Arts + Culture

At the Spotted Owl, Christmas is coming early for cocktail lovers with a themed pop-up bar
From making pilgrimages to the A Christmas Story House to downing 30,000 barrels of Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Clevelanders take holiday celebrations very seriously. This year offers a significant addition for The Land’s yuletide revelers: a bar dedicated entirely, for just over a month, to Christmas cheer.
'Tis the season: Holiday tree goes up today in Public Square
Let it snow, and let it glow and sparkle. That’s what the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) elves have in mind this week as they busily prepare Public Square for the holidays and the upcoming Winterfest on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Decorating is already in full swing, but will officially kick off today, Tuesday, Nov. 14, with the arrival of the holiday tree. The evergreen, donated by the Hlavin family, makes its debut on the north end of Public Square around 2:30 p.m.

Read more about the tree and Winterfest here.
Rock on: Cleveland's rich rock-n-roll legacy takes center stage at AsiaTown photo show

That time David Bowie played his first show in Cleveland back in 1972? Anastasia Pantsios was there.

The time the Jacksons visited Playhouse Square in the late 70s, or when an emergent U2 played the Agora Ballroom? Also there.

And when Bowie returned to play the Richfield Coliseum in 1990? Yep, she was there, and so were Bono and Adam Clayton—both of whom got their photo taken with Bowie backstage, by none other than Pantsios herself.

Prepare for launch: Lit Cleveland's Gordon Square Review makes its debut
In just under three years, Literary Cleveland has launched the annual Cleveland Inkubator conference (which attracted 500 people in 2017), gained nonprofit status, and hosted a wide array of workshops, programs, networking events, and author readings—all geared at empowering Northeast Ohio writers. This year, the organization also introduced a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel. That momentum continues with the launch of Lit Cleveland's literary journal, Gordon Square Review.
All-access: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture-funded programs ensure arts are for everyone
When the community talks, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) listens. As CAC enters its second decade of funding arts and cultural programming in Northeast Ohio, one of its top priorities will be working to achieve equity and diversity in programming—a focus identified as the result of a community listening project and in-depth assessments.
Free Stamp: All things free in the #CLE for November 2017
Fresh Water's monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up the freshest free events in Cleveland.
Roosters to go on the auction block today as last animals in St. Clair Superior Zodiac Project
First there were dogs. Then came pigs, rats, and even dragons. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, according to the Chinese lunar zodiac, and it marks the last of St. Clair Superior Development Corporation’s (SCSDC) Year of the Zodiac Projects—a 12-year public art, cultural awareness, and fundraising campaign.

Find out how to get your hands on a rooster here.
Poetry in Motion
During Cleveland Book Week, 12 Literary Arts Incubator and LAND Studio enlisted local poets, authors, and spoken word artists to read passages from Anisfield-Wolf award-winning books at RTA stations and platforms around town. This video by New Departure Films captures their poetry in motion.

 
Storytelling by design: Christine Wisnieski works her branding magic in Cleveland
It's fitting that designer Christine Wisnieski kickstarted her career designing love notes for Kate Spade, because her Cleveland-based branding and collaborative design studio is a love letter of sorts to the city itself.

Over the last six years, Wisnieski has worked with a long list of local icons—from the West Side Market to Majestic Steel to RTA to Trentina—on redefining and refreshing their brands. "At the core, most people hire us to reimagine their organization and assist in repositioning themselves for growth," shares Wisnieski. "In a small way, [the studio has] been able to help shape the way the city presents itself to the world.
Cleveland's oldest arts district is about to go 2.0 as the Superior Arts District
For decades, an eight-block section around Superior Avenue in the Campus District has served as one of Cleveland’s first live-work districts for artists and their studios. In just a few weeks, this area will become known as the Cleveland Superior Arts Business Improvement District, or for short, Superior Arts District. 
Through the stained glass: Cleveland Restoration Society's mission to restore historic churches

If a beautifully lit church has ever caught your eye while driving down I-71, you can thank Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS). Through its Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program, 19 of the city’s steeples and bell towers along the busy interstate freeway have been illuminated as part of its Steeple Lighting Program.

