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.

The 2009 Frontier League Champion Lake Erie Crushers proudly present our second annual Lakewood Community Day on Sunday, July 18th at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon. You can cheer on the team as the Crushers battle the Windy City Thunderbolts at 5:05 pm. Lakewood residents will receive a discount on tickets by showing a valid ID when purchasing tickets at the stadium ticket office. After the game, kids can run the bases!

Join the fun on Sunday, July 11, when four vintage base ball teams battle for the Western Reserve Cup in Lakewood Park. Vintage Base Ball (yes, it was originally two words) is baseball played by the rules and customs of an earlier period. Ballists don period uniforms and re-create the game "as it was meant to be played." The Lakewood Historical Society is excited to host the Western Reserve Cup, a vintage base ball match between four teams (the Akron Blackstockings, the Forest City Base Ball Club, the Cleveland Blues and the Whiskey Island Shamrocks) on Sunday, July 11 at 1 p.m. at the Stone House Field in Lakewood Park. 

LakewoodAlive is proud to present 2010 Lakewood is Art: One World Music Concerts featuring three performances by popular world music artists. Celebrating Lakewood’s global community, the One World Music Concerts will take place at 7:00 p.m. on three Fridays in July on the steps of the main branch of Lakewood Public Library at 15425 Detroit Avenue.

The first time someone put a microphone in front me, I gulped nervously and stammered out those oh so familiar words: "Um...check, check one, check, check...Can you hear me?" I was dismayed at how little protection that skinny metal pole offered, humbled that I could speak something that others would want to hear, sick with the excitement and fear roiling through my psyche, and surprised that I was still on my feet. I had seen countless others stand before a crowd and share words, music, and humor and they had made it seem so easy. Later I would learn that public speaking outranks death on the list of things that people fear, and I knew that despite how easy it looked for everyone else, my stammering, shaking, butterflies-in-the-stomach-self was in good company.

Is refuse pick-up day a big deal around your house? Is a construction project in the neighborhood cause for celebration? If so, the upcoming 5th Annual Meet the Trucks event, presented by Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) and the City of Lakewood, should rate right up there with a bridge demolition or a telephone wire repair job.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and Lakewood Hospital are pleased to announce that the seventh annual Taste of Lakewood will be held on Sunday, June 6th, 2010. 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.

Justine Endress presented her Senior Recital at the University of Akron on Saturday, February 20th. Accompanied by pianist Kim Bakkum, the cellist presented a varied program of technically difficult works, including Violada Gamba Sonata by Johann Sebestian Bach, 3 Phantisiestucke by Robert Schumann, the Mendeldssohn Sonata for Violoncello in B-flat Major and Pampeana No. 2 by Alberto Ginastera.

Now that the January snow is behind us, it’s time to join in the anything-but-frosty tradition of “Wining” about winter. LakewoodAlive’s second annual fundraiser, Wine About Winter is set for Saturday, March 6th from 7 to 9:30PM. Come join your friends downtown at Rozi’s Wine House for a wonderful way to find warmth in the cold – wine tasting!

This year your passport will feature EIGHT wines from around the world:

It’s about 8:00 on Monday night. The place is Bela Dubby, located at 13321 Madison Ave. and it’s packed to the brim. You grab yourself a cup of coffee or a bottle from a very nice selection of micro-brews and pull up a seat.

It has been a wonderful couple years for Lakewood, especially in the food and entertainment area, something Lakewood is becoming rapidly known as a hot bed for. First we had Matt Fish and crew come in and turn Lakewood’s second oldest bar and restaurant, Bud’s White Door into the MELT! A restaurant, whose simple but delicious menu is getting attention far and wide, and not just putting Lakewood on the map, but making restaurateurs looking at Lakewood as they once did Tremont, Coventry, The Suburbs and beyond.

Recently I was able to report on the end of The Phoenix Café, only to have it reborn as the Root Café straight out of the dreams and love of Julie and Bobby, and many of their friends and customers. It has quickly become the hottest coffee shop/vegan food stop in Lakewood, attracting those that begged for Panera and Caribou through its doors and have become fixtures there just like bohos, as well as others that just come and go.

