Arts + Culture
During Langston Hughes' heyday, African American theatre was "booming, expressive, avante garde and politically punching," says Anthony Elfonzia Nickerson-El of Project1Voice, a national group that aims to spark renewed interest in black theatre. "Hughes and his contemporaries were the conscience of the community."
Fast forward 80 years. Historically African American theatres continue to play an important role in exposing young people in urban areas to the arts and nourishing the much-needed attributes of creativity, critical thinking and self-confidence. Yet they also face new economic challenges in the wake of the Great Recession.
"During this time of reduced funding for the arts, African American theatres have been hit hard financially," says Nickerson-El. "These theatres offer arts and music programs that may not be in the schools anymore. They play a significant role in the development of young people and introduce the community to the arts."
Cleveland is fortunate to be home to Karamu House, the oldest African American theatre in the U.S. Many of Langston Hughes' plays premiered at the theatre.
To help raise money for African American theatres, Project1Voice sponsors a fundraiser called "1 Voice, 1 Play, 1 Day." A stage reading of James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner" will take place on Monday, June 18th at 7 pm to benefit Rainey Institute Children's Theatre. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online.
Source: Anthony Elfonzia Nickerson-El
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Fast forward 80 years. Historically African American theatres continue to play an important role in exposing young people in urban areas to the arts and nourishing the much-needed attributes of creativity, critical thinking and self-confidence. Yet they also face new economic challenges in the wake of the Great Recession.
"During this time of reduced funding for the arts, African American theatres have been hit hard financially," says Nickerson-El. "These theatres offer arts and music programs that may not be in the schools anymore. They play a significant role in the development of young people and introduce the community to the arts."
Cleveland is fortunate to be home to Karamu House, the oldest African American theatre in the U.S. Many of Langston Hughes' plays premiered at the theatre.
To help raise money for African American theatres, Project1Voice sponsors a fundraiser called "1 Voice, 1 Play, 1 Day." A stage reading of James Baldwin's "The Amen Corner" will take place on Monday, June 18th at 7 pm to benefit Rainey Institute Children's Theatre. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online.
Source: Anthony Elfonzia Nickerson-El
Writer: Lee Chilcote
cleveland, the 'new portlandia'?
In his blog Burgh Diaspora, Jim Russell frequently covers the topic of reverse migration, where Rust Belt cities are seeing an influx of young residents thanks to a multitude of factors. Russell, a geographer studying the relationship between migration and economic development, calls the trend "Rust Belt Chic."
Recently, Russell, who lives in Pittsburgh, toured Cleveland to gather some on-the-ground research. He liked what he saw.
"I flew into Cleveland early last Saturday with the downtown rebound in mind. I wanted to see if the view from the sidewalk matched the data analysis. Leading up to the business trip, I was semi-joking with Richey that Cleveland was turning into Portland, OR. Investigating the West Side, I quipped that Cleveland was already Portland. I was (am) dead serious."
Read the rest of this and many other compelling posts here.
Recently, Russell, who lives in Pittsburgh, toured Cleveland to gather some on-the-ground research. He liked what he saw.
"I flew into Cleveland early last Saturday with the downtown rebound in mind. I wanted to see if the view from the sidewalk matched the data analysis. Leading up to the business trip, I was semi-joking with Richey that Cleveland was turning into Portland, OR. Investigating the West Side, I quipped that Cleveland was already Portland. I was (am) dead serious."
Read the rest of this and many other compelling posts here.
When National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman toured Cleveland's arts districts last year, he blogged about how they were actively applying the principles of arts-based development and urban placemaking touted daily by the NEA.
Now ArtPlace, a creative placemaking initiative led by the NEA and others, has awarded Northeast Shores Development Corporation a $500,000 grant to engage local artists in creatively combating urban vacancy and foreclosure in Cleveland.
“This work is part of a national creative placemaking movement that, we believe, will have a profound and lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout the country," said Ford Foundation President Luis Ubinas in a news release. The ArtPlace initiative is supported by a variety of national foundations, federal partners, and a $12 million loan fund.
Competition was extremely fierce. North Collinwood's application was selected, along with 46 other grantees, from over 2,000 applications across the country.
