June 2009

You find the most ridiculous images on google.

Okay, a couple of months ago we decided we’d be open on Sundays from 12-5.  That worked out pretty well for a while, but here’s the thing…it’s never fun to work on a Sunday, especially in the summer.  There’s always some festival/barbeque/concert/something better than working going on.  So, in honor of summer time fun, we will now be closed on Sundays.  Should a mob with torches and pitchforks insist that we be open on Sundays, we will certainly comply.  Until then, I’m out working on my tan….alright, I’ll be honest SPF 45!

While Akron is known as ‘The Rubber City’, we don’t really deal with rubber much these days.  I spent the last week in The Windy City and The Brew City, (Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively) and those cities certainly hold up to their nicknames!  It was so so so nice to have 7 days off from this house of t-shirts (though I still had a couple of work things to deal with, but that’s expected).  I haven’t been on a trip since last July, so this was long overdue.  Despite the ‘relaxation’ of not having to work, this trip was certainly a jam-packed busy adventure.  Plus I was travelling with my parents and brother.  Here are the details of said adventure:

Thursday, July 18th

Had to stop by the store in the morning to pick up a couple of things I had forgotten.  Went to my parents, where we of course left late.  Breakfast at Cracker Barrel then jumped on the turnpike and headed west.  Arrived in Chi-town around 6:30 in the evening, and checked into the very classy and historic Parker House Hotel.  Dinner at the nearby Exchequer Pub- deep dish Chicago pizza, which was very very cheesy.  Walked around Millennium Park post dinner and saw some really cool modern sculptures.

Friday, July 19th

Slightly late start to the day.  We had brunch at this lovely little chain cafe called Corner Bakery.  The menu looked so good that we proceded to eat there the next 2 mornings as well.  Headed to Soldier Field/Shedd Aquarium area.  We had hoped to go to the Shedd Aquarium, but there was a 3 hour wait to get into the building.  So instead, we hopped on a ferry that took us over to the Chicago Navy Pier (and provided an excellent view of the city).  Walked up and down the pier (kinda touristy, but cool).  Had a late lunch at Billy Goat’s Tavern (as in the old John Belushi/SNL skit “Cheezborger, Cheezborger.  No Pepsi, Coke.  No fries, cheeps”; and of the cursing the Cubs in ‘45 because the Tavern’s owner couldn’t take his pet goat to a World Series game fame).  I had been to the original Billy Goat’s back in ‘97 and again in ‘03, and for some reason, I was remembering it was really really good.  My memory served me wrong.  Back to the hotel to relax a bit, then off for more food (that’s what the Gorrings do best) at the Miller Pub right around the corner from our hotel.

Saturday, June 20th

A Chicago-style dog (but not from Superdawg...at Wrigley)

After another breakfast at Corner Bakery, went to the Lincoln Park Zoo.  This is a completely free zoo located in one of Chicago’s most beautiful park areas.  Being that it was about 85 degrees out, a lot of the animals were hiding inside.  The had a great lion/tiger/jungle cat house; and the gorilla house put you within a few feet of our closest-related species (except they lack opposable thumbs).  I was disappointed that there weren’t any elephants (those are my favorite), but it was a nice zoo.  After the zoo we drove to the far Northside to find ‘Superdawg‘.  Superdawg is one of a dozen or so restaurants featured on a 90’s PBS documentary on hot dogs.  My father watched that on a vacation to Hilton Head in ‘99, and since then he’s never been the same.  Everything is about hot dogs and/or sausages.  We’ve travelled near and far; the delirium even spread to me when I waited 2 1/2 hours by myself to get a Pink’s dog in Hollywood…twice.  I didn’t enjoy the full splendor of a Chicago-style dog, as I am not one for condiments, but was nice to knock another famous hot dog joint off the list.  Then back to the hotel, and onto another dining adventure….

