Despite its terrible economy, Toledo is criminally underrated. It feeds the photography beast. With its plethora of lake freighters, heavy industry, historic urban architecture, hot Lebanese chicks, and unique waterfront geography, Toledo has endless subject matter. There's something about having a major shipping port that adds a sense of purpose and big city feel to a place, and Toledo's port is one of the busiest on the Great Lakes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are those bullet holes in the slide?

you should do a thread on the Toledo Art Museum. After Cleveland's and Cincinnati's it's the best one in Ohio (it may even beat out Cincinnati's--not that this is some sort of contest!). A long time ago (okay, I think it was 30 years now) I saw an El Greco retrospective there. I was surprised how outstanding/impressive the overall museum was; and the new building (opened a couple of years ago) devoted to glass has gotten rave reviews. Since Toledo isn't exactly on the beaten track for art enthusiasts, I bet a lot of people don't even know about it. I don't remember too much about the neighborhood though, just that I ate at a Wendy's near a car dealership. I think :|

It feeds the photography beast. With its plethora of lake freighters, heavy industry, historic urban architecture, hot Lebanese chicks, and unique waterfront geography, Toledo has endless subject matter.

 

And it has a pretty damn cool hockey arena. Toledo > Dayton

Where's the photos of the hot Lebanese chicks?  I agree that Toledo is underrated.  The city has a lot of great architecture.

 

Those aren't bullet holes in the slide.  It's from kids pounding holes in it with sticks.  Our park and school playground slides had a bunch of those

Since Toledo isn't exactly on the beaten track for art enthusiasts, I bet a lot of people don't even know about it. I don't remember too much about the neighborhood though, just that I ate at a Wendy's near a car dealership. I think

 

The neighborhood is the Old West End, which is a national legend to urban preservationists (only one picture from this thread was taken there). It is the largest collection of late Victorian, Edwardian, and Arts & Crafts architecture in the Eastern half of the United States, possibly the largest in North America. The art museum is hands down one of the best in America. With Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland close together, you have probably the best string of three art museums in the country.

good article about Toledo museum I found on CityBeat Cincinnati:

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-16068-toledos-art-museum-is-among-ohios-best.html

^yes, it helps to have one super-rich benefactor (or a small handful) to build a museum. The great museums of the Midwest (and East) date back to the days of the robber barons (and I don't know if Libbey was considered to be one or not). It's interesting to note that unlike the rest of Ohio, Columbus--a city not noted for much industry a hundred years ago--has a museum that is far smaller than the size and scope it really should be for a city its size.

The real miracle in these pictures was having blue sky long enough to get some great shots. The TMA is truly fantastic. I'd say Libbey was probably in the Enlightened Despot class of robber barons.

Excellent photos. I'm glad the Art Museum came up in discussion; the physical facility, itself, is impressive and the collections and traveling exhibits are first-rate. The collection of Egyptian relics must be one of the best in North America, and the intact pieces of Roman glassware are something I didn't think could even exist after so much time.

 

The Toledo Zoo is highly rated, too.

 

In the sixties, Toledo was a frequent Saturday-night destination for gays from Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne had a couple of places to go, but neither was fully out-of-the-closet; Henry's was a hangout for the theater crowd, and we were welcome so long as we didn't get too blatant. The Van Orman Hotel's cocktail lounge was right out of a 50s-60s movie; a dimly-lighted, subdued place with furtive cruising, where married businessmen sent drinks to young men they hoped to make contact with, and rough trade hung out under the marquee and in the basement restroom. Henry's is still pretty much the same although enlarged and with live music some nights, and the Van Orman was imploded for a parking lot after being used for a fire-department training site many years ago. It was a sad end to what once had been the city's premiere lodging.

 

Every Saturday night at least one or two carloads from Fort Wayne would head for Toledo's Scenic Bar (corner of Monroe and Erie, if my memory serves me). It was the first place I was ever in where men danced with men and openly flirted and cruised. It was noisy and lively and mostly friendly. I was 26 or 27 (late bloomer), and it was a real eye-opener. The cops used to park outside and look for excuses to harass the patrons, and sometimes they put underage male prostitute decoys on the street in the area.

Its great to see some more quality photos of Toledo!!

