Wade Oval Wednesdays

Summer is officially here and what better way to celebrate than with a night in the circle. University Circle that is, where on Wade Oval Wednesdays dancing with your shoes off while basking in the setting sun is a must.

This small evening concert series turned “party in the park” attracts more than 10,000 visitors each summer and accommodates a wide variety of musical tastes. Head down for your favorites, or get inspired with something new. From R&B, motown, disco and funk to afro-beats, country, rock, latin and swing, there’s something for everyone.

Food and beverage vendors line the circle for hungry folks coming straight from work and picnicking is encouraged. This year, University Circle Inc. will also host a weekly Farmers Market.

Wade Oval Wednesdays take place Wednesday evenings now through August 31 from 6-9pm in University Circle’s Wade Oval.

For directions click here and for a map of the University Circle area click here.

2011 WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays Concert Schedule

June 15
Heart & Soul (R & B, Rock, Motown, Disco, Funk, 80’s Pop)

June 22
One World Tribe (Afro-Beat, Funk, Latin & World Beat Orchestra)

June 29
Lost State of Franklin (Americana/Country/Rock)
*Movie Night: How To Train Your Dragon

July 6
Mojo Big Band (Swing/Duke Ellington, Count Basie)

July 13
Speedbumps (Indie Rock)

July 20
Please note schedule change: New Barleycorn (Irish Celtic)
*Movie Night: The Karate Kid

July 27
Chris Allen & the Guilty Hearts with Austin “Walking” Cane (Alternative Rock)

August 3
Carlos Jones & The P.L.U.S. Band (Reggae)

August 10
Mo’ Mojo (Zydeco Jam Band)

August 17: GREEN WOW
Cats on Holiday (Rockabilly/ Swamp Rock)
*Movie Night: Wall-E

August 24
Son Gitano (Latin/Salsa/Rumba/Flamenco/Merengue)

August 31
Sultans of Bing (Rock and Roll)

– CA

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art is many things to many people. It’s a highly anticipated field-trip, a first-date, an escape from a hot summer day or cold and snowy afternoon. Free admission year-round makes going to the Cleveland Museum of Art an experience everyone can enjoy, just as founders intended when they proclaimed the museum would be “for the benefit of all the people forever” and a vast collection keeps people coming back for more.

One of Cleveland’s most visited attractions, the Cleveland Museum of Art is currently undergoing a massive $350 million expansion and renovation. Upon completion the museum will offer 20,000 square feet of new educational space and 35,300 square feet of new gallery space for total museum space of 595,500 square feet.

CMA’s collection boasts more than 30,000 works of art ranging over 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present, and includes masterpieces from all over the world. Currently there are more than 40 galleries open with more to come. The museum’s permanent collection includes African Art, Ancient Egyptian Art, Ancient Near East, Greek and Roman Art, American Painting and Sculpture, Contemporary Art, Decorative Art and Design, Drawings, European Painting and Sculpture, 1500 to 1800, Medieval Art, Modern European Painting and Sculpture, Photography and Prints. 13th century through 16th century Europe, Western Medieval, Art of the Americas, Islamic, Textiles, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indian and Southeast Asian Art will not be on view until the end of the building project.

In addition to the staple permanent collections, each year the museum offers world-class traveling exhibitions, musical performances, educational programs, festivals, guest speakers and a parade which attracts one of the largest crowds of any Cleveland event.

CMA is situated amongst a slew of other popular attractions in Cleveland’s University Circle. The most densely packed square mile of arts and culture in the county, UCI is also home to the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Institute of Art, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Glidden House, Case Western Reserve University and more.

For more information visit www.clevelandart.org and click here for more photos.

– CA and FC

Glidden House

 

Located on the campus of Case Western Reserve University on Cleveland’s east side, Glidden House is Cleveland’s only full-service boutique hotel. An impressive, renovated French-Gothic mansion, the hotel features stunning beauty and legendary charm combined with a chic, urban design and all of the modern conveniences travelers have come to expect.