Divine

I’m sure by now you can see that all my family does is eat.  And eat, and eat.  Hey, we enjoy life and I’m sure will someday enjoy the pleasures of a triple-bypass.  Oh, before I talk about the religious experience that was our late-night dinner, I should talk about the very cool experience of visiting the Sears Tower, the tallest skyscraper in these United States.  The 103rd Floor observation deck was closed, but we got up to the 99th Floor and it was quite a view.  I love city skylines and always get a little rush when I see them.  After heading back down to ground level, we hopped in a cab and headed over to the corner of Wells & Ontario, i.e. the gates of Heaven.  A few years ago, I saw a special on the food network about pizza in America.  New York thin crust vs. Chicago deep dish vs. California wacky toppings.  I’d been to the original Uno’s in Chicago, but Gino’s East caught my eye.  Specifically the layer of sweet delicious sausage rolled out on the entire diameter of the pie.  Oh, was it delicious!  The kinda flaky deep-crust, the gooey layer of cheese (not too much, just right), the glorious sausage, and then the wonderful sauce.  I then entered a pizza coma and don’t recall the rest of the night.

Sunday, June 21st

Father’s Day.  We took my dad down to Corner Bakery for breakfast and then off to Wrigley Field!  The Cleveland Indians were in town, and had lost the first two games of the series to the Cubbies.  If you haven’t been to Wrigley, you should.  I’ve been to a fair amount of ballparks, and nowhere else does baseball as purely as it’s done at Wrigley.  The fans are amazing, ever hopeful and optimistic.  My favorite team is the Yankees, and the Tribe are a close second, but I will always root for the Cubbies.  C’mon, it’s been 101 years since they’ve won a World Series (I even cried a little when Steve Bartman interfered with Moises Alou catching out #2).  Wrigley is a gorgeous stadium (the second oldest used in MLB) made of bricks & ivy.  The entire neighborhood around the stadium, Wrigleyville has the energy and devotion of the Vatican City; instead of Roman Catholicism, it’s the Cubs.

A Harry Caray/Cubbie t-shirt

One of my favorite things about the Cubs/Wrigley is Harry Caray, who served as the Cubs announcer for a number of years until his death in 1998.  I was lucky to hear him enthusiastically sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ (which he was quite famous for) back in ‘97.  Harry’s energy during the 7th inning stretch is still alive today.  The Cubs beat the Tribe, sweeping the series.  Will this be the year?  I think if the Cubs can finally do it, any Cleveland team might have a shot.  Walked around Wrigleyville post-game, then back to the hotel.  Dinner at Lawry’s (as in the seasoning salt) and then off to bed.

Monday, June 22nd

Left the Windy City, onto the Brew City.  Got into Milwaukee, relaxed a bit.  Dinner at Noodles & Co. (a wonderful chain kind of like Chipotle or Metroburger with all kinds of noodle/sauce combos.  Walked along the shores of Lake Michigan.  Nice little day.

Tuesday, June 23rd

This is a day that will live in infamy.  Started off with a light breakfast at the Kilowatt restaurant in the hotel, then onto Miller Valley, the headquarters of the Miller Brewing Co.  We did a tour of the Brewery and learned the rich history of Miller, ‘The Girl in the Moon’ and brewing in Milwaukee.  Stood in a room of 500,000 cases of beer; saw bottles & cans being filled, even went into a 107 degree Brew House.  The tour was capped off with a complimetary tasting, of 3 delicious Miller brews, including the High Life.

The events that transpired next I will never forget.  We had tickets to see the Brewers play the Twins.  Miller Park (yes, same Miller- couldn’t escape them that day) is a gorgeous modern stadium.  And the food selection is top notch.  Much like Cleveland’s racing hot dogs, Miller Parkactually started the trend with the ‘Sausage Race’.  When I went to Miller Park back in ‘03, there were 4- an American Hot Dog, an Italian Sausage, a Polish Sausage, and a German Bratwurst.  And there is ‘Sausage Race’ merchandise- t-shirts, figurines, plush toys, etc.  At the time, my dad suggested in order to get a t-shirt (that he bought, not a contest by the park), we’d have to eat all 4 sausages.  It was a little tough, but it was done.  Well, now Miller Park has added numero cinco, a Spanish Chorizo.  5 sausages?  I’m not 19 anymore.  I can’t just eat whatever I want.  But the challenged was proposed, and I accepted.  I won’t really explain how it went down (there may have been a drawing out of a hat to determine the order), view for yourself:

Numero uno: El chorizo

Round 2: Invade Poland

#3: The All-American hot dog

Il numero quattro: Italiano

Die letzte wurst: Der Deutscher.

