Our region is optimistic and on the move. As the biggest week in American birding kicks off, Summit Metroparks is here to help. The Grog is slowly opening up, with local artists and local food. The Screw Factory is holding its first open house of the year.It’s free admission for mom for a self-guided tour of Stan Hywet for Mother’s Day. Director Terrence Spivey and classic country outfit the Shootouts have kept themselves busy with new projects. Bike Cleveland’s Rolling Bike Smarts is an easy ride that promises to teach safety and get you socialized on two wheels. Yes, things are looking up.
Meanwhile, some are skeptical of the new development threatening the charm of Hessler Street, Mayor Jackson stonewalls local events organizers, and Mansfield laments a recent lawsuit disadvantaging Black farmers. So keep smiling, but don’t believe all the promises you hear.
Ryan Humbert already had a reputation as a singer/songwriter of finely crafted pop/rock with an Americana flavor when he founded the Shootouts in 2015 to play classic country music. The band’s sophomore album, Bullseye, just released, seasons Nashville honky-tonk, Texas swing and Buck Owens-style Bakersfield sounds with contemporary alt-country influences. Read More
Although it’s finally started processing permit applications for summer events, Mayor Jackson’s office left small events organizers hanging to the point where Cleveland Bazaar founder Shannon Oakey started an online petition. Incredibly, while it was stonewalling local organizers, it announced a plan to form an office of Tourism, Filming and Special Events in the mayor’s office – assuming functions already handled by other organizations. Read More
The modern “mini-apartment” development is being proposed for University Circle’s intact, brick-lined Hessler Street, a close community with unique charm and history. Residents and property owners feel it will threaten the character of the street and that they’ve been left out of the process. The Hessler Coaition, formed to fight back, tells us why. Read More
Director Terrence Spivey restored Cleveland’s legendary Black theater at Karamu House to its former glory while he led it from 2003-2016. Since moving on, he’s been in demand to direct at area theaters, started his own company and produced an award-winning film about a 1933 lynching in his Texas hometown. This fall, he’ll also be a visiting professor at Allegheny College in NW Pa. Read More
Through Sun 05.09, celebrate Star Wars with Melt Bar and Grilled with special food features like The Triple Deck Han Solo Burger, Vader’s Peanut Thai Fighter Melt, and for dessert, save room for The Wookiee.Thirsty? Try the I Am Your Father (a little bitter, a little harsh, but still deeply sweet in the end), the Scruffy Looking Nerf Herder (to be honest a little funky after spending less than 12 parsecs doing the Kessel Run.), or the Electric Lightsabre Lemonade: choose Rebel Forces Green or Galactic Empire Red or Jedi Blue (Is your loyalty with the Rebel Forces or The Galactic Empire or The Jedi?). Read More
SUN 5/9 Honor Your Mother Your mom can get into Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens for free on Mother’s Day to enjoy a self-guided tour of the Manor House, a snack & drink on the grounds and music by a trio from the Akron Symphony.
MON 5/10 Quarreling Crayons Main Street Kent’s latest story walk is a family-friendly event based on the kids’ picture book, The Day The Crayons Quit, with lots of interactive activities.
Given the history of how badly Black farmers have been treated over the decades by the USDA, we can only hope the courts will realize the purpose of this lawsuit: It’s designed to maintain the status quo and assure the advantage White farmers have historically had continues far into the future. The last thing they want is to level the playing field for farmers of color. Read More
