Independent rock band Red Wanting Blue returns to Ohio’s North Coast to headline the 2nd Annual “Rock United,” a concert to benefit the 2010-2011 United Way of Greater Cleveland Campaign. The Columbus-based band will perform live at Barley House on Friday, September 24th. Doors open at 6:00p.m. and special guests include JACKIE, Gene the Werewolf and 13-year old guitar prodigy alex Raz. The event is organized and sponsored by Oswald Companies. General admission tickets are $15 and VIP tickets are $25. Tickets are available to purchase today. All ticket proceeds and a percentage of the evening’s bar receipts will be donated to United Way. For more information about the event visit www.unitedwaycleveland.org/rockunited
United Way Event at Barley House: September 24th
September 3, 2010 – 10:13 am
A New Litter Reduction Campaign
September 2, 2010 – 2:44 pm
I have been working the last few weeks with Pastor Doug Horner on the near west side to start the beginnings of a small piolet program aimed at increasing awareness about litter’s negative effects on the community—and to promote more recycling and anti-littering habits and mindsets.
Hopefully our program which may include nicely decorated trash/recycling cans with catchy slogans, will serve as an example to other neighborhoods near and connected with downtown. We will kick things off with a very informative meeting featuring a guest speaker from Keep Ohio Beautiful. I hope you can atend and spread the word of this effort. Here are the details…
Dear Friends for a Cleaner Cleveland,
We are contacting you because we believe that you can help us gather a team that will help make a plan for the future of this fair city. This plan will focus on education, advocacy and actually organize people to work together at cleaning up the litter and spreading the word about the importance of recycling in Cleveland.
September 14 @ 7:00 pm @ St. Paul’s Community Church on the corner of West 45th and Franklin Blvd.
There will be light refreshments, Mike Mennett from KeepOhioBeautiful, our speaker for the evening and a discussion about litter abatement and recycling in our city.
We want you . . . You will be a part of the team to plan this activity.
Also please send this message to passionate people who will work to make a difference . . .
thanks
Doug
This post was written by a DCA City Advocate. To learn more about the City Advocate Program, please click here.
Downtown Photo Challenge Winners Announced
September 2, 2010 – 2:43 pm
The winners for the 2010 Downtown Photo Challenge were announced today.
Over 230 individuals entered the 3rd annual competition, which was created by Downtown Cleveland Alliance as a way to encourage exploration of the unique character of the center of the city.
Each participant in the challenge submitted up to two digital images of Downtown. Photos were allowed to be cropped and color adjusted. Each photo needed to fall into one of three categories:
- Living City: photos of either large scale events, small informal happenings, spontaneous moments on the street, interactions among friends or between strangers.
- Urban Landscape: photos from classic Cleveland vantage points to unique views of the city’s architecture and streetscapes.
- Future Forward: photos that exemplify growth, optimism and positive change around Downtown.
2010 Panel of Judges
Every entry was reviewed by a panel of judges in order to select a grand prize winner and a winner for each
photo category (four winners in all). Our 2010 panel of judges included:
- Bob Herbst ‐ Bob Herbst Photography
- Lynn Ischay ‐ Staff Photographer, The Plain Dealer
- Lillian Kuri ‐ Program Director for Architecture, Urban Design & Sustainable Development, The Cleveland Foundation
- Mary Jo Toles ‐ Professor of Photography, Cleveland Institute of Art
- Howard Tucker ‐ Mort Tucker Photography.
Grand Prize Winner
Alex Toth of Aurora was selected as the grand prize winner for a dynamic shot of E.4th Street at night. Alex will receive $500 and a beautifully framed print of the photo provided by The Plain Dealer.
Three Category Prize Winners
Each category winner will receive $200 and a beautifully framed print of their work provided by The Plain Dealer. In addition, they will be invited to join the grand prize winner at the Downtown Cleveland Alliance’s 12th Annual Ruth Ratner Miller Award Luncheon on October 28th.
- Living City - Vicki Ingham of Euclid won for her photo of friends toasting each other in Downtown, with the skyline reflected in the glasses.
- Urban Landscape - Joseph Stec of Parma won for his wintery afternoon picture from underneath the Main Avenue Bridge.
- Future Forward - Brian Billman of Middleburg Heights won for his close‐up of the Great Lakes Science Center’s wind turbine, titled: “Powering the Future”
The top ten (10) entries in the challenge, as chosen by our judges, will be shown on the PlayhouseSquare video boards at Star Plaza through the month of September. All entries will be shown on Dollar Bank’s Regional Showcase LED board at the Galleria this Fall.
2010 Downtown Photo Challenge Exhibit at Old Stone Church
Starting on Saturday, September 11th as part of the Sparx City Hop and running through September 20th, Old Stone Church will showcase the top 20 photographs from this year’s Downtown Photo Challenge inside their signature gallery. The gallery is free and open to the public. For more information, call 216‐241‐6145. Be sure to stop by and browse all twenty of these fine photographs as part of the Sparx City Hop!
