Currents April 18, 2024 issue

By Michele Collins

By Rita Kueber

Allen Theatre’s storied history

By Jeannie Emser Schultz

EDITOR’S NOTE INSIDE B1

In anticipation of the solar eclipse on April 8 (which has not yet occurred as I type), the Currents staff worked overtime this month to put this issue together ahead of schedule so that we could afford to take the afternoon off to witness this once-in-a-lifetime happening. With Cleveland and environs set within that muchtouted “path of totality,” the anticipation of this event has been building, and what good fortune for the many businesses in our region! Yet, for the witnesses-to-be of this once-in-a-lifetime event (both natives and tourists) – there is this one unsettling dose of reality - the weather at this time of the year in Northeast Ohio! What are our chances of even being able to see the Baily’s Beads or Ring of Fire/ diamond ring effect? After all, how many Opening Days can we recall with driving rain or even snow at this time of year? So, as I type, on the day before this much-anticipated solar eclipse, the weather forecasters are doing their best to be positive and encouraging. But, as we might ourselves have imagined, rain is predicted in the morning, with some promise of partly cloudy skies by mid-afternoon. I’m armed with special protective eclipse eye glasses and am hopeful to be witnessing SOMETHING tomorrow afternoon! Time will tell.

Travel stories this month include a reporter’s trip to New York City to spend an afternoon at The Guggenheim to see “Hadestown” on Broadway on page A9, as well as a trip from Cleveland to Ireland appropriately scheduled on St. Patrick’s Day on page C8-9. The Allen Theatre’s storied history is chronicled on pages B10-11, and the talented Costume Director of Great Lakes Theater talks about the process of costuming actors to bring their productions to life on page B7. Read page B9 about Cleveland Play House’s new artistic creative director, who just loves his new home in the CLE, and about Kent State’s Fashion School’s upcoming Fashion Week on page B4.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12 this year, with Currents featuring some great gift ideas suggested by area retailers and restaurants on Page B1, along with a tribute to a beloved mom from her daughter on page B2. Plan ahead … shop ahead … make reservations now in order to execute and enjoy an extra-special day for your favorite mom! Enjoy! ~ Kelli Cotesworth McLellan

C2 AT

By Rita Kueber

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12 this year, but

HOME Pepper Pike home for sale features fabulous kitchen, pool

Cleveland Foundation/Maltz Museum

“RH The Gallery at Pinecrest Opening Party

RH Cleveland The Gallery at Pinecrest in Orange opened with a party for a thousand of its closest friends before the official opening to the public on March 23. The opening hosted movers and shakers from all over Northeast Ohio, from designers to real estate agents, entrepreneurs, investors, and those who are good at seeing and being seen. The event was a benefit of sorts as RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) gave generously to both The Cleveland Foundation’s Arts Mastery program and the Maltz Museum, in honor of its opening.

The compound at Pinecrest is a study in glass and steel. The first two floors hold the furniture/accessory galleries as well as an interactive interior design studio on the second floor. Twin floating staircases allow access to both gallery floors as well as the third floor, a roof-top restaurant. (Yes, there’s also an elevator.) On opening night, the first-floor atrium or central hall had a bellini bar staffed by New York City’s famous restaurant, Cipriani. One floor up was a mirror image of the main floor plan, but with the staff serving Vesper martinis instead. Everything was underlined with a live performance by SHALLOU, an LA-based singer/producer who combines house music and soulful vocals.

On the third floor guests sampled wines from Napa Valley. Unlike the galleries below, the third floor only houses the Rooftop Restaurant. This is a space reminiscent of the grand dining rooms of classic department stores from Halle’s to Higbee’s, and Saks to Nordstrom, but with a very modern twist. The restaurant will offer ingredient-driven menu items as well as a wine bar. This interior opens to a garden rooftop through several French doors, and although the weather at the opening was not cooperative, in warmer months this will be an oasis of style and elegance with panoramic views of the city, trellised trees, and French

limestone fire tables. In summer after sunset, the setting is sure to be spectacular.

RH Cleveland The Gallery at Pinecrest (technically 4009 Orange Place, the site of the former Slyman’s) is a massive 55,000-squarefoot building. Actually a series of 70 galleries, the current RH is much larger than its predecessor at Legacy Village, which boasted about 7,000 square feet. The objective is to make the new RH an “immersive experience,” one that seamlessly integrates the lifestyle installations of RH Contemporary, RH Modern, and RH Interiors. Clearly, contemporary style rules

Brian

here, as well as a classic palette of golds, warm whites, and a range of beige hues.

In addition to this gallery in Cleveland, RH plans to open five retail spaces in the US – one

in RaleighNC, and four in California, as well as three additional stores in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY RITA KUEBER 2024

RH CEO Gary Friedman and his wife Bella Hunter

Lydia Pope, Hazana Rivers, Rhoni Thompson and Latasha Spencer

Jackie Wachter, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and Phillip Wachter (Photograph by Orville McEachron)

Winters and Josh Cribbs

Greg and Amy Hocevar with Jenna and Anthony Petrarca

Blossom presents star-studded Summer Music Festival

By ANDREA C. TURNER

Start planning your summer music season early! You won’t want to miss these upcoming concerts, many with special guest stars performed with the Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. For tickets, contact the Severance Music Center ticket office by phone at 216.231.1111 or online at clevelandorchestra.com.

Rhapsody in Blue with Béla Fleck

Saturday, July 6, 7 p.m.

The Cleveland Orchestra’s Brett Mitchell conducts. Béla Fleck, “arguably the greatest living banjo player in the world” (NPR), makes his Blossom Music Festival debut and marks the centennial of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with a dazzling new banjo transcription of this beloved showpiece. Experience a fresh take on an American classic. Mitchell rounds out this all-American evening with orchestral gems by Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, and William Grant Still.

An Evening with Leslie Odom, Jr.

Sunday, July 21, 7 p.m.

Tony and Grammy award–winning vocalist, songwriter, author, and actor, Leslie Odom Jr., makes his Cleveland Orchestra debut. Odom is known for his breakout role as the original Aaron Burr in the smash hit Broadway musical “Hamilton.” A special fundraising event, the Blossom Summer Soirée, to benefit the Orchestra’s summer home takes place prior to the concert. The evening includes cocktails

and an elegant dinner in the Knight Grove, followed by a Cleveland Orchestra performance under the stars. For information, contact Maddie Polk at 216.231.7412 or mpolk@ clevelandorchestra.com.

An Evening with John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories

Thursday, August 8, 7 p.m.

