john amato

here is the long awaited, much anticipated, oscar nominated, toledo epic race team 15 video presentation featuring danielle briones, jim kirk, and john amato.

the awards ceremony takes place tomorrow at the toledo zoo. the video they received is of much higher quality - i still need to figure out this video compression thing. in addition to the video they also received a fancy photo collage made by danielle.

i never went over the full list of sites we had to visit, so here’s my top six locations and the final breakdown of the epic race.

top six:

1. snook’s dream cars in BG - i had no idea this place existed. jeff snook opened this museum to showcase all of his classic cars. there is also a display room with a bunch of antique type stuff.
2. mayor marge brown - she’s great. she one of the best dancers in the video.
3. cherry street mission - our guide, yolanda, is a spark plug. she’s full of energy and made us excited about the cherry street mission - something that isn’t typically exciting.
4. islamic center of greater toledo - i’ve been there so many times but i always enjoy going back.
5. devin vargas - we met devin and his father. they are both great guys. it’s easy to see why they are so successful after meeting them. it’s a great place for kids to train to learn hard work, discipline and that your dreams can come true.
6. maumee indoor theater - one of the first times i hung out with gym, we went here and saw casper. we were so cool. i haven’t been there in a while but the girls who work there are awesome and they let us dance on the roof. can’t beat that.

purpose of the epic race: to showcase what’s great about northwest ohio and dispel the myth that there is ‘nothing to do in toledo’.

site list:

1. one team mumber must donate blood - i nominated myself
2. visit a police officer, firefighter, or rescue worker and let them know how much you appreciate what they do for out community
3. visit the toledo area humane society and find out about the ‘foreclosure’ pets
4. visit with an elected official and ask them what they think of EPIC toledo
5. visit a senior living facility and find out what previous generations think about the upcoming Presidential election - we met with a man at swan creek retirement home. he took one of my beer bottle koozies
6. find out how many meals are served annually at the cherry street mission
7. fight hunger - visit a local food bank and make a donation
8. recycling station - do the green thing
9. recruit and epic member - i recruited myself
10. tarta - take a ride and snap a picture of the bus driver
11. visit a locally owned ethnic restaurant - after driving by it on the way to half of my high school football games and partying above it at pub st. george, we went to the greek restaurant manos. they’re greek salad had lettuce in it, but other than that it was delish.
12. view a live local band - we attended murphys jazz place
13. toledo-lucas county public library
14. local art gallery - we went to paula brown and danced with her dog
15. islamic center of greater toledo
16. toledo firefighters museum - this is only open on saturdays. we’re lucky we called and got it in early.
17. visit the st. francis mural on the east side of mcalear hall at lourdes college. this really isn’t labeled as well as it should be.
18. toledo museum of art - drew gave us a bit of a tour and pointed us in the right direction.
19. collingwood arts center - it used to be the st. ursula convent. it’s creepy and probably haunted.
20. locally-owned record store - culture clash, the best in ohio. ike gave us the in there.
21. ballet theater of toledo - they were absolutely awesome. we got to dance with their girls.
22. toledo botanical garden - pretty cool place that i’ve never been to. would be fun to take dywuan back.
23. the valentine theatre
24. toledo mud hens - drifty entered me in an onfield competition. we learned that i throw like a girl.
25. northwest ohio bike trails
26. bowling - interstate lanes baby. gotta support the lanes that sell the tressel t.
27. local baseball/softball league game - jkb softball rules!
28. raceway park
29. local golf course or driving range - we hit a few at the kids unlimited golf outing at sylvania country club
30. frisbee golf course at ottawa park
31. devin vargas gym
32. ice skating at tam-o-shanter nearly shattered my ankles. i’m convinced i’m not that bad.
33. tennis - saw andre george at ottawa park, the greatest athlete in cchs history (sorry tony), while playing.
34. toledo maritime center - that’s the new marina
35. fox tv - i really don’t watch tv, but it was cool to be in the news room.
36. jamieson’s audio/video - epic race sponsor. i love tvs.
37. whiskey ranch night club - we rode the bull and the bull won
38. billiards, pools or spa retailer - insideout recreation
39. maumee indoor theater
40. orchards - macqueens, where else
41. new chamber member
42. toledo express airport
43. shopping - meig in downtown pburg
44. architectural artifacts - very cool place in downtown toledo. they have a bunch of random old stuff. you could spend days looking around there
45. bowling green wind farm - i’ll go green, but i won’t go blue
46. inverness club - jim kirk can’t call himself a real golfer until he’s golfed here.
47. georgettes grounds and gifts - the epic race has forced me to become a coffee drinker after depriving me of so much sleep
48. the toledo zoo - the amazing amphibians exhibit, no so amazing
49. metro parks of toledo - we went to wildwood for the ice cream social
50. snooks dream cars
51. university of toledo rec center
52. local wine tasting - i like wine
53. festivals, festivals, festivals - the holland strawberry festival. the edge and i will find better ones this summer
54. perrysburg farmers market - love it. kettle korn, homemade bread, and local honey…mmmm
55. the butterfly house - support duke wheeler. go to his butterfly house
56. fort meigs - it’s not suicide hill, it’s st. rose hill
57. providence metro park/miami and erie canal - blah
58. frog statues
59. 577 foundation - the river walk is more of a walk to the river
60. dotoledo

video inspired by matt harding