Mini-Vacation - Southeast Ohio Edition

Last week we took a mini-vacation to lovely southeast Ohio (specifically Nelsonville, with some side trips to Logan, Haydenville, and Athens). The main impetus of the trip was the chance to see Lucinda Williams at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville. We figured while we were down there we'd stay an extra night and catch the Ohio Valley Summer Theater's production of "Ragtime" in Athens.

Here's the executive summary of the trip:

1. Lucinda Williams - Awesome. Everything went pretty much as expected until she launched into a cover of "Salt of the Earth" (The Rolling Stones), which was just sort of weird.
2. Stuart's Opera House - Fantastic venue with great sound (It probably helped that Lucinda and her band (Buick 6) are total pros who play through responsibly sized amps).
3. Rhapsody - Nelsonville's best restaraunt. If you go on a weekend, make reservations.
4. Ragtime (The Ohio Valley Summer Theater) - Terrific. I'll admit upfront I was primed for some mid-level community theater antics. I'll admit too that I was very, very wrong. This was a fantastic production. Great band, great players, and a terrific little theater.
6. The Mead House - Sue (the proprietess) runs a clean, comfy B&B. She also knows the area, the attractions and local history.
7. The Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum - In the words of David Rees, if you haven't visited this museum, "consider the unfortunate turn you life has taken" and start driving. It's in Logan, as it should be.
8. Haydenville - Historic "company town" with homes and chrurches built from the ceramic bricks manufactured at the local plant. They make pallets there now.

And here's the pics to prove it happened.

Outside the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum, Logan, OH.

History-themed pencil sharpeners in the Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum

Rhapsody, Nelsonville, OH.

Lucinda Williams at Stuart's Opera House

The set of "Ragtime", Ohio Valley Summer Theater

Relaxing at the Mead House.

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