"Collinwood Rising will work with artists to establish replicable development models for artist space in older industrial cities, leveraging ongoing HUD and municipal investments," according to the NEA's ArtPlace news release.
"The investment will allow us to make targeted interventions in three vacant properties in and around the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District," says Camille Maxwell, Real Estate Development Director with Northeast Shores. "These interventions are the conversion of a vacant lot into an artist-inspired playground; conversion of a vacant house into an artist live/work facility; and conversion of a vacant storefront into a performing arts incubator."
Source: Rocco Landesman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Now ArtPlace, a creative placemaking initiative led by the NEA and others, has awarded Northeast Shores Development Corporation a $500,000 grant to engage local artists in creatively combating urban vacancy and foreclosure in Cleveland.
“This work is part of a national creative placemaking movement that, we believe, will have a profound and lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of communities throughout the country," said Ford Foundation President Luis Ubinas in a news release. The ArtPlace initiative is supported by a variety of national foundations, federal partners, and a $12 million loan fund.
Competition was extremely fierce. North Collinwood's application was selected, along with 46 other grantees, from over 2,000 applications across the country.
"Collinwood Rising will work with artists to establish replicable development models for artist space in older industrial cities, leveraging ongoing HUD and municipal investments," according to the NEA's ArtPlace news release.
"The investment will allow us to make targeted interventions in three vacant properties in and around the Waterloo Arts & Entertainment District," says Camille Maxwell, Real Estate Development Director with Northeast Shores. "These interventions are the conversion of a vacant lot into an artist-inspired playground; conversion of a vacant house into an artist live/work facility; and conversion of a vacant storefront into a performing arts incubator."
Source: Rocco Landesman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The term "Rust Belt Chic" has been bandied about in urban journalism circles for over a decade. But lately, the connotation and import of that catchy phrase seem to be taking on a welcome new identity. A book in progress from Cleveland-based writers aims to take ownership of the phrase and help define what it truly means to live in a recovering Rust Belt city.
Technology, health care, food and rock and roll -- these are just a few of the industries flourishing in the eclectic Midtown neighborhood, its leaders told a sold out crowd at the Midtown Cleveland Inc. annual meeting at the InterContinental Hotel.
Key accomplishments within the past year include a successful lawsuit that stopped the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) from closing Innerbelt ramps until a study has been completed; breaking ground on several new projects within the Health-Tech Corridor; securing a commitment for a new Third District police headquarters on Chester Avenue; facilitating the redevelopment of the historic Agora Theatre; and completing a new plan to transform the East 55th and Euclid intersection into a more vibrant downtown for the neighborhood.
"We are succeeding in reinventing MidTown Cleveland," said Director Jim Haviland.
"A healthy urban core helps all boats to rise, and MidTown is an example," said Len Komoroski, President of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena, during a keynote address that touted the Cavs' investment in Cleveland. Komoroski said the Cavs had spent millions renovating Quicken Loans Arena into a "dynamic urban environment" that attracted people to visit downtown.
Komoroski shrugged off concerns that the new Horseshoe Casino would be a self-contained facility whose visitors would not spend money elsewhere in Cleveland. "This is a decidedly knit-into-the-urban-environment casino," he said. As an example of the spillover benefits of a casino that Komoroski claimed is "underserved from a food and beverage perspective," he cited the fact that Michael Symon recently tweeted about a record night at Lola on East 4th.
Source: Jim Haviland, Len Komoroski
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Key accomplishments within the past year include a successful lawsuit that stopped the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) from closing Innerbelt ramps until a study has been completed; breaking ground on several new projects within the Health-Tech Corridor; securing a commitment for a new Third District police headquarters on Chester Avenue; facilitating the redevelopment of the historic Agora Theatre; and completing a new plan to transform the East 55th and Euclid intersection into a more vibrant downtown for the neighborhood.
"We are succeeding in reinventing MidTown Cleveland," said Director Jim Haviland.
"A healthy urban core helps all boats to rise, and MidTown is an example," said Len Komoroski, President of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena, during a keynote address that touted the Cavs' investment in Cleveland. Komoroski said the Cavs had spent millions renovating Quicken Loans Arena into a "dynamic urban environment" that attracted people to visit downtown.
