Entertainment

Band2gether, a free, outdoor summer youth concert series will present its inaugural show on Friday, July 11 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the municipal parking lot next to Sinagra Park in the heart of downtown Lakewood. Youth rock bands, Little Known Fact and Back for More, will be featured at the Band2gether concert series debut...

The Lakewood Summer Concert Series presents the Men of Independence barbershop chorus on Sunday, July 27th at the Lakewood Park band shell, 7 until 8:30pm. The chorus will perform “A Night at the USO”...

The Lakewood Early Childhood PTA is proud to announce an upcoming event that is sure to be enjoyed by all. As the snow melts and the days get longer, are you starting to think about your family’s summer road trips? There are great memories just waiting to be made along the open roads of Ohio. Before you make your plans, come hear Neil Zurcher, travel author and long-time TV travel reporter (you may be familiar with his "One Tank Trips" series), who will present Ohio Road Trips for Families with Young Children...

Lakewood is one of the most walker-friendly communities in the Cleveland area. Detroit Avenue is lined with shops, restaurants, bars and coffee shops- not to mention downtown also houses the award winning Lakewood Public Library, the post office and anything else a pedestrian could need within a radius of a few blocks. It is virtually a pedestrian’s playground; the perfect solution for the environmentally conscious and the sticker-shocked, gas guzzling general public...

Check out the update at www.walkroll.com

The Lakewood Kar Kulture Show, Now That’s Class, and The Winchester Tavern

The festival began 21 years ago when a parishioner of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, the late Mary Jacko stated to then Mayor Tony Sinagra that the Eastern end of Lakewood, where Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church is located, seems to a forgotten part of town by the rest of the city. She suggested an ethnic festival at Madison Park and immediately received the blessing of the mayor...

“Workin’ Man”, the latest record from Cats on Holiday is a mellow amalgamation of country and classic rock with a hint of jazz...

The heavenly scent of chocolate is in the air!  October 29th, the date for the first Lakewood Chocolate Walk, is fast approaching and tickets are selling like, well, hot chocolate.  This is sure to become a much-anticipated annual event—truly a chocoholic’s dream come true.           

Two new Jazzercise dance-fitness classes opened in Lakewood the week of March 31st. Jazzercise instructor Karen Kilbane has added the classes to accommodate new participants and to provide current participants with a greater choice of convenient class times...

? and the Mysterians claim to be the world’s greatest garage rock band, and on Saturday May 19 at The Winchester here in Lakewood, the group made a pretty strong case for themselves. Dressed in a midriff-baring, leopard-print blouse, black leather pants, a cowboy hat, and his trademark wraparound sunglasses, lead vocalist ? (that’s his legal name) led the band through a rousing set of songs drawn primarily from their two late '60's albums.

Reviews of Drago and Tilt 360 at The Hi Fi Club and Brody’s Militia, Midnight, and Nunslaughter at Now That’s Class

The Hi Fi Concert Club, The Phantasy Niteclub, and The Winchester Tavern

On September 28th – 30th, Recycled Rainbow, a temporary autonomous zone, will emerge at the Hide-A-Way campground in Leavittsburg, Ohio.

bela dubby, The Hi Fi, Now That's Class, The Symposium, and The Winchester

The Hi Fi Concert Club, The Phantasy Niteclub, and The Winchester Tavern

Flogging Molly recently played Cleveland on Sunday, March 4th as part of their tour in support of their third album, Within a Mile of Home. For those who have not yet become acquainted with the band’s unique sound, imagine the Irish festival meets the Clash. The band fuses instruments ranging from the Tin Whistle and the mandolin to electric guitars and drums to create their inimitable sound.

2008 has been a pretty busy year for the progressive hybrid, Rare Blend. The group (now in their 14th year), has been taking every opportunity to record their live perofrmances for the upcoming (slated for 2009) fifth CD release, tenatively titled "Five and Live". As the name suggests, the CD will highlight live recordings both in public performance and in studio and will feature previously released compositions and improvisations.

The Hi Fi Concert Club, Mocha Dreams Café, The Phantasy Concert Club, and  The Winchester Tavern

Like the title of one of her new songs, singer-songwriter Anne E. DeChant is indeed getting out of dodge. After 18 years on the local music scene, one of Cleveland’s favorite musicians is making tracks for Nashville. Her last pre-move show will be right here in Lakewood at the Winchester, one of the West Side’s best music venues...

Lakewood Community Progress Inc. (LCPI) hosts Lakewood's 1st Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, August 11 starting at 9 a.m. The event will be held at the parking lot located at the corner of Mathews and Detroit in the West End Entertainment District.

World renowned tenor saxophone player (and Lakewood resident) Ernie Krivda is now in his fifth decade as a professional musician, but he shows no signs of slowing down. He regularly plays gigs as the leader of several small jazz ensembles and the 19-piece Fat Tuesday Big Band.