Glidden House was built in 1910 by the son of the founder of the Glidden Paint and Varnish Company and eventually purchased by a group of private investors who converted the home to a 60 room boutique hotel in the late 1980s. Renovators were pleased to uncover original beams, carvings, woodwork and other architectural details that today add to the warmth and feel of the property.

Guests may choose from two types of rooms at Glidden House. Modern guest rooms and vintage suites offer plasma screen televisions, complementary wireless internet, work stations, concierge service and a European style breakfast buffet featuring hot and cold items served daily. Guests are also invited to gather for drinks and small plates during happy hour at the hotel’s bar. Fine dining can be found just steps away at Sergio’s in the Circle located in the mansion’s carriage house.

Glidden House is situated within the most densely packed square mile of arts and culture in the country. Whether you’re in the mood for Monet, an Indie film or, opera you can find it in University Circle.

Within walking distance are the Cleveland Museum of Art, currently undergoing a massive renovation, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland Institute of Art, Children’s Museum of Cleveland and Severance Hall, home to the world renowned Cleveland Orchestra.

Glidden House also offers a beautiful backdrop for weddings and events. A covered outdoor space on the charmingly manicured grounds of the estate provides an ideal setting for any weather or, bring the celebration indoors during colder months.

For more information including specials and packages and to book your stay visit www.gliddenhouse.com. To take a photo tour click here.

– Submitted by C.A. and F.C.

Unique Museums in Cleveland Plus

Museums Galore: Discover the Unexpected Arts + Culture of Cleveland Plus!

Each year, more than 2.5 million people make their way to Cleveland’s University Circle. As the nation’s most concentrated square mile of arts and cultural institutions, this thriving neighborhood offers experiences from art and history to music and natural beauty all within walking distance.

And, while University Circle remains the area’s hub of arts and culture, hundreds of wonderful historical, cultural and artistic museums and institutions exist throughout the entire region offering unparalleled educational and learning opportunities. Here are just a few lesser known museums:

• Cleveland Hungarian Heritage Society -Explore the culture of Hungary and Hungarian-Americans through exhibitions and programming.
• Dunham Tavern Museum – Once a stagecoach stop, this museum offers a glimpse into the life of early settlers.
• Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland – Learn about money and value through interactive games and exhibits.
• Hale Farm & Village – A 19th-century outdoor history museum specializing in living history, crafts and real farm.
• Historic Roscoe Village – Living history tours, horse-drawn canal boat ride and shopping in this restored historic village.
• International Women’s Air + Space Museum – Discover the achievements of female pilots and astronauts.
• Kent State University Museum – Eight galleries showcasing major fashion collections and decorative art.
• Kirtland Temple Visitors Center – The first temple established by Joseph Smith and his Mormon followers is now a free museum.
• Louis Stokes Museum – Chronicles the life of Congressman Stokes from his rise out of public housing to becoming a political hero.
• Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage – A moving historical showcase of the region’s Jewish community.
• Maritime Museum of Sandusky – Interactive exhibits explore region’s maritime history of boat building, fishing and ice harvesting.
• MAPS Air Museum – Preserves and exhibits all forms of aviation artifacts.
• USS COD Submarine Memorial – Tour this real WWII submarine
• Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum – Largest model railroad museum in the world.

– Submitted by L.R.H.

 

Sounds from Severance Hall

Movie music, jazz giants, children’s classics and family favorites, the heart of the renowned Cleveland Orchestra’s 2010-2011 season at Severance Hall is itself a masterpiece of unforgettable entertainment.

December’s calendar keeps things hopping with a night of music from classic holiday movies like The Polar Express and It’s A Wonderful Life (December 8 ) and a visit from jazz legend Dave Brubeck and his quartet to the Severance stage. And next April, when things should be warming up in Northeast Ohio, jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater and the Orchestra team up for a hot tribute to Ella Fitzgerald.

The holidays also bring several daytime December concerts for all ages. The Music of Chanukah (December 4 and 7) the Christmas Brass Quintet (December 15 and 18) and All About Kwanzaa (December 16) offer 40-minute performances in Severance’s Concert Hall to enthrall and delight parents and kids alike.