And that’s not all the organization is shining a light on: On Saturday, Nov. 4, CRS will celebrate Cleveland's hundreds of historic places of worship—and their ongoing renovation efforts—with its annual benefit, Shining a Light on Cleveland’s Sacred Landmarks

Go on a hero's journey with the Cleveland Orchestra
As it turns 100 years old, the Cleveland Orchestra takes Cleveland School of the Arts students on a hero's journey via its Prometheus Project—through which mythology and music intersect.
Multi-faceted: Océanne to bring sparkle and flair to Gordon Square

After a decade of creating one-of-a-kind jewelry in her Art Craft Building studio on Superior Avenue, Anne Harrill felt it was time to share her love of the craft on a more personal level.

So Harrill went in search of a space that could incorporate both her studio and a retail storefront. She found the perfect space in the former Trunk Collective space—800 square feet at 6515 Detroit Ave. in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District. Find out when you can shop at Harrill's new store here.

Over the River: An all-night horror movie marathon, a Day of the Dead fiesta in Gordon Square & more
Our latest events listing includes a legit tribute to the Fab Four, an all-night horror movie marathon, a vibrant Day of the Dead celebration in Gordon Square, and more. See what's on tap for the rest of October here.
Local color: MOCA celebrates a five-year milestone with three all-new exhibitions
Five years ago, a building resembling a cross between an alien vessel and an igneous rock opened its doors in University Circle. Since then, the new home of Cleveland’s MOCA has continued the museum's nearly 50-year tradition of bringing groundbreaking art to Northeast Ohio—with its daring design signaling the equally provocative exhibitions waiting inside.
I live here (now): Danielle Romanowski of Beachland Ballroom

In an Almost Famous–like plot twist, Danielle Romanowski almost never made it to Cleveland—but she's so glad she did.

After deciding to relocate from Los Angeles to Cleveland earlier this year, the Florida-born musician hit the road with her band, Dark Water Rebellion, for a tour-slash-cross-country-move in August. On a day off in Montana, the band ventured to a remote ghost town, but almost didn't live to tell the tale.

"We were coming back down a mountain road when our tour bus lost its brakes and crashed," shares Romanowski.

Though no one was hurt, the accident certainly put a cramp in the band's touring style—as the bus had been not only their mobile home, but also their recording studio. "We had to cancel our tour, pack our stuff into a U-Haul, and drive it the rest of the way," says Romanowski. "It was definitely an adventure just to get out here."

Find out how Romanowski plans to continue the adventure in Cleveland here.

Refresh Collective's fresh take on engaging CLE youth
Founded by David "Dee Jay Doc" Harrill, Refresh Collective offers a plethora of programs designed to energize and empower local youth. The common thread? Hip-hop. Check out this video about Fresh Force, its workforce development program through which students learn design, screen printing, sales, and entrepreneurship via the Fresh Gear T-shirt line. (And don't miss our recent story about Freshtoberfest, where hip-hop meets horticulture.)
New location, new exhibits: Children’s Museum will open November 6

More space, more outdoor areas, and more exhibits add up to an all-new wonderland for Cleveland's kiddos. After closing the doors to its University Circle location nearly two years ago, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland will re-open on Monday, Nov. 6 in its new location. Get the details on the new exhibits and amenities here.

Cloudy with a chance of mermaids: Sherwin-Williams sets the tone with its Color of the Year
Before hunkering down to hibernate, redecorating may be in order—especially if your walls reflect those increasingly gray skies. Though gray has been popular for the past five or six years, the tide is turning, says Sherwin-Williams’ director of color marketing Sue Wadden, who recently announced that the vibrant blue Oceanside (SW 6496) is Color of the Year 2018.
Need some creative Fuel?
When motorcycles, art, and photography collide, it makes for one revved-up rendezvous. Check out this recap of Fuel Cleveland 2017 from Lowbrow Customs.