Keep smiling
That’s what Jim Lanza did in the 90’s, snapping photos of the raucous punk scene even as he ran merch for NIN and Marilyn Manson. An exhibition of his unseen images is on display at Sixty Bowls gallery. Catch our VIDEO of taiko drumming at last week’s Sakura Festival in Akron. And don’t believe the mainstream media when they tell you that only “hundreds” of people rallied at the Hands Off demonstrations in the Cleveland area: view Anastasia Pantsios’ PHOTOSTREAM, count the masses for yourself, and smile at the signage.
Follow Brandon Chrostowski as he retrains those returning from prison with food service skills, moving his EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute into the former Nighttown space, and this week winning the first-ever James Beard Impact Award. Check in on Akron Pride’s Drag Battle at the Akron Civic, engage with area musicians and art advocacy groups at B-Side’s Discover Weekly, and see if you can time the peak of the blooms on Daffodil Hill at Lakeview Cemetery.
Stand up for our rights at the LGBT Center, jazz it up at CVNP’s Happy Days Lodge, fear birds of prey at the Rocky River Nature Center, learn how the Cuyahoga was transformed by the removal of the Gorge Dam at the Kent Environmental Film Festival, and celebrate rust belt artists from NEO & Western NY at AAWR. Take hold and don’t let go.
–Thomas Mulready