Now I am very sad to report that another Lakewood standard has closed, but what has opened in its place will surely make all forget that the space was once the home of the Highlander. The Highlander was always a friendly spot that was known for okay food and pretty good fish fry. It was also the gathering place for many social groups that had formed over the years. But that was then and Two Dads Diner is NOW!

 

A Festive Christmas concert is planned for December 20 at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 15700 Detroit Avenue, in Lakewood. The concert will feature accomplished Lakewood High instrumentalists including Jonathan Snyder, who will play both the oboe and the English horn. Carter Strong, violist, Andy Peng, 1st violin, Abby Wimbiscus, 2nd violin, and  Aubrey Kennedy, cello will play together in a string quartet. The brass quintet is made up of Bethany Zettler, trombone, Ian Schultz and Jacob Short on the trumpet, Jack Miller on the French horn, and Colin Bauman on the tuba. These students will play several Christmas carols.

Friends with Benefits Improv and Last Call Cleveland team up for an evening of claws-out comedy to benefit Citizens Committee for a Lakewood Animal Shelter

Are you looking for a fun night out with friends, complete with delicious wine and hors d'oeuvres?  Maybe you would like to do some christmas shopping at the same time. Would it help to know that you were supporting a terrific local cause? "Sip Into The Holidays" is all that and more.  An auction of decorated wine and cocktail glasses, painted by local artists is a festive and fun filled way to catch that holiday spirit. Best of all, the proceeds benifit senior programming and services administered through the Lakewood Commission on Aging.

The Capitol Theatre, located in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District at Detroit Rd. & W. 65th St., will be offering discount admission rates to Lakewood residents through December 31, 2009. Patrons who present proof of residency for any of the following zip codes 44107, 44102 or 44113 will be admitted for $6 (3D films are subject to an additional surcharge and this offer isn’t valid on legal holidays) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. That’s a savings of up to $3 off of the regular admission. The re-opening of the Capitol Theatre is a key part of the Gordon Square Arts District which also includes a new streetscape, renovations to the Cleveland Public Theatre and a new home for the Near West Theatre. Originally opened in 1921 as a silent movie house, The Capitol Theatre has undergone a massive renovation that converted it into a state-of-the-art three-screen all-digital cinema. The main auditorium includes a 3D projection system and will be featuring the new film AVATAR (opening December 18th) from director James Cameron, the man behind Titanic and The Terminator. The concession stand features traditional movie theatre fare as well as a selection of beers and wines. 

“The Capitol Theatre is a true showplace and we want to give everyone an opportunity to visit what we believe is the most beautiful movie theatre in Cleveland,” says Jon Forman, President of Cleveland Cinemas. “Residents in surrounding communities will be able to come see some wonderful movies throughout December for a great price.”

Dust off your favorite ball gown or white tie and tails and swing into the Mayor’s Charity Ball, hosted by Mayor Ed FitzGerald, on Saturday, November 14, 7 p.m., at the Beck Center for the Arts. All proceeds from the Ball support the quality education and theater programs at the Beck Center.

For more than 78 years, Beck Center for the Arts, located at 17801 Detroit Avenue, has been a pivotal partner in the vitality of Lakewood. The largest cultural institution on Cleveland’s west side, the Beck Center is home to an award-winning  professional theater and offers more than 140 classes each week in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and creative arts therapies for artists of all ages.

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.           

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.

A man in frilly cowboy boots, a pink dress and a cowboy hat walks up on stage and asks, “Are there any Hedwig virgins in the audience tonight?”  I timidly raise my hand along with a half-dozen or so others and think, “So it’s gonna be one of those shows....”

Cleveland Public Theatre’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Hi Fi Concert Club is anything but typical.  Never having seen the show before (and knowing almost nothing about it), I’m unable to compare this production to others.  But I am a fan of musical theatre, and my experience with Hedwig was unique.  The story of Hedwig takes us through the life of a transgendered East Berliner, from his confused childhood during the ‘60s where he shares a small, cramped apartment with his mother, through a sex change operation gone wrong, to her relationship with famous rock-and-roller Tommy Gnosis.  Although the show starts out with witty, sarcastic dialogue, it eventually moves into a very dark, serious place, revealing Hedwig’s struggles in her relationships both with Tommy, and with her current husband, Yitzhak. 

