Revival and Square Records – Akron Holiday Shopping – Parts 2 and 3

Revival and Square Records

If you’re from Akron you’ve probably already stopped by both of these ultra-cool shops, so this one may be for the out-of-towners. They’re located right next to each other and make for fun destinations to haunt before a night out in Highland Square. We’re lucky to have these guys anchoring this district.

Revival
822 West Market Street
(330) 762-4845
www.revivalresale.com
(Call for hours)

For close to five years Revival has been the ultimate purveyor of used and new fashions in the Akron area. I’m not just talking about Nikes and used American Eagle apparel. Brother-sister team Adam and Robyn carefully select the hippest T-shirts, shoes, coats, hats, and more to make sure you look cool as heck for a night out on the town or just hanging around the house. You’ll find amazing designs from Campfire, Revivalist, and more. Amazing work by local artists cover the walls.

I’m not a huge fashionisto, but I can’t help stopping in here every few weeks to see what’s new.

***

Square Records
824 West Market Street
(330) 375-9244‎
www.squarerecordsakron.com
Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday-Monday 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

With iTunes and file sharing taking a chunk out of the music industry pie, Square Records is holding its ground. Very few places in the Akron area will you find an amazing array of new and “lightly loved” LPs and CDs. Co-owner Dave and his wife Juniper are usually on hand to make suggestions; a nice personal touch you won’t find on a Web site.

If you’re a record collector this is a little slice of heaven. Want to revisit your high school years? You can pick up an AC/DC LP for under five bucks. You’ll also find classics from Sub Pop, SST, and Dischord as well as R&B, lounge, and movie soundtracks. Looking for something a little more local? You’ll find it here, from the Devo to teen groups giving their homemade CDs away for free.

Want the ULTIMATE Akron experience? Stop by and check it out. This is Black Keys central, folks.

Don’t forget to check out the local artist gallery in the back as well as the hip T’s, zines, books, coasters, ash treys and more. Pet the kitty on your way out.

Funky Hippy Vintage – Akron Holiday Shopping – Part One

Funky Hippy Vintage Store-Akron, OH

Funky Hippy Vintage
716 Grant St.
330-434-9092
www.myspace.com/thefunkyhippy
Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

There are some vintage stores that scour Goodwill for anything that may appear to vintage and mark them up 1000% regardless of the condition and then there are those that I think really do enjoy selling quality retro apparel. This is such a store.

The Funky Hippy is a really tiny single-room shop, but is packed with fun coats, hats, shirts, skirts, incense, lamps, ashtrays and more from the ’60s-’80s. Included in the mix are recently made clothes and works of art from Akronites.

I particularly enjoy the variety of retro sunglasses underneath the checkout counter. (Oooh la, la!) Make sure to take in the psychedelic posters covering the walls. The Funky Hippy also specializes in dresses and outfits for special events. Hip prom-goers should totally check out these gowns before heading to the mall.

The staff is super-friendly and knowledgeable. Parking is available in a lot across the street. The store’s only drawback is that credit cards are charged through PayPal, which can be a little time consuming if you’re on the run.

It’s an Akron freak out, baby!

Shea butter? I’m listening . . .

North Hill African Market

North Hill African Market
212 E Cuyahoga Falls Ave
(330) 374-1168
Akron, OH 44310

Looking for something other than Mexican, Italian or traditional steaks for dinner? The North Hill African Market isn’t exactly mind-blowing, but it has some really cool stuff. Hold your nose, it can be a little stinky depending on the merchandise and weather.

The last time I stopped in they had a HUGE shea nut they were scooping for butter. Interesting spices, sodas, veggies and other sundries.

Sorry for the late and short post as well as the poor photo. I’m ready for bed.

Warning, may contain real fleas . . .

North Akron Flea Market
214 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave.
Akron, OH 44310

North Hill has some of my favorite odds ‘n ends spots, many of which appear on a small stretch of Cuyahoga Falls Ave. The Akron area has several small flea markets that I’m sure I’ll get around to posting, but I would like to highlight this one first.

