LO PhotoBlogs

Here are a few photos to add from the Old House Fair. It was near the end of the show when hubby, Charlie, and I finally had some time to walk around and visit the exhibitors for some of our own home needs. (We both help put this show on and keep very busy during the show). See Jim O'bryan's photoblog for some good shots.

The 3rd Annual Lakewood Old House Fair took place on Saturday, April 18th, 2011 from11 to 4pm at Harding Middle School on Madison Ave. in Lakewood. Thank you to all the local businesses and nonprofit services who took the time to connect and share with residents. The 2012 Old House Fair will be Saturday, May 5, 11 to 4 pm at Harding again. Admission is free.

Click the link to view the entire story photoblog http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/mel-page/come-home-to-lakewood-house-tour

Link to story photoblog here http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/mel-page/lakewood-community-festival-saturday-september-11

My version of the TV Show Planet... No animals were harmed in this shoot. All photos are the property of The Lakewood Observer, Inc.

These photos were taken over two sessions. The first when I was able to get in with the Lakewood Historical Society and the second during a day where seats, movie posters and other items in the theater where for sale. On the second day we removed some of the burlap wall coverings and found some nice plaster decorations on the wall.

A good time was had by all concerned when the musicians who attend the monthly jam sessions at the Canalway Visitors Center played at a "coffeehouse" event held for the public at the beautiful Canalway Visitors Center, located by the Ohio and Erie Canal and Cuyahoga River near Cleveland's historic industrial flats. My dad, Robert Rice and I (in cowboy hats) always enjoy helping out with these great occasions. Thanks to Tom for snapping the action shots of Dad and me!

Last night, after a stellar weekend commencing Friday at the Rock Hall, Lakewood High's Class of 1970 concluded their 40th anniversary celebration at Lakewood's Around the Corner restaurant, with a reunion of the famous and fabulous HAZE rock band. Current band mates included bassist Rick Wager, drummer Declan Simon, guitarist Paul Robinson, and guitarist John Brite, and they thrilled the crowd! The band had played for the class back in 1970, as well. What a night for all concerned!!! (Dig the utterly cool "LHS" spelled out on Paul's three guitar pickup covers!

(All photos by Gary Rice)

After St. James Church's Sunday Mass yesterday, I took some pictures around the church's interior. From the statue of the Blessed Virgin, to the intimate confessional, to the stool that Father John sometimes used for his homilies...memories abound in the hearts of Lakewoodites who will always remember this sacred place.

Some photos taken with my not-too-great-for-night-shots camera.

4th Annual Mayor's Ball To Benefit The Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood Ohio November 2011 Copyright © Kreshnik Musmurati 2011

Albanian Community of Cleveland Celebrates 99th Anniversary of Albanian Independence

The church in Lakewood torn down after 90+ years of Prayers, Weddings and Church Services

In this Photo Pat Foye at West Park Station located at Loarin Ave Cleveland being interviewed by one of the Clevelands local stations

07.14.2011

I was looking at my backyard today and was taken by the frozen lake. I thought it would be cool to take some photos of it. These are the result.

A tenant meeting was held January 4, 2011 at Lakeshore Towers. It was attended by two Lakewood Councilwoman and a representative from Clevelands Tenant's Organization. The meeting was to introduce new tenant candidates, as well as having the current tenant members present.

Marvel's upcoming film The Avengers, slated for a Summer 2012 release, is filming in the Cleveland area through the end of August. As one of a total of 7 movies being filmed in the area, bringing upwards of $90 Million into the area's economy, The Avengers boasts a $250 Million budget. (David Lay/The Lakewood Observer)

The City of Lakewood held a press conference today at Melt Bar & Grilled to announce the city was voted among Travel & Leisure Magazine's 'Coolest Suburb to Visit'. (David Lay/The Lakewood Observer)

Taylor Swift brought her "Speak Now World Tour" to Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday night, and 15,000 screaming fans joined her for a night filled with surprises.

