10 THINGS TO DO IN YOUNGSTOWN


August 14, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

10 THINGS

TO DO IN

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown has many attractions that are well-known: Mill Creek Park, the Butler Institute of American Art and Covelli Centre, to name a few. But the city also has its share of not-so-obvious attractions, ranging from simple pleasures to specialty foods. Downtown activist Phil Kidd has assembled a list of Things to Do in Youngstown that includes places that might fly under the radar of both newcomers and long-time residents. Here is a sampling. For the complete list, go to defendyoungstown.blogspot.com.

By Phil Kidd

Special to The Vindicator

  1. Take a trolley ride through Mill Creek: The Mahoning Valley’s Mill Creek MetroParks is the crown jewel of all-things outdoorsy in the Youngstown area. The park is enormous. In fact, at 2,600 acres, it’s one of the largest metropolitan parks in the nation. Founded in 1891, it was also the first park district established in Ohio. Mill Creek features three lakes, a wetland, experimental farm, two 18-hole championship golf courses, a recreation area with an outdoor performing-arts pavilion, Fellows Riverside Gardens & Davis Center, Lanterman’s Mill, a hike-bike trail, 20 miles of drives, 15 miles of foot trails and a variety of bridges, ponds, streams, well-tended gardens and waterfalls. With so much to do, it’s hard to recommend just one thing. So, start with a trolley ride on the Cohasset Express. It’s a fun and easy way to experience the “Green Cathedral’.” Call 330-747-7107.
  2. Take a tour of Oak Hill Cemetery: Oak Hill Cemetery is Youngstown’s oldest and most historically significant cemetery. Begun in 1852, some of the city’s most prominent families are buried here. Beautifully designed and featuring a unique view of downtown, the best time to take a stroll is in the fall when the leaves are beginning to change. Also, each year around Halloween, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society gives guided tours of the cemetery as part of the Youngstown Zombie Crawl.
  3. Order Tressel Tortellini and play a game of boccie at MVR: Cassese’s MVR is arguably the most popular and well-known restaurant in the Youngstown area. Located in the Smoky Hollow neighborhood just east of Youngstown State University, the MVR opened its doors in 1927 and hasn’t looked back since. The restaurant offers generous portions of Italian cuisine at an affordable price in a family-friendly environment. While busy any day of the week, it’s the place to go before or after a YSU sporting event. One of the more popular dishes is the Tressel Tortellini, named after former YSU and Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel (now YSU president). MVR is also known for its large outdoor boccie-court area (which also features outdoor dining and a patio bar). During the summer, it’s a popular place for league games as well as casual group play.
  4. Hit the Northside Farmers Market and take a walk around Wick Park: How many cities offer a 34-acre, forest-like city park built in the 1880s located in a historic district only 1 mile from the downtown and two blocks from the university? Youngstown does. Wick Park is the crown jewel of the Wick Park neighborhood (which is experiencing a bit of a renaissance). It gets its name from James Wick, who was an early industrialist. He and his family’s original hunting cabin still stands a block away, as do a number of other notable historic structures, including the homes of former Ohio Governor David Tod, John “Bone Setter” Reese and Stambaugh Auditorium. On the eastern portion of the park are four churches. To the north of the park on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway is the Northside Farmers Market. Each Saturday morning from spring through fall, the market offers up a great selection of produce, art, music and more. It also has freshly prepared lunch options. Head to the market, grab some lunch and enjoy a walk around beautiful Wick Park. Suggestion: Make a trip in early fall when the leaves begin to change color. Incredible. Bonus recommendation: Check out the Idora Farmer’s Market (Tuesdays) and the B&O Night Market (Thursdays).
  5. Order a scoop of chocolate pecan at Handel’s Ice Cream: If one were to rank the recommendations on this list, this might top it. Founded in 1945 by the wife of a gas-station owner on the South Side (where the ice cream was originally sold), Handel’s Ice Cream has grown to gain national and international recognition over the years for its fresh, high-quality ingredients and silky smooth quality. In fact, the Travel Channel named it one of the best ice creams in the nation, and National Geographic named it the best ice cream in the world. Celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Bill Cosby agree. In fact, Cosby loves it so much that he has it shipped to him by mail with dry ice. You really can’t go wrong with any item or flavor at Handel’s. However, their most popular flavor is Chocolate Pecan. Start there. You won’t be disappointed. Bonus recommendation: Get your scoop at the original stand near the intersection of Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard on the South Side.
