Cleveland is alive with art. It’s one of our greatest strengths.Would-be artists have been awed by The Cleveland Museum of Art with its world-renowned collection and free admission. Budding violinists have been inspired by the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom or a Celtic band in a local pub. Thespians have taken to local school productions after witnessing Shakespeare performed on Playhouse Square.
Great art, when combined with opportunities to create it, breeds new ideas, new art, innovation. Nonprofit organizations and community organizations provide instruction and incubation takes place in studios and backstage rehearsals.
This week, you can experience “Discover Gordon Square Arts District Day” on Sat 6/12, from 10AM until 10PM. During what promises to be “a day-long celebration of Cleveland’s new, hottest neighborhood!” Lolly the Trolley will provide round trip shuttle trips between Parade the Circle! on University Circle (corner of Ford and Bellflower) and Gordon Square (corner of W. 65th and Detroit) http://www.GordonSquare.org. Shopping is encouraged at cool retail outlets such as Room Service http://www.RoomServiceCleveland.com. The after party “MADE IN THE 216” (love the name, don’t you?) takes place at the Happy Dog http://www.happydogcleveland.com. Enjoy live music, art galleries, shopping, walking tours, and guided tours. Classic cartoons will be shown on Saturday morning (just like when you were a kid but on the big screen) at the paitla Theatre at 10. Performance by Near West Theatre at 5 p.m. and Cleveland Public Theatre’s “End-of-Season Party” at Gordon Square. Theatre: Music & dancing! happens from 7PM – Midnight.
In Cleveland, arts districts invigorate our neighborhoods. Gordon Square Arts District was born when $20 Million was spent to renovate the near west side surrounding the Capitol Theatre. Restoration of the Capitol Theatre, a throwback to the era of classic movies like “Gone with the Wind,” was just the beginning. The Cleveland Public Theatre got a facelift and the Near West Theatre was constructed, making Gordon Square a destination for film and live theatre http://gordonsquare.org/capitol.html. You can watch a video of CoolCleveland.com’s Thomas Mulready interviewing Joy Roller of the Gordon Square Arts District by clicking the image below or here. Also pictured are Gordon Square Arts District Executive Director Jeff Ramsey and Cleveland City Councilman Matt Zone.
The streets were enhanced by new street lights, wider sidewalks, cool bus shelters [pictured] and accessible parking in the highway-accessible Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. Long underutilized and not-so-well maintained, Detroit Shoreway now enjoys great restaurants, musicals, galleries, films, and dance, in a clean and comfortable urban environment.
I headed out there on a Sunday afternoon to catch “Alice in Wonderland” at the Capitol Theatre. Others had the same idea– there was a line. Inside the theater’s lobby, the shadowy wall-sconce light and dark wood against light walls created the feel of the 1920s, the time of silent movies. The old Vaudeville stage (yes, it IS that old) remains amongst the three screens with digital projection foreign and independent, and the latest pop-culture, films, like Alice. Check out their Classic Brunch and Movie Series: a classic movie followed brunch in the adjacent restaurant, for $25 (call 440-349-3306, ext. 111 for your reservation). Late Friday Shift Schedule includes films like “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Room,” 6515 Detroit http://www.clevelandcinemas.com.Cleveland Public Theatre has become the west side’s incubator for new talent. Dancers, choreographers, playwrights, musicians, and directors are encouraged to seek their muse and create art with the support of art professionals. Although students create raw material from inexperience, that doesn’t mean the show is deficient. The theatre has drawn a large audience from around the greater Cleveland area since 1983 http://www.cptonline.org. Check out an evening with W.B. Yeats at Cleveland Public Theatre sometime between May 13 and June 5.
Visual arts and design, including fashion, brighten 78th Street Studios a few blocks north on Lake Avenue. The Creative Arts Open House is the best way to see what the West Side’s art community has to offer. Check it out every third Friday, not the same weekend as the Tremont or Little Italy walks, which means you can walk and look at art on lots of Fridays. The hunger and thirst are staved off by light food and beverage every third weekend quarterly when the exhibits change, making it a happy hour experience from 5 until 9 http://www.78thstreetstudios.com. Music stirs in the Lava Room recording studios, and print media is alive and well at the Alternative Press.
After all that exploring, you’ll be hungry, and although Gypsy Beans & Baking Company http://www.GypsyBeans.com is great for coffee and pastries, and pasta at Luxe http://www.luxecleveland.comwill taste heavenly after all that walking.
Next up at Near West Theatre is “Rent School Edition,” opening Fri 7/23 and running through Sun 8/8. The Near West Theatre is a grassroots theatre with a focus on educating the public and strengthening people of all ages, with an emphasis on youth. Its philosophy is rooted in the transformative power of theatrical arts http://nearwesttheatre.org.
Discover Gordon Square Arts District Day, Sat 6/12, from 10AM until 10PM near West 65th and Detroit. http://www.GordonSquare.org.
From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia Taller, whose passion for words has led to creation of the Lakeside Word Lover’s Retreats, an outgrowth of her work with Skyline Writers.
Her favorite foods are red wine, salmon, ice cream, and chocolate. She loves to read, write, tour wineries, ride her bike, ease into yoga, and cook gourmet meals for friends. Find her at http://www.claudiatallermusings.blogspot.com.