Arts + Culture
recent crime fiction convention lands in pages of library journal
Bouchercon, the world’s leading convention for crime fiction readers and writers, was recently held in Cleveland. The annual event was brought here thanks to local librarian Marjory Mogg, who won her bid for the Cleveland convention two years ago in San Francisco.
In an item titled "Librarian Brings Bouchercon to Cleveland -- and $1M+ to Its Economy," the Library Journal describes the weekend's festivities.
"The Cleveland Bouchercon 2012, which was held October 4-7, brought in about 1,500 mystery fans, authors, and publishers, who left $1-2 million behind when they returned home after four days of festivities."
Bouchercon, named after famed mystery critic Anthony Boucher (rhymes with voucher), has held a conference annually since 1970 in various cities.
"The main Cleveland Public Library sponsored a Nancy Drew scavenger hunt, a talk by author Linda Fairstein, and several displays. The opening ceremonies, with over 1,000 in attendance, were held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the Cleveland lakefront, which one Bouchercon board member called the best venue the conference has ever had for its opening celebration. The Private Eye Association’s Shamus Awards were presented during a dinner cruise on Lake Erie."
Read the rest here.
In an item titled "Librarian Brings Bouchercon to Cleveland -- and $1M+ to Its Economy," the Library Journal describes the weekend's festivities.
"The Cleveland Bouchercon 2012, which was held October 4-7, brought in about 1,500 mystery fans, authors, and publishers, who left $1-2 million behind when they returned home after four days of festivities."
Bouchercon, named after famed mystery critic Anthony Boucher (rhymes with voucher), has held a conference annually since 1970 in various cities.
"The main Cleveland Public Library sponsored a Nancy Drew scavenger hunt, a talk by author Linda Fairstein, and several displays. The opening ceremonies, with over 1,000 in attendance, were held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the Cleveland lakefront, which one Bouchercon board member called the best venue the conference has ever had for its opening celebration. The Private Eye Association’s Shamus Awards were presented during a dinner cruise on Lake Erie."
Read the rest here.
By design, the life of a celebrity looks effortless. But the engine that drives that lifestyle is a non-stop schedule that would sap the strength of far weaker men. I know, because I tried to keep up with celebrity chef Michael Symon during a recent visit home that included business meetings, book signings, restaurant visits and too-brief social get-togethers.
Daniel Cuffaro has been working in design for 20 years. He knows how an inspiring, eclectic workspace can act as fuel for creative minds, promoting interaction among those who essentially use their imagination for a living.
Such was the idea behind Cuffaro's founding of Abeo Design, a Lakewood-based company that builds aesthetically distinctive office/studio workstations with a sustainable bent. Unlike your typical office furniture, the spindly "Hive" workstations are designed with both functionality and adaptability in mind, Cuffaro says.
Each station is comprised of a work surface and storage shelf embedded with LED lighting. The entire unit is on wheels, making a studio or office easy to reconfigure as projects or teams change, notes Cuffaro. This is not something you could readily do with a set of hard-to-move cubicles.
"Our product is a dynamic and customizable alternative,” he says.
The workstations also fulfill a practical need. They are made of wood and other building materials reclaimed from abandoned Cleveland houses deconstructed during the foreclosure crisis. Cuffaro, head of the industrial design program at The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), first got the idea for Abeo in 2009 when he was developing the layout for the school's design studio. At the time, there was a growing market for raw materials harvested from foreclosed homes, so why not build CIA's studio furniture with those resources?
"I had a desire to turn a bad situation into something salvageable," Cuffaro says.
His first customer also happens to be his current employer. CIA recently purchased a handful of the $6,000-and-up workstations from Abeo, which works with Northeast Ohio companies A Piece of Cleveland and Benchmark Craftsmen to make the product a reality.
A portion of Abeo's profits will support CIA programs. Meanwhile, Cuffaro will continue to live by the company's name. In Latin, Abeo ( pronounced "a-bay-o") means "change" or "transformation." Turning trash into something of value is good for both the company and a sustainable Cleveland, he says.
SOURCE: Daniel Cuffaro
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Such was the idea behind Cuffaro's founding of Abeo Design, a Lakewood-based company that builds aesthetically distinctive office/studio workstations with a sustainable bent. Unlike your typical office furniture, the spindly "Hive" workstations are designed with both functionality and adaptability in mind, Cuffaro says.
Each station is comprised of a work surface and storage shelf embedded with LED lighting. The entire unit is on wheels, making a studio or office easy to reconfigure as projects or teams change, notes Cuffaro. This is not something you could readily do with a set of hard-to-move cubicles.
"Our product is a dynamic and customizable alternative,” he says.
The workstations also fulfill a practical need. They are made of wood and other building materials reclaimed from abandoned Cleveland houses deconstructed during the foreclosure crisis. Cuffaro, head of the industrial design program at The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA), first got the idea for Abeo in 2009 when he was developing the layout for the school's design studio. At the time, there was a growing market for raw materials harvested from foreclosed homes, so why not build CIA's studio furniture with those resources?
"I had a desire to turn a bad situation into something salvageable," Cuffaro says.
His first customer also happens to be his current employer. CIA recently purchased a handful of the $6,000-and-up workstations from Abeo, which works with Northeast Ohio companies A Piece of Cleveland and Benchmark Craftsmen to make the product a reality.
A portion of Abeo's profits will support CIA programs. Meanwhile, Cuffaro will continue to live by the company's name. In Latin, Abeo ( pronounced "a-bay-o") means "change" or "transformation." Turning trash into something of value is good for both the company and a sustainable Cleveland, he says.