Family entertainment continues in the New Year with two Sunday afternoon joys. On January 9, the Academy Trainees of the Joffrey Balley and the Cleveland School of Dance join the Orchestra to bring Stravinsky’s The Firebird to life and, on April 17, the Orchestra and the Magic Circle Mime Company revisit the classic Peter and the Wolf.

Other highlights of the second half of the Orchestra’s season include four fully-staged performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni opera in March and an all-new two-weekend Baroque Festival with Dutch artist-in-residence Ton Koopman conduction works by Bach, Handel and Haydn.

The world’s best orchestra, performing in its own magnificent home setting? Now that’s worth an encore . . . or three. – Submitted by John Booth, guest blogger

 

Two East Side Museums

When you consider the many world-class museums of Greater Cleveland, you often think of those in University Circle.  After all, University Circle is Cleveland’s “cultural hub” and includes the most concentrated area of museums and cultural attractions in the nation.  However, there is also much culture to be found outside of this well-known neighborhood.

Wanting to explore more of Greater Cleveland’s cultural treasures, I visited two of the East Side’s lesser known museums: The Dunham Tavern Museum and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage.  Although very different in size and theme, both museums tell unique stories about the Greater Cleveland experience.

The Dunham Tavern Museum, located at 6709 Euclid Avenue, is the oldest surviving structure in the City of Cleveland.  Rufus and Jane Pratt Dunham, who had moved to the Western Reserve in 1819, constructed the tavern in 1824.  It stands, to this day, on its original site in what is now known as the city’s Midtown Corridor.

When I arrived to the tavern, Sandy, who would be my guide, warmly greeted me.  Sandy took great pride in the tavern, and she was very knowledgeable of its history and that of the Western Reserve, in general.  The rooms of the tavern have been restored, in great detail, to how they would have been during the tavern’s early days.  Following the tour, which took about a half hour, I walked the paths on the grounds to learn more about life in the Western Reserve.  In the warmer months, guests can also enjoy the tavern’s beautiful gardens.

Although not a big institution, there is a wealth of history to be found at the Dunham Tavern Museum.  And at only $3 for adults and $2 for children, it is an inexpensive way to spend the afternoon and learn something new about the history of the area that would one day become Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is located at 2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood, Ohio.  The Maltz Museum is a museum of the finest quality, and you need not be Jewish to enjoy the museum or the story of the Jewish experience in Greater Cleveland and across the globe.  In fact, the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage presents not only “the Jewish experience” but also “the American experience.”

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is almost like three museums in one.  The exhibits in the permanent collection focus on various aspects of Jewish life: From the Jews’ arriving at Ellis Island to their establishing communities in Greater Cleveland; from the horrors of the Holocaust to the triumph of the modern State of Israel.  The exhibits are presented throughout seven distinct galleries, each with a different theme.  These galleries include artifacts, testimonials, photographs, and video presentations.

In addition to the galleries of the permanent collection, the Temple-Tifereth Israel Gallery showcases Jewish art and artifacts from around the world.  Finally, the Special Exhibition Gallery currently features “The Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936.”  This exhibit is fascinating and would be of interest to any aficionado of the Olympic Games, let alone those interested in Jewish history, world history, and/or the pre-World War II era.  To enjoy all that the Maltz Museum has to offer, allow 3-4 hours.  And those who purchase the Cleveland Plus Pass can enjoy the Maltz Museum along with nine other Greater Cleveland attractions.

I highly recommend both museums as a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Please note that the Dunham Tavern Museum is only open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.  The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage is open everyday but Monday.  Both museums offer free on-site parking.

For more information about the Dunham Tavern Museum, refer to its website at www.dunhamtavern.org.  For more information about the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage visit www.maltzmuseum.org. – Submitted by Christopher S. Musselman, guest blogger

 

The Young and The Restless

Snoopy at Cedar Point Amusement Park (west of Cleveland in Sandusky, Ohio).

Kids are always looking for their next kingdom and Northeast Ohio is a treasure map of interesting activities that will excite and entertain.