Komoroski shrugged off concerns that the new Horseshoe Casino would be a self-contained facility whose visitors would not spend money elsewhere in Cleveland. "This is a decidedly knit-into-the-urban-environment casino," he said. As an example of the spillover benefits of a casino that Komoroski claimed is "underserved from a food and beverage perspective," he cited the fact that Michael Symon recently tweeted about a record night at Lola on East 4th.
Source: Jim Haviland, Len Komoroski
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Christopher Busta-Peck first became interested in teaching others about Cleveland's architectural history when he developed summer history programs for kids as part of his job as a children's librarian.
Too fascinated to put the material down, he soon found himself enmeshed in creating a local history and preservation blog, Cleveland Area History, that has been called the voice of history and historic preservation in Northeast Ohio.
Part of what motivates Busta-Peck is the simple notion that our area's history often lies "hidden in plain sight" between modern buildings, tucked amid neighborhoods or covered up by garish additions. He also believes historic buildings are among the competitive advantages our city should trumpet.
"We have historic buildings that set us apart from other parts of the country," he says. "It's a monetary asset we need to think of when compared to other cities."
Through working to elevate the discussion about urban history, Busta-Peck hopes to make saving Cleveland's forgotten fabric a bigger part of our civic discourse.
On Saturday, June 9th, Busta-Peck will lead a walking tour of East Cleveland in collaboration with SPACES. Among the sites on the tour are a stone tannery he touts as one of the most significant early industrial sites in Cleveland and a large, once beautiful mansion that now lies hidden behind a gas station.
Source: Christopher Busta-Peck
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Too fascinated to put the material down, he soon found himself enmeshed in creating a local history and preservation blog, Cleveland Area History, that has been called the voice of history and historic preservation in Northeast Ohio.
Part of what motivates Busta-Peck is the simple notion that our area's history often lies "hidden in plain sight" between modern buildings, tucked amid neighborhoods or covered up by garish additions. He also believes historic buildings are among the competitive advantages our city should trumpet.
"We have historic buildings that set us apart from other parts of the country," he says. "It's a monetary asset we need to think of when compared to other cities."
Through working to elevate the discussion about urban history, Busta-Peck hopes to make saving Cleveland's forgotten fabric a bigger part of our civic discourse.
On Saturday, June 9th, Busta-Peck will lead a walking tour of East Cleveland in collaboration with SPACES. Among the sites on the tour are a stone tannery he touts as one of the most significant early industrial sites in Cleveland and a large, once beautiful mansion that now lies hidden behind a gas station.
Source: Christopher Busta-Peck
Writer: Lee Chilcote
pink public art display brightens eastman reading garden at downtown library
The ordinary spaces that we walk through every day without noticing form, details or color can very often be transformed with simple changes that cause us to stop and look more closely at our surroundings.
Like pink. And lots of it.
A new art installation in the Eastman Reading Garden of the downtown Cleveland Public Library aims to transform viewers' perception of this quiet, reflective space by adding bold pink chairs and pink window coverings throughout the space. The art project was designed by Cleveland artist Scott Stibich and funded by the Lockwood Thompson Endowment Fund of the Cleveland Public Library.
The 100 moveable pink chairs are part of the See Also program, which brings temporary works of public art to the Eastman Reading Garden. See Also is a partnership between Cleveland Public Library and LAND Studio. Visitors will interact with and become a part of Stibich's artwork as they move the painted chairs around to find their own comfortable place to sit, read and eat lunch.
"My goal was to disrupt the architecture just enough to displace the viewer," says Stibich. "The garden is a space where everyone comes to talk or just reflect and get lost in their day. I carried the pop-up color into the architecture, too."
The colorful window banners were assembled by designer Katie Parland.
Source: LAND Studio, Cleveland Public Library, Scott Stibich
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Like pink. And lots of it.
A new art installation in the Eastman Reading Garden of the downtown Cleveland Public Library aims to transform viewers' perception of this quiet, reflective space by adding bold pink chairs and pink window coverings throughout the space. The art project was designed by Cleveland artist Scott Stibich and funded by the Lockwood Thompson Endowment Fund of the Cleveland Public Library.