Equal parts victory and shame.

I ate all that sausage and all I got was this t-shirt.

End of day.

Wednesday, June 24th

Left Milwaukee, but not without stopping (like fools) at Usinger’s Sausage Haus and at the Wisconson Cheese Mart.  After loading up on several pounds of meat & cheese (to bring back home, not eat then!) we jumped on 80/90 East.  We did stop briefly at Tony Packo’s, that wonderful Hungarian restaurant famous for their Packo’s dogs and being mention on M.A.S.H.  Yes, I did eat one more sausage, though I was obscenely full still.  Then we got home just before midnight.  Now here I am.

***Note: if you are feeling a little green with stomach envy, some of the places I mentioned do ship to Ohio- I’ve provided links***

Well, I know I said that I would give updates and whatnot while on vacation; but after a somewhat exhausting work week, an even more exhausting attempt to get my family on the road, a 6 hour car ride, and going around Chicago the first day, I was TIRED.  The idea of doing any sort of work appealed to me none (that and I got a lecture from my father about being on VACATION- and not doing work). 

I have to say, while being in another place and doing all kinds of new and interesting things is great; one of the most freeing things about this trip has been not being ‘online’.  Going the past 4 1/2 days without Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace has been wonderful.  I seem to recall it’s kind of like what the 90s felt like, before you were on AIM or updating your ’status’ ALL THE TIME.  If you can’t afford to take an actual vacation, and you really don’t have time to do a ’stay-cation’ (those seem to be really popular these days), then I highly recommend tuning out of the social online world for just a couple of days.  I already feel 10 years younger!  Okay, I don’t.  But that is because I am on an actual vacation, a very busy one at that….

I will have all kinds of pics & great stories to share about Chicago & Milwaukee when I get back Wednesday/Thursday.  In the meantime, take a ’stay-cation’ to Rubber City Clothing or Made in Akron.  You are sure to see and learn things about Akron you have never seen/known before!

So unless you’ve been living under a rock (no offense to people who live under rocks intended), you are probably at least somewhat aware that there is a recall vote for Akron’s Mayor Don Plusquellic tomorrow, Tuesday June 23rd.  DO NOT FORGET TO VOTE!  Akron is an All-American city and the thing that makes America so great is our democratic process through which the will of the people is heard and carried out.  So regardless of your stance on the issue of the recall make sure that you get out there and make your voice heard! 

Of course, even if you don’t live under a rock this whole Recall thing can be pretty confusing, but never fear!  RCC is here to help!

First of all, you may be wondering what a Recall even means.  Basically, Akronites will be voting on whether or not Mayor Plusquellic should keep his job.  A vote FOR the recall means that you believe that the mayor should be removed from office, while a vote AGAINST the recall means that you believe that the mayor should remain in office for the remainder of his term which started in 2007. 

So which way should you vote?  RCC isn’t here to tell you that.  We believe in the American spirit of democracy and in the ability of informed and educated citizens to use their best judgement in guiding the direction of this city.  So if you haven’t had a chance to read up on both sides of the argument, now is your chance!  RCC has even done some of the leg work for you!

The pro-recall website is here –> http://www.changeakronnow.com 

The anti-recall website is here –> http://www.citizensforakron.com 

And after you’ve read what both sides have to say, you can read up on what other people have been saying about the recall here–> http://www.ohio.com

Once you have read up on the facts and made up your mind, you’ll be all ready to vote tomorrow!  Akronites will be voting at their regular polling locations unless you got a letter from the Board of Elections saying otherwise.  If you have a question about where your polling location is you can contact the Board of Elections at 330-643-5200. Polls open between 6:30 and 7:30 am.