Lakewood's own Uncle Scratch’s Gospel Revival have been spreading their unique version of the “good news” via trashy garage rock since 2001, simultaneously winning new converts and leaving others confused. This is a band that has done absolutely nothing the way you’re supposed to. They’ve been known to simply set up their equipment on the street and start playing, guerilla style. When they do get a real gig, they’re more likely to be playing on the floor of the venue next to the bathroom than on the stage. They don’t even have a real drum set, their percussion consisting of a collection of cardboard and metal junk.

The Lakewood Observer recently caught up with local author, Ron Ciancutti, about the release of his new book, “A Step Ahead; Collected Essays.” Ron has published several articles in our paper in the last several years and each time, his direct, heartfelt message generated substantial response from our readership...

The Hi Fi Concert Club and The Winchester Tavern,

With a provocative title and a formidable touring career to live up to, Mifune is set to release “Time is Watching Us Bleed”, on November 28th, their second album since their formation in 2005. The eight piece group with a self-described afro-electronique sound that combines multiple genres made a name for themselves touring not only in the Cleveland area, but on the east coast and down south as well...

Two locally based bands, “Back for More", from Berea,” and “A Fabulous Waste of Time, from Lakewood, are featured in this month’s edition of ConneXions, a 30-minute monthly show produced by Cox Communications. The bands performed as a part of Band2Gether, a free outdoor summer youth concert series, showcasing young musicians in middle school and high school...

The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall located at 12112 Madison Avenue is welcoming FIVE time Grammy Award winning guitarist Steve Lukather and his band to the stage on Friday, August 22nd. Steve is best known as the guitarist and sometime lead vocalist/songwriter for the group TOTO, but there is so much more. The set and band are truly amazing. Steve will be performing some hits that he wrote for other artists and covered on tribute releases along with highlights form his entire solo career. Also included are tracks from his new Ever Changing Times release and some "deep track"
Toto gems...

A dapper Scott Weiland and fellow Stone Temple Pilots members took the stage on Saturday, relaxed and comfortable in front of 30,000 people, as if they have been on tour for months. What fans came to see was STP’s first show in eight years...

Music should be like any satisfying thunderstorm: a combination of thunder and lightning. The lightning sparks the interest and the thunder delivers the long awaited for and much relished BOOM!

If, as their band name suggests, Smiley Baldazar was trying to be odd, then they certainly and undeniably succeeded in that endeavor on their album “Relax, It’s Out of Control”.That is not to say that bands that tout their oddness aren’t successful because in an age where originality in the music industry pays off, the weirder the better. However, there is such a thing as too strange for one’s own good. Smiley Baldazar might fit into this category. It is worth mentioning that many groups are lauded for their ability to transcend the genre barrier and create a sound that fans of different kinds of music would enjoy...

"Hotel, Hotel", a band from Texas, played a short set at Bela Dubby on June 7th. Unfortunately, there were only about 8 people there to hear it. I hope you will support your local venues--there is a lot of great music to be found in Lakewood! What follows is my review of the Bela Dubby show in poem form:..

Most students want to learn how to rock out, and they want to do it as soon as possible. Games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero are testaments to that. But one school is turning that yearning into a reality for kids ages nine to 18 who are serious about rocking out on stage...

A Lakewood-area filmmaker isn't waiting for Hollywood to come calling. She's making movies here and now in Cuyahoga County.

Lisa Seelinger's latest film, “Kings and Queens,” is about a chess game played between two people, with each strategic move igniting or stifling possibilities between them.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the 10th Annual Taste of Lakewood will be held on Sunday, June 2nd, 2013. This gala event, highlighting many of Lakewood’s outstanding restaurants and food purveyors, will be held from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Lake Erie Building, Templar Industrial Park (commonly known as The Screw Factory), 13000 Athens Avenue in Lakewood.

The Winchester Tavern & Music Hall, right here in Lakewood, has been receiving national attention for years now, including multiple mentions on VH1 and XM Radio, and is currently in the middle of more national exposure. The current edition (May 23) of Goldmine Magazine, which is a bi-monthly national music and record collector's magazine, on newsstands across the country, features a glowing review of the Kim Simmonds show that took place at the Winchester on January 26th, 2008. Kim Simmonds is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of British blues/rock band Savoy Brown, and was named one of the top 10 guitarists EVER by Musician Magazine. This was his fifth time at the Winchester; the first four of which were with Savoy Brown. This is the second time that Goldmine has covered the happenings at the Winchester...

Are the kids making you crazy? Does the weather have you blue? You say there’s nothing to do; I say be creative! Quit complaining that it’s too cold to take your kids outside and take the family Bumper Bowling at Mahall’s Twenty Lanes!