This special performance will feature songs and stories with multi-platinum, 12-time Grammy winner John Legend who makes his Cleveland Orchestra debut. Experience intimate re-imaginings of his greatest hits (“All of Me,” “Ordinary People,” “Tonight”), unexpected stories from Legend’s life and career,

and selections from his most recent release, LEGEND (“Nervous,” “Wonder Woman”), out now on Republic Records. Anthony Parnther conducts the Cleveland Orchestra with Legend on piano and vocals. An EGOT-winner and Ohio native, Legend is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter who along with his 12 Grammy Awards, has won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and an Emmy Award. Limit of four tickets per household. An Evening With John Legend is not eligible for Blossom Festival Lawn Ticket Books or the Under 18s Free program. Live Nation safety rules will be in effect.

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony

Saturday, August 17, 7 p.m.

Franz Welser-Möst returns to Blossom to conduct the Cleveland Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, which journeys from dark

inner turmoil to an unwavering celebration of life. The “breathtakingly brilliant pianist” Víkingur Ólafsson (Gramophone) also joins the Orchestra for Robert Schumann’s “Piano Concerto,” a marvelous showcase for soloist and orchestra that the composer once referred to as “a compromise between a symphony, a concerto, and a huge sonata.”

Sinatra and Beyond

Sunday, August 25, 7 p.m.

The Blossom Festival band performs with singer/pianist/songwriter Tony DeSare on vocals. DeSare takes on the legend of Ol’’’ Blue Eyes himself in a critically acclaimed tribute to the great Frank Sinatra that includes songs like “Come Fly with Me,” I’ve Got the World On a String,” “The Summer Wind,” “I Get A Kick Out of You,” “Night and Day,” “New York, New York,” “My Way,” and many more Sinatra classics. The Cleveland Orchestra does not appear on this concert.

Cirque Goes Broadway

Saturday, August 31, 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 1, 7 p.m.

The Cirque de la Symphonie performs with the Akron Symphony Orchestra; Lucas Waldin conducts. Dizzying acrobatic heights and eyepopping feats come together with top Broadway hits from “Les Misérables,” “Frozen,” “Miss Saigon” and more. Fun for the whole family, Cirque de la Symphonie is a new production formed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall. It is an exciting adaptation of artistic performances widely seen in theaters and arenas everywhere. Artists include amazing veterans of exceptional cirque programs throughout the world—aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen. Each artist’s performance is professionally choreographed to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music. The Cleveland Orchestra does not appear in this concert.

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Shoes and Clothes for Kids “Topgolf Par-Tee”

Shoes and Clothes for Kids’ first “Topgolf Par-Tee” on Sunday, February 18 had 100 guests swinging the afternoon away to raise funds for brand-new shoes, clothes and school supplies for local needy children and their classrooms in order to bolster K-8 school attendance.

Founded in 1969, Shoes and Clothes for Kids (SC4K) aims to level the playing field by supplying students in need with essentials so they can focus on learning.

A local businessman on his commutes saw kids walking to school with no shoes. There was a set of three brothers, and he noticed he never saw them together because they shared a pair of shoes to go to school. Shocked that something so simple could keep a child from receiving a quality education, he gathered friends and began distributing shoes from the trunk of his car, and Shoes for Kids was born.

The organization became Shoes and Clothes for Kids in 1998. Today, SC4K distributes $3.1 million worth of clothing a year through its programs.

“It’s more than just having a new outfit,” said Associate Board member Rachel Way. “It gives them confidence. It gives them the ability to walk in the school with their head held high, knowing that they’re prepared for the day.”

Way, an art teacher at Warrensville Heights High School, said her students thrive thanks to supplies and even hygiene items donated by SC4K. She hands out items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and baby wipes on a daily basis.

“All those items are things that every teacher needs in a district like mine,” she said. “This gives us the opportunity to not have to pay for those items out of our own pocket.”

“Donors allow SC4K to make a child’s life and a teacher’s day better because their students are happy, well-clothed, and well-supplied,” Senior Development Manager Culeen Carey said.

A $10,000 cash prize for the first holein-one enticed golfers. They also enjoyed a raffle offering gifts like a mountain bike and

Browns tickets. The venue provided cocktails and classic comfort foods such as wings, corn dogs and mac and cheese bites. The nonprofit plans to repeat the “friendraiser” in the future.

BY ANASTASIA NICHOLAS

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Jessica and Dave Jacobson (center) with Melissa (left) and Anthony Trzaska

Co-chairs Tyler Wynne and Kristen Greff

Executive Director Monica Lloyd with Alex and Raleigh Schauer Rachel Way and Lottie Gray

LaWanda Smith, Janice Agliam and Nicole Focareto

‘Hadestown’, The Guggenheim were highlights of NYC weekend trip

By ANDREA C. TURNER

When I first learned that my favorite folk singer-songwriter, Ani DiFranco, would be making her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown” in February, I jumped at the chance to see the performance. She debuted as the character Persephone on February 9, at the Walter Kerr Theatre at 219 W. 48th St.

Grammy Award-winner DiFranco, a native of Buffalo, NY, and I were college contemporaries at Buffalo State University – formerly known as Buffalo State College (BSC). Coincidentally, we performed in the student dance ensemble together.

Well-known for her soulful, edgy, thoughtprovoking lyrics and her fiercely independent record label, Righteous Babe Records, DiFranco is lovingly known as the “Little Folksinger.” Her music has been classified as folk and alternative rock, with influences from punk, funk, hip hop and jazz. She has released more than 20 albums on her record label, which she created in 1990.

Three of my closest friends, also alumni of BSC and its dance program who live in the NYC area, joined me for the show.

I arrived at a friend’s home on Friday evening in Rutherford, NJ. We strolled along Erie Avenue on Saturday afternoon along with local families, young children, strollers, pups and more. The “borough” is dotted with ethnic restaurants, bars, coffee shops, bakeries, as well as dance, yoga and martial arts studios. We settled on lunch at Beijing Hotpot, at 12 Sylvan Street. Diners sit at tables with built-in gas burners to dip and cook their own choice ingredients in boiling broth. I settled on tofu, noodles, broccoli, and mushrooms.

After lunch, we took a 15-minute bus ride into Penn Station. The bus was clean and comfortable with cushy seats, and was surprisingly outfitted with safety seatbelts. Then a quick subway ride from the Times Square station (where we saw beautiful mosaic tile work of “Soundsuits” by artist Nick Cave) to the Upper East Side.

In all my excursions to NYC over the years, I’d never visited the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. So we took in its latest exhibit, “Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility,” on view through April 7. The museum’s iconic rotunda displayed more than 100 works by a group of 28 artists, the majority of whom are Black and more than half are women.

The exhibit presents works that feature partially obscured or hidden figures, thus positioning them at the “edge of visibility.” In this context, the common phrase going dark is understood as a tactic where artists visually conceal the body to explore a key tension in contemporary society— the desire to be seen and also to be hidden from sight.

We stopped in the second-floor cafe for a snack and to charge our phones. The sunset view over the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park was lovely, as the day lingered at 60 degrees Fahrenheit – a surprisingly spring-like day for February.

Later, our larger group met for dinner at Pasta Lovers, a large Italian restaurant at 142 West 49th Street. It seemed that every table around us was celebrating a birthday. Dinner included cocktails, mussels, pasta, clams and salads.