 

What I feel is really missing from Toledo posts are photos from the North side.  This seems to be a great neighborhood that completely gets overlooked.  Its very similar to west park in Cleveland.

I want more!

It feeds the photography beast. With its plethora of lake freighters, heavy industry, historic urban architecture, hot Lebanese chicks, and unique waterfront geography, Toledo has endless subject matter.

 

And it has a pretty damn cool hockey arena. Toledo > Dayton

 

*punch*

 

Great shots, Calvin.

^Actually, seven of these are from the North Side. :wink: See if you can guess which ones.

 

When I say Northside I'm thinking of the neighborhoods north of I-75 along W. Sylvania.  I guess the offical neighborhood is called Five Points.

 

I think you have three photos in the LaGrange and Old West End Neighborhoods...

you should do a thread on the Toledo Art Museum. After Cleveland's and Cincinnati's it's the best one in Ohio (it may even beat out Cincinnati's--not that this is some sort of contest!).

 

You're out of your damn mind. ;)

In the sixties, Toledo was a frequent Saturday-night destination for gays from Fort Wayne. Fort Wayne had a couple of places to go, but neither was fully out-of-the-closet; Henry's was a hangout for the theater crowd, and we were welcome so long as we didn't get too blatant. The Van Orman Hotel's cocktail lounge was right out of a 50s-60s movie; a dimly-lighted, subdued place with furtive cruising, where married businessmen sent drinks to young men they hoped to make contact with, and rough trade hung out under the marquee and in the basement restroom. Henry's is still pretty much the same although enlarged and with live music some nights, and the Van Orman was imploded for a parking lot after being used for a fire-department training site many years ago. It was a sad end to what once had been the city's premiere lodging.

 

Every Saturday night at least one or two carloads from Fort Wayne would head for Toledo's Scenic Bar (corner of Monroe and Erie, if my memory serves me). It was the first place I was ever in where men danced with men and openly flirted and cruised. It was noisy and lively and mostly friendly. I was 26 or 27 (late bloomer), and it was a real eye-opener. The cops used to park outside and look for excuses to harass the patrons, and sometimes they put underage male prostitute decoys on the street in the area.

 

I'll go up to take some pictures of these places, Robert, if you'll share more stories! These aren't being written down enough.

 

Toledo looks great.

Even though I've made the Cleveland to Detroit road trip several times, I was never able to stop and explore Toledo. Looks like that'll have to change.

^Actually, seven of these are from the North Side. :wink: See if you can guess which ones.

 

When I say Northside I'm thinking of the neighborhoods north of I-75 along W. Sylvania. I guess the offical neighborhood is called Five Points.

 

I think you have three photos in the LaGrange and Old West End Neighborhoods...

 

I think I know where you mean.  The area near Douglas and Sylvania has a housing stock very similar to Westpark.  As you head east of Douglas toward Detroit, it gets a bit more gritty, but definately photo worthy...the Mancy's steakhouse area.

Awesome pictures C-dawg...

 

 

^Actually, seven of these are from the North Side. :wink: See if you can guess which ones.

 

Cool I am looking forward too it.  I think that I have an aunt know now lives in New North Toledo.  Maybe I'll get to it first over Christmas?!

 

When I say Northside I'm thinking of the neighborhoods north of I-75 along W. Sylvania. I guess the offical neighborhood is called Five Points.

 

I think you have three photos in the LaGrange and Old West End Neighborhoods...

 

I think I know where you mean. The area near Douglas and Sylvania has a housing stock very similar to Westpark. As you head east of Douglas toward Detroit, it gets a bit more gritty, but definately photo worthy...the Mancy's steakhouse area.

 

That's an area I'm planning to explore next. North Toledo can be divided between "Old North End" (Vistula, Lagrange, Northriver) and "New North Side" (even though it's pre-WW2). The area you mentioned would be part of the latter since it's outside I-75/I-475. Nevertheless, there's some great architecture up there and I plan on covering the Five Points, Douglas, Phillips, Sylvania, North Detroit, and other good urban areas in the more overlooked parts of North Toledo. There are a lot of areas in Toledo I have never photographed.

When did the Fifth-Third Bank signage go up on One SeaGate?