SOURCE: Daniel Cuffaro
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Patrick Ciamacco loves the theater scene in Cleveland. However, he sometime finds himself visiting a venue only once a season, as programming tends to run with similar themes to the point where if Ciamacco has seen one show, he's seen them all.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that approach, but the Brunswick native wanted something more out of the stage experience. Thus, the creation of Blank Canvas Theatre, a so-called "Theatre for the People," which is wrapping up its inaugural season on Cleveland's West Side.
Ciamacco, Blank Canvas' founder and artistic director, says that 2012 has been a fun if stressful year. The theater opened in January with The Texas Chainsaw Musical, and is closing the year with Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. In between all the blood-letting and singing were three additional shows, including the John Steinbeck classic, Of Mice and Men.
A wide range of shows available at affordable prices has attracted a young, diverse crowd to the new venue, says Ciamacco. "It takes years to build an audience, but with the quality of work we're doing, there's a kind of, 'If you build it, they will come' feeling," he says.
Ciamacco founded Blank Canvas partly as a performance space for The Laughter League, his Cleveland-based sketch-comedy group. The 78th Street Studios, an arts complex bustling with 40 galleries and studios, seemed like a great place to plant a new artistic foothold within the city.
The space is intimate, with no seat more than 15 feet from the stage. Starting off, Ciamacco received support from Cleveland's theater community in the form of tools, lighting and emotional support. The coming year will be spent improving the venue's infrastructure and bringing in a variety of new shows. There already are plans to bring back fan favorite Texas Chainsaw Musical next Halloween for a revival.
Eclectic programming will always be Blank Canvas Theatre's calling card, maintains Ciamacco. "We're going to have something to attract the atypical theater-goer, while trying to get the normal theater fan to go outside the box," he says.
SOURCE: Patrick Ciamacco
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
There's nothing inherently wrong with that approach, but the Brunswick native wanted something more out of the stage experience. Thus, the creation of Blank Canvas Theatre, a so-called "Theatre for the People," which is wrapping up its inaugural season on Cleveland's West Side.
Ciamacco, Blank Canvas' founder and artistic director, says that 2012 has been a fun if stressful year. The theater opened in January with The Texas Chainsaw Musical, and is closing the year with Debbie Does Dallas: The Musical. In between all the blood-letting and singing were three additional shows, including the John Steinbeck classic, Of Mice and Men.
A wide range of shows available at affordable prices has attracted a young, diverse crowd to the new venue, says Ciamacco. "It takes years to build an audience, but with the quality of work we're doing, there's a kind of, 'If you build it, they will come' feeling," he says.
Ciamacco founded Blank Canvas partly as a performance space for The Laughter League, his Cleveland-based sketch-comedy group. The 78th Street Studios, an arts complex bustling with 40 galleries and studios, seemed like a great place to plant a new artistic foothold within the city.
The space is intimate, with no seat more than 15 feet from the stage. Starting off, Ciamacco received support from Cleveland's theater community in the form of tools, lighting and emotional support. The coming year will be spent improving the venue's infrastructure and bringing in a variety of new shows. There already are plans to bring back fan favorite Texas Chainsaw Musical next Halloween for a revival.
Eclectic programming will always be Blank Canvas Theatre's calling card, maintains Ciamacco. "We're going to have something to attract the atypical theater-goer, while trying to get the normal theater fan to go outside the box," he says.
SOURCE: Patrick Ciamacco
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
The iconic Sammy's Restaurant reigned over the Flats during the entertainment district's erstwhile heyday from 1980 through 2000. Now the venue is making a comeback in a new, transformed location at PlayhouseSquare that is set to open in December.
"We've always been restauranteurs at heart, and we wanted to get back to our roots," says Dena DiOrio of Sammy's, which has focused on catering and facility management for the past decade. "We're excited to bring more energy to a neighborhood that's really thriving."
The opportunity presented itself when the previous tenant, Star Restaurant, closed earlier this year. Sammy's is the caterer for PlayhouseSquare, so the choice was a logical one. The restaurant is being completely redesigned, DiOrio says.
"It will be a completely different storefront," she says. "You'll be able to see through the restaurant to the back wall, which was previously closed in. We're replacing it with a glass wall so visitors can see into the Ohio Theatre lobby."
The restaurant also will have a new entrance off Euclid Avenue, as well as a new layout with a "salon" in the front, bar in the middle and seating area in the back.
DiOrio says that Sammy's aim is to capitalize on PlayhouseSquare's identity as a 24/7 neighborhood and entertainment district whose vitality is fueled by its historic theatres. "We want to make it a destination restaurant."
Sammy's owner Denise Marie Fugo, who is DiOrio's mother, says that the new restaurant will perfectly blend the family's trifecta of experience in restaurants, catering and event management. "Most customers want us to do some kind of concession and banquet management. But we're restaurant people first."
The menu will feature modern American cuisine -- a mixture of small plates, classic Sammy's entrees and new signature entrees. Drink offerings include artisanal wines, microbrews, handcrafted spirits and signature cocktails.
Sammy's at PlayhouseSquare will be located at 1515 Euclid Avenue.
Source: Dena DiOrio
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"We've always been restauranteurs at heart, and we wanted to get back to our roots," says Dena DiOrio of Sammy's, which has focused on catering and facility management for the past decade. "We're excited to bring more energy to a neighborhood that's really thriving."
The opportunity presented itself when the previous tenant, Star Restaurant, closed earlier this year. Sammy's is the caterer for PlayhouseSquare, so the choice was a logical one. The restaurant is being completely redesigned, DiOrio says.
"It will be a completely different storefront," she says. "You'll be able to see through the restaurant to the back wall, which was previously closed in. We're replacing it with a glass wall so visitors can see into the Ohio Theatre lobby."
The restaurant also will have a new entrance off Euclid Avenue, as well as a new layout with a "salon" in the front, bar in the middle and seating area in the back.
DiOrio says that Sammy's aim is to capitalize on PlayhouseSquare's identity as a 24/7 neighborhood and entertainment district whose vitality is fueled by its historic theatres. "We want to make it a destination restaurant."
