Good morning, Toledo!
Welcome to another edition of the Suburban Spotlight!
Every Thursday, we venture beyond Toledo’s city limits to highlight the communities, businesses, events, and local destinations that make Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan unique.
This week, we’re bringing you another collection of local news, upcoming events, restaurant recommendations, and places worth exploring throughout the Toledo area’s surrounding suburbs. Whether you’re looking for weekend plans, hoping to discover a new favorite spot, or simply trying to stay connected with your community, the Suburban Spotlight is here to help.
Thank you for supporting the local businesses, organizations, and people who make our region such a great place to call home. Let’s see what’s happening around the suburbs this week!
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Sylvania
Mindful Thursdays: Three Evening Classes to Reset Your Week
Thursday Classes at Toledo Mindfulness Institute
Thursday · 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Toledo Mindfulness Institute, Sylvania, Ohio
Choose from three transformative sessions: beginner-friendly Mindfulness Meditation (5:00-5:40 PM), strength-building Power Flow with Weights (5:45-6:45 PM), or gentle Kripalu Yoga (7:00-8:00 PM), each designed to help you slow down and reconnect with yourself.
Country Star Lee Brice Takes the Stage at Centennial Terrace
Lee Brice Live in Concert
Friday 8-11 PM
Centennial Terrace
The GRAMMY-nominated hitmaker behind "I Drive Your Truck" and "One of Them Girls" brings his chart-topping sound and 10+ billion streams to Toledo.
Sylvania Restaurant Recommendation: Inside the Five Brewing Company
Located in the heart of downtown Sylvania, Inside the Five Brewing Company is a full-service brewpub offering locally brewed craft beer, creative food, cocktails and a welcoming atmosphere. The original Sylvania location opened in 2018 and has since become a popular gathering place for the community.
Inside the Five was founded by former professional football players Chris Morris and Brandon Fields, along with Katie Fields. Its football-inspired name refers to the area inside an opponent’s five-yard line, while many of its beers also carry sports-themed names.
Visitors can choose from an ever-changing lineup of locally brewed beers, ciders and seltzers alongside burgers, sandwiches, shareable appetizers and other modern pub favorites. A full bar is also available for guests who prefer cocktails or wine. On Sundays, Inside the Five offers brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The brewpub’s downtown location makes it an excellent stop while exploring Sylvania’s shops and other local businesses. Inside the Five also offers The Fifth Floor, a private event space located above the restaurant with exposed brick, hardwood floors and views overlooking Maplewood Avenue and Main Street.
Inside the Five is located at 5703 Main Street in downtown Sylvania. The restaurant does not accept reservations, and the kitchen closes one hour before the brewpub.
Learn more and view the current menus, drinks, specials and events:
Perrysburg
Downtown Perrysburg Farmers’ Market
Downtown Perrysburg Market
Thursday 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Downtown Perrysburg
A weekly gathering featuring 66 vendors with fresh produce and handmade goods, 21 rotating food trucks, live music featuring Grape Smugglers and yoga sessions to kick off your market experience.
Paint, Arrange, and Unwind at This Creative Evening Workshop
Gather & Create: Painting & Flowers Experience
Friday 6:15-8 PM
Zoe’s Flower Stand
Paint your own vase with acrylics, then design a custom bouquet from a fresh flower bar in this relaxed, no-experience-needed workshop that includes all supplies and light snacks.
Perrysburg Restaurant Recommendation: Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
Located at Levis Commons in Perrysburg, Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano offers a comfortable and polished setting for enjoying classic Italian dishes. The restaurant’s spacious dining room and relaxed atmosphere make it a popular choice for date nights, family dinners, business lunches and special occasions.
The menu features a wide selection of house-made and imported pastas, pizzas, soups, salads, seafood, steaks and traditional Italian-inspired entrées. Guests can also enjoy freshly baked bread, desserts and a full selection of wine and cocktails. Gluten-free options are available for diners with dietary restrictions.
Biaggi’s also offers carryout, catering and private event options for occasions ranging from business meetings to rehearsal dinners and family celebrations. Its convenient location makes it an easy dining stop before or after exploring the shops and entertainment throughout Levis Commons.
Biaggi’s is located at 1320 Levis Commons Boulevard and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Learn more, browse the menu or make a reservation:
Maumee
Run for a Cause: Maumee River 5K Benefits Local Families
Heartbeat of Toledo Diaper Dash
Saturday 8:30 AM
5K Run & 1 Mile Walk
204 W. Wayne St., Maumee, OH 43537
A scenic 5K along the Maumee River and through uptown Maumee, benefiting Heartbeat of Toledo with diaper donations for local families in need.
Book Lovers Unite in Maumee This August
Pages of Glass: Romancing the Glass City
Saturday 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM
2901 Key St, Maumee, OH
Discover indie authors, shop unique bookish merchandise, and connect with fellow readers at this community celebration of all things literary.
