Posted September 15, 201311 yr Hey guys, sorry I haven't posting much lately, but I've been busy lately! From August 9-19 2013, I went on a huge trip in the Midwest U.S., visiting the cities of Toledo, Chicago, and Detroit! This is the first day in Toledo, Ohio (Population 287,000). I came down to visit the city, tour downtown, the Old West End, and went to a Mud Hens (AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) baseball game at Fifth Third Field. This tour mainly focuses on downtown Toledo, the riverfront, the Docks, and the Warehouse District. The pictures were taken from late afternoon to the night. Also, these are the first set of pictures I have ever taken on my amazing new Canon Rebel T41 DSLR Camera! My hotel, the Park Inn downtown Toledo My room 15th floor view of the Maumee River, Anthony Wayne Bridge, and the headquarters of Owens Corning Historic Fort Industry Square commercial Block across from the Park Inn on Summit Street Looking east on St. Clair Street in downtown Toledo Looking up at the Fiberglas Tower, the 30-storey office building is Toledo's second tallest. Built in 1969, the building currently stands vacant. National City Bank Building Back of the Toledo Edison building and Riverfront Apartments Ohio Building, built in 1896 A very handsome KeyBank branch... Behind the Huntington Center... Spitzer Building, built in 1896 Nicholas Building Behind the Nicholas Building The incredible LaSalle Building, former flagship store of LaSalle & Koch Department Stores (long gone, acquired by Macy's), built in 1913 Charter One Bank Branch downtown across from the LaSalle building Looking up at some of downtown Toledo's historic buildings One Lake Erie Center Commodore Perry Hotel, now apartments Looking up at the Commodore Perry Hotel, built in 1927 Secor Building, another former hotel, completed in 1908 Huntington Center, downtown Toledo's 8,000 seat arena, home of the Toledo Walleye of the East Coast Hockey League, affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks Seagate Convention Center Park Inn again... One and Three Seagate and the former Steam Plant, sitting vacant on Toledo's riverfront Riverfront walkway between the Maumee River and Summit Street Downtown Toledo from the riverfront COSI Science Center and Best Western hotel One Seagate, regional headquarters of Fifth Third Bank, the tallest building in the city, sits 32 storeys high and was built in 1982. Maumee River from the Cherry Street bridge Downtown Toledo from the Cherry Street bridge International Park Toledo skyline from the Docks restaurant and entertainment complex The Docks entertainment complex, many higher-end restaurants and nightclubs here Empty land on the east riverfront near Cherry Street. This was the site of the former Toledo Sports Arena, was demolished a few years ago. Glass City Skyway One Seagate again from Summit Street Four Seagate Toledo Blade Building, where the city's daily newspaper is printed Downtown's new United Way building Valentine Theatre Toledo City Hall Public Safety Building St. Paul's Lutheran Church Historic Lucas County Courthouse Toledo Public Safety Just a portion of downtown's historic building blocks... Valentine Theatre Trinity Episcopal Church HCR Manor Care building Toledo Edison Building Riverfront Apartments The abandoned, yet iconic steam plant Fiberglas Tower, also abandoned and iconic Fifth Third Field, Toledo's magnificent 10,000-seat minor league ball park, home of the famous Toledo Mud Hens of the International Baseball League, opened in 2002 and has been a huge catalyst in the revitalization of downtown and the warehouse district. Commercial blocks in the Warehouse District Front entrance to Fifth Third Field Mud Hens and Walleye shop, this block is part of Fifth Third Field Tony Packo's at the park, near Fifth Third Field, it's a Toledo institution, made famous by Jamie Farr, who played Max Klinger on M*A*S*H and mentioned this place. Inside Tony Packo's The awesome food at Tony Packo's! Chili soup and crackers, loaded potato skins with Chili, Fries, and Tony Packo's famous hot dog! Ye Olde Durty Bird, a bar that re-opened a couple of years ago after it closed quite a few years ago and changed into a couple of other businesses. It's a popular spot for Mud Hens fans before and after the game as I was told by Matt and Meg, the two awesome bartenders working that night. We talked about Toledo and all it has to offer, among other things! Night pictures, Fort Industry Square Downtown at night, I apologize for the occasional blurriness, I was a bit drunk at the time, courtesy of Ye Olde Durty Bird... One Seagate at night... Downtown Toledo from Cherry Street bridge Toledo Skyline from the docks across the Maumee River and International Park Downtown from the riverfront Views of downtown from the Park Inn Across the Maumee at the docks Owens Corning Headquarters from my room... Hope you enjoyed Day 1 of my time in Toledo! Coming soon… Old West Toledo, Mud Hens game, Chicago, and Detroit!
September 15, 201311 yr Very fine photos, many thanks for posting. I love Toledo and always wish it the best, but on my visits I am always struck and saddened by the absence of people on the streets, as also exemplified by your pictures. So much magnificent architecture, so little life! If case you are interested in my photos from Toledo you can see them (and a zillion others from almost everywhere east of the Mississippi) go to picasaweb.google.com/miklospogonyi
September 16, 201311 yr Very fine photos, many thanks for posting. I love Toledo and always wish it the best, but on my visits I am always struck and saddened by the absence of people on the streets, as also exemplified by your pictures. So much magnificent architecture, so little life! If case you are interested in my photos from Toledo you can see them (and a zillion others from almost everywhere east of the Mississippi) go to picasaweb.google.com/miklospogonyi I feel exactly the same way, wolfpack. Toledo's downtown is very underrated, the architecture is great, I really love the LaSalle building for its size and there are so many old buildings that would be perfect for conversion into residential lofts or apartments. It's unfortunate that not a lot of people live downtown right now. However, with the Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center downtown and with all the bars and restaurants opening up and residential development in the Warehouse District, hopefully that will help. I like the direction downtown is heading in with the arena and ballpark. If only they could get another hotel downtown and get more people living downtown, if the city's economy starts to improve. However, I talked with the two bartenders @ Ye Olde Durty Bird and they told me there's not much demand for another hotel or places to live downtown. Heck, there's only like two or three variety stores in range of downtown. But we both agreed downtown Toledo is nice and the city is a great place!
September 16, 201311 yr Very nice job! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
September 16, 201311 yr I've never been to Toledo but hope to one day very soon. Thanks for posting these
September 25, 201311 yr Looking at these pictures, Toledo reminds me a lot of Milwaukee aesthetically. Am I totally crazy for thinking that? I think it has something to do with the way both cities have addressed their former industrial areas and waterways. Toledo looks like a nice city to visit though. I'll have to make my way up there sometime. Spring Break Toledo!
September 25, 201311 yr It makes sense as both are Great Lakes cities with similar architecture. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
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