The 100 moveable pink chairs are part of the See Also program, which brings temporary works of public art to the Eastman Reading Garden. See Also is a partnership between Cleveland Public Library and LAND Studio. Visitors will interact with and become a part of Stibich's artwork as they move the painted chairs around to find their own comfortable place to sit, read and eat lunch.
"My goal was to disrupt the architecture just enough to displace the viewer," says Stibich. "The garden is a space where everyone comes to talk or just reflect and get lost in their day. I carried the pop-up color into the architecture, too."
The colorful window banners were assembled by designer Katie Parland.
Source: LAND Studio, Cleveland Public Library, Scott Stibich
Writer: Lee Chilcote
salon points to gordon square as model of arts-district development
In a feature titled "Urban entertainment districts: Blocks where no one has fun," Salon writer Will Doig describes the modern “urban lifestyle destination” as a "swath of cityscape whose character has been preordained by a city council vote and is now identified by brightly colored banners affixed to lampposts."
“The problem with these created-overnight districts is that you’re trying to create a culture as opposed to letting one grow,” Nathaniel Hood, a Minneapolis-based transportation planner, is quoted in the piece. “You’re getting the culture that one developer or city council member thinks the city needs, as opposed to the ground-up culture that comes from multiple players.”
Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District is mentioned as an example of a neighborhood that got it right.
"[Milwaukee's] Water Street is an example of how, when the city declines to step in, citizens will. In a less cacophonous way, Cleveland has done this with its Gordon Square Arts District, where a group of nonprofits got together and created their own urban district where theaters already existed.
“You had three very humble nonprofit organizations, no powerful boards, that just needed capital improvements,” says Gordon Square's executive director Joy Roller.
Read the rest of the good news here.
“The problem with these created-overnight districts is that you’re trying to create a culture as opposed to letting one grow,” Nathaniel Hood, a Minneapolis-based transportation planner, is quoted in the piece. “You’re getting the culture that one developer or city council member thinks the city needs, as opposed to the ground-up culture that comes from multiple players.”
Cleveland's Gordon Square Arts District is mentioned as an example of a neighborhood that got it right.
"[Milwaukee's] Water Street is an example of how, when the city declines to step in, citizens will. In a less cacophonous way, Cleveland has done this with its Gordon Square Arts District, where a group of nonprofits got together and created their own urban district where theaters already existed.
“You had three very humble nonprofit organizations, no powerful boards, that just needed capital improvements,” says Gordon Square's executive director Joy Roller.
Read the rest of the good news here.
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations is awarded each year to outstanding high school students across the country who are helping to increase understanding and mutual respect among all races and cultures.
The Cleveland prize, now in its second year, was recently awarded to Demi Zhang, a freshman at Orange High School who has devoted herself to achieving racial and cultural harmony through teaching others. Zhang has exposed her community to Chinese culture through art and music (she plays the Gu-Zheng, which is the Chinese zither) and created a Chinese club for neighborhood children.
"I found that people were not very aware of Chinese culture in Northeast Ohio, even though we have a sizeable Chinese community here," says the Pepper Pike resident. "Our Chinese heritage is important to my parents and grandparents, and I inherited that. Along with preserving my own identity, I wanted to address different barriers that exist between cultures in the form of ignorance."
"When people share aspects of their culture, they share part of their identity," she adds. "That kind of understanding is what the Princeton Prize is all about."
The winner of the Princeton Prize receives a $1,000 cash prize and is publicly recognized for his or her efforts. Two other Cleveland-area students -- Prateek Singh, a freshman at Solon High School, and Shivangi Bhatia, a sophomore at Orange -- received Certificates of Accomplishment for their work.
An awards event will take place on Thursday, May 24th at the Tudor Arms Hotel. For more information or to attend, contact Sandhya Gupta at sandhyag@alumni.princeton.edu.
Source: Sandhya Gupta, Demi Zhang
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland prize, now in its second year, was recently awarded to Demi Zhang, a freshman at Orange High School who has devoted herself to achieving racial and cultural harmony through teaching others. Zhang has exposed her community to Chinese culture through art and music (she plays the Gu-Zheng, which is the Chinese zither) and created a Chinese club for neighborhood children.