Get Your Four Legged Costumes Ready – It’s Spooky Pooch Parade Time! Are you ready to hang out with your dog?  Are you ready to dress your dog in costume?  Or, are you just ready to watch, laugh and giggle?  Then you are ready for the Second Annual Spooky Pooch Parade happening on October 17, 2009. On October 17, 2009 pet owners and their dogs will step off in their best Halloween costumes to parade down Detroit Avenue from St. Charles to Arthur Avenue and back.  They will turn around in front of the Lakewood Public Library where celebrity judges will judge the costumes for various prize categories.  Total parade route will be .8 miles. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. at St. Charles Green (North of the Parking Garage at 1360 Belle Avenue).  Dogs and owners may register on-line at www.downtownlakewood.org or register in person at the event from 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Cost of the event is $10.00 for preregistration (registration must be received by noon on October 16, 2009) or $15.00 for “day of” registration. New this year is the Spooky Pooch Coloring Contest.  Look for the Spooky Pooch Coloring page to be available for pick up and drop off at the Lakewood Public Library and other participating businesses as well as elementary school back pack mail. The Spooky Pooch committee is seeking sponsorships and Table Sponsors for the event.  This event attracted 200 dogs and 400 dog owners last year; that number is expected to at least double this year as this event is the only one of its kind in the region.  (Check out the video of last year’s parade at www.downtownlakewood.org)   Businesses, rescue groups and other non-profits are welcome to come fundraise for or promote your business or organization by providing information and/or selling products or food.  Sponsorships and Table Sponsorship information is available at www.downtownlakewood.org or you may contact Shannon at 521-0655 or sstrachan@lakewoodalive.com.  All proceeds will benefit downtown Lakewood revitalization and the Lakewood Animal Shelter.   LakewoodAlive is a 501(c)(3) economic development organization.  Downtown Lakewood, a program of LakewoodAlive, is focused on the revitalization of Lakewood’s historic downtown district.

You've heard them, you've seen their flyers around Lakewood, if you haven't heard their music, you know their name, 70 Lewis.  70 Lewis is taking the city by storm creating piano based pop-progressive rock with a chemistry you have never heard or seen before.  
70 Lewis is made up of four Lakewoodites, Scott Young (age 25), Mike Gray (21), Chris Hoffman (23), and Kenny Kerns (23).  70 Lewis started 2 1/2 years ago when members Mike Gray and Scott Young began writing songs together.  Later, drummer Chris Hoffman joined and they played their first concert at the Winchester in Lakewood on December 14th, 2007 after being asked by a high school friend and former Lakewood Project member Tyler Bond to open for his band, 28 North. About 5 months ago Kenny Kerns joined 70 Lewis to play keyboards, trumpet, melodica, backup vocals, and bass guitar.  

Downtown Lakewood and Lakewood Is Art are proud to announce the inaugural 2009 One World Music Series season.  Four world bands will entertain the community in Sinagra Park at 14921 Detroit Avenue on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. in July and August.

pARTy! pARTy! On August 1, 2009 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the tent at Belle and Detroit Avenues in Downtown Lakewood will become the place to be!  LakewoodAlive and LAKEWOOD IS ART are excited to announce the first annual Downtown Lakewood pARTy! This festive summer pARTy will follow the Lakewood Arts Festival and will feature local bands, food, and refreshments in vibrant Downtown Lakewood.   

This is the best deal of the summer. Tickets are only $10 each and include: entry to this live music event, one Great Lakes Brewing Co. beer (or other beverage selection) and one Buckeye Beer Engine sandwich. Additional beverages and food will be available for purchase. Don’t miss out, purchase your tickets on-line today! Tickets will be sold to persons age 21 and over. Purchase your tickets early at www.downtownlakewood.org or at the event, as available. 

Downtown Lakewood pARTy in the Street!

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.

  

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.

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.