My friends jokingly doled out advice for visitors to the City. ALWAYS stand on the right side of an escalator (so people in a hurry can pass on the left). NEVER stop in the middle of a street to take a photo — you may get mowed down by a taxi. And PLEASE don’t walk more than two people astride on a sidewalk —it blocks the way for others to pass.

With this advice in mind, we walked to the theatre for the evening performance of “Hadestown.” Accompanying Ms. DiFranco on stage were Jordan Fisher and Lola Tung. Fisher played Evan in Broadway’s “Dear Evan Hansen,” and was featured in “Hamilton.” He starred in and produced the Netflix movie, “Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between.” Tung stars in the Amazon series, “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”

“Hadestown” won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical. The storyline,

Folk singer Ani DiFranco (left) stars in “Hadestown” on Broadway. Anaïs Mitchell (right) wrote the music, lyrics and book. Photograph by Matthew Murphy

based on Greek mythological characters, follows two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and also of King Hades of the Underworld and his wife Persephone. It pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love set in a post-apocalyptic Depression-era America. Music, lyrics and book were written by Anaïs Mitchell, an American singer-songwriter, musician and playwright— another huge fan of DiFranco’s.

Exterior of the Guggenheim in NYC. Photograph by Andrea C. Turner

Earth Day 2024 to put the focus on planet vs. plastics

By ANDREA C. TURNER

Earth Day is a global celebration when humans join together to bring awareness to the issues facing our planet. This year’s theme, Planet vs. Plastics, calls on each of us to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics and the damage caused by its pollution. The goal is to rapidly phase out all single-use plastics. Individually, we can all make a collective difference by taking actions, whether big or small, to protect the planet 365 days of the year.

Dedicated to helping the community reduce its plastic waste and live more sustainably, Little Spark Refill Shop – Cleveland’s first zero-waste refill shop, can help consumers buy less plastic by re-using their own containers for everyday products. With locations in Chagrin Falls, Rocky River, and the Made in Cleveland store in Cleveland Heights, you can bring your own containers to purchase refills of natural, eco-friendly products such as liquid hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, and more. They can deliver products to businesses, and they have a recycling center for hard to recycle objects, such as pill bottles, toothpaste tubes and mascara wands.

There are plenty of Earth Day activities locally to participate in this month, so get outside, connect with Mother Nature, and learn more about how to help keep her healthy.

E-Recycling at the Zoo

Friday, April 19: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Cleveland Zoological Society, the nonprofit advancement partner of Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and MCPC, a data protection company, are hosting E-Recycling Day. MCPC has an e-recycling facility on Pearl Road in Old Brooklyn, and Chairman and Founder Mike Trebilcock has been working with the Zoo since 2018. Bring old TV’s, laptops, mobile devices, printers, copiers, scanners, networking devices, cameras, iPods, headphones and more.

Earth Day 5K: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Sunday, April 21, 7 a.m.

A portion of the proceeds from this race go toward supporting green practices and sustainability efforts at the zoo. Race registration and packet pick-up begin at 7 a.m. Start time for the 5K is 8:30 a.m., and the one-mile start time is 9 a.m. Pre-registration is online only through April 20. Cost is $30; $35 on race day. All participants receive a custom race t-shirt, finisher medal and post-race refreshments.Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Cleveland/ ClevelandMetroparksZooEarthDay5k: Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Tuesday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Guests will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from local organizations that are working to protect and preserve our natural resources by building connections in our communities. The following community partners will be on site: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Drink Local. Drink Tap. Inc., Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and Syatt. Regularly scheduled planetarium shows, 3D movies, and wildlife presentations will be available. This program is included in general admission.

Cleveland State University

Wednesday, April 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

EarthFest 2024 will be held on campus in the CSU Student Center at 2121 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. This annual event, hosted by the CSU Office of Sustainability, is designed to raise awareness about campus and community sustainability initiatives and organizations. See a giant Earth dome, electric vehicles, exhibits from campus and community sustainability organizations, free bike check service provided by the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op, free food. Recycle used batteries and win prizes by visiting tables hosted by environmental organizations and fill up an eco-passport with stamps.

The perfect Mother’s Day gift - as suggested by

By MICHELE COLLINS

Finding that perfect gift for Mother’s Day need not be difficult, thanks to the help of some local retailers.

“We all want to find that perfect gift for Mom,” said Rita Sachs, owner of Mullholland and Sachs gifts at Eton Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere. “I suggest you start by thinking about what the person, in this case, the mother, is interested in or loves to do.”

She said that she often recommends a gift that helps the gift receiver enjoy travel. “Moms have a difficult job, and sometimes want to just get away,” she said with a laugh. “We have really cute travel bags, from Bag All, which come in different sizes, and shapes, and would make a great gift.”

One bag even includes the label “secrets,” which encourages the user to put personal items inside. Others are drawstring-style which hold shoes, wet items like a swimsuit, or jewelry and accessories.

She said that along the same line of travelrelated gifts, one might choose a gift that includes something to protect the traveler from the sun.

“We offer these adorable straw hats, with wide brims, that really provide protection from the sun, while allowing the wearer to look great,” said Ms. Sachs.

She said a gift-giver could include the hat with a gift certificate to do something special outdoors on their travels, like a boat ride or sightseeing tour.

Mothers come in a variety of ages, so one gift suggestion Ms. Sachs had for a new mom, or one with young children, is to print out one of her cherished photos and frame it for her. “So many busy moms have hundreds of pictures on their phones, but don’t always take the time to frame them,” she said. “So one suggestion I have is to take a photo from the mom’s social media and put it in a beautiful frame that goes with her style or decor,” she said. Mullholland and Sachs has frames in a

variety of styles and price points, including fancy silver ones for pictures of celebrations like weddings and anniversaries, or more casual, colorful options for photos of children playing sports or families on vacation.

Another go-to gift for Mother’s Day, according to Chad Schreibman at Alson Jewelers, of Woodmere, is a piece of jewelry that shows you want Mom to be in style.

“Right now stacking jewelry is really in style,” shared Mr. Schreibman. “I have beautiful Penny Preville bracelets that can be stacked, or we can select two necklaces that work together as layering pieces,” he suggested. A stack of rings, with a meaningful number,

like three rings for three children, can add a special extra- personalized note to the gift giving, he added.

In addition to jewelry, Alson Jewelers has several brands of high-end watches that are sure to be a favorite gift among women of all ages, including Rolex, Cartier, Breitling, Shinola and Tudor brands, some that have just come in with new spring styles.

Mr. Schreibman said a gift of jewelry is always a welcome gift, and something most women do not often buy for themselves.

“Selecting a beautiful piece of jewelry allows the mother to utilize her gift, day after day, for years to come, after the holiday itself is over,” he said.

