We never thought, when we started CoolCleveland in 2002, that we’d be entering our 22nd year still going strong. Through the ups and downs, and there have been plenty of each, this region has never felt more confident about its future.Not that we still don’t have a lot of issues to address. BreastFest is now in its 23rd year fighting cancer, and they’ve put together a stellar, all-women lineup. The Maltz Museum opens a new show based on the diary of a young Jewish girl (no, not that one). We still miss Mansfield Frazier, whom we lost two years ago, but we’re happy to hear from his nephew Jahi, who sent us a beautiful remembrance.
Come seeThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Dunham Tavern, come experience photo portraits of religious women by legendary Cleveland photog Herb Ascherman, come on a hike to discover the history of Big Creek, and come along on the ride as CoolCleveland travel writer Claudia Taller takes us daytripping through Akron.
Come to think of it, our local arts funding is at risk, and there are two meetings this week where you can express yourself and engage with the funding process. And coming up soon (on Sat 10/28), get your costume together and join the fun at the BOP STOP for a night of music and dancing and Halloween chills, and help out a couple of hard working pet charities in the process. Are you coming?
The Cleveland Arts Prize 63rd Annual Awards Event will take place Thu 10/26 at 6:30PM at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The event will feature performances by past Cleveland Arts Prize winners. This year’s CAP discipline award winners are Stephanie Ginese (Literature), Janet Macoska (Visual Art), Dr. Jacinda Walker (Design), Dana Jessen (Music), and Atefeh Farajolahzadeh (Visual Arts) (photo, L to R). View CoolCleveland videos of the winners here.
“I invite everyone to join us at our Annual Awards Event, which promises to be filled with captivating entertainment, esteemed presenters, and the prestigious recognition of this year’s outstanding artists, advocates, and philanthropists,” said Effie Nunes, Interim Executive Director. RSVP today.
Daytrips can be a bit quirky. How does a trip to the Akron Art Museum include a stop at a Catholic church that curates nativity scenes? And a stop at Bob’s House? Also on the itinerary — Don Drumm Studios & Gallery, which I would soon discover is quite a big deal. Lunch at Lockview Restaurant on Main was long overdue — in our years of Akron Civic Theater concert going, we never quite made it across the street…
We ended the day at the Akron Art Museum. We only had an hour to see the permanent collection and the special exhibit of Keith Haring’s work. It was not enough time. I’m thinking about a long day in Akron over the holidays — shopping at Don Drumm’s, Stan Hywet all dolled up in greenery and poinsettias, a stop to see nativities, the Nutcracker performance at the Akron Civic Theater, and a stop to see exhibits at the Akron Art Museum. Now it’s starting to sound like a getaway — we’ll have to look at hotel rooms… Read more from CoolCleveland travel writer Claudia Taller here.
In 1945, a diary was discovered in the liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp. It was written by a 14-year-old Jewish girl named Rywka Lipszyc and documented her life in the Łódz Ghetto between October 1943 and April 1944. Rywka’s diary tells the story of a young girl who lost her siblings and parents, but never lost hope or her faith. With interactive touch screens, documentary videos, and photographs, the exhibition explores the story of a young girl’s fight for survival in the Łódz Ghetto.
Join The Maltz Museum for the launch event on Wed 10/25 and go behind the scenes of The Girl in the Diary: Searching for Rywka from Łódź Ghetto with Tomasz Strug, Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Galicia Jewish Museum in Kraków, Poland, where the exhibition originated. Read more.
Today we remember Mansfield Frazier and his ascension date. I no longer use the word “passed,” and I am starting to see clearly more the gain over the loss. In the Black tradition, we pour libation as a form of respect to those we’ve loved who’ve left the physical plane, and now are in the spiritual and ancestral world.
Mansfield was not overly religious or spiritual, but he commanded respect from everyone, those who loved him or disliked him. His confidence was infectious, I miss his voice, and how he would say “what’s up cat?” which spoke to the times he was raised in. Today I will show him respect and pour libation into a living plant.
Here’s the 5 lessons I’ve learned from Uncle Bae: 1) Not even prison could break him. He turned the worst situation of confinement into a springboard toward his future self, his future dreams and success. I was a witness of that. 2) He was courageous enough to think outside the box… Read more from Mansfield’s nephew Jahi.
Early voting has already started for the November 7 election and that means you can cast your YES vote for Issue 1 to protect reproductive rights in Ohio — not just abortion but the right to contraception, miscarriage care, fertility treatment and to continue a pregnancy if you choose. Don’t listen to the lies: if NO carries the day the six-week ban will go into effect with likely more restrictions to follow. Read more.
We’re going to come out and say it: Halloween is the coolest party night of the year. It’s time to get your costume together and join the fun on Sat 10/28 at BOP STOP for a truly Horrifying Halloween Party with animatronic werewolves, a dance contest, a visit from Ghostbusters Cleveland, dancing with DJ Death and more, all hosted with live music by glam superstars Vanity Crash. Get your friends together and reserve your table now. Let’s do this. Read more.
Unfortunately, many young Black, Hispanic and low-income youths in our nation’s inner cities do not have a Horatio Alger figures to emulate. They look to sports figures, rappers and drug dealers as their idols. And due to poverty and the proliferation of guns and drugs, coupled with poor school systems and lack of jobs and job training programs, they often seemed doomed to failure, with an inordinate number ending up in the criminal justice system or dead by virtue of gun violence or drugs.
Sports agent and entrepreneur Rich Paul has overcome those obstacles through a combination of brains, determination, a strong father figure and a good deal of luck to rise like a phoenix out of his humble beginnings right here in Cleveland to become a superstar sports agent and entrepreneur, with a current net worth estimated at $120 million. Read more.
