2008 saw a lot of campaigning for who would be the next President of the United States.  A lot of specialty groups popped up, raising money for the candidate they wanted most.  Now, almost 2 years later, a similar type campaign is happening in Northeast Ohio.  No, we’re not electing a President.  We’re trying to keep a King.

I’ve written before about our friends over at JustStay.net.  There’s also KeepBronBron.com.  Now there is a very polished site, LeBron2010.com.  A LOT of people want to keep LeBron in Cleveland, and a lot of money and time is going into it.  Do you think the King will stay?

I barely made it through the holiday Thursday- all the cooking, cleaning, eating and sub-sequential sleeping.  However, my energy and spirits have been brought back to life, and I’m ready for Christmas and the rest of the holiday season.  The reason is actually rooted in Akron.  My favorite holiday song, by Akron experimental new wave band, The Waitresses, is “Christmas Wrapping”.  The Waitresses were part of the historic punk/new wave scene in Akron that included Devo, The Bizarros, Rubber City Rebels, and more.

Sadly, there doesn’t seem to be any live performance or music videos of the song, but I did find this clip on YouTube:

We are quite excited to welcome Blimp City Bike & Hike to the community of locally-owned businesses, and to announce that they are now a destination for Rubber City Clothing t-shirts!  Opening today, Blimp City Bike & Hike is the brainchild of Akronite Andy Bixenstine.  He’s created a one-stop shop for all your outdoor adventure needs.  You can find equipment for biking & hiking, as well as apparel & accessories; plus a GREAT selection of Rubber City Clothing t-shirts.  Stop down to the Valley- 1720 Merriman Rd, Unit A and welcome this new business to the area!

Here is the official press release for the new shop:

Blimp City Bike & Hike to Hold Grand Opening in Akron

Shop features bicycles and outdoor apparel; will open for business the weekend of Nov. 27-29

AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 23 /PRNewswire/ — Given today’s difficult economic climate, small business ownership represents a challenging endeavor for anyone, much less a young, untested entrepreneur. But for Akron native Andy Bixenstine, 26, the decision to open a bicycle shop in his hometown was much like riding a bike, itself - productive, satisfying and nearly effortless.

Bixenstine is proud to announce the grand opening of Blimp City Bike & Hike (BCB), a full-service retail shop specializing in selling, servicing and renting quality bicycles. Located at 1720 Unit A Merriman Rd. on the Towpath Trail in Akron’s Merriman Valley business district, BCB will open for business just in time for the holiday shopping season the weekend of Nov. 27-29.

“On behalf of the greater Akron community and bicycle enthusiasts everywhere, it’s with tremendous pleasure that I announce the opening of Blimp City Bike & Hike, ‘Akron’s Headquarters for Adventure at Home,’” said Bixenstine. “BCB fulfills the need for a bicycle shop in west Akron, and I’m excited to serve the community by offering a dynamic product line that will have something to offer every bicyclist, no matter what age, interest or skill level.”

BCB will feature bicycles from several up-and-coming brands within the industry, including Kona and Felt, and a wide range of bicycle accessories to complement a full-service repair shop and extensive rental offerings. In addition to bicycle-related merchandise, BCB also will sport outdoor apparel, footwear and accessories from leading brands within the outdoor specialty industry.

Despite being a twenty-something entrepreneur without prior business ownership experience, Bixenstine has lofty expectations for his upstart bicycle shop. He intends for BCB to promote healthy living, serve as an environmentally-friendly business and help bolster the greater Akron economy.

“I’ve aspired to own my own business almost as long as I’ve been riding bikes,” Bixenstine said. “I take great pride in being an ‘Akronite,’ and it’s my hope that Blimp City Bike & Hike will enable me to give back to the community that has given me so much.”

About Blimp City Bike & Hike

Blimp City Bike & Hike (BCB), “Akron’s Headquarters for Adventure at Home,” is a full-service bicycle shop dedicated to offering exceptional customer service and competitive pricing. In addition to selling, servicing and renting quality bikes, BCB carries a full line of footwear, apparel and accessories from the outdoor specialty industry. Founded in 2009, BCB is located in Akron, Ohio, at 1720 Unit A Merriman Rd. in the Merriman Valley business district on the Towpath Trail at the southern border of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. For more information, please call 330-836-6600 or visit http://www.blimpcitybikeandhike.com.

Media Contact:
Matt Bixenstine
Public Relations Specialist
+1-330-571-1797
Matt@blimpcitybikeandhike.com

SOURCE Blimp City Bike & Hike

We would like to wish everyone in, from, or who has visited Akron a very Happy Thanksgiving! Don’t eat too much!

A local fashion blogger has given us a little shout out on her blog, AK2NY:

hometown shoutout: are you ak proud?

November 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment

We are VERY excited to announce a new partner for the holidays, BORDERS Books & Music in Fairlawn.  Thanks to the local pride & ingenuity by manager John B, he’s added Rubber City Clothing t-shirts to the variety of books, music, and merchandise available for the holiday season.