Take for instance the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and its newest program this spring — The Scoop on Poop! Fish do it, frogs do it, pythons, eagles and elephants do it, yet poop is one of those subjects we find difficult to talk about with a straight face. “Kids however are positively fascinated by it,” says Sue Allen, manager of marketing and public relations at the Metroparks Zoo. “Poop is interesting stuff — really.” 

Zoo visitors can improve their No. 2 IQ in Stool School by listening in on an animal’s digestive system, learn the language of poop in countries around the world, compete in dung beetle races, track wild animals by clues left in scat and much more. This is, of course, on top of everything else awesomely interesting about the Metroparks’ zoo including its animal shows, dinosaur exhibit and more than 3,000 creatures roaming 168 rolling, wooded acres.

Most things about planet earth are pretty interesting, but everything about space is totally engrossing. At the Great Lakes Science Center (one of the nation’s leading science and technology hubs and home to the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX Theater), the Return to the Moon exhibit will be sweeping young minds off their feet and placing them squarely on the lunar map.

Cleveland Institute of Art

Perusing a 2009 CIA exhibit (photo by KFCrisafi)

The Cleveland Institute of Art was originally founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. It wasn’t until 1949 that the school would officially become known as The Cleveland Institute of Art and in 1956 would find a new home at its present location in University Circle amongst the cultural gems of Cleveland. As part of one of the most densely packed square mile of arts and culture in the country, CIA fits right in offering top-notch education to aspiring artists. From somewhat humble beginnings, the Instute’s reputation has grown and it is now among the top professional art and design schools in the country.

Public programming at CIA includes a lengthy list of national and international exhibitions, visiting lecturers, faculty and student artwork, a film series and continuing education programs for people of all ages and abilities. Here are some ways you can take advantage of all the Cleveland Institute of Art has to offer:

Gallery Exhibitions  Wander into CIA’s Reinberger Galleries located in the Gund Building at 11141 East Boulevard. These free galleries serve CIA art students, faculty and the community as an educational resource. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-9pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.  

CIA Cinematheque The Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque presents movies in the 616-seat  Russell B. Aitken Auditorium located in the Gund Building at the corner of East Boulevard and Bellflower Road in University Circle. CIA shows more than 250 films each year including indie films and classics you probably won’t see elsewhere. Admission is $8 and concessions won’t break the bank. Park for free in the adjacent CIA lot. Click here for this week’s film schedule and here for an extended schedule.

Lecture Series  The Visiting Artist Program invites artists of regional, national and international renown to CIA to foster the exchange of ideas and methods and to enhance education.

Check CIA’s website for evening lectures and don’t miss Lunchtime Lectures each Friday from 12-1pm when a visiting artist discusses their work and takes questions. Lectures showcase a wide variety of presenters who are active in fine arts and design. Lunchtime lectures are free and open to the public. 

For more information visit www.cia.edu.  –Submitted by CA

Cloud Nine

Cloud Nine is now playing in the Brooks Theatre at The Cleveland Play House. Performed by students of the CWRU/CPH MFA Acting Program, this Graduate Ensemble production is a must-see.

Caryl Churchill’s Cloud Nine is a gender-bending comedy that explores the different relationships that can and do exist between men and women. It also explores the roles that men and women have played in society throughout history. Some characters are gay and others are straight. Some male characters are actually played by females, while some female characters by males. This brings out some of the comedy of the play while, at the same time, showing the differences and similarities that exist between the two sexes.

The first act of Cloud Nine takes place in Victorian era South Africa during the British occupation. The second skips ahead 100 years to the 1960s, although the characters, themselves, have only aged 25 years. Like modern art and literature, Cloud Nine “bends the rules,” but in doing so, it still tells an important story about the relationships between men and women since the dawn of time.

Caryl Churchill is one of the most critically acclaimed playwrights in the English-speaking world. She has written for the theatre, television and radio. And although she is known for her socialist and feminist views, her works present a very open-minded exploration of social, political and moral issues. (On a personal note, I knew nothing of Ms. Churchill before seeing this play, but after finding Cloud Nine so thoroughly enjoyable, I want to know more about her and read more of her works.)