  

The City of Lakewood, Lakewood Soccer Association and LakewoodAlive have collaborated with the Cleveland City Stars professional soccer club for two days of fun for the Lakewood community.  On July 17, 2009 the Lakewood community has been invited to Lakewood Community Night at the Cleveland City Stars match versus the Charleston Battery.   Tickets are available to Lakewood residents for a discounted rate of $6.00 a ticket.  The City Stars play at Middlefield Cheese Stadium in Bedford, Ohio.  Tickets may be purchased online at http://lakewood.clevelandcitystars.com.

The Hi Fi Concert Club and The Winchester Tavern,

Rick Ray has been a fixture on the NE Ohio music scene since he started performing at the age of 13 in 1972. Influenced heavily by musicians like Robin Trower and Frank Marino, Rick used his six-string abilities to play with the bands Riot Act and Neurotic, as well as the eponymous Rick Ray Band, in the years spanning 1973 to 1996. In 1999 Rick started Neurosis Records to release some of his old material as well as new solo recordings. Then in 2000 he put the Rick Ray Band back together, and has to date released 5 albums with the group.

Are you ready for a free, fun, family friendly event?  Well save the date! 071809  Come see what Lakewood has to offer! I recently sat down with Shannon Strachan, LakewoodAlive’s  Marketing & Development Director, to discuss next month’s first annual “STREETWALK.”  LakewoodAlive and Live Well Lakewood present this very special event on Saturday, July 18th, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.  This event is designed to help Lakewood get “in action” as local organizations get the community moving on the street!  Walk, run, jump, climb, skate, board, or bike in Downtown Lakewood, with your friends, family, and neighbors!  Detroit Avenue will be closed to traffic and local merchants will be displaying their wares as part of a two-day Sidewalk Sale on July 17 and July 18 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.  In addition to your friendly neighborhood merchants being open for business, there will be a variety of activities such as belly dancers, skateboarding, basketball, climbing walls, square dancing, jazzercise, and yoga!  Some of these activities will be demonstrations, but others you can participate in, so wear something comfortable.

bela dubby, the Hi Fi, the Phantasy, and the Winchester

Are you ready for a free, fun, family-friendly event?  Well, save the date: Saturday July 18th,  come see what Lakewood has to offer! From 3 - 8 p.m. Lakewood Alive and Live Well Lakewood, along with local merchants and organizations, have teamed up to present the first annual "STREETWALK." Lakewood Alive's Marketing and Development Director Shannon Strahan says the event is designed to get Lakewood citizens "in action" with a variety of activities including walking, running, cycling, skating and skateboarding.

For eight years running, the event Breastfest has raised awareness, donations, and support for patients and survivors of breast cancer in Northeast Ohio. Musicians and volunteers have come together in the past at various venues such as The Beachland Ballroom, The Hi-Fi Concert Club, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Happy Dog, and the Parkview Niteclub for the very worthy cause. This year, Breastfest 8 found a home at the revamped Brothers Lounge on Detroit Rd. in Cleveland...

 

Grab your best canine costumes, dig out your coolest doggie duds and kick off the Halloween season with Lakewood’s first-ever Spooky Pooch Parade on Oct. 18...

Bela Dubby, The Hi Fi Concert Club, Now That’s Class, The Phantasy Concert Club, The Spitfire, and The Winchester Tavern

Inspired by Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park members Kaylee Daussin and Chad Bray--who met at the Lakewood Dog Park and became engaged on Dec. 9--dog lovers and singles are invited to attend a benefit party.

Puppy Love Party

Sunday, Feb. 19

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Avenue Tap House

18206 Detroit Avenue

Lakewood, Ohio 44107

KIDD Productions will be rocking the tunes for dancing. This DJ will get the party started and keep it going!

Ticket proceeds benefit the Friends of the Lakewood Dog Park and include:

Puppy Love and Pooch Punch signature cocktails to toast the occasion

Savory hors d'oeuvres to satisfy a love for food

 

Do you have a little ambulance chaser in your home?  An aspiring refuse collector? Have you ever wanted to get an up-close look inside a SWAT vehicle? If so, the upcoming 6th Annual Meet the Trucks event, presented by Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) and the City of Lakewood, will once again be THE not-to-be-missed event of the spring!

From 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 4th, 2011 at Lakewood Park, you can come meet the fleet that keeps the city running!

Brittany Reilly will be coming to Cleveland, OH on April 12th performing at The Winchester with the Almost Acoustic Band supporting her new CD release “Good Old Country Sound”. Their music is described as Old-Time Country, Bluegrass/Reggae Acoustic Roots Music. They will be on a three week national tour throughout the month playing shows in FL, OH, TN, MO, CO, NM, & AZ...

LakewoodAlive invites all corn hole players or those who just love to have fun to kick off the summer at the 3rd Annual LakewoodAlive Corn Hole Tournament to be held at Around the Corner’s parking lot at the corner of Detroit and Mathews Avenues in Lakewood, OH on June 27, 2009 from Noon to 5:00 p.m.  There will be Corn Hole, Music, Food and Fun.

