Entertainment

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.

Warm up your winter and laugh at a pop-rock cabaret version of Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve at Faith Lutheran Church/Lakewood on Saturday, January 14, at 7 p.m.

Actors will tell Twain’s classic, satirical version of the Bible story of Adam and Eve, backed by Crossfire, a pop-rock band performing music of Faith No More, One Republic, Jet, Avril Lavigne, Stone Temple Pilots and more.

Snacks, desserts and refreshments will be available. A suggested donation of $10 will be appreciated.

Don't spend another Friday night alone at home with the kids! Instead, on Friday, January 20 put your littles in their coats, warm up the car and head over to Harrison Elementary and join the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA's monthly Children's Party complete with pizza and snacks to munch on, crafts for the youngsters to create and don't forget the big open gym filled with hula hoops, balls and other types of toys that are sure to burn all of that winter-post-holiday energy right out of even the most energetic child!

Returning after popular demand, Twin Engine retakes the stage for their annual “The Night in Bethlehem” performance.

If you witnessed the performance last year, no doubt you'll want to see it again... This narrated story is set to an original score, written and arranged by Kent and Christopher Dockus from Twin Engine. This year's show includes additional music, a new original and guest vocalist Nick Batton and bassist Max Duffy from the band Chil. And introducing Devon Caskey on Viola.

The show opens with an electrifying version of O’ Holy Night then onto a newly arranged rockn’ version of Mary Did You Know? We're also proud to welcome the return of Karl Bunkelman as our guest narrator.

It may only be November, but it’s time to start thinking about the holidays.

Harrison Elementary PTA will help people get a jump on their holiday shopping during the Second Annual Holiday Craft Show, 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, November 19. The Craft Show will be held in the Harrison Elementary School gymnasium, 2080 Quail Avenue.

Harrison PTA began this tradition last year as a way to bring holiday shopping closer to home for our school community. The idea is to provide a place for local crafters and local home business owners to sell within their own community for a great cause! The table fees and all proceeds from food sales will go towards field trips, school supplies, and educational enhancements for the students of Harrison Elementary.

On Dec. 3, 2011, come out and embrace winter! Participate in the First Annual Light Up Lakewood Festival Parade! We invite residents of Lakewood and throughout Northeast Ohio to join in the winter fun. Awards will be given to selected participants for “Best of Show,” “Most Creative” and “Best Use of Lights.” How can you participate, you ask? Here’s how:

Mark your calendars and make your reservations now! Thursday, November 10 is Lakewood Family Night at Kalahari Waterpark Resort in Sandusky - the Nation's largest indoor waterpark!This offer is good for ANYONE who calls Kalahari to reserve a room on November 10 and mentions "Lakewood Family Night or "Lakewood Group!"

“When people think about the experience of hearing live classical music, they usually think of sitting in an expensive concert hall,” says Lakewood resident and concert pianist Shuai Wang. “It can be an intimidating atmosphere and sometimes people feel embarrassed if they do something wrong.”

Cleveland Beer Week is upon us! Now, the most important choice is what to drink. While most Clevelanders have enjoyed a Great Lakes or Buckeye Beer, few realize that really great beer is being brewed on both small and large scales by hobbyists and professionals alike right here on Cleveland’s west side.

Kids love Halloween. Ivy, 7, from Lakewood, is no exception. Last year, she and her family attended the West Clinton Historic Haunts Walking Tour in the Gordon Square Arts District and had tons of fun. “I was a cat,” Ivy said.

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.

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.

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.

On July 15 the East End Market and the East End Serenity Shop sponsored an event featuring The Joe De Jarnette Quintet. During the soothing performance of the jazz quintet, angelic readings were available by the famed Debbie Michaels. Sheila Rawls is also available for Reiki and Massage therapy. During all these things food and drink was happily sold to the customers and community members. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and bratwurst were all cooked fresh and sold with your choice of chips and soda from our selection.

And all of these things will be happening again, so please come and enjoy the festivities from 6-9 pm on August 26!

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.

It’s summertime and there is nothing better than being outside listening to live music. Well…okay, there is something better: being outside in Downtown Lakewood and listening to live music. This year is the fourth year for live music in downtown Lakewood, brought to you through the collaboration of many. This year, LakewoodAlive, the Lakewood Public Library, stART NEO and Vance Music collaborated to bring eight weeks of live music to the downtown district.

Have you heard of MAMA? It stands for the Madison Avenue Merchants Association and our goal is to keep the city of Lakewood informed on all the amazing events going on from the east to the west side of Madison. There are so many incredible businesses to check out, some brand new and some that have been here for years. Stop by bela dubby and grab a cup of coffee or a beer and check out the amazing local art that regularly graces the walls. The Cleveland Craft Coalition also hosts craft shows there so you can get your fix of local handmade goodness.

Sit back, relax with an iced coffee, and enjoy the music on the Red Stage at the Beck Café. Local musicians will perform all summer at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Share your own musical talents at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays for Open Mic Nights. Visit www.beckcafe.org for a performance schedule, or call 216-712-4746. Beck Café is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, adjacent to Beck Center for the Arts.