Sammy's owner Denise Marie Fugo, who is DiOrio's mother, says that the new restaurant will perfectly blend the family's trifecta of experience in restaurants, catering and event management. "Most customers want us to do some kind of concession and banquet management. But we're restaurant people first."
The menu will feature modern American cuisine -- a mixture of small plates, classic Sammy's entrees and new signature entrees. Drink offerings include artisanal wines, microbrews, handcrafted spirits and signature cocktails.
Sammy's at PlayhouseSquare will be located at 1515 Euclid Avenue.
Source: Dena DiOrio
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Skull-faced children and adults danced through the streets of the Gordon Square Arts District last Saturday afternoon, followed by tall, cadaverous puppets and altars overflowing with flowers and other remembrances of those who have passed on to the next realm.
There was nothing to be afraid of, however; the macabre and colorful carrying-on was in celebration of the Day of the Dead, a Latin-American holiday that pays joyful homage to lost relatives. El Día de los Muertos is meant to be more reflective than sad or scary, says Hector Castellanos, the event's coordinator and artistic director.
This year's Cleveland-centric Day of the Dead festival drew a large crowd to the arts district on a chilly fall afternoon. Attendees enjoyed a parade, music, folk art and food truck fare. Castellanos doesn't have attendance figures yet, but the event has drawn between 1,200 and 1,400 people each of the last two years.
"People came from all over the region," he says. "There was a lot of energy and passion."
Gordon Square has hosted the Day of the Dead celebration for five years, with the festival marching through Cleveland's East Side the three years before that. While Cleveland's Latino population was well represented last weekend, many non-Latinos came for the festivities as well. There were many hands involved in building floats and making puppets. Area businesses got in on the fun, too, decorating storefronts with skulls and other symbols of the ancient holiday.
"The whole neighborhood got involved," says Castellanos, a native of Guatemala. "It's a powerful event."
Cleveland artist Bruce Buchanan built an altar representing the surrounding West Side neighborhood and the people who once lived there. The shrine is decorated with rows of colorful houses fronted by abstract skeletons, while tiny flags scrawled with the names of deceased former residents are placed on the alter along with offerings of food, flowers and candles.
"We're helping to build the neighborhood now, but these people built the neighborhood in the first place," says Buchanan. "That's something we should respect."
Meanwhile, Castellanos already is planning to make next year's celebration bigger and better. "It's spiritual and educational, with so much history behind it," he says. "It also brings the community together, and that's one of the most important aspects for me."
SOURCES: Hector Castellanos, Bruce Buchanan
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
There was nothing to be afraid of, however; the macabre and colorful carrying-on was in celebration of the Day of the Dead, a Latin-American holiday that pays joyful homage to lost relatives. El Día de los Muertos is meant to be more reflective than sad or scary, says Hector Castellanos, the event's coordinator and artistic director.
This year's Cleveland-centric Day of the Dead festival drew a large crowd to the arts district on a chilly fall afternoon. Attendees enjoyed a parade, music, folk art and food truck fare. Castellanos doesn't have attendance figures yet, but the event has drawn between 1,200 and 1,400 people each of the last two years.
"People came from all over the region," he says. "There was a lot of energy and passion."
Gordon Square has hosted the Day of the Dead celebration for five years, with the festival marching through Cleveland's East Side the three years before that. While Cleveland's Latino population was well represented last weekend, many non-Latinos came for the festivities as well. There were many hands involved in building floats and making puppets. Area businesses got in on the fun, too, decorating storefronts with skulls and other symbols of the ancient holiday.
"The whole neighborhood got involved," says Castellanos, a native of Guatemala. "It's a powerful event."
Cleveland artist Bruce Buchanan built an altar representing the surrounding West Side neighborhood and the people who once lived there. The shrine is decorated with rows of colorful houses fronted by abstract skeletons, while tiny flags scrawled with the names of deceased former residents are placed on the alter along with offerings of food, flowers and candles.
"We're helping to build the neighborhood now, but these people built the neighborhood in the first place," says Buchanan. "That's something we should respect."
Meanwhile, Castellanos already is planning to make next year's celebration bigger and better. "It's spiritual and educational, with so much history behind it," he says. "It also brings the community together, and that's one of the most important aspects for me."
SOURCES: Hector Castellanos, Bruce Buchanan
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
'downtown is moving' in this non-hastily made video
Downtown Cleveland... It's Here.
That's what the folks at Downtown Cleveland Alliance persuasively illustrate in their latest video release. Produced by Fusion Filmworks, the flashy 4-minute video shows off just some of our city's assets.
More than a campaign, Downtown Cleveland Alliance is about downtown businesses and people taking matters into their own hands to make positive things happen. And from the looks of things, it's working.
That's what the folks at Downtown Cleveland Alliance persuasively illustrate in their latest video release. Produced by Fusion Filmworks, the flashy 4-minute video shows off just some of our city's assets.
More than a campaign, Downtown Cleveland Alliance is about downtown businesses and people taking matters into their own hands to make positive things happen. And from the looks of things, it's working.
There’s a new radio station in town, playing adult album alternative (AAA) music. Boasting that it's a local station for Clevelanders, by Clevelanders, WLFM 87.7 FM Cleveland’s Sound is independently owned and operated by Tom Wilson and his partners. The group has been buying low-power television stations for the past 12 years. In 2008, they ventured into the low end of the radio dial with a smooth jazz station in Chicago. As former president and general manager of two major Cleveland radio stations, Wilson is a Cleveland radio veteran as well as a native.
The Cleveland station has been in the works for about a year and finally went live on September 9. “Basically, it’s a station that delivers a need in the market," says Wilson. “There’s nothing in the Cleveland market, aside from college stations, that’s doing what we’re doing.”
