It’s NOT the End of Summer
Living in Cleveland, there always seems to be too much to do. Last weekend, we missed the bike and wine event at the Oberlin Inn. Instead, we spent an evening at Huntington Beach, window shopped at Crocker Park, rode our bikes on Hilliard Boulevard, had dinner at Avon’s Winking Lizard, walked in Rocky River Reservation, and hung out on our deck. Earlier in the week we were wowed by music greats Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Jean Luc Ponty with Return to Forever at the Palace Theater — we knew we couldn’t top that this past weekend. I discovered the Lake to Lake Trail with a girlfriend on Saturday, and we attended a 50th birthday party at White Oaks (a westside gem) on Monday.
There’s a LOT to do in Cleveland. A lot of it free, a lot of it ostentatious, a lot of it outdoors, a lot of it worthwhile.
It’s not the end of summer. Festivals are revving up again, and musical acts are tuning up their guitars and setting up their drums, somewhere.
My memories of the Lorain County Fair in Wellington are of driving miles down Route 58, through Oberlin, past cornfields and farm houses, to the Lorain County Fair where everything’s as a county fair should be — cotton candy stands, cow stalls, music, arcade games, and lots of people looking like they’re enjoying themselves, just being out and about, strolling. The Lorain County Fair is already happening, and if you missed the Cuyahoga County Fair, you’ll be happy with the Lorain County Fair, Ohio’s second largest and one of the oldest (it began in 1846). Their website indicates “The goal of the Fair has always been to educate people about animals and to hold a family-oriented event representing high standards set over many years.” This year, the fair is having a hay bale decorating contest in which hay bales will be judged on the theme, use of materials, quality of construction, and artistic merit. Instead of guitars, they have hay bales!
Down in Summit County, one of our Western Reserve towns, Hudson, is hosting Art on the Green on Sat 8/27 from 10AM to 5PM. Organized by the Hudson Society of Artists, this art show in downtown Hudson should prove to be worthwhile. After strolling the streets and buying some local art, you need to go to my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant, a hanger-on from KSU days — Marcelita’s.
The 2011 annual North Olmsted Homecoming will be held Thu 8/25 through Sun 8/28. As always, the festival is at North Olmsted Park and Cabin, with arcade rides, a midway with games, community organization tents, music, and lots of food. This party, which begins at 6PM on Thursday and Friday, continues through 11PM on Fri 8/26 and Sat 8/28. For more information visit http://OrgSites.com. Don’t worry, they won’t kick you out if you don’t live in North Olmsted, and it’s free to walk around.
What am I doing this weekend? Yet another 50th birthday party on Friday night, at a local marina — what’s with the parties?
On Saturday I’m committed to Skyline Writers’ annual conference at Hines Hill in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park just north of Peninsula where we’ll retreat and sojourn and hang out with other writers from 9AM-5PM on Sat 8/27. If you’re a writer, you don’t want to miss this event that begins with a continental breakfast and ends with drinks at the Winking Lizard in Peninsula. Hines Hill is near the Towpath, so you can wander alone and write some poetry when the chatter about books and marketing and finding the muse settles down.
I’ll be sipping wine and signing books at Harpersfield Winery from 1-5PM on Sun 8/28, which I’ll write about in next week’s edition of Cool Cleveland. Suffice it to say, Harpersfield’s old world charm of gardens, an open hearth, and music played in the gardens, vineyards nearby, is a wonderful way to while away a summers’ day. Summer’s not over yet!
Claudia Taller’s book Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries was just released by Arcadia Publishing. Find out more about the book by going to http://OhioLakeErieWineries.blogspot.com and order it through Claudia by sending an e-mail to claudia.taller@yahoo.com.
One Response to “Too Much to DO!! It’s NOT the End of Summer”
Hank Wait
I would just like to mention that you made no mention of Zappa Plays Zappa opening for RTF 4. I felt they were the superior presentation that evening. Although Stanley Clarke shone the brightest of all the musicians that night. Indeed I felt Jean-luc seemed spent and tired. it was an excellent show however.