Growing up, I used to do crosswords with my dad at the kitchen table. We would work through the answers together, him always figuring out the clues in ways I didn’t really understand. As I got older, I became more and more capable of actually helping him solve them. I transferred colleges to a school in Massachusetts this past fall, and although I don’t do crosswords with my … [Read more...]
City Sprouts nurtures young urban gardeners
Program also helps children respect environment On an overcast Wednesday in July, in the back lawn of Mason Community Learning Center, the children of the City Sprouts program were busy at work gardening. Despite the not so cheerful weather, the young gardeners were enthusiastic and having fun digging in the dirt as they tended to the plants they have grown themselves this … [Read more...]
Vacant storefronts, safety, development discussed at Ward 1 meeting
City Councilman Rich Swirsky led a Ward 1 meeting earlier this month at The Church of Our Savior in Highland Square. About 60 residents of the ward, including members of the West Hill Neighborhood Organization (WHNO), met that morning to discuss problems facing the neighborhood, and to brainstorm ways to combat them. Round tables were set up around the room with five … [Read more...]
Residents gather at Akron Civic to discuss Better Block neighborhood event
A group of about 200 community members from the North Hill neighborhood and the city of Akron recently assembled at the Akron Civic Theatre to learn more about the Better Block Project, an exciting event that will be taking place this May in North Hill. The Project will be hosted with support from the city of Akron and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The … [Read more...]
Residents brave cold to see ‘Beauty Reigns’ discussion at Akron Art Museum
A large audience braved the bitter cold to attend a recent panel discussion at the Akron Art Museum. The event focused on the museum’s current exuberant exhibition titled "Beauty Reigns: A Baroque Sensibility in Recent Painting." The panel, which met last week, comprised artists Nancy Lorenz, Kamrooz Aram and Susan Chrysler White and was moderated by painter and professor … [Read more...]
Residents discuss development, business opportunities at Ward 1 Highland Square meeting
As development picks up in Highland Square, residents learned about the state of new business and construction projects, along with available opportunities last week at the Highland Square branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. The Akron Ward 1 meeting, run by councilman Rich Swirsky, was open to the public and well attended. Adele Dorfner Roth, the deputy … [Read more...]
Arts Alliance hosts ‘Pop Up Art’ discussion at Summit Artspace
On Nov. 12, a small panel met at Summit Artspace at an Akron Area Arts Alliance workshop called “Pop Up: Art in Unexpected Places.” The panel discussed public art works and events. The workshop was moderated by Elaine Guregian, the vice president of AAAA and former arts critic for the Akron Beacon Journal. The panel consisted of Bobby Wesner, the creative director of Neos Dance … [Read more...]
Green For Pink hosts 2nd Annual Harvest Hafla
On Oct. 18, local cancer patient assistance group Green for Pink is hosting its second annual Harvest Hafla fundraiser at Montrose’s Creative Motion Studios. The hafla, a traditional belly dance party, will be a lively event with raffle baskets, door prizes, fantasy character visits from Spectacular Entertainment and refreshments. All proceeds from the event will go to Green … [Read more...]
Akron-based filmmaker draws success with superhero comic (Article and Video)
Kickstarter campaign under way to publish hardcover edition -- By day, Ted Sikora is a filmmaker for hire. His video work reveals a distinct cinematic style, and working from a studio on Furnace Street under the Y-bridge, he has created notable videos for events like Cleveland Art Prize and groups like Downtown Akron Partnership, among a host of corporate clients. But by … [Read more...]
Heinz Poll dance festival ends season with local, national partner performance (Article and Video)
The Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival continues its tradition of free, fully staged outdoor dance performances Aug. 8 and 9 at Firestone Park, featuring a new collaboration between the James Sewell Ballet of Minneapolis and local dancers. A collaboration between the visiting groups and Akron has never been done—until now. When Neil Sapienza, an associate dean at The … [Read more...]