"I found that people were not very aware of Chinese culture in Northeast Ohio, even though we have a sizeable Chinese community here," says the Pepper Pike resident. "Our Chinese heritage is important to my parents and grandparents, and I inherited that. Along with preserving my own identity, I wanted to address different barriers that exist between cultures in the form of ignorance."
"When people share aspects of their culture, they share part of their identity," she adds. "That kind of understanding is what the Princeton Prize is all about."
The winner of the Princeton Prize receives a $1,000 cash prize and is publicly recognized for his or her efforts. Two other Cleveland-area students -- Prateek Singh, a freshman at Solon High School, and Shivangi Bhatia, a sophomore at Orange -- received Certificates of Accomplishment for their work.
An awards event will take place on Thursday, May 24th at the Tudor Arms Hotel. For more information or to attend, contact Sandhya Gupta at sandhyag@alumni.princeton.edu.
Source: Sandhya Gupta, Demi Zhang
Writer: Lee Chilcote
As Yelp Cleveland community manager, native Northeast Ohioan Cara Lageson is a pro-Cleveland powerhouse. When she's not busy penning reviews -- she has logged in about 400 -- she connects "Yelpers" and local businesses by coordinating marketing outreach that extends well beyond the digital realm.
Thanks to game-changing, large-scale architectural efforts largely absent during the recession, Cleveland steadily is catching up to other similarly sized cities in terms of design. Long known as a "brick city," Cleveland's recent and forthcoming high-profile projects are adding progressive new materials to the mix.
2013 cle film fest will be bigger, better, longer, later
It is hard to believe, but this year's Cleveland International Film Festival -- the 36th annual -- once again broke the previous year's attendance figures.
The 11-day film festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, April 1, checked in a record total of 85,018 filmgoers. This is a 9-percent jump from the previous year and a whopping 143-percent increase from 2003. What's more, the festival saw it's largest single-day attendance on Saturday, March 31, with 13,176 coming to see a film.
Changes to next year's festival can only add to those numbers. Organizers will be adding a full day of films -- making it a 12-day festival -- while pushing back the dates. The 2013 film fest will begin almost two weeks later, running Wednesday, April 3 through Sunday, April 14, at Tower City Cinemas.
Here's looking to another record-setting year!
The 11-day film festival, which wrapped up on Sunday, April 1, checked in a record total of 85,018 filmgoers. This is a 9-percent jump from the previous year and a whopping 143-percent increase from 2003. What's more, the festival saw it's largest single-day attendance on Saturday, March 31, with 13,176 coming to see a film.
Changes to next year's festival can only add to those numbers. Organizers will be adding a full day of films -- making it a 12-day festival -- while pushing back the dates. The 2013 film fest will begin almost two weeks later, running Wednesday, April 3 through Sunday, April 14, at Tower City Cinemas.
Here's looking to another record-setting year!
Kevin Busta's trendy, neo-industrial furnishings have been written up in the New York Times and grace sleek lofts and posh living rooms all the way from New York City to Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Yet the metalworking artist, who grew up in Medina, chose W. 14th Street in Tremont to locate his showroom. Last week, he sold out of nearly all his furnishings in a single week as eight new businesses opened in the neighborhood and the monthly Art Walk kicked off the summer season.
"Cleveland is so full of everything that I really need," says Busta, a former boilermaker who was once arrested for dumpster diving at an industrial park in Medina (he got off after showing the judge photos of his high-end furniture). "New York doesn't have what Cleveland has in terms of surplus scrap metal."
Busta makes his lamps, tables and chairs out of metal that he buys at scrap yards and auctions. His tables typically sell for $4,000 and up, while a table lamp might sell for $300 to $500. Busta stresses that he does not simply repurpose scrap materials, but rather transforms the raw materials into something new.
"It's glorifying the old with a modern twist to it," he says. "It's taking what a lot of people see every day driving through industrial parks and changing the way people look at these old, industrial remnants by glorifying rust."
Source: Kevin Busta
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet the metalworking artist, who grew up in Medina, chose W. 14th Street in Tremont to locate his showroom. Last week, he sold out of nearly all his furnishings in a single week as eight new businesses opened in the neighborhood and the monthly Art Walk kicked off the summer season.