Marketing director Kendall Embrescia is excited to bring an out-of-the-box approach to Cleveland radio. “We want to bring a fresh, edgy station to market that really serves a need,” she says. “Within eight weeks of being on the air, we’ve had an incredible response.”
The station is bringing back The Inner Sanctum, a weekly show that features only local artists and “is legendary around here,” says Embrescia.
Organizers held an open casting call at the Beachland Ballroom in July to staff 87.7, and collected more than 100 resumes. The station built offices and studios from scratch on the fourth floor of the Agora. There are 17 people on staff, plenty of whom are Cleveland radio veterans. Embrescia says they are working with local colleges to put together an internship program for spring.
But for Embrescia, it’s all about putting out great music. “We just want to give the listeners the best experience they can possibly have,” she says.
The station plans its official launch party on Friday, November 16 from 7-10 p.m. at the Barley House. The event is open to the public.
Sources: Tom Wilson and Kendall Embrescia
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Cleveland station has been in the works for about a year and finally went live on September 9. “Basically, it’s a station that delivers a need in the market," says Wilson. “There’s nothing in the Cleveland market, aside from college stations, that’s doing what we’re doing.”
Marketing director Kendall Embrescia is excited to bring an out-of-the-box approach to Cleveland radio. “We want to bring a fresh, edgy station to market that really serves a need,” she says. “Within eight weeks of being on the air, we’ve had an incredible response.”
The station is bringing back The Inner Sanctum, a weekly show that features only local artists and “is legendary around here,” says Embrescia.
Organizers held an open casting call at the Beachland Ballroom in July to staff 87.7, and collected more than 100 resumes. The station built offices and studios from scratch on the fourth floor of the Agora. There are 17 people on staff, plenty of whom are Cleveland radio veterans. Embrescia says they are working with local colleges to put together an internship program for spring.
But for Embrescia, it’s all about putting out great music. “We just want to give the listeners the best experience they can possibly have,” she says.
The station plans its official launch party on Friday, November 16 from 7-10 p.m. at the Barley House. The event is open to the public.
Sources: Tom Wilson and Kendall Embrescia
Writer: Karin Connelly
Doug Katz, chef-owner of Fire Food and Drink at Shaker Square, has partnered with Bon Appetit Management Company to open Provenance, a new restaurant and cafe at the Cleveland Museum of Art that blends locally sourced food with world cuisine.
"The name is so perfect for what I'm trying to create here," says Katz. The word provenance refers to the history of the ownership of an object. "We want to know where our food comes from just as the museum knows the lineage of its art, where it comes from and its authenticity."
Katz, whom museum head David Franklin calls CMA's "curator of food," says that Provenance actually is two venues in one. The 200-seat cafe offers quick service, while the 76-seat restaurant next door is a fine-dining establishment. Yet both offer made-to-order items carefully orchestrated by the celebrated chef.
The restaurant offers a limited menu of seven items emphasizing world cuisine. For instance, in tandem with CMA's exhibition "Wari: Lord of the Ancient Andes," Katz has designed a three-course prix fixe menu of Peruvian dishes. The cafe features world cuisine as well, but with a decidedly local flair. Right now, for example, visitors can order a Moroccan skewer platter with autumn vegetables. The chef makes a concerted effort to source much of his produce from area farmers.
The pastries are made from scratch by Luna Bakery, and Rising Star provides the coffee. "We're able to do all these things fresh, yet also support local businesses."
When asked about the source of his inspiration, Katz says, "We want it to be the quality of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, or of some European cafe somewhere. Yet I don't think there's a concept like this anywhere, to be honest."
The cafe's sleekly designed interior is attractive, but likely the best seats are at the tables near the museum's vast new atrium. "It's like a town center in University Circle. To see it come alive, it's such a great community spot."
Source: Doug Katz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"The name is so perfect for what I'm trying to create here," says Katz. The word provenance refers to the history of the ownership of an object. "We want to know where our food comes from just as the museum knows the lineage of its art, where it comes from and its authenticity."
Katz, whom museum head David Franklin calls CMA's "curator of food," says that Provenance actually is two venues in one. The 200-seat cafe offers quick service, while the 76-seat restaurant next door is a fine-dining establishment. Yet both offer made-to-order items carefully orchestrated by the celebrated chef.
The restaurant offers a limited menu of seven items emphasizing world cuisine. For instance, in tandem with CMA's exhibition "Wari: Lord of the Ancient Andes," Katz has designed a three-course prix fixe menu of Peruvian dishes. The cafe features world cuisine as well, but with a decidedly local flair. Right now, for example, visitors can order a Moroccan skewer platter with autumn vegetables. The chef makes a concerted effort to source much of his produce from area farmers.
The pastries are made from scratch by Luna Bakery, and Rising Star provides the coffee. "We're able to do all these things fresh, yet also support local businesses."
When asked about the source of his inspiration, Katz says, "We want it to be the quality of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, or of some European cafe somewhere. Yet I don't think there's a concept like this anywhere, to be honest."
The cafe's sleekly designed interior is attractive, but likely the best seats are at the tables near the museum's vast new atrium. "It's like a town center in University Circle. To see it come alive, it's such a great community spot."
Source: Doug Katz
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Euclid Square Mall is hardly abandoned or dead, you just need to take a closer look to witness signs of life, maintains Cleveland artist Jef Scharf. Walk into the mall on a Sunday morning, in fact, and you may hear songs of worship reverberating through its halls.
The former large-scale retail center now has nearly 30 churches renting space for services, Bible studies and choir practice. Scharf, an artist-in-residence at SPACES Gallery, spent a year interviewing church-goers and congregational leaders for his documentary, simply titled "Euclid Square Mall Project."
The film was officially screened at SPACES on October 11, but is available in the gallery's video viewing room until the middle of November.
