This week’s Fresh Start focuses on Cleveland’s West Side. We start in the belly of a suburban hotel to explore the world of indie film makers, then hit the streets of Lakewood to explore a multitude of visual art and mixed media united by a decidedly sidewalk sale vibe. We kick back at Wendy Park on Whiskey Island for the beach party of the year, and take to the water for a boat race on the Cuyahoga that’s 2,000 years in the making.
Ready For Their Close-Ups, Mr. DeMille
Indie film showcases and festivals often make the scene at art museums and local theaters, but don’t let the venue for the Indie Gathering fool you. During the other 51 weekends of the year, the Holiday Inn Westlake isn’t a hotbed of creativity, but starting this Friday, August 6, the lodge offers one-stop shopping for indie film buffs. Film competitions, seminars, lectures and a convention featuring vendors and production companies fortify the event’s 75 film screenings. Local indie film director Johnny K. Wu is among the keynote speakers this year. Call 440-871-6000 for more info.
Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Business Week recently named Lakewood the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” in Ohio for 2010. We’d like to think the Lakewood Arts Festival, a fun slice of creativity on Detroit Avenue sandwiched between Belle and Andrews, had something to do with it. Doubling as a sidewalk sale, organizers draw more than 160 artists to participate in a juried visual arts fête every year, and the proceeds help endow a fine arts scholarship for a local (Lakewood-area) high school grad. Local food, kids’ activities, live music and strolling Detroit for spectacular deals on arts and crafts make this a must-do. Check out the action Saturday, August 7. And if you’re of a mind, the Starry Night Lakewood Hospital benefit the night before is an equally worthy cause.
Saucy Beach
Krusty’s Summer Sauce Camp, named after a character on The Simpsons, is a 21-and-over celebration of summer, libations and revelry to benefit Cleveland’s Malachi House charity, which assists children and families in need. Starting at noon on Saturday, August 7, ticket holders can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet, live music, Krusty’s Kornhole Tournament, and refreshing beverages. This is the kind of fun that summertime was made for.
Dragon Around
For a cultural experience at home that you won’t soon forget, check out the always entertaining, colorful Dragon Boat Festival. A tradition that’s two millennia in the making, the Flats Oxbow Association and festival organizers provide one of the best reasons to meander the Cuyahoga, and it happens this weekend, too.
