Let loose this week and watch out for the Concert Truck that the Cleveland International Piano Competition is presenting all over town through the end of the month. Hang out on the street with the Lakewood Summer Meltdown, sing along at the Cleveland Irish Festival, and use your imagination at the US Air Guitar Nationals at the Beachland Ballroom.Max out with pizza & jazz at the Botanical Garden, find yourself basking at Summer in the City at the Akron Bazaar, dig into Books, Bites and Beats at Akron’s People’s Park, and preview the BorderLight Festival at a free outdoor City Club forum at Playhouse Square.
Go big and check out the CoolCleveland VIDEO interview of Cleveland’s horror hosts Janet Decay and Grimm Gorri, AKA the Mummy and the Monkey. Get in on the open mic at Poetry Unplugged at City Goods, be a part of Wizardly Weekend in Kent, and definitely do the open air King Lear at parks & landmarks in nine communities between now and the beginning of next month. That’s how you take it to the max.
For one breezy summer day, Detroit Avenue from Belle to Arthur becomes a creative oasis and brings artists of all disciplines together with 15,000 collectors and art lovers. The juried festival hosts over 175 regional and national artists displaying painting, prints, art glass, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more.
Cindy Marx, Patron Fund Chair offers, “Donations to the Lakewood Arts Festival Scholarship Fund are used to fund the art education of young artists, reducing their financial burden. Receiving a scholarship encourages the student to pursue their passion for art. Art as we know, has the ability to change the world.”
CoolCleveland correspondent and horror movie buff Liv Lewis interviews Cleveland horror hosts and creepy-cute-couple Janet Decay and Grimm Gorri, AKA The Mummy and the Monkey.
The pair discuss their respective journeys, rank their top 3 final girls, and riding the wave of decades from basic cable to live-streaming.
View this exclusive CoolCleveland interview to find out who The Mummy and the Monkey would marry, kill or hook up with. View the video here.
For decades, one of the coolest concerts in town has been Studio-A-Rama, hosted by CWRU radio station WRUW 91.1 FM in the courtyard behind its studios. It’s a full day of indy rock and pop acts, mostly local and regional, with a national headliner or two. They’ve put out a call for local bands to apply; you can do so through July 31. This year’s Studio-A-Rama is on Saturday September 7. Read more.
For several years, Ohio has had a three-day sales tax holiday in mid-summer to make back-to-school shopping more affordable. This year, it’s not only been expanded to ten days (July 30-August 8) but it also applies to restaurants as well for tabs up to $500. Check out the Cleveland Independents website to find some locally owned places to go while you can save some money.Read more.
Asian Lantern Festival presented by Meijer is back!
Experience the wonder of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo illuminated after dark with live acrobatic performances every hour on the Fifth Third Bank Stage, a variety of culturally inspired cuisine at the MetroHealth Asian Food Market, and all-new lantern displays including a 50-foot-tall pagoda and themed areas like the Blooming Gardens presented by CrossCountry Mortgage.
On select nights, guests will be able to drive through the festival. Purchase tickets at futureforwildlife.org/lanterns.
MON 7/22 History of an Art
No one knows more about the history of burlesque in Cleveland than burlesque performer/producer Bella Sin. She’ll drop some knowledge tonight at the North Royalton Library and maybe share a little preview of the Ohio Burlesque Fest at the Beachland Ballroom August 15-17.
TUE 7/23 Mobile Music
Piano Cleveland has partnered with the Concert Truck to take free performances into the community for a week from July 21-27. Today they have two performances: in Asiatown and Edgewater Beach.
WED 7/24 Previewing BorderLight
With more than 50 events over this coming weekend, the BorderLight theater festival is a bit overwhelming. At noon today outside on the plaza, the City Club will present a free public forum with some the artists talking about the importance of diverse voices.* AAWR hosts talk/workshop in pop-up books.