Both retailers offer gift wrapping services,

something that they agreed makes Mom feel extra appreciated, as she opens her gift.

“We, of course, will wrap it in a way that shows the gift-giver took extra care with their selection,” he said.

For some mothers, however, the gift of an experience, especially one spent with their children, is the perfect choice for a Mother’s Day “gift.”

Burntwood Taverns is offering Mother’s Day brunches at all 10 of its Ohio locations, as well as Chagrin Falls’ M Italian.

And these brunches include a Bloody Mary Bar, something that is sure to add to the fun for any mom.

The Ritz-Carlton in Cleveland, has one of the most luxurious Mother’s Day brunches in the area, which even includes a flower bouquet-making station. There is the Grand Brunch at the Restaurant at Sapphire Creek in Chagrin Falls where diners enjoy brunch while dining under the event center’s 28 foot ceilings. Other restaurants, like the Basil Place Farm and Venue, in Chardon, offer diners a chance to feel like they are truly part of nature, while enjoying their eggs, waffles and fruit.

Sunday brunch is always a popular time for dining out, but Mother’s Day is the number one most popular brunch day of the year, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Area restaurateurs say the key to success for Mother’s Day brunching is to make reservations very early.

Perhaps the worst gift for Mother’s Day would be arriving at a brunch without a reservation and being turned away on your Mom’s special day!

But as these local retailers and restaurants have shared, Mother’s Day will be perfect with simple advance planning.

To be the ultimate Mother’s Day gift giver, perhaps combine brunch- with a reservation made well in advance- with a beautifully wrapped gift that shows you really know what Mom loves– in addition to her adoring children, of course.

Mother’s Day gift ideas from Mullholland and Sachs include stylish frames to display a cherished photo or a trendy travel bag for mom’s much-needed getaway. At Alson Jewelers, beautiful stacking bracelets are also a popular gift recommendation.

Priceless and unforgettable gifts from our moms

By MICHELE COLLINS

As we approach Mother’s Day, I am often reminded of the special gifts my mom has bestowed on me. Gifts that did not cost her a penny, but pearls of wisdom that have stayed with me throughout my life.

I can remember being as young as five, when I would look in the mirror, and my mom would say, “don’t forget to smile, a smile is a gift that everyone loves to receive.”

Then she would also remind me as I walked out the door that “a smile lights up any room.”

To this day, when I enter any room, I think of my mom’s advice, and enter with a smile. Because after all, she told me to do it about a

million times, and who am I to keep the light out of any room?

Another of my mother’s pearls of wisdom came from her guidance about what to say, and more importantly, what not to say, in different aspects of conversation.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” she would tell my brother and me over and over again as we argued.

My brother would always mumble under his breath, the words, “anything at all,” meaning he had nothing nice to say to me!

But the lesson somehow got through to us anyway.

I have to admit that at times when some other parent, neighbor, work colleague, or even the clerk at a store, has done something to me

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which makes me want to respond “un-nicely” to them, I think of my dear old mom.

“It’s not nice,” I say to myself, “it’s not nice,” I say again, so I shouldn’t say it!

That one is a little harder to always put into practice, I must admit.

One thing my mom taught all of us in the family is to be proud of our ethnic background. I will never forget our Italian-Polish food holidays, with spaghetti and meatballs to represent my dad’s heritage, and pierogi and kolaczki (fruit-filled cookies) to celebrate my mom’s Polish background. When my daughter had to make a booth for an elementary school international fair, she said she wanted to pick something different from the other kids. I will never forget her introducing her fellow students to pierogi, which at first they seemed apprehensive to try, until one said it looked like a dumpling. Once I shared that it was a ‘Polish dumpling,” and we added those words to her booth sign, the kids lined up in droves for the Polish dumplings, aka, pierogi, a wonderful tribute to my mom’s heritage, and her recipe.

Over the years, my mother’s suggestions also included advice for day-to-day living, like her advice that rang true for me just the other day.

When I was getting ready for work, I thought it was going to be a “writing day,” a day where no one in the community would see me, so I wore jeans and a casual shirt.

But when I got to work, I realized I had forgotten about a meeting I had to attend that evening, with various movers and shakers from the community that I cover.

In the back of my car was my trusty black blazer. You see, my mother had taught me “a blazer always dresses up any outfit”, and she said you should always keep one in the car “in case you need to throw it on to look professional.”

“Thanks again, Mom,” I thought, as I threw

it on, and went into the meeting feeling confident – and with a smile on my face of course!

My sister and I often laugh about how often we find ourselves doing the same things with our husbands that my mom did with our dad. When we were young, if my mother spent a lot of money on clothes for us kids, or at her hair salon, or for something which my dad might consider frivolous, she would always bring him home a treat, to sort of ease the financial burden.

“I spent a ton of money at the home decor store today,” laughed my sister on a recent phone call with me. “So I brought my husband his favorite blizzard from Dairy Queen on the way home. And guess what, as I brought in the five bags from the store, he didn’t say a word!”

I am sorry to admit I have done the same–with similar success.

But when it comes to doing my job as a mother, perhaps this is where my mother’s lessons have truly helped me the most.

“The most important job you will ever have is that of being a mother,” my mom told me when I first got pregnant. “So always put your children first in your life, and never forget to tell them how much you love them. And if you do that, they will go off into the world feeling happy and loved, and will be successful in everything they do.”

And today, as the mother of five grown, successful, adult children, I couldn’t agree more with her advice.

Happy Mother’s Day to my mother, and to all of the mothers in the world, for the priceless gifts of wisdom they continue to provide to us, free of charge, every day.

Left to Right: Maddie Clegg, Cheryl Clegg, Liz Murphy, Jane Shami, Kelsey Wolf, Karen Eagle

BENEFIT BEAT

Visit currentsneo.com to submit your events or wedding.

Sunday, April 21…Sunday Dinner with a Purr-Pose, to benefit Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary, 2 to 5 p.m. at Banquet Center of St. Noel, 35200 Chardon Rd. (State Route 6), Willoughby Hills. Registration at 1:30 p.m.; event from 2-5; family-style dinner served at 2:30. (Vegan options with advance notice.) No charge for wine and beer. Silent and Chinese auctions and a 50-50 raffle. RSVP by April 14. Checks or money orders for tickets and/or taxdeductible donations can be mailed to:Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary, P.O. Box 581, Chesterland, OH44026.Tickets are $50 per person. To use PayPal, go to www.HappyTailsCatSanctuary.org. Questions? Call or text Doreen at 440.759.0076 or email HappyTailsCatSanctuary@gmail.com. (Note: No “r” in “Tails.)

Sunday, Apr. 21...Market at the Foodbank, a signature event of Harvest for Hunger, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank Partner Distribution Hub, 13815 Coit Rd. The evening includes food and drinks from Northeast Ohio’s finest restaurants and beverage purveyors, live music and one-ofa-kind auction items. General admission is $125 and VIP tickets are $200 each. Visit www. greaterclevelandfoodbank.org.