The North Akron Flea Market has several dealers in one location, but it’s open every day, unlike many other flea markets, which are weekend-only. You’ll find the usual junk, such as broken baby dolls, Pentium 1 computers covered with cat fur (I hope) and Metallica stickers, and tons of janky furniture. Don’t miss the display of bongs and pipes, including one that is a full gas mask with a glass chamber near the mouthpiece.

Among the piles are a few gems. Someone is trying to get rid of an entire Star Trek toy set with the full crew represented by action figures in a really cool Next-Gen Enterprise that lights up. My favorite items at any market/garage/tag sale, are Akron-oriented items. Goodyear tire ashtrays are great for keeping your lose change on your dresser. Stan Hywet once sold some really fun beer steins, which I believe I found a few of stashed in an aisle of glassware.

Although it’s a little difficult to find, there are stairs to a basement full of more goods. I said a little prayer before I put my first foot on the steps. I’m pretty sure they’re almost a century old and don’t look like they can take too many more husky gentlemen such as myself.

The lower level has a variety of knickknacks and several boxes of LPs with some local recordings, including a live Rex Humbard Family Singers record. My favorite corner has a shelf full of antique beer cans that are worth a few minutes of perusing.

I’m not sure what the phone number is but the posted hours are Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 6 p.m.

Akron Book Tour (the final chapter . . . for now), Part Three-The Bookseller

The Bookseller
39 Westgate Circle
Akron, OH 44313
330 865-5831
www.thebooksellerinc.com

Sorry for not posting for a long time. My digital camera was out of the country for a few weeks.

I’ve saved the best for last. Bookseller is just behind a popular strip on West Market Street in the Wallhaven district, but it’s easy to miss. For the first seven or eight years I lived here I had no idea it existed until I picked up a friend at an apartment across the street. Bookseller specializes in antique books, posters, maps, Akron collectibles, and first editions, with a healthy dose of trade paperbacks to boot.

When you first arrive take a gander at the leather-bound classics and reference books on your right. The hardwood shelves are brimming with art reference, literary texts, and some pop. I picked up a first edition of Kurt Vonnegut’s Dead Eye Dick for just $12.75.

There are plenty of other treasures to be found for nerds like me. There’s a small selection of movie posters from the past fifty years piled in a corner and lining the walls, including an original Woody Allen Bananas (1971) 41 x 27 full sheet. If you’re a manga fan there’s a section for you as well.

Aside from the posters and maps, my favorite is the selection of Akron history books. Many concentrate on the city’s metropolitan history, while others touch upon the agricultural side. I like learning as much as I can about my hometown, so this a good place to stop for research after the Summit County Library archives.

Browse, find something fun, and be sure to pet the chubby Pug on your way out. He’s really old.

Akron Book Tour, Part Two—Snowball Books

Snowball Bookshop
564 W. Tuscarawas Ave
Barberton , Ohio 44203
330-745-9292
http://www.biblio.com/bookstores/snowball.html

I usually only visit Barberton for two things: fried chicken and Snowball Books. Located on the Tuscarawas strip just a few doors down from the gorgeous Lake Theater (wait for the Akron-area cinema tour), Snowball has a highly organized, extensive selection of new and old books.

While browsing the UFO/Bigfoot/Supernatural section (my favorite) I ran into one of the three cats that make their home inside the store (see above photo). They’re happy to accept petting while you take a seat in the many padded chairs available as you flip through your selections.

Just when I thought I had seen the entire store I discovered a second room and a basement filled with even more hardcovers and tchotchkes.

If I had to describe Snowball in one word it would probably be “cozy.” Visit the above Web site to view over 60,000 books they have stored in stacks.

Akron Area Book Tour, Part One—Buckeye Books

I’m a huge book nerd and although I do stop into Borders and Barnes and Noble to pick up brand new copies of the hottest titles, I still enjoy reading first edition hardcovers and paperbacks from years past. The Akron area harbors only a handful of independent booksellers that offer vintage printings, so I thought I would highlight my favorites in a series over the next few weeks.

