Think of Insider Ohio as your friend on the inside, the one who always knows the best places to grab a drink, check out a band, see an art opening, and dine like a rock star. Our writers are locals, who live and work all across the Buckeye State, and it’s their job to scour the landscape in search of the state’s finest assets. Whether it’s a great bluegrass band in Cincinnati, an avant-garde art exhibit in Columbus, or a sublimely satisfying grilled-cheese sandwich in Cleveland, we’ve got the inside scoop on all things Ohio.
So, bookmark the site and use it as your personal “fun guide” to the great state of Ohio. And check back frequently, because this train slows down for nobody.
Managing Editor: Douglas Trattner
Though Douglas considers Cleveland his hometown, he has a bit of a soft spot for both Columbus and Cincinnati. He spent nearly 15 years living in the Buckeye capital, attending undergrad at O.S.U., law school at Capital University, and enjoying a brief starter marriage that took him through German Village and Bexley. While working for a Cincy-based company, Douglas had numerous occasions to visit and discover the wonderful Ohio River port city.
Douglas ditched the law career years ago in favor of a full-time freelance life. In addition to his role as Dining Editor for Cleveland’s alternative weekly, Scene, he is a frequent contributor to local, regional and national publications. He just completed “Moon Cleveland,” a guide book published by Avalon Travel. Douglas can be heard weekly on a top-rated morning radio show discussing Cleveland food and restaurants.
When he isn’t eating out for work, he is eating out for fun. Lately, he admits, he’s developed a bit of a dim sum addiction.
Managing Photographer: Scott Beseler
Scott,
an award-winning photographer, resides on the rivers' edge just south
of the Roebling Bridge in Covington, Ky, in what he describes is his
New York style dream loft, minus New York. In 2001, he graduated from
Indiana University of Bloomington with a Bachelor’s of Arts in
Journalism. As a freelance photographer for most of his career, Mr.
Beseler considers his photographic influence to be that of the
photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson and writer Hunter S. Thompson. This
style comparable to the Gonzo style of journalism, combines Scott’s own
captured vision of exaggeration, subjectiveness and heightened
perception of reality, while capturing the moment without interrupting
it. Pure joy for Scott is any opportunity to photograph friends,
music, art, and global culture. Scott is thankful for his humble and
notable roots in Cincinnati. Contributors of his professional
portfolio include City Beat, The Cincinnati Opera, Jean Robert de Cavel
Restaurant Group, The Art Academy of Cincinnati, Bang Nightclub,
Cincinnati Art Museum and The Academy Award Show of 2005. To see more
work from the days and nights of Scott, go to
TakeTheDay.com.