So now RCC has hooked you up with all the info so you have NO EXCUSE to not get out there and vote tomorrow!  And remember, this recall has sparked a lot of heated discussion and debate, but when it is all over we will all still be waking up on Wednesday morning in beautiful Akron, Ohio.  It is our city.  We love it.  So let’s be all be ready to move forward together with the best interests of the city in mind no matter what the outcome of the vote may be.

RCC would like to wish all the fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, and father figures out there a very Happy Father’s Day!  It’s not an easy job and we are all so grateful to the wonderful men who do it (even if you sometimes embarass us in front of our friends or refuse to ask for directions). 

And to all you procrastinating offspring out there who still haven’t gotten dad a gift yet, you still have until 9pm tonight to make it down to RCC!  Just imagine the look of shame on your sibling’s faces when your dad unwraps his spankin’ new Akron swag and officially declares you his favorite child!  Victory! 

Just don’t wait until tomorrow because we will be closed so that we can shower our own fathers in swag (and love)!

So as many of you already know, our lovely manager Sarah is on a MUCH deserved vacation so the rest of the RCC crew is here holding down the fort in her absence.  The picture is proof that we have been succesful in our most basic task of not letting the store burn to the ground.  High fives all around!

So of course I’m joking, but I will say that in Sarah’s absence it is all the more clear how much she does around here!  We are glad that she is finally getting some down time and hope that she enjoys her vacation, but we will all be happy to have her back!

In the meantime, we are all learning a lot.  For instance, I just learned how to post a picture to a myspace blog!  Ta-da!  Today I also learned how to ship out internet orders - also very thrilling.  I know that you are all super impressed.

So all joking aside, things here at good ol’ RCC are as wonderful as ever.  We have an AWESOME new display front-and-center which features a bunch of new Akroncentric merchandise.  We’ve got sauce from Crave, the old school tire ash trays and inflatible blimps from Goodyear, authentic and (deliciously retro) canvas bags with the Rolling Acres logo, Akron Aero’s mini-bats and oh so much more!  That’s right, folks!  RCC has more than just our amazing tee’s!  We are your one stop shop for all things Akron (and awesome - don’t forget awesome)!  Come on down and ch-ch-check it out!

“Vacation all I ever wanted….vacation had to get away!!!”  (Vacation…not all the drug use and promiscuity that was revealed on ‘Behind The Music’)  That’s right kids, yours truly (SarahG) is finally getting a vacation after a long year of t-shirts, bullsheet, and shameless self-promotion.  This Thursday I will be trading the Rubber City for the Windy City (Chicago) and then the Brew City (Milwaukee).  7 whole days of not having to be here….I can’t wait.  Don’t get me wrong, I love you all & love my job, but I love not having to work far more.

I won’t be completely free.  I am going to whip up some bullsheet for you on the road.  You’ll get to hear all about the Gorring family antics, the way-too-much-food consumed, the Cubbies game vs. the Tribe, the Sausage Race at Miller Park and the coinciding 5 sausage eating contest my dad, brother, and I will take on.  (For those of you who don’t know, the Gorrings are a people that will travel far and wide for a tubed meat, and baseball.)  Real play by play action!

It is sure to be a very very interesting time.  The first full-on Gorring vacation in the last 6 years.  I hope I make it out alive!

There is a mayoral recall election next Tuesday in Akron.  Not taking sides.  Just sayin’…….

Special thanks to UA Buchtelite writer Eric Rosso for writing a story on Rubber City Clothing and Made in Akron.  His story was submitted to www.ohio.com (the ABJ site) and published!!!

Rubber City Clothing showcase Akron Culture

Rubber City Clothing, Made In Akron

UPublish story by Eric Rosso

POSTED: 04:34 p.m. EDT, Jun 12, 2009

Akron isn’t the biggest or best known city. It doesn’t have an iconic skyscraper or picture perfect skyline. Akron isn’t known for being a cultural hub brimming with fashion and art. But, one locally owned and operated clothing company is changing that.