First-time documentarian Scharf is a designer, screen printer, installation artist and musician. His 30-minute movie is a fairly typical talking heads-style venture that concentrates on the people running the congregations rather than the worship services themselves. How the vacant retail space shifted its function from retail to a faith-based community is a subject of fascination for the artist.
"There are so many stories to tell," notes Scharf. "You'd walk into this public space and the sounds of singing would bleed into each other. It filled the mall with incredible warmth."
The project's genesis was borne from simple curiosity. On a Sunday afternoon in fall 2010, Scharf was shopping at a nearby retail outlet when he stepped into the mall. He was impressed enough by the space's renewed energy to film some of the activity going on that day on his cell phone.
"It just stuck with me," says Scharf. "I realized I wanted to explore [the mall] further in that format."
It's strange to walk into a retail complex scrubbed clean of bright signage and other signposts that exemplify the typical American mall, Scharf says. Today, the signboard that once carried familiar names like Gap and Banana Republic now are stamped with names of congregations.
The film project, in its way, is a story of survival, believes Scharf. "These are people keeping their dreams alive by preserving the vibrancy of a space," he says. The movie "is a documentation of transformation."
Source: Jef Scharf
Writer: Douglas J. Guth
The former large-scale retail center now has nearly 30 churches renting space for services, Bible studies and choir practice. Scharf, an artist-in-residence at SPACES Gallery, spent a year interviewing church-goers and congregational leaders for his documentary, simply titled "Euclid Square Mall Project."
The film was officially screened at SPACES on October 11, but is available in the gallery's video viewing room until the middle of November.
First-time documentarian Scharf is a designer, screen printer, installation artist and musician. His 30-minute movie is a fairly typical talking heads-style venture that concentrates on the people running the congregations rather than the worship services themselves. How the vacant retail space shifted its function from retail to a faith-based community is a subject of fascination for the artist.
"There are so many stories to tell," notes Scharf. "You'd walk into this public space and the sounds of singing would bleed into each other. It filled the mall with incredible warmth."
The project's genesis was borne from simple curiosity. On a Sunday afternoon in fall 2010, Scharf was shopping at a nearby retail outlet when he stepped into the mall. He was impressed enough by the space's renewed energy to film some of the activity going on that day on his cell phone.
"It just stuck with me," says Scharf. "I realized I wanted to explore [the mall] further in that format."
It's strange to walk into a retail complex scrubbed clean of bright signage and other signposts that exemplify the typical American mall, Scharf says. Today, the signboard that once carried familiar names like Gap and Banana Republic now are stamped with names of congregations.
The film project, in its way, is a story of survival, believes Scharf. "These are people keeping their dreams alive by preserving the vibrancy of a space," he says. The movie "is a documentation of transformation."
Source: Jef Scharf
Writer: Douglas J. Guth
Tara Seibel, a Cleveland artist who worked as Harvey Pekar's illustrator before his death in 2010, has opened a gallery and studio in a pied-a-terre above Presti's Bakery on Mayfield Road in Little Italy.
"It's a boutique gallery," says Seibel of the second-floor studio that she leased several years ago when working for Pekar, but gave up after his death. This time, she plans to keep it. "You get to see beautiful architecture out the window, and there's a balcony. It's like a Paris apartment."
The Tara Seibel Art Gallery features "fine art at reasonable prices," including the artist's own illustrations, comic art, paintings, jewelry, scarves and greeting cards. She also markets artwork by other Northeast Ohio artists such as Cathryn Kapp (pencil drawings), Nicole Mawby (glass beadwork) and Mark Nafziger (pottery).
"I'm one of these insane Cleveland people who has moved away twice and come back," she says. "I want to build Cleveland and pioneer the art scene here. I feel really great about promoting other Cleveland artists and helping people that way."
Seibel also plans to offer workshops such as "Crafts and Laughs" that tap into the avante garde crafting scene in Cleveland. Her current art show, "Back to Earth," takes its inspiration from regional nature scenes and runs until December 1.
Regarding the Little Italy location, Seibel cites more than 50 other galleries and arts businesses in the area, along with great restaurants. "It's always bustling."
The Tara Seibel Art Gallery is located at 12107 Mayfield Road, Suite 202.
Source: Tara Siebel
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"It's a boutique gallery," says Seibel of the second-floor studio that she leased several years ago when working for Pekar, but gave up after his death. This time, she plans to keep it. "You get to see beautiful architecture out the window, and there's a balcony. It's like a Paris apartment."
The Tara Seibel Art Gallery features "fine art at reasonable prices," including the artist's own illustrations, comic art, paintings, jewelry, scarves and greeting cards. She also markets artwork by other Northeast Ohio artists such as Cathryn Kapp (pencil drawings), Nicole Mawby (glass beadwork) and Mark Nafziger (pottery).
"I'm one of these insane Cleveland people who has moved away twice and come back," she says. "I want to build Cleveland and pioneer the art scene here. I feel really great about promoting other Cleveland artists and helping people that way."
Seibel also plans to offer workshops such as "Crafts and Laughs" that tap into the avante garde crafting scene in Cleveland. Her current art show, "Back to Earth," takes its inspiration from regional nature scenes and runs until December 1.
Regarding the Little Italy location, Seibel cites more than 50 other galleries and arts businesses in the area, along with great restaurants. "It's always bustling."
The Tara Seibel Art Gallery is located at 12107 Mayfield Road, Suite 202.
Source: Tara Siebel
Writer: Lee Chilcote
new superman exhibit at hopkins airport celebrates cleveland roots
“Krypton, Smallville, Metropolis and Cleveland are all famous homes to Superman. The only one of those four locales you can actually visit (by virtue of it being a real place and all) is Cleveland, Ohio, and, ironically, it's the city that's the least popularly associated with the Man of Steel,” writes J. Caleb Mozzocco of Comics Alliance.