Maumee Restaurant Recommendation: Side Cuts Sandwicherie and Saloon!
Side Cuts Sandwicherie and Saloon is a locally owned neighborhood spot serving fresh sandwiches, homemade soups, salads and drinks in Uptown Maumee. Located just a short distance from Side Cut Metropark, the restaurant’s name pays tribute to one of the area’s best-known outdoor destinations.
Owner Joel Thornton was born and raised in Maumee and spent approximately 20 years working at local favorite The Village Idiot before opening Side Cuts. His goal was to create a relaxed gathering place centered around high-quality food, locally sourced ingredients and a welcoming hometown atmosphere.
The menu features a variety of thoughtfully prepared sandwiches, including roast beef served on marbled rye with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, horseradish sauce and au jus. Guests can also enjoy homemade soup, salads and a full-service bar. Call-ahead ordering and catering are available as well.
Whether you are stopping in for lunch, grabbing dinner and a drink or looking for a bite after exploring Maumee, Side Cuts offers a fresh take on the classic neighborhood sandwich shop.
Side Cuts Sandwicherie and Saloon is located at 130 W. Dudley Street in Maumee.
Learn more and view the menu:
Bowling Green
Back-to-School 48 Hour Competition Films
Film fans can head to Bowling Green State University on Saturday evening for a screening of the Back-to-School 48 Hour Competition Films.
The event showcases short films created as part of a fast-paced filmmaking competition, giving participants just 48 hours to plan, shoot and complete their projects. The finished films will be presented at BGSU’s Wolfe Center for the Arts, offering audiences a chance to support local filmmakers and see what they were able to create under a tight deadline.
The screening begins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 1. The Wolfe Center for the Arts is home to BGSU’s Department of Theatre and Film and regularly hosts student and community productions.
Wood County Fair Returns for a Week of Summer Tradition
Wood County Fair
August 2nd - 9th 8 AM - 11 PM
Bowling Green, Ohio
Experience a week of family entertainment featuring 4-H exhibits, livestock shows, thrilling rides, live performances, and classic fair attractions including Birds of Prey and Sealion Splash shows.
Bowling Green Restaurant Recommendation: Trotters Tavern
Located near the Four Corners in downtown Bowling Green, Trotter’s Tavern is a cozy steakhouse and neighborhood pub that has been serving the community since 1994. Its relaxed, old-school tavern atmosphere makes it a great destination for a casual dinner, drinks with friends or a meal while exploring downtown Bowling Green.
Trotter’s is best known for its signature Little Brown Jug Steak, a longtime local favorite that has remained closely associated with the restaurant since it opened. The menu also features steaks, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, salads and other classic tavern dishes, along with a full selection of beer, wine and cocktails.
Guests can dine inside or enjoy the restaurant’s back patio bar when the weather cooperates. Trotter’s also accepts reservations and offers takeout and catering for those looking to enjoy its food at home or at a private gathering.
Trotter’s Tavern is located at 119 N. Main Street in downtown Bowling Green.
Learn more, view the menu or make a reservation:
Best of the Rest
Blues-Rock Talent Takes the Stage at Buffalo Rock Brewing
Ethan Timm Live Performance
Thursday 7-10 PM
Buffalo Rock Brewing, Waterville, Ohio
Experience soulful vocals and blues-influenced guitar work from an Ohio musician who blends classic rock hits with original songs and obscure covers in an unforgettable live show.
Craft Your Own Glass Art This Weekend
Shrooms & Drops Stained Glass Class
Three-hour workshop - Sunday Noon - 3 PM
Copper Moon Studio, Holland
Learn glass cutting, grinding, and soldering while creating a mushroom trio or raindrop design in this beginner-friendly class led by local artists.
Restaurant Recommendation: Cocina de Carlos
Located in Perrysburg, Cocina de Carlos is a locally owned and independent restaurant offering authentic Mexican food made from scratch. Owner and chef Carlos Mendez was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and the restaurant’s menu is inspired by family recipes and his goal of bringing the “True Taste of Mexico” to Northwest Ohio.
Guests can choose from a wide variety of tacos, burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and house specialties, along with fresh guacamole, queso and traditional Mexican sides. The restaurant also offers vegan and gluten-free choices and can accommodate many allergies or special dietary needs.
Cocina de Carlos also features an outdoor patio, a selection of beers on tap and more than 50 varieties of 100% agave tequila. A weekday lunch buffet is available Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Whether you are stopping in for a casual lunch, enjoying dinner with the family or meeting friends for margaritas, Cocina de Carlos offers a welcoming atmosphere and a fresh alternative to the typical chain restaurant.
Cocina de Carlos is located at 27072 Carronade Drive in Perrysburg, behind Kroger near Fremont Pike. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closed on Mondays.
Learn more, view the menu or make a reservation:
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Well that’s all for now, thanks for reading.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Sincerely, Eli