Tapestry: A Concert for World Peace intends to inspire a new movement of peace through two performances of the late David Fanshawe’s multimedia and multicultural work African Sanctus.

Jonathan Willcocks of London, England will serve as guest conductor of the performances on Friday, Sept. 16, at Faith Lutheran Church in Lakewood and on Sunday, Sept. 18, at St. John AME Church in Cleveland. Tickets are $10.

Have you ever wanted to go Vegan but didn't know where to start? Is it possible to bake a delicious cookie and not use an egg? The answer is a resounding YES! Get started on a healthier life path, the benefits are numerous: they range from disease prevention to weight loss. Lakewood resident Nicki Schneider will be hosting a Vegan Baking Basics class at Crafty Goodness on Sunday, February 26 from 1-3 p.m. She will discuss substitutions, recipes and answer any questions you may have. During the seminar the attendees will sample a delicious, 100% Vegan pastry plus a few different soy milks. A recipe booklet will also be provided, along with a packet of dry ingredients to take home and prepare. The cost is only $25, you can pre-register at the store (15621 Madison Avenue) or email craftygoodnesscleveland@yahoo.com. Your body and taste buds will definitely approve!

The Lakewood Community Festival took place on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at Madison Park in Lakewood from 12 pm– 5 pm. The festival was a family friendly event with everything from pony rides to a rock climbing wall. There was also an inflatable bounce house for the younger set, as well as many bubble blowing stations to keep the little ones entertained. “The Bubble Guy” roamed the park with a bucket full of soap and long bubble wands, enchanting the crowd by creating incredibly large and uniquely shaped bubbles with the sweep of an arm. Activities were plentiful including a water balloon toss, alpaca and rabbit petting, rides in the Euclid Beach Rocket Car, and many others. A band, using the tennis court as a stage, played a nice variety of peppy tunes at a ear pleasing decibel.

If you have nothing to do on Saturday, February 11, from 7 to 11 p.m., the Vance Music Studos, VMS, Showcase at the Winchester Music Hall is the place to be. You will be able to see 10 young bands for just $5. I have seen most of these Lakewood bands perform over the past two years and I can tell you that they really are great. For example, these bands are so good that one past band was even offered a record deal!

Here are just some of the bands to watch. First, there is my favorite band The Barking Spiders, which is made up of Garfield and Harding Middle School students. Look for Isaac Karel on keyboard and James Elder on his guitar and talk box. If you don’t know what a talk box is come to the show and find out. Then there is Riot101, which is also made up of Garfield and Harding students. This band has already won several awards including a Louie of the Week award and an international cover song competition. At the last show their awesome drummer, Evan Suttell, played wearing an Anderson Varejao wig. Who knows what he will do this time?

Tickets are on sale for Beck Center’s 2011/2012 professional theater season featuring six productions new to Northeast Ohio.

The season kicks-off with the regional premiere of The Marvelous Wonderettes on the Mackey Main Stage, September 16 through October 16, 2011. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

You’ll meet the Wonderettes at their 1958 high school prom – four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts and voices to match. Learn about their lives and loves as they perform your favorite ‘50s and ‘60s tunes.

 

Lakewood Guitar Consort Presents "A Concert of the Centuries-Selections from the Renaissance to the 20th Century" on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. at Lakewood Public Library Auditorium, 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio. Admission is free. Lakewood Guitar Consort is a guitar ensemble based at Lakewood's Beck Center for the Arts and is under the direction of Chris Ellicott. New members are welcome and may contact Chris for more information at elkkit@aol.com or (216)398-1401.

February is the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women heart health awareness month. As part of that, Lakewood’s Open Your Heart Committee is sponsoring it’s 5th annual “Dress Up Your Heart” fundraiser with the mission of raising local awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of women in the U.S. This year’s event will include a Red Dress Fashion Show followed with a silent auction of the featured dresses. The dresses presented are designs by Susan Dauber, a Lakewood High School graduate who earned a Bachelors Degree in Fashion and Apparel Design from Cornell University and is currently working in the fashion design industry in New York City.

Lakewood resident and lifelong “Wheel” fan, Margaret Jackson, won a trip to Antigua by watcing Wheel of Fortune and being a part of the show’s Wheel Watchers Club.

Margaret, a substitute teacher, has been a Wheel Watchers Club member for the past three years. She watches every single night hoping to see her SPIN ID displayed. 

"I was in complete shock when I saw my SPIN ID and my name on the TV!," Margaret shares.

Saturday, February 21st marked the 5th Student Showcase by Vance Music Studios. Jim Mileti once again graciously opened the doors to the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall for 25 students in 7 different groups to put on a great show for an audience of over 400 people.