Friday, April 26...A Night for Nature, tobenefit the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, 6 p.m. at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center. Guests will enjoy up-close encounters with animal ambassadors, hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer and a three-course dinner. Tickets are $150. Visit http://www.lensc. org or call 440.471.8354.

Friday, April 26…Make-A-Wish Northern Ohio Wish Gala, to benefit Make-A-Wish Northern Ohio Chapter, 5:30 p.m. at Hilton Cleveland Downtown. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live and silent auctions and more. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit wish. org/oki/northern-ohio-wish-gala-2024.

Friday, April 26…Bash for the Brook, to benefit Beech Brook, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at TopGolf Cleveland, 5820 Rockside Woods Blvd. N., Independence. Guests are invited to join us for cocktails, delicious food, as well as fun, engaging activities at the state-of-the-art Topgolf facility. The event will feature an open bar with premium offerings, a bourbon tasting station, and live music by the acclaimed Dave Sterner Quartet. Attendees can also participate in onsite raffles, Fund-A-Need activities, and other entertaining endeavors throughout the night. Tickets are $195 per person, with hosting options starting at $1,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Contact Heidi Lang at hlang@beechbrook.org or 216.831.2255, ext. 2240.Visit www. beechbrook.org/bash for more details.

Saturday, May 4…Bloom, to benefit Lawrence School, 6 p.m. at Lawrence Upper Campus, 10036 Olde Eight Road, Sagamore Hills. Silent auction and cocktails at 6 p.m. with valet and open bar, $15,000 winning raffle and dinner at 8 p.m. Cocktail attire. To reserve seats, purchase $10 raffle tickets or make a gift, visit lawrenceschool.org/bloom.

Saturday, May 4…Sparkle: Bourbon & Blues, to benefit Achievement Centers for Children, 6:30 p.m. at InterContinental Cleveland. More details to come.

Saturday, May 4...Take Flight with Youth Challenge, the annual benefit and auction, takes place at the Aviator Event Center, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The evening includes food and drinks and live entertainment. Tickets start at $160. Visit www.youthchallengesports.com.

Wednesday, May 15…There’s No Place Like Beck Center - 75th Anniversary, to benefit Beck Center’s Youth Theater program, the longest running program of its kind in the U.S., 7:30 p.m. at Beck Center’s Lakewood campus. Tickets are available at $55 for a benefit concert performance in the Senney Theater at 7:30 p.m., featuring Beck Center’s Youth Theater students and alumni performing selections from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and more. Angel ticket holders at the $100 level will receive an invitation for a pre-show reception starting at 6 p.m. in the newly created Studio 201. Visit beckcenter.org or call 216.424.7638.

Thursday, May 16…A Celebration of Hope 2024, to benefit Alzheimer’s Association. To be presented by Barb and Brad Sacks at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. The Cleveland and Greater East Ohio Area Chapters will honor Champion Award recipient Bill Herzog, who made it his mission to support families facing the uncertainties of this disease after losing his beloved wife to younger onset Alzheimer’s. Tickets and sponsorships are now available for purchase: https://www.alz.org/cleveland/ events. Contact Seana Dailey at 216.342.5566 or smdailey@alz.org with questions.

Saturday, May 18…Red Tie Affair, to benefit Ronald McDonald House, 6 p.m. at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. Mingle over cocktails and hors

d’oeuvres and enjoy a spirited night of fun contests, heartwarming stories from Ronald McDonald House families, and chances to make a difference through live and silent auctions. Individual tickets are $175, VIP table for eight, $1,700. Dress the part in your favorite and most fashionable red tie and red shoes for your chance to win the Best Tie/Best Shoe Contest.

Saturday, May 18…Cleveland Alumnae Panhellenic Association Celebrating 110 Years of Sisterhood with Scholarship Luncheon, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cleveland Marriott East, 26300 Harvard Rd., Warrensville Hts., Ohio 44122 (located just West of I-271 at the Harvard Rd. exit) Join the Cleveland Alumnae Panhellenic Association (CAPA) as we celebrate our 110th Anniversary and our 2024 Scholarship Winners! We are inviting all sorority alumnae, family and friends! The event includes lunch with a cash bar, raffles, and a presentation celebrating our 2024 scholarship winners.CAPA has been here in Northeast Ohio since 1914. We have been promoting women’s equality before women had the right to vote! We promote the sorority experience and raise donations toward scholarships through our endowment fund established in 1985 as a 501(C)(3) Private Foundation.Come reconnect with your sisters & celebrate! Register at https://givebutter. com/CAPA_Spring_Luncheon.Ourwebsite: www. clevelandpanhellenic.org/.Questions: clevalumpanhel@gmail.com

Saturday, June 1…Nature at Night, to benefit Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. An evening outdoors under the stars. Guests kick off summer from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Nature Center with local chefs, music, mingling, and fun!

Kent State’s School of Fashion invites the public in during Fashion Week

By RITA KUEBER

For a week in April, and a very special day later, in May, The Kent State University School of Fashion is opening a window into its inner workings and showcasing its students’ creativity and insight. “We are hoping that Fashion Week will allow the community to know us better and see what we do as a fashion family,” says Dr. Mourad Krifa, Ph.D., the Margaret Clark Morgan Director of the School of Fashion Design and Merchandising.

With 1,400 undergraduates, “We are a large family,” Dr. Krifa remarks. The students are split between those studying fashion design and fashion merchandising. “It’s a very diverse and broad field,” he says, referring to the international clothing industry. “Skills are needed to create and run the business of fashion, so we need inventive minds, artists, but also engineers who understand the materials and the processing, and also graduates who will run the business portion. We have also started a new pathway for graduates who want to leave with a fashion law degree.”

Dr. Krifa’s background is in textile engineering. He has more than 20 years of post-doctoral experience researching fiber processing, characterization, and polymer science. He also teaches graduate and undergraduate courses including global sourcing and apparel value chain management. “Fabric material is the center of everything we do in the industry,” he states. “The fabric inspires the designer to create the garment which is later sold by the merchandiser. Things that take place in the lab, the development is what enables creatives and brands to come up with new products that consumers find on the shelf.”

“The Industrial Revolution started with textile manufacturing,” he says. “The first computers were an innovation for making textiles. Fashion is also at the forefront of AI. It’s amazing to see AI being used for online shopping platforms. We don’t always think of

fashion as being part of these innovations, but fashion professionals take pride in these facts.”

The School of Fashion is following in these tech footsteps, having invested in technology with 3-D design tools and access to digital design programs. Both are used in the classroom and the design students’ collections during Fashion Week. Dr. Krifa refers to the textile lab with its spectrum of technologies that help both inspire and execute design. He also talks about the Knit Lab, a ground-breaking technology that’s now standard in the industry. There’s also the Design Innovation Hub, another opportunity to access and leverage technology that goes hand in hand with clothing design now.