As part of a $45,000 exhibit funded and created by The Siegel & Shuster Society, a new permanent exhibit was unveiled at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport featuring the iconic superhero’s ties to our great city.
“The airport Superman stands atop a huge S-shield logo, and behind his head the wall reads, "Welcome to Cleveland -- Where the legend began." Big, red and black letters in the familiar Superman type scream the hero's name, with a banner reading "The World's Greatest Super Hero" below it,” adds Mozzocco.
The detailed piece goes on to highlight details of the exhibit and also touches upon the history of Superman from his creation to modern day legal disputes of his name.
Read the full story here.
As part of a $45,000 exhibit funded and created by The Siegel & Shuster Society, a new permanent exhibit was unveiled at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport featuring the iconic superhero’s ties to our great city.
“The airport Superman stands atop a huge S-shield logo, and behind his head the wall reads, "Welcome to Cleveland -- Where the legend began." Big, red and black letters in the familiar Superman type scream the hero's name, with a banner reading "The World's Greatest Super Hero" below it,” adds Mozzocco.
The detailed piece goes on to highlight details of the exhibit and also touches upon the history of Superman from his creation to modern day legal disputes of his name.
Read the full story here.
cleveland named among top rust belt travel destinations for canadians
“With a flourishing theatre scene, beautifully restored Art Deco buildings and a burgeoning farm-to-table culinary movement, it’s hard to believe that this town ever served as a punch line,” writes Tim Johnson of the Toronto Star.
Fellow Rust Belt cities of Detroit and Pittsburgh also are highlighted in this travel piece that boasts how these three cities have emerged from industrial oblivion to become havens for artists, designers, and others that are fighting to bring these tired cities back to life.
“Their factories are now a haven for artists and designers, or hosts for living history tours," he notes. "Their rivers, one of which caught on fire in 1969 (the Cuyahoga), have been cleaned up. All three are home to several worthwhile attractions — if you know where to look.”
His piece details must-see attractions such as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Terminal Tower, the West Side Market and Ohio City, the Cleveland Metroparks, and mentions The Greenhouse Tavern and Cowell and Hubbard as prime eateries.
Read the tale of three cities here.
Fellow Rust Belt cities of Detroit and Pittsburgh also are highlighted in this travel piece that boasts how these three cities have emerged from industrial oblivion to become havens for artists, designers, and others that are fighting to bring these tired cities back to life.
“Their factories are now a haven for artists and designers, or hosts for living history tours," he notes. "Their rivers, one of which caught on fire in 1969 (the Cuyahoga), have been cleaned up. All three are home to several worthwhile attractions — if you know where to look.”
His piece details must-see attractions such as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Terminal Tower, the West Side Market and Ohio City, the Cleveland Metroparks, and mentions The Greenhouse Tavern and Cowell and Hubbard as prime eateries.
Read the tale of three cities here.
mag for meeting planners points travelers to cleveland
Writing for Meetings Focus, a publication geared to professional meeting planners, Kelsey Farabee writes that "Northeast Ohio is booming. New venues and hotels are sprouting up throughout the region and visitors are pouring in, so planners seeking an energetic, bustling host city should look no further than the seat of Cuyahoga County."
The article, titled "Cure for the Common City," describes at length all the recent development that has taken place over the past few years. Mentioned within are the Medical Mart and convention center, "Cleveland’s burgeoning food scene," and Horseshoe Casino Cleveland.
Also described is the new Museum of Contemporary Art, about which Farabee writes, "Adding to the city’s cultural panache is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland, which unveiled an enormous $350 million expansion this month. The new 34,000-square-foot structure has a distinctive mirrored exterior and is 44 percent larger than the museum’s previous location. The four-story building has a startling geometric footprint, rising from a hexagonal base to a square top, with exhibitions and space for public programs on all four floors."
Read the rest right here.
The article, titled "Cure for the Common City," describes at length all the recent development that has taken place over the past few years. Mentioned within are the Medical Mart and convention center, "Cleveland’s burgeoning food scene," and Horseshoe Casino Cleveland.
Also described is the new Museum of Contemporary Art, about which Farabee writes, "Adding to the city’s cultural panache is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland, which unveiled an enormous $350 million expansion this month. The new 34,000-square-foot structure has a distinctive mirrored exterior and is 44 percent larger than the museum’s previous location. The four-story building has a startling geometric footprint, rising from a hexagonal base to a square top, with exhibitions and space for public programs on all four floors."
Read the rest right here.
w magazine devotes serious ink to moca and its architect
In the article "Build It and They Will Come," Alice Rawsthorn writing for W Magazine proffers a lengthy piece on Cleveland's brand new Museum of Contemporary Art and its world-famous architect, Farshid Moussavi.
"There’s a new kind of theater in Cleveland," Rawsthorn begins. "If you stand outside the city’s just built Museum of Contemporary Art, you can watch its walls change color with the light. When the sun shines directly onto their black mirrored steel, the six walls will look blue -- the brighter the sun, the more vivid the hue -- but if the sky clouds over, they will darken to black, just as they will when the sun moves around the building. And as each of them stands at a different angle, each reflects a different image of what is happening around it."
“It’s as if the building is performing for you,” Farshid Moussavi is quoted as saying. “There are some amazing moments, when the distorted reflections produce a kind of new reality.”
Moving to the interior of the stunning structure, Rawsthorn writes, "While the tone is set by the building’s constantly changing facade, there are playful touches inside, where visitors are invited to observe the daily life of the museum and its staff in a series of impromptu performances: They can peek through glass walls into the art-handling area, delivery bay, and other behind-the-scenes spaces usually hidden from the public. If they walk to the top of the spectacular steel staircase, they can look down into the main gallery to catch an aerial view of the artworks or watch the installation of new shows. But the grand finale is the ceiling of those galleries, which is painted in the same deep blue as those of ancient Egyptian tombs. It resembles the night sky, with the gallery lights shining like stars."
