neighborhood on the East Side of Toledo. During the depression in 1932, Tony Packo used a $100 loan to open his shop, which originally sold only sandwiches and ice cream. Tony's signature "sausage-and-sauce sandwich" on rye was first made when he decided to add a spicy chili sauce to his sandwiches. Eventually, his creation became known as the "Hungarian hot dog." Tony Packo's Cafe gained world-wide fame when M*A*S*H character Maxwell Klinger, who was played by Toledo native Jamie Farr, made mention of the restaurant in several episodes.

90. Black Swamp Arts Festival
Bowling Green's Black Swamp Arts Festival ranks a very high 78 out of 100 in contemporary craft festivals by Sunshine Artists Magazine. Every September the festival features over 100 juried artists, dozens of local/invitational artists, 4 musical stages, youth arts, and concessions.

91. The Toledo Jazz Society
Jazz is America's unique music form, and the Toledo Jazz Society aims to preserve and enhance its appreciation. Society members go into classrooms to introduce children to the excitement and beauty of jazz. They also sponsor live performances, including The Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Festival, The Toledo Jazz Orchestra concert series, and The Art Tatum Scholarship Concert, presented with The University of Toledo Department of Music and Dance.

92. Snook's Dream Cars
Owned by Bill Snook and his son Jeff, the Bowling Green museum features a recreated 1940s era Texaco gas station, a showroom of extensive automobile memorabilia and a car collection presented within period scenes ranging from a 1930s general store to a racetrack from the 1960s.

93. The Toledo Symphony
They don't just hole up in the Peristyle. In 2007-2008 the Symphony will present over 400 performances to nearly 500,000 music listeners. Performances take place in classrooms, concert halls, churches, auditoriums, senior centers, and theatres in nearly 100 communities in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

94. The Toledo Peristyle
In Roman architecture a peristyle is a columned porch or open colonnade in a building that surrounds a court that may contain an internal garden. The Toledo Peristyle is a 1,710-seat concert hall in the Toledo Museum of Art's east wing. Home to the Toledo Symphony, the Peristyle looks and feels like an open-air Roman court and sounds like the place where you could hear the proverbial pin drop.

95. Ottawa Hills, Ohio
With a population of less than 5,000, the Village of Ottawa Hills is one of the most affluent suburbs of Toledo. The Ottawa Hills school district is one of the best public school systems in Ohio, and the village is ranked 13 out of 1065 political subdivisions in the state of Ohio by per capita income.

96. Toledo Beach Marina
It's not actually in Toledo, but about ten minutes north of the border in Michigan. This is the largest marina on Lake Erie and one of the largest on the Great Lakes, with over 600 docks in their protected deep-water harbor.

97. One SeaGate
A glass act. Fifth Third Center at One SeaGate is the tallest building in Toledo. Until 2006, the building served as the world headquarters for Owens-Illinois. In 2007, Fifth Third Bank moved their Northwest Ohio headquarters to the building. The tower is 411 feet tall with 32 stories.

98. The Toledo Rowing Club
This group has been around for more than 20 years, offering recreational and competitive rowing. There are over 300 members covering all skill ranges, and they offer programs for both novice and experienced oarsmen. The TRC rowing season starts mid-March and ends in November, weather dependent.

99. Glass city Rollers
Who doesn't love women's roller derby? The Glass City Rollers have good old-fashioned Toledo attitude, they like speed and sweat (and a well-aimed elbow from time to time). Think you got what it takes? They're looking for new members.

100. The Oliver House
Rumor has it that Abraham Lincoln slept there. Built in 1859, the sprawling, red brick building was originally a hotel. It stands now as one of the oldest surviving buildings in Toledo. Owners Pat and Jim Appold have put it to good use, with apartments, an art gallery, The Maumee Bay Brewing Company, Mutz brew pub and the Oliver House (home to the best steaks in town).