The 21-year-old superstar was backed by a eight-piece band, eight dancers trained to perform anything from hip-hop to ballet, and three trapeze artists that made fans hold their breath. Yet it was Taylor's show, and she had command of the stage from the moment the Victorian theatre-style courtains opened.

Opening with two songs from her new album, Speak Now, Taylor sent the crowd into a singing and screaming frenzy. Pyro wowed younger fans, while parents snapped photos. The 8:30 p.m. start time is a bit early for most headliners, but the parents had to appreciate getting their kids home before midnight. "Story of Us" had the band, dancers, and crowd fully engaged, while "Mean" turned into a ballad for anyone who's ever been picked on. A quick costume and set change, and Taylor showed her piano playing abilities with a moving randition of "Back to December".

Quick set and costume changes were a common thing Saturday night. There were nine costume changes in total, and sets included everything from a church setting during "Speak Now", three large church bells that rung during "Haunted", and a floating balcony in which Taylor soared over the crowd and around the arena during "Love Story". A seperate stage in the back of the arena provided a great view for fans who were further away from the main stage. Taylor navigated through the crowd, giving hugs and bracelets to fans of all ages along the way to and from the main stage.

It was on the second stage that Taylor showed her musical talents and ability to connect with fans through her music.

"Songwriting is something I need to do", Swift explained as she held a ukelele. "It's much more than what I love to do now."

She didn't chat too much with the crowd, but the interaction and energy from the fans was definitely there. Swift let her music do most of the talking for her, only adding anecdotal facts, song inspirations and the occasional compliment to the rowdy fans.

Short covers of Macy Gray's "I Try", as well as "My Wish" by Columbus natives Rascal Flatts led into her hit "You Belong With Me". Thanks to Taylor's Ukelele-playing, it was refreshingly light and uplifting. It was also the fourth instrument she skillfully played up to that point. Pyrotechnics, fog machines and Taylor's vocals were spot-on for the moodier portion of the show, which featured "Dear John", "Enchanted" and "Haunted".

"Long Live" included a shout-out to Cleveland native Paul Sidoti, who plays guitar in Taylor's band. "[Paul] is very proud of where he comes from", Taylor said, "and you should be very proud of him for being from here." Sidoti received a very warm welcome from the sold out arena, and even wore a Browns jersey for the encore. The video screen projected scenes from her first headlining tour, the highly-grossing Fearless Tour.

The floating balcony during "Love Story" sent Taylor up in the air and over the crowd on zip lines, eye-level with the club seating in the Q. Just one of many surprises in store at a Taylor Swift concert. While her theatrical setup pushes the envelope for touring country artist, she stayed true to her Nashville roots by never losing the message of her songs. Something tells me that 15,000 singing fans, or friends, as she calls them, would remind her if she happened to get lost in the moment. Even though audio troubles towards the end had some fans baffled, her voice was spot on. Full of energy, the 21-year-old singer showed off her musical talents and proved to any doubters that she is the real deal, and is here to stay for a long time.

Setlist: Sparks Fly, Mine, Story of Us, Our Song, Mean, Back To December, Better Than Revenge, Speak Now, Fearless, Last Kiss, You Belong With Me, Dear John, Enchanted, Haunted, Long Live. Encore: Fifteen, Love Story.

4th of July in Lakewood.

just a quick sunset pic from my backyard

Work is underway at the LPL/LEAF Learning Garden behind Madison Park. The grant awarded to LPL is aimed at helping bring libraries together with local food projects so that kids (and library patrons of all ages) learn to be good stewards of the earth.

Cell phone photos from my trip up to the Adirondacks and Vermont on my motorcycle in September. 1800 miles of solitude on my GL500 Interstate without listening to the radio or looking at the Observation Deck.

Any bikers out there? Sorry Motocyclists. Let me know!

Denver Air Murals a the Rockies