Read the rest of art-y-facts here.
"There’s a new kind of theater in Cleveland," Rawsthorn begins. "If you stand outside the city’s just built Museum of Contemporary Art, you can watch its walls change color with the light. When the sun shines directly onto their black mirrored steel, the six walls will look blue -- the brighter the sun, the more vivid the hue -- but if the sky clouds over, they will darken to black, just as they will when the sun moves around the building. And as each of them stands at a different angle, each reflects a different image of what is happening around it."
“It’s as if the building is performing for you,” Farshid Moussavi is quoted as saying. “There are some amazing moments, when the distorted reflections produce a kind of new reality.”
Moving to the interior of the stunning structure, Rawsthorn writes, "While the tone is set by the building’s constantly changing facade, there are playful touches inside, where visitors are invited to observe the daily life of the museum and its staff in a series of impromptu performances: They can peek through glass walls into the art-handling area, delivery bay, and other behind-the-scenes spaces usually hidden from the public. If they walk to the top of the spectacular steel staircase, they can look down into the main gallery to catch an aerial view of the artworks or watch the installation of new shows. But the grand finale is the ceiling of those galleries, which is painted in the same deep blue as those of ancient Egyptian tombs. It resembles the night sky, with the gallery lights shining like stars."
Read the rest of art-y-facts here.
columbus food writer full of love for cleveland culinary scene
Following a recent trip to Cleveland, where apparently he visited half the restaurants in town, notable Columbus food blogger Jim Ellison of CMH Gourmand filed a glowing dispatch.
"I am at the halfway point in my Palette to Palate Tour of Cleveland with Positively Cleveland. I am touring with writers from LA, Detroit, Baltimore, Toronto and Columbus. Our collective opinion so far, we love Cleveland. Not a big surprise for most of us. What might be a surprise is that in spite of all I am doing, there is so much more to do and see and especially eat, that I am not even scratching the surface of this city."
Later he adds, "In the back of my mind, I can’t avoid the inclination to compare and contrast Columbus with Cleveland. My track record shows that I am a champion of my city of birth but on this trip, even though not completed, I will say that the culinary community of Cleveland kicks that of Columbus in the ass. Cleveland may have a little more in the quantity, I would say a head to head tie for quality, but where the win occurs in the spirit of collaboration and cheerleading among chefs here for each other and a desire to keep raising the bar."
His dizzying schedule included stops at Greenhouse Tavern, Spaces Gallery, Sweet Moses, Muse in the Ritz Carlton, Ohio City Urban Farm, West Side Market, Sokolowski’s, Crop Bistro, Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, and many more.
Read his missive here.
"I am at the halfway point in my Palette to Palate Tour of Cleveland with Positively Cleveland. I am touring with writers from LA, Detroit, Baltimore, Toronto and Columbus. Our collective opinion so far, we love Cleveland. Not a big surprise for most of us. What might be a surprise is that in spite of all I am doing, there is so much more to do and see and especially eat, that I am not even scratching the surface of this city."
Later he adds, "In the back of my mind, I can’t avoid the inclination to compare and contrast Columbus with Cleveland. My track record shows that I am a champion of my city of birth but on this trip, even though not completed, I will say that the culinary community of Cleveland kicks that of Columbus in the ass. Cleveland may have a little more in the quantity, I would say a head to head tie for quality, but where the win occurs in the spirit of collaboration and cheerleading among chefs here for each other and a desire to keep raising the bar."
His dizzying schedule included stops at Greenhouse Tavern, Spaces Gallery, Sweet Moses, Muse in the Ritz Carlton, Ohio City Urban Farm, West Side Market, Sokolowski’s, Crop Bistro, Cleveland Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, and many more.
Read his missive here.
If children and the arts are two of a community's most precious commodities, then the Cleveland Foundation has got Northeast Ohio covered.
As part of an overall grantmaking surge totaling $21.6 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations, the foundation has authorized monies to separate programs focusing on youth development and arts and culture.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland received $250,000 to expand its reach, says foundation executive vice president Bob Eckardt. The grant will support after-school and summer activities at various club locations. It will also fund a development campaign seeking to raise money for general programming.
"We recognize that Cleveland's youth need more than just schools," says Eckardt. "There's a need for high-quality out-of-school programming."
On the cultural side of the slate, Cleveland Foundation continued its support of two capital campaigns in the arts - Gordon Square Arts District and the Power of Three: Allen Theatre Project. Each program was granted $250,000, bringing the foundation’s support for both campaigns to the $1 million level.
The Gordon Square district on Cleveland's West Side acts as an economic catalyst for the surrounding community, says Eckardt. The foundation's funding will solely be used for renovation of the Cleveland Public Theatre.
The Power of Three: The Allen Theatre Project, meanwhile, is a partnership among Cleveland State University, PlayhouseSquare and Cleveland Play House to build Allen Theatre into a multivenue performing arts and education complex.
Supporting the two arts programs was an easy call for the foundation. "Arts and culture is one of our strengths," Eckardt says, pointing to the thriving arts' enclaves in University Circle, downtown Cleveland and elsewhere. "It's part of our brand as a community and plays into or economic development strategy as a region."
SOURCE: Bob Eckardt
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
As part of an overall grantmaking surge totaling $21.6 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations, the foundation has authorized monies to separate programs focusing on youth development and arts and culture.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland received $250,000 to expand its reach, says foundation executive vice president Bob Eckardt. The grant will support after-school and summer activities at various club locations. It will also fund a development campaign seeking to raise money for general programming.