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.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the sixth annual Taste of Lakewood.  This gala event will highlight the many fine restaurants we have in Lakewood.  This year’s Taste will be held on Sunday, May 31st from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the beautiful Clifton Club located at 17884 Lake Road in Lakewood.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is very proud of the variety and quality of restaurants in our city and the Taste of Lakewood is a great way to show them off!

This year we have more restaurants than ever, resulting in a wide variety of food to please everyone’s palate.  There will also be great raffles for gift certificates from popular Lakewood Restaurants. Great food, beautiful surroundings, and fabulous prizes!  What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Tickets are $25 and available at the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce (16017 Detroit Avenue), Nature’s Bin (18120 Sloane Avenue) and Phoenix Coffee (15108 Detroit Avenue); or order by phone at 216-226-2900. The Taste of Lakewood typically sells out so please don’t hesitate. Parking is limited at the Clifton Club so it is recommended that you take advantage of the free parking available at Horace Mann Elementary School located at 1215 W. Clifton Blvd. (enter the parking lot of Webb Road).  A shuttle service is provided courtesy of Lakewood Senior Health Campus.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is committed to advancing the commercial, industrial, and professional interests of the community of Lakewood.  The Taste of Lakewood is the perfect vehicle to showcase our restaurants.  Our many sponsors help to make the event special.  Please remember all of our sponsors the next time you are shopping, dining, or in need of the services they offer.

Visit our website, www.lakewoodchamber.org, to learn of the other events we plan throughout the year.      

The Winchester Music Hall in Lakewood is hosting a new talk show on WHK 1420 AM every Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m. The show is called "Winchester Music Talk" and is a live talk show that features guests in the studio each week as well as phone-in guests and some music. The show focuses strictly on music talk and has a historical Cleveland focus. It also includes previews of some of the up-coming shows at the Winchester from both local and National acts.

Guests during this first month of the Winchester Music Talk radio show so far have included... Commander Cody, Mark Kay from Morticias Chair, Jim Bacha from BMZ, Kelly Richey, Steve Barbuto (drummer in Commander Cody's band), Jeff Sherman, Tony Pulizzi, Doug Johns, Dale Fortune (owner of Fortune Drums) and even local scribe "Peanuts" has phoned in.

Phone calls are encouraged from listeners as well, and they can call in to the show each Sunday night between 8 -10pm by calling the WHK studio at 216-901-0945. Winchester Music Talk can also be heard across the country and throughout the world streaming live online at www.whkradio.com. WHK has as rich a radio history as you can find. It is the 14 oldest radio station in America, starting broadcast operations in 1921. The show's host, Jim Mileti, has plenty of prior radio history as well, working at the old M105 (WWWM) 105.7 FM and 3WE (WWWE) 1100 AM in Cleveland and at K-Life (KLFF 1360 AM Phoenix) and KOOL AM - FM (Phoenix). Listen in to be a part of some great music-talk and maybe even win some tickets to an up coming show!

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.

The JWCL annual Breakfast with the Bunny will take place 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at the Lakewood Women’s Club Pavilion, Lakewood Park (Lake and Belle Avenues).

In an alternate United States of America circa 1985, Richard Nixon is still President. There used to be superheroes in this world, but they have been outlawed, either forced into retirement or co-opted by the government. Relaxing with a drink and a cigar in his luxury apartment is Edward Blake, aka The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a one time costumed hero and government agent with a veritable closet full of skeletons.  His relaxation is short lived, however, as an unknown assailant breaks in and hurls him out a window to his death.

During these rough financial times it is always great to find new ways to save. Please join Lakewood Early Childhood PTA on Monday, February 23rd at 7:45 pm for a presentation by Joe Degaurdis, also known as “The Coupon Guy”. You've seen him on TV and in the newspaper. He has been honing his shopping skills in the Northeast Ohio area for many years. Now let Joe teach you how to wisely spend money for your family! Break bad habits, learn new shopping techniques, and find out easy ways to save money while shopping. Joe will show us how to find the best deals on-line, explain ways to save up to 70% on groceries and more by using coupons and rebates, and tell us where to find clearance deals, restaurant deals, gas savings, and more! 

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...

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...

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...