AN alfresco dinner, Gathering in the Garden – An Evening Celebrating Unruly Arts at the Toledo Zoo was held July 23 at the Toledo Zoo’s Formal Gardens. Unruly Arts is a small studio that provides a nurturing, inclusive, and joyful environment supporting the artistic visions and needs of people with disabilities. The creative bunch, the unruly artists, have all kinds of handmade items for sale — from mugs, socks, and neckties to ornaments, purses, and more — at the Gallery Shop, which is at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. However, their creative work is done at the studio workshop, which is now at the zoo. For information call 419-280-7167.
Guests sipped cocktails as they strolled the zoo gardens and explored the new studio space for Unruly Arts. Then they sat for a delicious garden dinner. Artists and patrons spotted in the group included Amanda Lyons and her sister Shea Lambert, Pat Nowak, Joanne Lindsey, Karen and Tom Cole, Bob Kose, Sheri Plocek, Jonathan Somoza, and family Edmundo Somoza, Brigida Somoza, and Mark Somoza; artist Moody Shousher, and artist Jenny Schefft. All smiles were Joan Browne Kose, Unruly Arts board president.
THE Toledo Opera performed at a recent Party in the Park overlooking the Maumee River. Mezzo-soprano Julia Gries and soprano Sara Mortensen performed, accompanied by Artistic Director Kevin Bylsma. Toledo Opera General Director James M. Norman announced the 2026-2027 board leadership. Jennifer Poirier, president; Kate French, vice president; Maureen Brown, treasurer; William Mathis, secretary; Joel Gorski, immediate past president, and members-at-large John Fedderke and Houston Young. In addition to its elected officers, the three new board members are: Myra D.Merritt-Grant, Jeff Green, and James Hartung…