  6. See the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra at Powers Auditorium: That’s right. Youngstown has its own symphony orchestra (since 1925), and it’s pretty awesome. Perhaps the only thing more awesome than the orchestra is the venue in which it plays. Edward J. Powers Auditorium was built in 1931 by the Warner brothers (yes, those Warner brothers) Harry, Jack and Albert in memory of their brother Sam. Originally named the Warner Theater, it served as cinema house — one of many that the Warner Brothers Film Company would open nationwide in the years to come. Decades later and with millions invested in restoration, the theater remains an incredible remnant of the golden age of cinema. It’s easily one of the finest in all of the Midwest. Symphony performances run from October through May. Make dinner reservations downtown, go see a show and experience some big-city culture in smaller-city Youngstown.
  7. Take a tour of the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry & Labor: Iron and steel played such a significant role in the evolution of Youngstown that the city actually has an entire museum dedicated to the life and times of this era. Located on Wood Street in downtown and designed by renowned architect Michael Graves, the “Steel Museum” is an impressive, three-story exhibit/archive/library that one really must visit to appreciate. By the time you are done with a tour, you’ll have a very good understanding (and appreciation) for the blood, sweat and steel that went into making Youngstown one of the great industrial regions of the 20th century. The facility also has a large community room in which lectures and programs take place regularly throughout the year. Follow the museum on Facebook to stay updated. Bonus: Head to the east side to check out the Tod Engine Heritage Park in June or September for one of its biannual tours. A very interesting and impressive project.
  8. Flip a tire at Ironman Warehouse: In Youngstown, there is a man who is simply known as “Dunner.” Paul “Dunner” Dunleavy is a God-fearing, log-carrying, ageless, physical anomaly and is the co-owner of the Ironman Warehouse in downtown Youngstown. Dunner and Ironman are known for their primitive workouts, which include flipping monster tires of various sizes at a nondescript warehouse basement on East Federal Street. While many gyms and sports programs now offer these types of workouts, Dunner and his band of loyal ironmen (and women) have been doing them for years throughout the nether regions of the city. Many local sports teams and even professional athletes call Ironman their home gym. And while it sounds like a pretty macho place, don’t be intimated. You’ll find plenty of devotees from a wide range of ability levels. Head downtown and give a good tire flip with one of Youngstown’s iconic fitness gurus in an iconic workout environment.
  9. Play a round of golf at Mill Creek: If golf is your thing, Youngstown is the place to be. The area has more nationally ranked public courses than any other part of the country and is ranked No. 4 in the entire country in quality. These courses were developed back in the day when steel was king, money flowed like hot metal and industrial elites sought playgrounds throughout the region. While the steel economy may have evaporated, the courses remain. The advantage of this today is that with so many courses, most are super affordable despite their superior quality. Perhaps the best course in the area is the Donald Ross-designed South Course at Mill Creek MetroParks, which has been ranked by Golfweek Magazine as one of “America’s 30 Best Municipal Courses.” But there’s plenty of other great courses to check out as well. Download the guide by Youngstown Live, pick a course, and hit the links. Bonus recommendation: For some golf in the city itself, check out Henry Stambaugh Golf Course on the North Side.
  10. See a local band at Cedars West End: Since 1975, Cedars has served as a hub for Youngstown's independent music scene. The bar and music venue was founded by Tommy Simon, whose daughter, Mara, took over operations in 2008. A staple of downtown for many years, it moved to a new space at 706 Steel St., on the West Side, in 2013. Cedars West Ed (as it's now known) is a great place to experience some of the area's best independent music as well as other bands passing through the region (particularly from Pittsburgh and Cleveland.) The staff are all longtime regulars who know their clientele, the city and what's hip. In addition to quality entertainment, cover charges are cheap and the drink selection is pretty solid. Catch a show at Cedars for a sample of Youngstown's best local musical talent.

Note: These recommendations are not ranked in any particular order of awesomeness. Please enjoy each in their own unique way.