"Cleveland is so full of everything that I really need," says Busta, a former boilermaker who was once arrested for dumpster diving at an industrial park in Medina (he got off after showing the judge photos of his high-end furniture). "New York doesn't have what Cleveland has in terms of surplus scrap metal."
Busta makes his lamps, tables and chairs out of metal that he buys at scrap yards and auctions. His tables typically sell for $4,000 and up, while a table lamp might sell for $300 to $500. Busta stresses that he does not simply repurpose scrap materials, but rather transforms the raw materials into something new.
"It's glorifying the old with a modern twist to it," he says. "It's taking what a lot of people see every day driving through industrial parks and changing the way people look at these old, industrial remnants by glorifying rust."
Source: Kevin Busta
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Two Cleveland boys from modest backgrounds in the Glenville neighborhood dreamed up Superman 80 years ago. The beloved character -- and many more like him -- have been rescuing boys from boredom and engaging them in reading and writing ever since.
This week, in an inspired twist on this fabled story, a group of third grade and seventh grade boys from Citizens Academy and University School are participating in a superheroes story workshop at Ohio City Writers, a new nonprofit writing center on Lorain Avenue in Ohio City.
The creators of the event hope that the workshop not only gets kids interested in reading and writing, but also helps them soar to new heights as engaged learners.
During the workshop, groups of boys will team up to create characters, settings and plots, then write their own superhero stories and share them with the group. It is being led by Frank Lewis, former Free Times and Scene editor and founder of Ohio City Writers.
Patty Dowd, Director of Student Enrichment at University School, says that extracurricular programs such as this one are important because they inspire boys to read and connect boys of different backgrounds in a fun, social setting.
"Reading is always an issue with boys, and they often don't have male role models who read and like to read books that are recommended by other boys," says Dowd. "Comic books are a great way to get boys into reading and writing."
Source: Patty Dowd
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This week, in an inspired twist on this fabled story, a group of third grade and seventh grade boys from Citizens Academy and University School are participating in a superheroes story workshop at Ohio City Writers, a new nonprofit writing center on Lorain Avenue in Ohio City.
The creators of the event hope that the workshop not only gets kids interested in reading and writing, but also helps them soar to new heights as engaged learners.
During the workshop, groups of boys will team up to create characters, settings and plots, then write their own superhero stories and share them with the group. It is being led by Frank Lewis, former Free Times and Scene editor and founder of Ohio City Writers.
Patty Dowd, Director of Student Enrichment at University School, says that extracurricular programs such as this one are important because they inspire boys to read and connect boys of different backgrounds in a fun, social setting.
"Reading is always an issue with boys, and they often don't have male role models who read and like to read books that are recommended by other boys," says Dowd. "Comic books are a great way to get boys into reading and writing."
Source: Patty Dowd
Writer: Lee Chilcote
huffpo publishes mike symon's love letter to cleveland
"Cleveland, You have been my best friend for over 40 years," writes Symon, in a heartfelt love letter to his one and only native town.
"I hid from you like every other teenager with a skateboard and BMX, choosing to play in the suburbs, a wide world of vanilla filled with malls, chain stores and entirely too much mediocrity."
"It wasn't until I left you that I realized how amazing you are and all the great treasures you possessed. Whether it was the old world headcheese at The Sausage Shoppe, amazing pierogies at Sokolowski's or the perfect steak and steam at the Shvitz, you were -- history and culture aside -- loaded with old-world culinary traditions that most cities could only imagine."
Enjoy the rest of his ode here.
"I hid from you like every other teenager with a skateboard and BMX, choosing to play in the suburbs, a wide world of vanilla filled with malls, chain stores and entirely too much mediocrity."
"It wasn't until I left you that I realized how amazing you are and all the great treasures you possessed. Whether it was the old world headcheese at The Sausage Shoppe, amazing pierogies at Sokolowski's or the perfect steak and steam at the Shvitz, you were -- history and culture aside -- loaded with old-world culinary traditions that most cities could only imagine."
Enjoy the rest of his ode here.
This weekend, tens of thousands of visitors will descend on the St. Clair Superior neighborhood for the Cleveland Asian Festival. During their visit, they will be delighted by 25 colorful dragon sculptures painted by local artists and installed outside businesses to beautify the area and celebrate the arts and Asian culture.