Buckeye Books
795 Brittain Rd.
Akron, OH 44305
(330) 794-2455
www.buckeyebookshop.com

Buckeye Books has been a mainstay in the Chapel Hill area for several years but remains tucked away on Brittain Road between strip clubs and discount furniture shops. Their storefront is unassuming, and for quite a while I thought it had been abandoned. What you will find inside are piles of classics and hardback fiction and nonfiction that could take days to sort through individually.

What I love about this store is that I have discovered books I never knew existed among the stacks that I immediately purchased and devoured. If you’re looking for a New York Times best seller you might find it, but it’s what you don’t have on the Oprah reading list that will draw your eye. Among the rarities you will also find fun hardcover copies of classic genre novels like Cujo or Dandelion Wine.

On your first visit give yourself the opportunity to scan the shelves with an open mind and pull out anything that catches your fancy. Two weeks ago I picked up the book Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World (as shown above), which I remember flipping through at my high school, but couldn’t find again at book sellers or the Summit County library system. It’s available on Amazon, but I never would have thought about it again if I hadn’t dropped by.

You can search their Web site for available titles online, but I prefer spending a quiet rainy afternoon looking for the books I didn’t plan to find. The friendly staff is more than happy help you find the perfect late-night read. Call for hours.

Taqueria de Akron

Taqueria Rancheros
286 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave.
Akron, OH 44310
(330) 258-2910

Late at night Taco Bell is pretty dang tasty, but if you’re looking for some truly original Mexican treats you’ll have to moonwalk your butt to Taqueria Rancheros.

David, the owner, grew up just outside of Mexico City and brought the flavors of his hometown to Akron. This North Hill eatery has been around for almost five years, but it seems to still be a new discovery to the average Akronite. The menu may appear to read like regular Tex-Mex American restaurant fare, but don’t be fooled. Each plate is specially prepared with traditional meals made from scratch, sometimes with tongue and cactus.

This restaurant is really small. There’s a single table as well as a tiny counter for those who wish to eat-in, but other than that, it’s all takeout.

David was doing so much business with the local Hispanic community that he decided to open a Latino market right next door. This is a great place to pick up special peppers, beans, and sauces to impress your friends on those special dinner nights.

Remember to bring cash, because credit cards are not accepted. Parking directly in front of the location(s) on Cuyahoga Falls Ave. is prohibited, so plan on turning onto a side street. Call for hours.

Photos of the food can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Taqueria+Rancheros
(These are not my photos, I’m only linking to them.)

The Lamp Post

I know I said that the blog would start up again in May 2009, but things got a little crazy. Let’s get back into it!

The Lamp Post
2081 E Market St.
(330) 733-5308

As you can tell from previous posts, I’m a fan of food challenges. When I drove past the super-hip greasy spoon the Lamp Post a few weeks ago I couldn’t help but notice the challenge painted on their window: The He-Man Breakfast. This is a true heart-clogger only those with stomachs of steel and bowels of brass can take on: three eggs (any way you like ’em), two meats (patties, links, or bacon), pancakes or French toast, two massive servings of hash browns, two slices of toast (white or wheat), and the required biscuits and sausage gravy, all served on a gigantic pizza platter.

The first time I visited the restaurant there was a gentleman who brought in two fish he had caught in Lake Erie. While the cook sliced, diced, and fried them up he told us he had two He-Mans in the same night. I don’t know if he was joking, but I wouldn’t try it myself. Just take a look at the photo and let me know what you think.

The Lamp Post is currently (as of this posting) open 24/7. When the bars close at 2:30 a.m. it’s supposedly packed with a crowd ready to either fight or pass out. Even when you visit during daytime hours expect to sit next to both the upper crust and the hoi palloi. There’s no question you’ll be referred to as “Honey” by the gracious wait staff.
Enjoy.

Interesting Akron will return in May 2009

Sorry I haven’t posted in a long time. The weather and other factors have kept me from blogging. I plan on starting the blog back up in May 2009 and will be updating every two weeks, as opposed to every week. Let me know if you have any suggestions!