Arts + Culture
If a beautifully lit church has ever caught your eye while driving down I-71, you can thank Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS). Through its Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program, 19 of the city’s steeples and bell towers along the busy interstate freeway have been illuminated as part of its Steeple Lighting Program.
And that’s not all the organization is shining a light on: On Saturday, Nov. 4, CRS will celebrate Cleveland's hundreds of historic places of worship—and their ongoing renovation efforts—with its annual benefit, Shining a Light on Cleveland’s Sacred Landmarks.
After a decade of creating one-of-a-kind jewelry in her Art Craft Building studio on Superior Avenue, Anne Harrill felt it was time to share her love of the craft on a more personal level.
So Harrill went in search of a space that could incorporate both her studio and a retail storefront. She found the perfect space in the former Trunk Collective space—800 square feet at 6515 Detroit Ave. in the heart of the Gordon Square Arts District. Find out when you can shop at Harrill's new store here.
In an Almost Famous–like plot twist, Danielle Romanowski almost never made it to Cleveland—but she's so glad she did.
After deciding to relocate from Los Angeles to Cleveland earlier this year, the Florida-born musician hit the road with her band, Dark Water Rebellion, for a tour-slash-cross-country-move in August. On a day off in Montana, the band ventured to a remote ghost town, but almost didn't live to tell the tale.
"We were coming back down a mountain road when our tour bus lost its brakes and crashed," shares Romanowski.
Though no one was hurt, the accident certainly put a cramp in the band's touring style—as the bus had been not only their mobile home, but also their recording studio. "We had to cancel our tour, pack our stuff into a U-Haul, and drive it the rest of the way," says Romanowski. "It was definitely an adventure just to get out here."
Find out how Romanowski plans to continue the adventure in Cleveland here.
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More space, more outdoor areas, and more exhibits add up to an all-new wonderland for Cleveland's kiddos. After closing the doors to its University Circle location nearly two years ago, the Children’s Museum of Cleveland will re-open on Monday, Nov. 6 in its new location. Get the details on the new exhibits and amenities here.
After Fred Bidwell sold his advertising firm to WPP in 2010, he began to think seriously about opening a contemporary art museum for the collection that he and his wife, Laura, had amassed. As a result, the Bidwells bought a 1920s power plant on Cleveland’s West Side, renovating and expanding the property to create Transformer Station.
Mr. Bidwell, 65, said the initial cost in 2013 was $2.5 million to $3 million — not including what the couple paid for the artwork — and that annual expenses were about $250,000. He said he knew that running the building and managing the museum and its exhibitions would be challenging, so he struck a deal with the Cleveland Museum of Art, where he is a trustee. The Bidwells makes their exhibition space available to the museum for half of the year.
“We were a little naïve about how much work this would be,” Mr. Bidwell said. “When we lend our galleries to the Cleveland Museum of Art, we challenge them to do exhibitions that are more daring than they normally would.”
Read the full text here.
Find out more about fashion maven Mayen and what's in store at Hullabaloo 2017 here.
While some people may see a morbid link to it, the fact that the Komorowski building at 2258 Professor Ave. in Tremont used to be a funeral home has never creeped out the building’s new owner Dave Ferrante.
“From the moment I bought it, I never experienced any negative feelings,” he says. “It has a peaceful feel to it. And the positive part is I got 26 parking spots.”
Ferrante bought the building last year to re-open Visible Voice Books, which had closed three years ago. Read about Visible Voice's re-opening in a new location with Crust Pizza here.
"At first, we just had small vinyl lettering on the door; we were very quiet when we first opened," says co-director Jillian Slane. "A few weeks later, my husband painted the words 'Witch Museum' on the window. Now we've put a stand-up sign out on the street."
Word seems to be spreading, as patrons have traveled from as far as New York, Pennsylvania, and Missouri to view the storied collection—which has gone through numerous incarnations (and, likely, incantations) over the years. Learn more about the unique gallery here.
As a third-generation Clevelander and a Plain Dealer arts and entertainment reporter, Laura DeMarco has heard her fair share of Cleveland stories that begin with “Remember when Cleveland used to be…”
In fact, most lifelong Clevelanders wax sentimental whenever places like Euclid Beach Park, Higbee’s, or Municipal Stadium come up in conversation. So much so, that DeMarco decided to write a book about these gone, and sometimes forgotten, places. Lost Cleveland will be celebrated at a book launch at Prosperity Social Club on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Read about the found places in DeMarco's book here.