Further discussing innovations both academically and globally, Dr. Krifa talks about recent improvements in making cotton, possibly the oldest textile known. He describes how Cotton Incorporated, a not-for-profit research collaborative invented in the 1970s to combat the growing use of synthetic materials, is constantly researching and developing ways to make cotton better. One example is a new treatment, so the fabric dries faster than virgin cotton, wicking moisture away from the body, which is necessary in athletics.

“There is absolutely more to discover. We need ways to make cotton more environmentally friendly, more tolerant to drought, and less susceptible to pests. There’s research now on potential enhancement such as making the fabric antibacterial or using liquid crystals within the fabric, which detects temperature differences. This would have an application in the medical field,” he says. “Textile engineering is one of the areas we focus on when it comes to fashion,” he adds.

Like any global industry, it’s clear that fashion and the business of fashion are a lot more complicated than anything the average viewer sees on Project Runway!

Another wrinkle, so to speak, in the fashion world now is sustainability. The first event in Fashion Week is the presentation of an independent film ‘Fashion Reimagined” produced

Kent State’s School of Fashion Design and Merchandising will hold its popular annual Fashion Week in late April, with special events and activities planned each day, from April 21 through 27. Photograph courtesy of Kent State University

and directed by Becky Hutner. Armed with extraordinary facts such as we buy three times as many clothes as we did in the 1980s and wear them for half as long. And also: three out of five garments go to a landfill within one year of purchase. Hutner’s film follows British designer Amy Powney who worked up from sweeping the floor to studio manager at Mother of Pearl, as she sets out to create a fashion collection that’s ethical and sustainable at every level.

“We’ve seen this movement toward sustainability take place over the past twenty years,” Dr. Krifa says. “Students from this younger generation have a greater awareness of the impact the industry has on the environment, and they design to do something about it. Embracing this responsibility as a fashion professional has grown tremendously and we have a commitment to that as a school, from our partners, and our students. It’s very present here, and we explore best practices for recycling and reusing. We see this really having an effect in the future for the region and the state.”

Another highlight of the week for Dr. Krifa

is the Career Day open to high school students. Here he hopes teens will be introduced to all the opportunities that exist in the field of fashion. “We want to ensure young people know the level of success that can be achieved. The design and runway – that’s the flashy side of fashion, but it takes business-minded people to take that garment from the creative mind and make it a product that can be sold – that’s what the merchandising grads do. Ninety percent of our students get a job in the industry within a year of graduation,” he states.

But above all, Dr. Krifa wants Fashion Week to be a way to connect to the community. “We want to be an institution that works for our community,” he says. “We have a mission for our students to be successful, but we also want to have a positive impact around the region. We can do this because the fashion industry itself has so much impact and so much that can foster prosperity.”

KSU’s Fashion Week Highlights

Sunday, April 21

“Fashion Reimagined” Screening

Monday, April 22

First Year - Visuals Fashion Show

Tuesday, April 23

Virtual Fashion Show

Wednesday, April 24

Schroth Series Lecture: Visiting Artist Pauline

St. Denis

Thursday, April 25

Behind the Scenes Fashion Show

Opening Night Annual Fashion Show

Friday, April 26

School of Fashion Career Day

Hall of Fame Lecture

Fashion Merchandising Symposium

Awards Night Annual Fashion Show

Saturday, April 27

School of Fashion Scholarship Ceremony

Gala Annual Fashion Show and Hall of Fame Induction

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Leadership Geauga “Emerald Ball”

On Saturday, March 2, Leadership Geauga honored Lee Imhof as Emerald Leader for his outstanding contributions to Geauga County.

Guests walked the red carpet into Landerhaven, many of them dressed to the Old Hollywood theme. More than 365 attendees meant a record turnout.

The nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser raised $183,000, including $21,000 to the Foundation for Geauga Parks from the call to the heart portion of the live auction.

Imhof, a longtime Geauga resident, was instrumental in starting Leadership Geauga and served three terms on the Berkshire school board. Attendees danced the night away to Pieces of Eight after enjoying a chicken and steak dinner and a live auction featuring items like a Bourbon tasting at a lakeside cabin, a trip to Blue Ridge Mountain and more. STORY

BY ANASTASIA NICHOLAS

AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Lee Imhof with Robert Hobohm and Katie Imhof

Chardon Municipal Judge Terri Stupica and Ohio 11th District Court of Appeals Judge Mary Jane Trapp

Bryan and Amy Murfello

Jimmy and Kimberly McCune Gibson

Kelly Baeslach and Sue Adeni

Allison Allen with Scott and Stephanie Taylor

GLT’s Costume Dept. works to bring productions to life

By RITA KUEBER

Every year fashion designers across the globe invent new, exciting articles of clothing plus shoes, hats, and other accessories for us to wear. Now imagine doing that five or six times a year, creating or recreating an entire time period or world. On stage, this kind of fashion needs to be inventive, flattering, and durable, but it also has to be intentional, helping an actor play a part, and helping the audience suspend disbelief, as in: this man is not a 21st century American, he’s a 16th-century English king, or bard, or barkeeper.

The creative process of costuming takes many steps, many hands, and as much money as the theater company can budget. At the helm of all of it is the Costume Director. At Great Lake Theater, that person is Esther Haberlen. The Syracuse NY native has worked for GLT since 2003 and its sister companies Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival since 2011. She has also worked for the Cleveland Play House/ CWRU MFA Arts Academy, Balwin Wallace Conservatory, Cleveland Public Theater, and more as a designer, dresser, draper, and wardrobe supervisor.

Haberlen describes the months-long development of bringing costuming ideas from brainstorming sessions to opening night. “We start by working with the director and what they want to highlight about the play, the actors, or the general vibe. We look at what the world needs from this particular production,” she says. GLT’s most recent production was Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, a comedic battle of the sexes. “[Director Terri McMahon] wanted this to be bright, joyous, and colorful,” she adds. “We work in tandem with the set designer. The scenic and costume elements work together to create the visual world of the play.” For Merry Wives, the scenic designer was Jeff Herrmann, and the costume designer was Daniele Tyler Mathews. For professional theaters like GLT, the season can tilt from a moody, claustrophobic vibe set in the early 20th century (“Murder on the Orient Express”) to Dicken’s London for “A Christmas Carol,” to an earlier England for Merry Wives, then back to the 20th century for the season’s last show, “Always…Patsy Cline.” For the costume shop that means creating pieces from the Jazz Era – sophisticated suits and sheath dresses, to Victorian England with silks and wools, Shakespeare’s era with linen, cotton, and leather, then back to the US for dresses that are all rhinestone and beads. Just as one show is about to open, the shop is busy consulting and planning for the next production, and even the one after that. The GLT shop in the Hanna Building is one busy place.

