If the future of northeast Ohio depends on critical thinking – done very much outside the box – then putting thinking into unobstructed action is the best way to live towards expectations. The future of the region is also the subject of this week’s Fresh Start selections. Whether your fancy is classical music, environmentally conscious living or understanding important political shifts with local implications, these events are sure to serve you (and your community) well. All you need to do is avail yourself.
CityMusic Cleveland
If the best things in life are free, CityMusic Cleveland most certainly is a case in point. Since 2004, this chamber orchestra has delivered classical music to neighborhoods all across northeast Ohio at no charge. Under the leadership of music director James Gaffigan, CityMusic Cleveland’s performances have astounded critics and residents, with an impressive oeuvre featuring the likes of Mozart, Rossini, Stravinsky and Verdi. Their regular season is a tour de force of performances in non-traditional locations stretching from Willoughby Hills and Slavic Village to Rocky River and Elyria. In addition to free music performance, there is no-cost parking, no-cost childcare and no ticketing – now that's accessible! Score the latest “tour” schedule, which starts Tuesday, February 2 and runs through the weekend, here.
The League of Women Voters
Ohio’s Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is the first woman Secretary in the Buckeye State’s history. Awarded the coveted John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her work in 2008, Brunner will speak about her three years in office and her work to ensure the integrity of Ohio voting in the 2008 presidential election. The League of Women Voters’ “First Thursdays” speaker series hosts Brunner at the gorgeous Trinity Commons (the Art Gallery) at Cleveland's Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Avenue, on Thursday, February 4 at 7 pm. Her lecture, A View From the Top, is free, open to the public and will feature a post-talk Q&A. She’ll likely talk about her decision, made one year ago, to run for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Senator George Voinovich.
2010 Cleveland Botanical Garden Sustainability Symposium
The 2010 Cleveland Botanical Garden Sustainability Symposium isn’t free like the first two programs, but the return on investment for the registration fee is almost instantaneous. This day-long, eco-minded happening is packed with amazing local, regional and national speakers, environmental exhibitions and a dynamite vegetarian luncheon. Want to know how to decrease your impact on the earth? Learn what a single person can do to help the environment on Saturday, February 6 at 9 am. Teachers, students, horticulturalists, gardeners, landscapers, conservationists, homeowners and concerned citizens are all promised to learn a thing or 20 about protecting the planet, and their little corner of it. Speakers and program outline can be found here.
