Saturday, October 1, 2011
While the idea of sustainable clothing may not have occurred to you, the latest exhibit at the Kent State University Museum shows that supporting earth-friendly fashion doesn’t mean you have to walk around wearing burlap.
These days, being more ecologically minded is not only politically correct, but becoming absolutely necessary in the way we eat, build homes and conduct business. While the idea of sustainable clothing may not have occurred to you, the latest exhibit at the Kent State University Museum shows that supporting earth-friendly fashion doesn’t mean you have to walk around wearing burlap. The exhibit, entitled “Sustainable Fashion: Exploring The Paradox,” includes clothing by famous name designers such as Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, as well as lesser-know labels, while wall graphics show how often Kent students wear, wash and throw out their clothes. All actions that leave a heavy carbon footprint on the land when you …
Saturday, September 24, 2011
It’s time to slow things down and enjoy in a little 'me' time, and Fountain in Moreland Hills is the perfect spot to indulge
September can be such a frenzied time of year for kids and their carpooling parents with the start of school, sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. It’s time to slow things down and enjoy in a little “me” time, and Fountain in Moreland Hills is the perfect spot to indulge. This is a place where you can relax over a leisurely lunch with a friend or read a newspaper or book in a setting reminiscent of a fine European café without feeling rushed whatsoever. In fact, the management encourages its guests to stay for as long as they like. High-speed WiFi and cozy private seating areas styled after different countries make it easy for you to catch up on business matters, if you must. Did I say cozy? It’s more like plush; people …
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Head to your local library for great escapes of the mind
Back in the 1980s there was a song that said video killed the radio star. Is technology striking again in the form of e-readers, making good old-fashioned "paper" books obsolete? Not if your public library system can help it! Libraries, with real paper books, are alive and well. Witness the many local library branches including Solon and Cleveland Heights, which have adapted to the latest technological advances and even have plans for future expansion. A library is much more than books; it is part of the fabric of a community and one of America’s greatest social institutions. Neighborhood libraries have myriad of activities, meetings, clubs, and classes in addition to a vast collection and abundant computer access for every age from …
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The festival brings a contemporary approach to a 16th-century tradition in which beggars would copy the paintings of master Renaissance artists on the plazas in front of the great European cathedrals using chalk
Expose your inner artiste and help create the biggest, most colorful canvas in town at the annual Chalk Festival at The Cleveland Museum of Art on Sept. 17-18. Begun in 1990, the festival brings a contemporary approach to a 16th-century tradition in which beggars would copy the paintings of master Renaissance artists on the plazas in front of the great European cathedrals using chalk. In this “new world” version, you can join with other community members and professional artists in this lively event to transform the gray walkways around the Fine Arts Garden into a mosaic of art in front of the museum. All you have to do is sign in when you arrive — Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sunday, noon-5 p.m. — and request either a large square …
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Find answers to all your garlic questions plus great food, live music and fun at the annual Cleveland Garlic Festival on September 10-11 at Shaker Square.
Is it a vegetable or an herb? Can it really ward off evil spirits and keep vampires at bay? What are its medicinal qualities? Find answers to all your garlic questions plus great food, live music and fun at the annual Cleveland Garlic Festival on September 10-11 at Shaker Square. The North Union Farmers’ Market decided two years ago that this potent little veggie deserves its very own festival, and is converting historic Shaker Square into ground zero for all things garlic in the region. What you may not know is that Ohio garlic is extra special because of nutrients in the soil that provide it with greater anti-viral qualities than garlic grown in any other area. Garlic makes practically everything taste good and is used in most cultures…
Saturday, August 27, 2011
The Burn Off at Gross Schechter has consistently drawn more than 2,500 guests in previous years, garnering its reputation as a fun, well-organized communitywide event
Anything that’s been going on for just short of 20 years has got to be good, right? That is certainly true for the 19th Annual Totally Kosher Rib Burn Off on Sept. 5, from noon to 5 p.m at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike. The ribs at this burn-off are bovine, not swine; that means beef, not pig, to those unfamiliar with hoofed farm animals. Jewish people who observe the religion’s dietary laws are restricted from eating pork – thus the kosher barbecue beef ribs. If you are not into nibbling on these meaty delights, there will also be barbecue chicken, vegetarian dishes, desserts and many other kosher delicacies to try. This year’s event features a photo booth, silent auction, and more carnival games than in previous years…
Saturday, August 20, 2011
'Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power,' commemorates 70 female artists who moved rock 'n' roll music and American culture forward from as early as the 1920s through today
When Cyndi Lauper, the pre-Gaga-esque girl rocker, sang, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” she had no idea that she was making her mark on the most beloved music genre in the world – and neither did countless other female artists. Now, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is showing a special exhibit of these legend-making women rockers and their impact on music history. “Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power,” commemorates 70 female artists who moved rock 'n' roll music and American culture forward from as early as the 1920s through today. The interactive exhibit, which runs through Feb. 26, fills two entire floors of the museum and features artifacts, fashions, listening and video stations, and even a recording booth where visitors …
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Towpath Trail is a lovely way to absorb the diverse scenery of the old canal route as it traverses parks and cities with signage explaining Ohio history all along the way
Once upon a time in the early 1800’s, the Towpath was the main transportation byway for new settlers along the Ohio and Erie Canals. Today, bikers, runners and walkers can explore the route on the Towpath Trail that begins at the Steelyard Commons shopping center in Cleveland and wends its way South through four counties all the way to Zoar, Ohio. There are some unfinished sections of the trail, but that should not deter you from experiencing one of Ohio’s longest and most scenic bikeways. If you are not up to taking on the entire 101-mile path, you can choose just a section. Much of the path is paved, but there are sections that are firmly packed crushed gravel so a road bike is preferable to a racing bicycle. Trail maps are …
Saturday, July 30, 2011
When did 'tickling the ivories' become a spectator sport?
When did “tickling the ivories” become a spectator sport? Well, that would be since 1975 when the prestigious and world-renowned Cleveland International Piano Competition began taking place here every two years, bringing the most gifted young pianists to our town for a nail-bitingly suspenseful marathon of music. This year’s showdown began with the solo rounds at the Cleveland Play House on July 27 and continues through Aug. 3, after which the field will be reduced to eight semifinalists and four finalists. The four perform in the final round along with our own pride and joy, The Cleveland Orchestra, on Aug. 5 and 6 at Severance Hall. The winner of the first prize will be judged from among a field of 27 ridiculously talented musicians …
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Get a load of this week's Great Escape, history buffs!
July and August in Cleveland is not much different than winter, except for the snow. We basically run from our air-conditioned homes to our air-conditioned cars and make a dash for the air-conditioned theater, grocery store or mall. It’s too muggy, buggy, and just darn hot to spend much time outdoors, but there is at least one place where you can enjoy the wonders of nature and stay cool at the same time. An easy day trip away and hidden beneath acres of cornstalk-covered farmland, there is a place “where nature carved a fairyland.” Ohio Caverns in West Liberty, Ohio, northwest of Columbus, was formed thousands of years ago when an underground river ran through the prehistoric limestone and created rooms and passages that have filled …