Back to the process, Haberlen describes how the designers and the director talk about images and what they want from the text. “In Merry Wives there were a lot of sight gags –Falstaff in disguise is an example, and later he gets thrown into a river, so we had to create two costumes, one regular and a second one looking muddy and distressed.

“There are also fewer people in each production these days, so some actors play several roles, and we have to consider quick changes from clothing to shoes to wigs,” she adds. Based on these discussions, the designer makes preliminary sketches. “We have the casting by this time, so we know sizes and complexions. This informs the conceptualization too. We collate all the research and ideas, and then I get a budget breakdown.

“You should see my spreadsheets and all my forms,” she says. “Each character has several pieces, for example, to achieve a certain shape for the women in Merry Wives, the actors were corseted. I make a list of everything we need, and then we go through our collection to see if we can pull something or purchase something, or if it’s important for the character, we create something so they can wear something new, fresh, and completely different. This informs

my budget.”

For Haberlen, the biggest challenge is the business side of costuming, the budget. The regular costume staff includes draper Leah Parker-Loar (costume construction and cutting), draper/firsthand Tina Spencer (cutting and sewing), and crafts artisan Zachary Hickle (shoes and building prop-like pieces that are worn, in this case, a pair of horns for Falstaff). If additional staff is needed, Haberlen has a network of pros in the area she can hire to do extra sewing or crafting millinery or armor, as needed.

On the flip side, the biggest joy the staff receives is from actor feedback. “When an actor tells us their costume made them feel like their character, that’s when we know our collaboration has been brought to a new level. It’s very gratifying. I love First Dress (the first dress rehearsal) when everything comes together on stage after weeks, even months of working on costumes just in the shop. We love seeing all the finished pieces hanging on the racks, and we love seeing the actors in their clothes all together for the first time.”

Great Lakes Theater presents “Always… Patsy Cline” at the Hanna Theater, Playhouse Square April 25 through May 19.

greatlakestheater.org

216.241.6000

For the recent production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” the Great Lakes Theater costume shop was tasked with creating clothing that was joyous and colorful to reflect the mood of the production. From left, Mr. Page (actor, Jason Eno), Anne Page (actor, Kechanté), Mrs. Page (actor, Jodi Dominick) and Fenton (actor, Jerrell Williams) share their happiness at the end of the play. (Photograph by Roger Mastroianni)

BENEFIT BEAT

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Friday, June 7, 2024 … on behalf of the May Dugan Center serving those in need in our near West Side neighborhoods, it’s May Dugan Center’s Summer Soiree, “A New Season, Same Legacy ” 6 to 11 p.m. at Windows on the River, 1148 Main Avenue, Cleveland. Delicious food, silent auction, raffle baskets, fun interactive entertainment featuring Cleveland’s own Robin Swoboda and music from Sound Waves Entertainment. For sponsorship availability and more information, call the Development Office, 216.631.5800, ext. 125 or email pkaplan@maydugancenter.org.

Saturday, June 8…Magical Journey Gala, to benefit Centering Space, a prayer and retreat house in Lakewood, 5 to 7 p.m. at Lakewood Catholic Academy, 14808 Lake Ave., Lakewood, Ohio. The event features a performance by renowned magician Mark Paskell, along with an evening of hors d’oeuvres, drinks, live music and a silent auction. Donation of $135 per ticket. All proceeds go directly to supporting Centering Space. Tickets can be reserved at ourmagicaljourney.org or by calling 216.228.7451

Saturday, June 8...Garden Gala: Dancing on the Dewdrops, to benefit Community Life Collaborative, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Rd, Bainbridge. Join us for a delightful summer evening of dining, dancing to the music by Tweed, special drink, lively games, unique raffle baskets, silent auction and fun. Proceeds to support the CLC›s mission which is to raise awareness, amplify voices and inspire shared action toward a just and sustainable world. Together. For ticket and sponsorship information contact admin@communitylifecollaborative.org or call 440.708.1961 or go to our website communitylifecollaborative.org.

Saturday, June 15…Tails at Twilight, to benefit Rescue Village, 5:30 p.m. at Chagrin Valley Hunt Club, 7620 Old Mill Road, Gates Mills, OH 44040. For more information and tickets visit rescuevillage.org/event/gala.

Friday, June 21…Summer Solstice, to benefit Hopewell, 6 p.m. at The Orchid House Winery, 155 Treat Rd., Aurora. Exquisite wines, delicious cuisine and stunning surroundings – one of Northeast Ohio’s premier events. Visit hopewellcommunity.org.

Saturday, July 13…Sunflower Winefest, to benefit Prayers from Maria Foundation, 4 to 9 p.m. Depot St., Rocky River. Wine, craft beer gardens, live music and fabulous food. Garden wristband is $60 presale/$75 at the door admission. VIP wristband is $250, includes a private full bar, food and seating.

Tuesday, Aug. 13...Gift of Life, celebrates Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Sponsored by the Community West Foundation, the family-friendly event includes access to the zoo and Asian Lantern Festival, rides on the Circle of Life Carousel, and Superhero and Princess character experiences. For more information, visit www.communitywestfoundation.org.

Saturday, Aug. 24…Night at the Museum 2024 Gala, to benefit Canton Museum of Art’s Exhibition, Education and Art Therapy Programs. More information to come. Visit cantonart.org/artinspiresgala.

Saturday, Sept. 7…Pandemonium 2024, to benefit Cleveland Public Theatre, at the Cleveland Public Theatre Campus. Event to honor with the PAN Award James D. Graham, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer & Secretary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. . Event to feature a labyrinth of theatre, dance, visual art and performances in every corner of the campus. Tickets will be available for purchase in July at cptonline.org. For more information, call 216.631.2727, ext. 120.

Tuesday, September 10…Cross Out Cancer, to benefit immunotherapy cancer care and research in memory of Mary Ann Cross. Join leaders from University Hospitals Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at Seidman Cancer Center & Angie Fowler Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Institute at Rainbow Babies & Children’s, 5:30 p.m. at The Shoreby Club, Bratenahl, 44108. Enjoy a stunning sunset while sipping cocktails and samplings of exquisite wines on the shore of Lake Erie, followed by dinner, live entertainment. The evening will showcase cutting-edge immunotherapy clinical trials and celebrate the pediatric, adolescent and adult patients benefiting from this life-saving care and research. The evening includes a stellar silent auction. Complimentary valet parking. Sponsorships, tables and tickets available. Contact Sharon. klonowski@uhhospitals.org.

Saturday, Sept. 21…Cleveland Pickle Fest, to benefit Greater Cleveland Volunteers, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mall C, Downtown Cleveland. This fun-filled day includes Pickles from many local and regional companies, pickle-flavored beer, pickle-flavored desserts, drinks, candy and other fun food, plus a variety of pickle-themed merchandise from dozens of food and non-food vendors. Live music and a pickle eating contest, with both youth and adult divisions. VIP tent with exclusive features. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit clevelandpicklefest.com.