Rubber City Clothing, 18 North High Street, is an Akron-based clothing company that Ed Gaffney started in 2004. The company was started as a way to show off hometown pride. Since Rubber City Clothing’s inception, the company has expanded from silk screening shirts out of Gaffney’s home to operating out of their recently renovated building in historic downtown Akron and adding sister store, Made In Akron, 16 South Highland Ave in Highland Square.

The shirts Rubber City Clothing designs distill Akron culture through a few words or an image. The most popular shirt has Akron written over a skull and cross bones with the saying ‘Where the Weak are Killed and Eaten’ underneath it. Another shirt that has been popular, especially lately, was one with the saying ‘Akron Witnessed First’ playing off Nike’s “We Are All Witnesses” line for their Lebron James marketing campaign. Even Cav’s star Lebron James has been spotted wearing the shirt.

General Manager Sarah Garring says that the clothing line creates a sense of community among Akronites.

“Wearing our t-shirt shows that you have hometown pride,” says Garring. “Or a good sense of humor.”

Jason Haas, a research analysis for Summit County’s Department of Development and owner of several Rubber City Clothing t-shirts, shares that sentiment.

Hass says, “The shirts are always spot-on about local culture, often with humor and gentle mockery. I remember a shirt RCC doesn’t sell anymore that had head shots of Mayor Plusquellic and Jane Campbell. It said ‘Our mayor is better than yours.’”

Despite the economic downturn, Rubber City Clothing shows no signs of slowing down. The company has recently renovated its North High Street store in May. Garring said the old store set up was cramped, making it hard to display all of the shirts. The company also serves as the exclusive distributors for British rock band The Pretenders. Singer Chrissie Hynde grew up in Akron and attended Kent State University before forming The Pretenders.

In April, the company introduced Made In Akron. Made In Akron is a new store dedicated to showcasing an assortment of locally made products, including art, food, and t-shirts. Made In Akron even features Akron-based clothes from competitors of Rubber City Clothing.

“It’s not about competition,” says Made In Akron General Manager Elizabeth Tyran. “It’s about bringing everyone together through art and local business.”

At Made In Akron, you can find items ranging from Rubber City Clothing t-shirts to Grabham Chocolates to local folk and pop art. All of the products are based out of Akron.

The growth and expansion of the company is mostly due to word of mouth, according to Garring. Often times, customers will wear the shirt and a fellow Akronite will see it and inquire where they got it from. Garring says a lot people who worked at Goodyear Tire Company and have moved out of state will call the store looking to order the t-shirts. Many Rubber City Clothing shirts reference Akron’s ties to Goodyear and being the rubber capital of the world.

The company is currently using social networking sites to expand its reach through word of mouth, or tweet of mouth if you will.

“If you can reach directly out to people through Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, you are able to reach a lot of people with ties to the city who may not have heard of the company,” says Garring.

Rubber City Clothing website, www.rubbercityclothing.com, also has an email list that you can sign up for to receive all the latest news on the company. If you sign up for the list, you receive a themed monthly newsletter with discount codes often included. Made In Akron is currently in the process of setting up its website.

Both Rubber City Clothing and Made In Akron show no signs of slowing down in the coming months. Over the summer, Rubber City Clothing is reaching out to the community to let them know about the company. Every Friday at Lock 3, Rubber City Clothing will have a booth at the Farmer’s Market. They will also be participating in the annual Italian Festival and are the main merchandiser for the Hamburger Festival. You can also currently buy the shirts at stores in Quaker Square and the John S. Knight Center.

Made In Akron will continue to develop the new store over the summer, seeking out local Akron artists and business. The new store also encourage local artists and businesses to come to them if they want their product sold in the store. Tyran feels honored to represent and help the local Akron economy.

Saturday I had the pleasure of going to see my very first Women’s Flatrack Roller Derby bout.  What is that you say?  Well, I’ll tell you.  Women’s Roller Derby is one of the fastest growing amateur sports in the country, and by far becoming the most popular women’s sport.  Believe it or not, Akron has not one, but TWO Women’s Roller Derby teams, The Northeast Ohio Rock n’ Roller Girls and The Rubber City Roller Girls.