LakewoodAlive is proud to announce that the popular Front Porch Concert Series will be expanded to eight performances in 2011. Celebrating community through the shared music experience, the free Front Porch Concerts will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Fridays in July and August on the steps of the Lakewood Public Library, located at 15425 Detroit Avenue:

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.

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!

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland Magazine are pleased to announce that the 8th Annual Taste of Lakewood will be held on Sunday, June 5th, 2011. This gala event, highlighting many of Lakewood’s fine restaurants, will be held from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the beautiful Clifton Club located at 17884 Lake Road in Lakewood.

Twin Engine is taking a break from recording “The Night in Bethlehem” by performing at this years EarthFest 2011 at the Cleveland Metropark's Zoo, April 17. Twin Engine kicked off the day of music and entertainment at noon in the amphitheater. “We looked forward to playing for the new elephants, zebra's and giraffes, and of course, the humans as well” said Christopher, lead guitar of the band.

Neil Zurcher, legendary host of TV8's famous One Tank Trip series, appeared on April 6th at Lakewood Library's Main Branch auditorium. Speaking to an extremely appreciative crowd of Lakewoodites, Zurcher enthusiastically recalled tale after tale of his many adventures on the road over the years.

On March 25th in Lakewood, long time Absolute Intense Wrestling performer and former WWE superstar, Colt Cabana, will be competing for a chance to add another Pro Wrestling Championship to his collection as he competes in AIW's Battle Bowl for a chance to wrestle for AIW's intense division Title on June 26th.

A fun filled evening was had by all who attended the annual "Dress Up Your Heart" fundraiser benefitting the American Heart Association's "Go Red For Women" Campaign. The Event, held recently at Around The Corner Cafe in Lakewood, was well attended by 150 "Ladies in Red" along with numerous "Heartfelt Men." The sold out crowd dined on a festivity of, "Heart Healthy" appetizers including Tai Chicken and Peanut Lettuce Wraps, Spinach Tortillini Antipasto Skewers, Veggie Pizza, Smoked Turkey Pinwheels, and an assortment of Fresh Fruit prepared by Committee Members. To compliment the menu, an assortment of delectable mini cupcakes were served up and devoured in a "Heart Beat!"

Speakers for the event included Lindsay Silverstein, Sr. Director of the "Go Red For Women" Campaign for the American Heart Association (AHA); Dr. Benico Barzilai, Head of Clinical Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; and Tara Camera, AHA Passion Speaker.

The Capitol Theatre, located in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District at Detroit Road and West 65th Sreet, will be offering a discount admission rate to residents of Lakewood through March 31, 2011.

Did you know that expressing one’s sentiments on Valentine’s Day did not always involve love?

Be sure to visit Hixson’s to see the vintage, antique and collectible valentines from the 1850’s – 1950’s. On display you will find cards depicting original artwork from Cleveland’s own Juvia Jonson who produced valentines for resale throughout the U.S. and for the Tuck Card Company.

Also on display are Victorian cards, elegant and tasteful 1800’s cards and a huge quantity of the “penny dreadfuls”. The “penny dreadfuls” were insulting valentines, popular from the early 1800’s through the 1940’s. This is a unique exhibit with thousands of cards on display now until February 19th.

Yoga is a fast growing means of exercise in America, but part of the appeal is the revolutionary spirit behind yoga. Capturing the essence of yogis and yoginis past, we find in today’s culture the freedoms of yoga are still very important.

Rock ‘n Roll took the world by storm over 60 years ago. Revolutionizing the way people heard and looked at music and changing the ideas of what music could be in relation to who we are.

Two ways of life coming together this February at the 5 O’clock Lounge, in Lakewood. Monday, February 7 marks the beginning of Rock ‘n Roll Yoga at the 5 O’clock Lounge created to blend the traditional spirit of yoga with the energy of Rock ‘n Roll.

UNICEF and UNAIDS approximate that 50 million orphans live in sub-Saharan Africa, one-quarter of whom have lost their parents to AIDS. 2.5 million of those children live in Uganda.

Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated as a response to this overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda, whose lives have been ravaged by war, poverty and disease. Its goal is to raise the children as leaders in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nation. The Watoto program involves physical and medical care, education, trauma counseling and spiritual discipleship.

Children who live in Watoto Children’s villages have the opportunity to join choirs that travel the globe to increase awareness of the plight of orphaned children in Africa. Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of their parents either through war or disease. This experience gives the children exposure to other cultures broadening their worldview. It also gives them confidence and boldness to rise up out of their own situations of sadness and despair.

We've seen it all at the movies, but there seems to be an unprecedented amount of Mission Impossible-style storytelling washing over us lately. Some stories are always fairly predictable when the weather changes: there will always be mindless plots that keep you from plunging into the deep end and getting in over your head. But, now and then, a new, insightful concept hits screens like a refreshing splash of cold water.

