Everybody needs a Fresh Start. Routine and the expected can sap the life out of even the heartiest of Clevelanders, often leaving us restless, wanting and maybe even headed down the sneaky snark spiral. Lucky for all of us that this region has plenty to get (and keep) us all excited and engaged. This week, we turn our attention to chefs, rockers on rocking chairs, one of the area’s hipper arts fairs and a venerable arts program at Dobama — the first of its kind in America! — that carries on into its fourth decade. If it’s “on the rise,” it’s part of this week’s Fresh Start and sure to lift your spirits as well.
Forever Young
Leave all your preconceived notions at the door. The Marilyn Bianchi Kids Playwriting Festival is not some hackneyed version of Fame. “The First Children’s Playwriting Festival in the United States.” features only original works by hundreds of Cuyahoga County students ages 6 to 18. Host theater Dobama remunerates the original expression of youth in a neatly packaged, long-running festival honoring the memory of Bianchi, who co-founded Dobama in 1959. The festival starts Thursday, June 17 and runs through the weekend. This is one of Cleveland’s best artistic celebrations, because it looks to the future while celebrating 32 years of C-town creativity! Learn more here.
I’m Just Here for the Food
The Cleveland 2.0 dialogue series moderated by Michael “Tech Czar” DeAloia at the City Club of Cleveland has offered a lot of wow factor in 2010 already. With a finger on the pulse of the city’s up-and-coming talent, Cleveland’s new leadership has been talking vision, strategy and experience, all in a compelling, inspirational package. The fourth in the series of six dialogues focuses on Cleveland’s Emerging Chefs this Thursday, June 17 at 11:30AM at the City Club. And yes, each chef will have a “tasting station” available before the event starts, so get there early. The panel includes Heather Haviland of Lucky’s/Vine & Bean, Michael Nowak of Bar Cento/Bier Markt and more. Score all the details here.
Fair Enough
The twice-annual Coventry Street Arts Fairs are as quintessential a Cleveland Heights happening as there is. Everything that makes summer great is crammed into quaint, crunchy Coventry Road: a bevy of live bands and comedy, street vendors, clowns and hands-on arts and crafts for kids, al fresco dining, sidewalk sales… you name it. The first of two installments runs Friday, June 18 from 6 to 9 pm (the “sequel” happens Friday, July 16 with a different entertainment line-up). Free and open to the public, there’s something for everyone to love. Bands Dubflex and Cats on Holiday will provide the soundtrack, and a screening of the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz rounds out the whimsical vibes for the day. No need to click those heels, Dorothy. You’re home. Learn more about the fun here.
Strummin’ My Six-String… On My Front Porch Swing…
Apologies for the Buffett reference, but you could do far worse than hanging out on someone’s front porch this Saturday, June 19. We love the Larchmere PorchFest and all the great local singer-songwriters involved in it. Think porch time, festival, live music and a home tour all rolled into one—landing on Larchmere’s most charming frontages. The event is free and open to the public, proving paradise need not involve a cheeseburger or margarita. Read more here.