The public art project commemorates the Chinese Year of the Dragon, which began with the new moon in January and continues for a full 12 months.
Each one of these fantastic creatures will be completely unique. For example, Cleveland tattoo artist Sean Kelly painted a dragon featuring butterflies flying out of its chest, the kind of glittering eyes used in stuffed animals, and real antlers.
The dragons will be displayed through the end of August. They will be auctioned off at a special benefit on Saturday, September 29th, the proceeds of which will support arts and culture programming in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.
On Thursday, May 31st, the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation and artist Anna Arnold will also unveil a huge, 40- foot mural on the side of the Consolidated Graphics building at E. 39th and Payne Avenue. The project was created with the help of neighborhood schoolchildren and Asian seniors.
Source: Becca Britton
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The public art project commemorates the Chinese Year of the Dragon, which began with the new moon in January and continues for a full 12 months.
Each one of these fantastic creatures will be completely unique. For example, Cleveland tattoo artist Sean Kelly painted a dragon featuring butterflies flying out of its chest, the kind of glittering eyes used in stuffed animals, and real antlers.
The dragons will be displayed through the end of August. They will be auctioned off at a special benefit on Saturday, September 29th, the proceeds of which will support arts and culture programming in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.
On Thursday, May 31st, the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation and artist Anna Arnold will also unveil a huge, 40- foot mural on the side of the Consolidated Graphics building at E. 39th and Payne Avenue. The project was created with the help of neighborhood schoolchildren and Asian seniors.
Source: Becca Britton
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Last year, Akron marketing professional Amy Wong signed up to attend Cleveland GiveCamp for a few hours and ended up staying the entire weekend. She was taken with its mission of helping nonprofits with tech projects -- and she was having a good time.
This year, she hopes to deliver an even bigger impact by serving more nonprofits. GiveCamp, which is part of a national network of events that link technology professionals with nonprofits, is accepting applications until June 17th. The event takes place July 20th-22nd on LeanDog's barge at North Coast Harbor.
"Not only do nonprofits get help, but the teams learn a lot about the nonprofit community," says Wong of the event. "It's a win-win situation on both fronts."
Getting accepted into GiveCamp is competitive, and nonprofits must demonstrate a feasible project, community benefit and financial need. The projects help them better serve their constituencies by becoming more efficient and effective.
Last year, GiveCamp helped 23 nonprofit organizations with $500,000 worth of free development work. Completed projects include 17 new websites, three database applications, an iPhone app, Android app and mobile website.
Source: Amy Wong
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This year, she hopes to deliver an even bigger impact by serving more nonprofits. GiveCamp, which is part of a national network of events that link technology professionals with nonprofits, is accepting applications until June 17th. The event takes place July 20th-22nd on LeanDog's barge at North Coast Harbor.
"Not only do nonprofits get help, but the teams learn a lot about the nonprofit community," says Wong of the event. "It's a win-win situation on both fronts."
Getting accepted into GiveCamp is competitive, and nonprofits must demonstrate a feasible project, community benefit and financial need. The projects help them better serve their constituencies by becoming more efficient and effective.
Last year, GiveCamp helped 23 nonprofit organizations with $500,000 worth of free development work. Completed projects include 17 new websites, three database applications, an iPhone app, Android app and mobile website.
Source: Amy Wong
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Whereas some kids bond with their dads over football or baseball, Jacob Friedman and his dad have always bonded over oldies music stars like Petula Clark and Dean Martin and old movies starring Tim Conway.
Five years ago, Friedman suddenly had blurry vision and he couldn't get out of bed. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The nine-year-old listened to Clark's "Downtown" to comfort him as he traveled from his home in Parma to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in University Circle.
By a stroke of luck, Friedman later ran into Petula Clark while vacationing with his family at Disney World during a trip that was sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He asked for her autograph and they talked for over an hour. Clark was so taken with the young boy's story that she stayed in contact with him.
Figuring that he had nothing to lose, Friedman also emailed Tim Conway through his website. They soon struck up a relationship that continues to this day. Clark, Conway and some of Friedman's other film and music heroes have encouraged him to stay hopeful about his recovery and pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
"It's really meant a lot to me to have them a part of my life," says Friedman.