This year, some films have been following a slightly different current from other years. At first the currents seemed rougher than usual. In fact, there were moments when it seemed we were heading into a downright tsunami (vampire-sized and replete with werewolves). But we got through it. Now we have Potteresque magic to thrill us. And, we've had waves of the usual intense emotional content to take our collective minds off economic doldrums.

You’re Invited! On December 4th come kick off your holidays with Light Up Lakewood. Festivities will begin at Lakewood Hospital at 5:45 p.m. with the beat of the St. Edward Trash Talkers, and while your toes are still tapping, you are in for a treat with the arrival of Santa, Buddy the Elf and the Grinch. Joining Santa will be the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce’s “Why I Love Lakewood” 4th grade essay contest winner to help Santa in some holiday carols. Then Santa will be whisked off in the fire truck, parading down Detroit Avenue to the Lakewood Public Library where he will welcome boys and girls for visits and photos.

Did you know there is a monthly swing dance held at the Lakewood Masonic Temple every second Friday of the month? People of all ages, level of skill, and from all over Northeast Ohio attend this dance. And because of the size and seating available in the ballroom even if you don’t dance, there is plenty of room to just enjoy the live musical performance and watch the dancing.

On Sept. 11, Twin Engine, along with Jam Session Music School and Around the Corner restaurant, hosted a benefit concert event for the victims of the May 1st flood in Nashville, TN. As a result of a very supportive audience, together they raised over $700 - with 100% of all donations going to the Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

The highlight of the musical night was Twin Engine from Lakewood. Their exhilarating performance left the audience wanting more. Twin Engine was led by Christopher with his electrifying lead guitar work, with Kent on bass and electric violin (aka Viper), including an awe inspiring Viper solo.  Michaela belted incredible vocal lines one after another, and Justice on rhythm guitar and Sam on drums all helped define this dynamic presence. Together they put on a performance that rivals any band.

It’s been a busy summer for a few local teens. Twin Engine the band; consisting of Kent, Christopher, Michaela, Sam and Justice; (from Lakewood) have spear headed a benefit event for the May 1, 2010 flood victims of Nashville TN.

On October 16, Detroit Avenue in downtown Lakewood will be alive with spooky pooches and their proud spooky owners. The parade will begin at St. Charles Avenue and march down to Lakewood Public Library, then back to St. Charles Green for awards and festivities. Judging will take place in front of Panera Bread with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards given for Spookiest Pooch, Best Dog & Child, Best Dog & Adult, Best Non-Motorized Float and Best of Show.

Last year, the event attracted over 200 dogs, 500 owners and 2,000 viewers. No one left without a smile, so be sure to put October 16 on your family calendar and join us (with or without your dog) for a great time. To register to walk in the parade, go to downtownlakewood.org. Pre-registration is $10.00 and day-of registration is $15.00.

In the spring of 2009 four Lakewood Christian Service Center client families had the wonderful opportunity to each garden a 10’ x 10’ plot, thanks to the generosity of the Lakewood Earth and Food (LEAF) Community. It was such a positive experience that I approached Dru Siley, the City’s Department of Planning and Development assistant director, to see if there might be city-owned property available for our use, knowing that the growing  popularity of the LEAF gardens would make it next to impossible for them to offer us additional plots. Dru offered LCSC approximately 5,000 square feet at Madison Park, where the outdoor skating rink used to be. There was a caveat: the garden had to be an added amenity to the park to tie in with the Park Master Plan and the improvements that had been made and were planned for Madison Park. 

Films are about voyages.  They take us to far-away lands, to people and places we don’t know, and perhaps reveal dreams we did not realize we had. Or they return us closer to home, to lives just down the street, or across the tracks, or the street we have never gone down although we pass it every day.  The image on the screen may stop us - we have seen it before, talked about it, heard of it, read it, dreamt it.  Or the image is so foreign none of its language makes any sense, but we cannot look away.  "The movies are life," Gerard Depardieu commented when he was honored by Art Film.

Art Film Slovakia, in Trencianiske Teplice, a quiet spa town two hours from Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, offers guilty pleasures of one kind or another.  It offers films of interest to cinephiles who see film as art, but also films of interest of the general viewer, often grouped around themes.  This year Art Film focused on comedies such as ‘City Lights’, ‘Ninotchka’, and ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. Last year it was dance films, football films (to commemorate the World Cup), children's films and Asian films.  In addition, Art Film presents classic films of the past like ‘Five Easy Pieces,’ ‘The Manchurian Candidate,’ and ‘A Fistful of Dynamite’, and always screens films from Eastern Europe, particularly Slovak ones (film festivals in Toronto and Montreal always reserve a place for Canadian films).  This year the festival screened ‘War Games’ and ‘The Man Who Stopped Them,’ which was privately screened at CIA headquarters.

The “Iron Man” of the local reggae scene is coming to the steps of the Lakewood Public Library on Friday, July 23rd.

Lakewood prepares to get physical as Street Walk 2010 kicks off on July 17. People of all ages and interests are encouraged to get out and get active. With the abundance of varied activities scheduled, movement should not be a problem.