The Downtown Photo Challenge is sponsored by Old Stone Church, The Plain Dealer, Dollar Bank,
PlayhouseSquare and Mort Tucker Photography
PlayhouseSquare Block Party + Sparx City Hop
September 1, 2010 – 1:01 pm
The 8th Annual Sparx City Hop is only 10 days away! On September 11th, from 11:00am - 11:00pm, Cleveland’s Down & Aroundtown neighborhoods will come alive with free concerts, restaurants specials, open galleries, vibrant art studios, festivals and so much more. Before all the excitement begins on Saturday though, PlayhouseSquare is helping kickoff the weekend of Sparx City Hop with their annual Block Party & Tour extravaganza on Friday, September 10th!
The 11th Annual PlayhouseSquare District Block Party & Tour will take place on Friday September 10th from 5:00 - 9:30pm. The event will take place on Star Plaza, right in the heart of the PlayhouseSquare neighborhood, and will feature:
- Live music and entertainment by Cats on Holiday and Zach
- A walking tour of the neighborhood by the Take A Hike tour guides - Take A Hike has been leading people on free historic tours of Downtown every week since the beginning of May. Thousands have taken part in the tours that include neighborhood tour guides and actors portraying characters from Cleveland’s past.
- Tour the newly opened Kent State University Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative
- The Dance Showcase at the Palace Theatre
- Signature dishes by PlayhouseSquare restaurants, A Taste of Excellence, Johnsonville and Shearer’s
- Cash bar and the Dundee Oktoberfest Beer Garden
- The PlayhouseSquare Cornhole Championship Game
Tickets for the PlayhouseSquare District Block Party & Tour are just $25 and can be purchased at the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office, by going to www.playhousesquare.org or by clicking here.
Terminal Tower Observation Deck Open Weekends During September and October 2010
August 31, 2010 – 11:09 am
Beginning Saturday, September 4th, 2010 and continuing through Sunday, October 31st, 2010, the general public will once again have the opportunity to go up to The Terminal Tower Observation Deck, and experience the breathtaking views of Downtown from this magnificent Cleveland landmark.
The Observation Deck will be open on Saturdays from 12:00-5:00p.m. and on Sundays from 12:00-4:00p.m. Guests may now make reservations and purchase tickets on-line beginning at noon on Mondays for the following Saturday and noon on Tuesdays for the following Sunday. General admission cost will be $5(plus a handling fee) per person with free admission for children 5 years of age and under. Based on the availability, walk-up tickets may be purchased at Tower City’s Guest Services desk, located on Level 1, on the day of the tour only. For reservations and tickets, guests should visit the websites below.
Terminal Tower Observation Tour tickets (Sat)
http://terminaltowerodeck.eventbrite.com
Terminal Tower Observation Tour tickets (Sun)
http://terminaltowerodecksun.eventbrite.com
The Observation Deck was first reopened to the public on weekends during July and August of 2010. The tours were sold out each weekend and demand was so great that Forest City decided to reopen the Observation Deck for tours. The Observation Deck sits on the 42nd floor of the Terminal Tower and was closed after September 11th, 2001. Since that time, Forest City Enterprises has completed approximately 40 million dollars in both exterior and interior renovations of the Terminal Tower, with work being completed in January of this year.
For more information about the Observation Deck visit www.towercitycenter.org
DCA to start using QR Codes
August 27, 2010 – 10:39 am
In the new Sparx City Hop Passport, you may notice a curious code on the back page. This “QR Code” links to a special offer from a Downtown merchant. In order to claim this special, you have to scan the QR Code using your phone. Simply download a QR code reader to your phone (there are several free applications for scanning codes depending on your phone) and scan the code on the back of the passport.Your phone will link you to a special. Show this special to the participating merchant and you’ll be able to take advantage of the special.
DCA had begun to use QR Codes to change the way people interact and explore Downtown. Over the next several months, you’ll start to see more and more QR codes throughout downtown Cleveland…on buildings, storefronts, signs, etc. These codes will be your direct way of accessing event info, special offers, apartment/condo information, restaurant menus and so much more…all on your phone!
Where do I get my Sparx City Hop Passport?
If you get Cleveland Magazine, look inside your September issue and you’ll find a Sparx City Hop Passport tipped into your issue. If you don’t get Cleveland Magazine, don’t worry, you can also get your passport at the Sparx City Hop on Saturday, September 11th at a designated trolley stop. Designated stops are marked on the map with information symbols (click here to launch the map) These stops will be manned with volunteers and will have passports and other Sparx information. Trolley stops marked with colored markers are “on demand” trolley stops. Passports will not be available at these stops.
Malibu Drink of the Week
August 26, 2010 – 3:30 pm
Sparx City Hop is proud to have the support of Malibu® Rum and Heidelberg Distributing. To keep the summer going, here is a special treat to help you get your island on! Each week leading up to the Sparx City Hop, we’ll be featuring a new drink recipe.