I could try to explain the rules and jist of Roller Derby to you, but I feel that would be quite ineffective.  The announcer for NEO Roller Girls, Panic, tried explaining the sport to me.  At 5′3″ a lot of things go over my head, but this thing went WAY over my head.  In order to truly understand Roller Derby, you have to see Roller Derby.  And that is precisely how I spent my Saturday evening.  My friend Elizabeth of Made in Akron fame was supposed to go with me, but had also promised a friend that she would go to the limited run of Godspell at First Grace United Church of Christ, which I heard was very good.  (B-T-Dubs, if you haven’t yet, go check out The Market Path in Highland Square.  It’s a fair-trade goods store that works with Ten Thousand Villages bringing in unique goods from all over the world, that is operated by the fine folks at First Grace United.)  Okay, tangent over, I ended up taking my parents along to the derby bout.  Oh boy….

We got up to the Summit County Fair Grounds in Tallmadge to see the NEO Rock n’ Roller Girls bout against the Fort Wayne, IN S.W.A.T. team.  We arrived just before the bout started and grabbed a seat on one of the 14 packed bleachers.  Most fans were dressed pretty casually, but quite a few got really done up for the bout.  There were groups of kids with fake tattoos and their hair spray-painted green and purple (the NEORRG colors); lots of high socks and eyeliner in homage to the Roller Girls; and there were even a couple of girls in brightly colored outfits with glitter and feather headresses (I assume maybe a throwback to 70’s women’s roller derby).  My ultra-conservative Liz Claiborne-clad mother felt a little ‘out of her element’ as she put it, but she trooped through it just fine.

At 6pm the bout began.  Panic, a good friend of RCC, announced the teams while sharply dressed in a tux.  First the S.W.A.T. Team came out and skated around the room as each player’s name and number were announced.  Next came NEORRG.  The crowd went wild.  And let me just say, I think my favorite part of Roller Derby is name/number.  These girls come up with the best names.  For example, there is ‘Scarlett GoDancin’ and her number is π (that’s Pi=3.14……) or my favorite, B.F. Goodbytch.  Next the rules of flatrack roller derby were announced and demonstrated.  Again, not really registering.  You really have to see it in action.  The bout consists of two 30 minute periods diveded up into several 2 minute bout sessions.  When the first bout started, 10 girls (5 from each team) were out on the floor.  There were 2 leaders (one from each team), 6 girls in the ‘pack’ (3 from each team), and 2 ‘jammers’ (one from each team).  The object of the bout is for the jammer to get past the pack, and lap them as many times as possible to earn points.  Obviously the team with the most points wins.  The first half was very very very close.  At half-time there was a musical performance.  During the second half, NEORRG started really kicking ass, thanks to their team captain ‘Taking Names’.  The bout ended with NEORRG crushing S.W.A.T. 92-47.

I strongly, strongly encourage you all to go to a Roller Derby bout.  It is non-stop action, and quite a bit of fun, even when the clock isn’t going.  The next NEORRG bout is August 29th.  The Rubber City Roller Girls will be bouting this coming Saturday, June 20th at the John S. Knight Center.  You can purchase tickets on their website or at the door. Sure to be a great time!  I would go, but I’m trading the Rubber City for the Windy City this weekend (more on that later).  I’ll catch RCRG at their July bout.

And…….did you know that you can get a variety of super-awesome NEORRG and RCRG gear at Rubber City Clothing?  We proudly carry both teams’ apparel.  I don’t have them available on the website because quantities are limited, but come check them out!  My obscenely chesty mannequin is sporting a roller derby shirt right now.

By the end of the bout, I was sitting there trying to think of what my roller derby name would be.  I’ll let you know if I come up with anything good, but I don’t think I’ll be roller-derbying any time soon.  Those girls took a lot of hits, jabs, and wipe-outs on the floor.  I’m far too soft for that.  Just being honest.