Now, Friedman has achieved another one of his longtime dreams. The 13-year-old has painted a "gratitude guitar" as part of Guitarmania, an event that places large, colorfully painted guitars around Cleveland to benefit United Way and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's education programs. The guitar features a rendering of Petula Clark and Tim Conway, and will soon be revealed to them as a surprise.
"Jacob thought it would be a great opportunity to say thank you in a really big way," says Steve Friedman, Jacob's father. "He wanted it to be a surprise."
The front of the guitar contains the words "laughter and music are the best medicine" and the guitar also features an image of Cleveland's skyline.
The Guitarmania kickoff takes place on Friday, May 25th at the Rock Hall.
Source: Jacob Friedman, Steve Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Five years ago, Friedman suddenly had blurry vision and he couldn't get out of bed. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The nine-year-old listened to Clark's "Downtown" to comfort him as he traveled from his home in Parma to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in University Circle.
By a stroke of luck, Friedman later ran into Petula Clark while vacationing with his family at Disney World during a trip that was sponsored by the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He asked for her autograph and they talked for over an hour. Clark was so taken with the young boy's story that she stayed in contact with him.
Figuring that he had nothing to lose, Friedman also emailed Tim Conway through his website. They soon struck up a relationship that continues to this day. Clark, Conway and some of Friedman's other film and music heroes have encouraged him to stay hopeful about his recovery and pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
"It's really meant a lot to me to have them a part of my life," says Friedman.
Now, Friedman has achieved another one of his longtime dreams. The 13-year-old has painted a "gratitude guitar" as part of Guitarmania, an event that places large, colorfully painted guitars around Cleveland to benefit United Way and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's education programs. The guitar features a rendering of Petula Clark and Tim Conway, and will soon be revealed to them as a surprise.
"Jacob thought it would be a great opportunity to say thank you in a really big way," says Steve Friedman, Jacob's father. "He wanted it to be a surprise."
The front of the guitar contains the words "laughter and music are the best medicine" and the guitar also features an image of Cleveland's skyline.
The Guitarmania kickoff takes place on Friday, May 25th at the Rock Hall.
Source: Jacob Friedman, Steve Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
tremont's new miranda's vintage bridal upcycles classic gowns
Miranda Park has always loved vintage ball gowns from the '40s and '50s, whose intricate, hand-sewn details and figure-flattering designs are often imitated, but nearly impossible to replicate.
Last month, Park traded her job as a seamstress at a bridal store in Rocky River to launch Miranda's Vintage Bridal and Alterations on W. 14th Street in Tremont. She's turned her passion for classic gowns into a business that can help modern brides go green -- and look great doing it.
"They just don't make dresses like that anymore," says Park, who majored in fashion design at Kent State University and says that artsy, historic Tremont is the perfect spot for her destination business. "I find them on eBay or at vintage stores, then use my skills as a seamstress to remake, redesign and restore them."
Park invites her customers to bring in their favorite vintage gowns for custom alterations. Since most new wedding dresses are expensive and used once, she says she's tapping into a national trend towards green, sustainable weddings.
Source: Miranda Park
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Last month, Park traded her job as a seamstress at a bridal store in Rocky River to launch Miranda's Vintage Bridal and Alterations on W. 14th Street in Tremont. She's turned her passion for classic gowns into a business that can help modern brides go green -- and look great doing it.
"They just don't make dresses like that anymore," says Park, who majored in fashion design at Kent State University and says that artsy, historic Tremont is the perfect spot for her destination business. "I find them on eBay or at vintage stores, then use my skills as a seamstress to remake, redesign and restore them."
Park invites her customers to bring in their favorite vintage gowns for custom alterations. Since most new wedding dresses are expensive and used once, she says she's tapping into a national trend towards green, sustainable weddings.
Source: Miranda Park
Writer: Lee Chilcote
This month Cleveland welcomes Great Lakes Courier, a high-energy free monthly paper that caters to Northeast Ohio's enthusiastic cycling community. "One of the things we hope to provide is a place for different groups of cyclists to tell stories and interact," says editor Michael Gill.