This is the time of the season we get all the best-of-the-year lists, and think pieces on how badly the year that’s ending sucked. While it’s useful to be reflective, we insist on looking ahead to not only the next week, but the next epoch that awaits us.Ryan Humbert and his band The Shootouts have had a banner year, and they are looking forward to a bigger one next year, so he’s ending 2023 with the 15th and final installment of the Holiday Extravaganza, benefitting the Akron Canton Food Bank. Cleveland music writer Annie Zaleski has just published her latest book, this one on 100 holiday hits, and the stories behind them. University of Akron students are creating a guide for shopping local in Akron, and we’ve got the scoop.The Cleveland Music Census wraps up this Friday, so feel free to complete the survey if you haven’t already, so we can all get our collective heads around the size, makeup and economic impact of the region’s music business. Looking ahead, the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture meeting is today, it’s open to the public, and it’s critical that artists attend to ensure the dysfunction inside the organization stops before they lose support in the community entirely.
We can look forward to the return of many holiday classics: The Cleveland Ballet’s Nutcracker, the Burning River Brass’ holiday concert in Tremont, TCO’s holiday concerts, and Santa making visits just about everywhere. But we look ahead to some new holiday events: an Irish-Appalachian Christmas from Apollo’s Fire, a holiday trunk show at BAYArts, a year-end party from Tailspinner at their new digs at 78th Street Studios, a holiday-themed afternoon at Shaker Square, even a Latin holiday celebration at Julia de Burgos Center. The anticipation is building.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is thrilled to announce the return of its popular 21+ event series, Think & Drink with the Extinct: Winter Solstice – Sponsored by The Sherwin-Williams Company.
On December 21 at 6PM, celebrate the longest night of the year with us as we raise a glass in commemoration of the 2023 winter solstice.
A limited supply of Fat Head’s Brewery’s Dunkelweizen beer will be available for purchase as the museum celebrates the opening of the new Visitor Hall and the return of Dunkleosteus terrelli (Dunk). Read more.
Akron-based musician Ryan Humbert has long been a catalyst for the music scene there, encouraging other musicians and making things happen. One of those things for the last 15 years has been his holiday extravaganza benefit at the Akron Civic Theatre, which has taken a slightly different musical form every year.Humbert’s latest project, the alt-country ensemble The Shootouts, is enjoying national success, complete with multiple Grand Ole Opry appearances. So this year’s 15th Holiday Extravaganza, benefiting the Akron Canton Food Bank, is the last. It will feature a seven-piece jazz ensemble fronted by Humbert and his long-time singing partner (and fellow Shootout) Emily Bates. There are two shows, Wed 12/20 & Thu 12/21. Read more.
Brian Kincaid recalls having exactly no aspirations to become the first African-American man in Ohio to earn a degree in enology, the art and study of making wine. He describes an unlikely series of events that led him to the craft of winemaking, culminating in his recent graduation from Kent State University and the launch of his new wine, “The Enologist” on Sat 12/16 at Deep Roots Experience Art Gallery.
Kincaid honors the late Mansfield Frazier, a CoolCleveland columnist for over ten years, who told him, “this is something you should do.” In collaboration with his wife Maya and her catering company Dressed Tu Kale, Brian has designed the event to feature wine selections from other local wine brands, live charcuterie demonstrations, art, music and a raffle. Read more.
Cleveland-based music journalist Annie Zaleski recently published a book celebrating 100 favorite holiday hits, presented in chronological order, from the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas (covered by everyone from Bob & Doug McKenzie, the Muppets to John Denver and Twisted Sister) and Bing Crosby’s 1942 classic White Christmas, all the way to Someday at Christmas (2015) by Andra Day & Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift’s 2019 Christmas Tree Farm. Does the book make a lovely holiday gift for just about anyone? Yes, it surely will. Read more.
The Cleveland Music Census, which is gathering information to learn about the needs of the area music community, was scheduled to conclude December 1, but now you have until this Friday to respond. Anyone over 18 who is involved in the music scene in any way is welcome to provide feedback. Go here.Read more.
Univeristy of Akron student Mona Abdeldaim worked with classmates to create Zips Guide, an online resource for folks looking to shop local in the Akron area. “By supporting local businesses, we can all contribute to a more vibrant and sustainable economy for all.”
The Zips Guide covers categories like Food & Drink, Fashion & Design, Akron Art, and Gifts For The Hard To Buy For. Mona writes, “Our goal was to create a ‘Zips Guide’ to shopping small and local in Akron, highlighting the diverse and vibrant businesses that make Akron special…” Read more.