"We recognize that Cleveland's youth need more than just schools," says Eckardt. "There's a need for high-quality out-of-school programming."
On the cultural side of the slate, Cleveland Foundation continued its support of two capital campaigns in the arts - Gordon Square Arts District and the Power of Three: Allen Theatre Project. Each program was granted $250,000, bringing the foundation’s support for both campaigns to the $1 million level.
The Gordon Square district on Cleveland's West Side acts as an economic catalyst for the surrounding community, says Eckardt. The foundation's funding will solely be used for renovation of the Cleveland Public Theatre.
The Power of Three: The Allen Theatre Project, meanwhile, is a partnership among Cleveland State University, PlayhouseSquare and Cleveland Play House to build Allen Theatre into a multivenue performing arts and education complex.
Supporting the two arts programs was an easy call for the foundation. "Arts and culture is one of our strengths," Eckardt says, pointing to the thriving arts' enclaves in University Circle, downtown Cleveland and elsewhere. "It's part of our brand as a community and plays into or economic development strategy as a region."
SOURCE: Bob Eckardt
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
msn travel writer calls cleveland 'america's big comeback story'
Writing for MSN Travel, Ken Hegan, a screenwriter and journalist, calls Cleveland "America's big comeback story."
"Never thought I'd ever say this but I just fell in love with Cleveland, Ohio. Now I kinda want to move there," he writes.
Following a brief and painful history lesson, Hegan gets to the good stuff:
"The city's entering a period of 'unprecedented growth. The river's cleaned up, there's a thriving medical industry, houses are cheap, artists can rent old brick warehouse spaces for the price of a Manhattan coffee, the city's enjoying a culinary boom, plus there's a museum devoted to polka music and a festival celebrating duct tape."
"The city's rebuilding and expanding with billions of dollars in new tourism infrastructure that includes a $26-million Museum of Art, new boutique hotels, a new medical convention center... The city is also looking forward to hosting the Summer National Senior Games (July 2013), and The International Gay Games (2014)."
Hegan closes with a bold assertion:
"If I was an artist in America right now (or anyone who wants to live cheaply in The Next Great American City), I wouldn't pay a fortune to starve in Brooklyn. Instead, I'd live like a king, rent an inexpensive brick Cleveland studio, and turn that into a factory of art."
Read the rest here.
"Never thought I'd ever say this but I just fell in love with Cleveland, Ohio. Now I kinda want to move there," he writes.
Following a brief and painful history lesson, Hegan gets to the good stuff:
"The city's entering a period of 'unprecedented growth. The river's cleaned up, there's a thriving medical industry, houses are cheap, artists can rent old brick warehouse spaces for the price of a Manhattan coffee, the city's enjoying a culinary boom, plus there's a museum devoted to polka music and a festival celebrating duct tape."
"The city's rebuilding and expanding with billions of dollars in new tourism infrastructure that includes a $26-million Museum of Art, new boutique hotels, a new medical convention center... The city is also looking forward to hosting the Summer National Senior Games (July 2013), and The International Gay Games (2014)."
Hegan closes with a bold assertion:
"If I was an artist in America right now (or anyone who wants to live cheaply in The Next Great American City), I wouldn't pay a fortune to starve in Brooklyn. Instead, I'd live like a king, rent an inexpensive brick Cleveland studio, and turn that into a factory of art."
Read the rest here.
Gypsy Beans and Baking Company, the popular cafe that has become a hub in the Gordon Square Arts District, is expanding to a second location. Owner Nicole Gillota's homemade pastries, signature Passport coffee drinks, and soups and sandwiches will soon be available in Lakewood when Gypsy takes over the Beck Center Cafe on Detroit Avenue.
Gillota, who opened Gypsy in 2007 with a "monster kitchen" primed for growth, says that she began hunting for a second spot last year. When the Beck Center Cafe became available and the managers called her, it was a "no-brainer."
"I love being part of the theatre community," says Gillota. "One of the reasons I was attracted to Gordon Square was because of Cleveland Public Theatre. There's always been a good synergy between the theatre crowd and the coffee crowd."
Fortunately, the Beck Center space doesn't need much renovation because former manager and art dealer Paul Sykes did a great job fixing it up. "It's absolutely beautiful," says Gillota, noting that she'll keep the waterfall feature.
Gillota expects to feature many similar menu items to Gypsy Beans in Detroit Shoreway, but will add new dessert items, as well. "The space is a little bit more refined, and we're going to cater to the after-dinner theatre crowd there, as well."
Yet Gypsy's unmistakable brand -- as a community nexus that combines fresh food, great coffee and made-from-scratch pastries -- isn't going anywhere. "I think we're an all-inclusive, all-encompassing spot," Gillota says. "I love that."
Source: Nicole Gillota
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Gillota, who opened Gypsy in 2007 with a "monster kitchen" primed for growth, says that she began hunting for a second spot last year. When the Beck Center Cafe became available and the managers called her, it was a "no-brainer."
"I love being part of the theatre community," says Gillota. "One of the reasons I was attracted to Gordon Square was because of Cleveland Public Theatre. There's always been a good synergy between the theatre crowd and the coffee crowd."
Fortunately, the Beck Center space doesn't need much renovation because former manager and art dealer Paul Sykes did a great job fixing it up. "It's absolutely beautiful," says Gillota, noting that she'll keep the waterfall feature.
Gillota expects to feature many similar menu items to Gypsy Beans in Detroit Shoreway, but will add new dessert items, as well. "The space is a little bit more refined, and we're going to cater to the after-dinner theatre crowd there, as well."
Yet Gypsy's unmistakable brand -- as a community nexus that combines fresh food, great coffee and made-from-scratch pastries -- isn't going anywhere. "I think we're an all-inclusive, all-encompassing spot," Gillota says. "I love that."
Source: Nicole Gillota
Writer: Lee Chilcote