Malibu® Mounds Bars
1 part Malibu® Coconut
1 part Kahlua®
2 parts Cream
Tower City Street Festival
August 26, 2010 – 3:28 pm
For the first time as part of the 8th Annual Sparx City Hop, Tower City Center will host the Tower City Street Festival on Prospect Avenue (between W.2nd and W.3rd) from 11am - 11pm. The festival will feature a variety of entertainment and attractions throughout the day and into the evening, including the Hard Rock After Dark Live Music Showcase, featuring Emerson Hart, formerly of Tonic.
FESTIVAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY
11:00am - 6:00pm
Live local entertainment
Enjoy the sounds of Saborit Latin Soul and the Britton Roberts Band on the Hard Rock Stage. From 2:00 - 4:00pm watch Cleveland Museum of Art Chalk Artists create masterpieces on the sidewalk.
Tower City Art Fair - Presented by NorthCoast Promotions Inc
Browse through local, hand-crafted art including glass, jewelry, woodwork, photography, clothing and pieces of art from the Heartworks Gallery. The fair will also feature fresh Amish baked goods.
Sparx Classic Car Show
Classic cars from across the region will line Prospect Avenue throughout the day. Meet fellow car lovers and browse through beautifully restored and maintained classic cars from the past 30+ years.
Hard Rock Café Bier Garden & Tower City Restaurant Specials
Hard Rock Café will host a bier garden near the Hard Rock stage, which will include a special indoor VIP room. Morton’s will open early at 12noon to feature their Bar Bites menu throughout the day. Both Houlihan’s and Tower 230 will feature specials throughout the day and into the night as well
Terminal Tower Observation Deck
Bring your family to the fully restored Terminal Tower Observation Deck to see an unparalleled view of the entire city! Originally opened in 1929, Terminal Tower has been a Cleveland landmark for over 80 years. The interior of the Observation Deck has been restored to resemble what it looked like in the 1930’s and 40’s. Tickets are just $5 and kids 5 and under are free
HARD ROCK AFTER DARK LIVE MUSIC SHOWCASE
6:30pm - 11:00pm
This premier live music showcase will feature an exclusive performance by GRAMMY®-nominated artist Emerson Hart of Tonic, with special guests More Than Me and Do-DRIVER.
As Tonic’s front man, Hart has branched out to tour in support of his solo album, Cigarettes and Gasoline. More Than Me is a pop-rock music powerhouse which has earned the band notoriety across the nation over its 10 year tenure. The group was also named winner of Hard Rock’s 2010 Ambassadors of Rock Battle of the Bands, earning the right to open for Paul McCartney at Hard Rock Calling in London’s Hyde Park this June.
Do-DRIVER is a West New York-based band whose music is rooted in rock with a riff-oriented style, who recently earned the right to open for rock legends KISS on tour.
Performances will be on the Hard Rock Stage and are FREE to all. For additional information, please visit www.hardrock.com/cleveland
Assisting With Gardens Under Glass
August 25, 2010 – 11:38 pm
I am currently assisting with creating the new learning center/store/exhibit room at the Gardens Under Glass Project at the Galleria. Here, you will find many unique items as well as a learning experience!
I am working on creating life-like live Ohio native fish exhibits and art with interpretive information on each exhibit. I have also written an article describing more of the overall vision of the expanded project, and I am seeking contributors to add to this project in the way of locating their business or green idea here.
If you would like to read more about the project and its expanded vision, please see this link: http://qualitychatter.com/
This project will provide something very unique for downtown and worth visiting by both locals and out-of-towners!
If you would like more information on the project and what it offers downtown residents, please contact me or the website at www.gardensunderglass.net
This post was written by a DCA City Advocate. To learn more about the City Advocate Program, please click here.
Stuff the Bus/Fill the House Charity Event
August 25, 2010 – 9:51 am
The 5th Annual Stuff the Bus will be held on September 1, 2010 on Gateway Plaza as part of SC4K Day at Progressive Field. Dominion is once again the $15,000 Title Sponsor with the The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities providing the bus and driver for the event. Other partners include the Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Cleveland (BOMA) who help with the event logistics and marketing to downtown Cleveland business owners, workers and residents.
Stuff the Bus is an annual shoe, clothing, school supply and fund drive that was established in 2006 to raise awareness about the need for new shoes, clothing and school supplies for children in need going back to school. Stuff the Bus gives the community a way to donate these items to children in need through SC4K. For the past five years, Dominion has served as the event’s title sponsor and several other community partners have helped make it successful each year. SC4K recruits local companies and organizations to host collection drives.
In addition to Stuff the Bus, SC4K is proud to be one of 13 charities selected to take part in the Cleveland Indians’ Fill the House for Charity Initiative. The Tribe will take on the Chicago White Sox at 12:05p.m. on September 1st. Through the generosity of the Indians, SC4K will receive $5 for every ticket purchased through this program and an additional $1.00 for every ticket sold to the game!
So be sure to bring new clothes or school supplies to the school bus at Gateway Plaza on game day to help more children go back to school with all they need to succeed at the 5th Annual Stuff the Bus. For more information about the event visit www.sc4k.org