Along with their year-round great selection of local books, you’ll be able to find a section of local goods such as RCC t’s, Mr. Jingeling (from Higbee’s in Cleveland) merchandise, gear from our friends the Rubber City Roller Girls, and more!  Right now Borders has four RCC styles, but we’ll definitely replenish their stock!  Stop out & say hello to John when you pick up your shirts!

Here’s a little good news from the ABJ:

Cancellation of Christmas not an option

City telling Santa Claus he’ll be needed Friday

By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009

What’s Christmas without a little fun, and what’s Christmas without Santa Claus?

Budget cuts in the city have caused downsizing, but the city is not canceling Christmas, thanks to downtown merchants and area businesses.

”The holidays are alive and well in downtown Akron and we want to continue our big holiday presence,” Kimberlee McKee, president of the Downtown Akron Partnership, said Monday. ”The Holidayfest and Chriskindl Market will both take place at Lock 3, just on a smaller scale.”

In a publicity stunt Monday, McKee filed a missing person’s report for Santa Claus, just to make sure he isn’t under the impression festivities are canceled and he’s not needed for the traditional lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at 7
p.m., Friday, as well as the Welcome Santa Parade at noon Saturday in downtown Akron.

”It’s become an annual tradition to kick off the holidays in downtown with fireworks and the lighting of our Christmas tree,” McKee said. ”Unless we find Santa Claus before Friday, the holidays in downtown Akron just won’t be the same.”

Akron police Chief Craig Gilbride took the missing person’s report, vowing that Santa Claus, aka Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or St. Nick, will be found in time for the holiday events. In fact, the report states he was last seen at Lock 3 in Akron on Dec. 25, 2008, and ”never misses the festivities.”

McKee said the Downtown Akron Partnership contributed $8,000 for Friday night’s lighting ceremony and fireworks display. Other donations came from the Knight Foundation, the Akron Community Foundation, FirstMerit Bank, Goodyear, Bridgestone and a dozen other businesses.

Three Chemnitz, Germany, vendors will return to the city on their own, even though the city is not able to support the sister-city exchange. It will be the sixth year at Lock 3 for Mario Hausdorfer (glass ornaments), Frank Kuhnert (wooden items) and Georg Wolfe (ceramics). This year they will be joined at Chriskindl Market by local artisans, artists and craftsmen.

McKee said there will be different local vendors each weekend, so people are encouraged to visit often.

A new feature at this year’s market is the Everything Akron store operated by the Akron-Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, which will sell Akron hats, mugs, shirts, bags and office products.

Skating will still be available at Lock 3 for free. Skate rental is $2. The ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will remain open into January. Times vary and are listed on the city’s Web site, along with all other downtown festivities, at http://www.downtownakron.com or http://www.lock3live.com.

”Downtown Akron hosting the holidays in downtown Akron is such a great tradition, we just wanted to continue it,” McKee said. ”It should be a very fun evening for everyone.”

Today marks sort of an odd milestone in my life.  On November 13, 1999, I started my first job- at the Gap at Summit Mall.  That’s right, 10 years in clothing/retail.  Customer service, cash registers, mannequins, and lots of folding. Well, I did have the year and half that I worked in the showroom at Anna Sui- wholesale, not retail; and my brief stint at Scene didn’t involve clothing with the job (but I did do a lot of shopping).  Regardless, in 10 years, I’ve handled a lot of garments.

I’ll be completely honest, retail does have its moments.  It’s no secret that customers can be rude, obnoxious, messy, etc.  But when you meet the really nice ones, have a little conversation, help them get some great pieces, it makes it all worthwhile.

On my first day at Gap, they had me work on a display with light bulbs.  I think in honor of this day I’ll put some holiday lights up around the store.

Here I am last year at the RCC Kiosk- at Summit Mall, merging my old retail life with my new one.  Yeah, this pic has been used a few times, but I don’t have any others of myself at work.

This Saturday meet Deus Ex Comica author Adam Besenyodi at the Akron-Summit County Public Library in Fairlawn/Bath.  We’ve written a few times about Adam’s wonderful novel about rediscovering the comic books of his childhood as a married adult with a young son.  Even if you’re not a comic-book fan (I’m not), you’ll find it to be quite an enjoyable read.  Currently copies of the book are only available for purchase on Amazon or Lulu.com.  There will be copies for sale at the Author Talk.  Or, you can click here to track it down at one of the city’s fine libraries.

In addition, Adam is the blogger of Random Thoughts Escaping, one of my favorite local blogs.

Did you know that you can now shop for your favorite Akron merchandise online?  Our eclectic sister-store, Made in Akron just launched their website!  You can buy anything from Peanut Shoppe nuts to Goodyear Blimps to unique handmade local art to Rubber City Clothing t-shirts!  Click here & shop away!