Cloud Nine is the first Play House performance for this first-year MFA class (graduating class of 2012). And these students were excellent. I was a bit apprehensive going into this play because I so enjoyed this year’s graduating class in previous Play House productions. I was afraid that this class might not “live up” to the great talent that I had seen in the class of 2010. But those fears have been allayed and I look forward to seeing more work from the 2012 class.

Insider Tips for Making the Most of University Circle

About 15 minutes east of downtown Cleveland, University Circle shines as a world-class arts and culture destination. There’s a lot to see and do in the circle so we made it our mission to discover the things you absolutely cannot miss when you visit. Read on for tips for making the most of your University Circle experience or watch the Positively Cleveland video below.

Cleveland Institute of Art
Founded in 1882, The Cleveland Institute of Art is an independent college of art and design that also offers a wide array of public programming.
11141 East Boulevard, 216.421.7000, www.cia.edu
Reinberger Gallery open 10am-5pm on Tues., Wed., Thurs., Sat. and 10am-9pm on Fri.
Various alternative and arts film showings at the CIA Cinematheque.

Tips:

• CIA’s Cinematheque shows more than 250 domestic and international films each year, films you probably can’t see anywhere else. Admission is $8, parking is free (right next to the building) and concessions won’t break the bank. Tickets may be purchased at CIA’s box office before each film. View the schedule here.
• Just inside the doors of CIA’s Gund building, visitors are welcome to browse the FREE Reinberger Gallery where local artists as well as major traveling exhibits are displayed Tuesday through Saturday.
• The Visiting Artist Program invites artists of regional, national and international renown to CIA to present free lectures showcasing a wide variety of topics in fine arts and design. These lectures are free and open to the public.

Severance Hall
Long considered one of America’s great orchestras, the Cleveland Orchestra performs in Severance Hall, located in University Circle on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
11001 Euclid Avenue, 216.231.1111, www.clevelandorchestra.com
Various concert and event times.

Tips:

• Silver aluminum decorates the entire hall and the acoustics are prime, making it a fantastic place to hear a concert.
• The Cleveland Orchestra packs their schedule with family-friendly events throughout the concert season. Browse the events calendar to find something for the whole family.
• The Orchestra has two homes. Severance Hall , the orchestra’s winter home is in University Circle. In the summer, picnic with the orchestra at Blossom Music Center, a large outdoor venue.
• Severance Hall offers free public tours on selected Sundays at 12pm and 1pm during the Severance Hall season. Call 216.231.1111 for reservations. Private tours can be arranged for a fee by calling 216.231.7421.
• Severance offers on-site parking, dining and a music-inspired gift shop.

The Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle (view from Wade Lagoon side)

Cleveland Museum of Art

One of the nation’s most preeminent art museums, featuring 6,000 years of the world’s great art and significant special exhibitions. The current expansion project re-imagines the museum.
11150 East Boulevard, 888.CMA.0033, www.clevelandart.org
Open 10am-5pm Tues., Thurs. and Sat. and 10am-9pm Wed. and Fri.

Tips:

• The Cleveland Museum of Art is FREE (excepting some special exhibitions)
• Coming soon are galleries for Asian, antiquities, ancient Americas, medieval European and  Sub-Saharan African art, textiles, and prints and drawings.
• Head to the second floor to experience CMA’s newly renovated art research library, the 3rd largest in the United States, including 401,918 volumes. Open to the public free everyday for leisurely reading.
• CMA hosts some of Cleveland’s most popular events, including Parade the Circle

Cleveland Institute of Music
CIM is an internationally known observatory of music boasting a gorgeous recital hall where faculty, visiting musicians and students of the highest caliber perform hundreds of free concerts each year.
11021 East Boulevard, 216.791.5000, www.cim.edu
Various concert and recital times.

Tips:

• The public is encouraged to attend one of more than 400 free concerts performed each year by students, faculty and well-known guest musicians.
• As part of the curriculum at CIM, students are required to perform individual recitals (open to the public) to help prepare them for large audiences.