New CPH Artistic Director is creative and crazy for Cleveland

By RITA KUEBER

Those of us with friends in dazzling locations from LA to London are used to describing the charms of Northeast Ohio to those who may listen, but most likely remain skeptical. Well, we have a new champion for living in the CLE. He’s Michael Barakiva, the new Artistic Director of The Cleveland Play House and the area’s most recent and most enthusiastic convert for living in The Land.

Barakiva, an Armenian/Israeli American director and writer, was born in Haifa, Israel, and raised in suburban New Jersey. He attended Vassar College (Drama/English double major) and then the Juilliard School as an Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Directing. He has lived in New York City while directing at regional and off-Broadway theaters. He was the Artistic Director of the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, NY, and the Founding Artistic Director of the theater company Upstart Creatures. He also founded the Leadership Initiative Project which offers support to historically excluded artists, giving them tools to succeed in leadership positions. Barakiva came to Cleveland to co-direct “Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure” with Mark Brokaw in April 2023. He returned to direct Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” last October. By early December 2024, he was named the new Artistic Director, taking over from Mark Cuddy, now retired in Rochester, NY, after serving as the Interim Artistic Director for sixteen months. When asked about living in Cleveland, Barakiva is more than excited. “First, it’s so easy to get from one place to another,” he says. “There’s a big city culture here, a food scene, and there’s diversity. It’s hard for me to live in a city without different people. When I got here, I was so moved. I knew so little about Cleveland,” he states. “I have friends in LA, and when I say I’m coming to see them, they respond, ‘Well, I can leave before 2 or after 6:45.’ People schedule their lives around the traffic.”

A major foodie, he has regularly cooked for 100 guests, knits, practices yoga, and CrossFit, and is a huge gaming enthusiast. He and his husband have been married for eleven years. Rafael Ascencio, an international trade specialist, was a Fulbright scholar at Princeton and currently imports food from Central and South America. “We met online and once in person before I left to direct a tour of “Dirty Dancing,” Barakiva says. “We wrote. Rafael was in New York while I was in LA, Chicago, and Berlin. Now we’re both proud New Yorkers and Clevelanders,” he adds. The couple is working on buying a home in the area.

In addition to the creative forum of the theater, Barakiva is the author of three YA novels, His first novel, “One Man Guy” spent over a year as Goodreads #1 LGBTQ YA Novel. The sequel, “Hold My Hand” was published in 2019. His third book, “Keepers of the Stones and Stars” will be published next month.

What does he tell those friends who live in cities perceived to be more glamorous? “I say come and visit. The city itself will persuade you. I look forward to bringing my New York friends and other national artists to see

the glory of this city. We’ll be hiring artists from all over the country, and I’m excited to know the theater artists in the area. I’ve been to Karamu, Dobama, and the Case Western graduate program. I’m deeply impressed by the quality of the artists here.

“We’re starting a residency program,” he adds. “We want theater artists to spend a week here, for the community and to get a mix of ideas in here. And I’m also figuring out how to engage local actors beyond hiring them. How will the institution invest in the artists that call Cleveland home?”

Barakiva believes every theater is free to do whatever production it wants. He points out that CPH doesn’t have an aesthetic mission other than to serve the community. He hints at a possible collaboration with the other large

professional theater in town, Great Lakes Theater. “This is a tough moment for our field,” he says. “We’re talking about what a co-production might look like, something that would be good for everybody.”

Other than that he is working on how to bring people back to live theater after the pandemic. “What titles does the community need to see right now?” he asks. “We want people back, and we want to engage them, and thrill them.”

The 2024-25 Cleveland Play House season includes Jane Austin’s “Pride and Prejudice,” “What the Constitution Means to Me,” an ObieAward-winning comedy, “A Christmas Story,” “Fat Ham” (a Southern queer interpretation of “Hamlet”) “King James” that centers on fan reaction to the success of basketball star LeBron James, and the timeless “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Michael Barakiva is the new Artistic Director of The Cleveland Play House

April Fool’s joke kicked off Allen Theatre’s many lives

By JEANNIE EMSER SCHULTZ

It was a spectacle in itself: thousands of people in a seemingly never-ending line snaking down Euclid Avenue, waiting in near-freezing weather to see…a black and white silent movie! But an unexpected “April Fool’s joke” was poised to befall those queuing Clevelanders.

The date was April 1, 1921, a gala premiere of Cleveland’s newest elegant $1.9 million dollar movie “palace,” built by Toronto brothers Jules and Jay Allen. The Allen was the fourth new theater to open in an amazingly brief 55 days, joining newly-built neighbors, the State, Ohio and Hanna theaters in the area that would become known as Playhouse Square.

By the Allen’s opening, Prohibition had closed city bars, and the mayor had shuttered all gambling houses. The economic boom sweeping the country found Clevelanders hungry for entertainment, so they looked to the burgeoning moving picture industry as 25 million people nationwide flocked daily to see extravaganzas by Cecil B. DeMille, slapstick from the Keystone Kops and syrupy Mary Pickford romances.

Gala turns April fools

As trumpets heralded the Allen’s opening celebration, Clevelanders inched their way up to the ornate Allen ticket kiosk, money in hand, to pay 50 cents for an adult ticket, 25 cents for a child’s admission. (Matinees would run 30 & 17 cents respectively.)

But that opening night turned into an April Fool’s joke for some patrons. Even with the Allen’s sizeable 3,080-seat capacity, the venue filled so quickly many patrons had to be turned away.The Allen manager found it necessary to apologize the next day for the venue’s inability to seat the overflowing crowd by placing ads in all three(!) Cleveland newspapers(Cleveland News, Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer).

Ornate medallions and clouds decorate the Allen’s ceiling.

Those 3000-plus moviegoers fortunate enough to gain admittance walked a ceremonial red carpet up an impressive 133-ft. long entrance designed to recreate the Versailles Palace’s famous Hall of Mirrors. Upon reaching the Allen’s dramatic Great Rotunda (its arched dome recreating elements from Rome’s

Villa Madama), patrons were greeted by a colonnade of 16 towering Corinthian columns encircling a large fountain. The Rotunda was illuminated by a dazzling chandelier hanging

33 feet overhead.

To the right and left of the Rotunda were two lounges open to the theater proper so moviegoers could still view the screen and

hear the accompanying orchestra. To the right was a chic ladies Tea Room, and to the left a Men’s Lounge where gentlemen could smoke. (Circa 1921, however, it was deemed “unseemly” for ladies to smoke in public, which is why when the Palace opened a year later it would feature an “Egyptian Smoking Room” where ladies could puff away free from judging eyes.).

Once inside the auditorium, Allen firstnighters viewed ornate ceiling murals and large faux windows rising from balustraded balconies on either side of the theater. Special lighting effects allowed the auditorium to be flooded with any intensity of colored illumination to enhance the black and white films: a night scene augmented by blue lighting, a raging fire on screen reinforced with scarlet lighting for an incendiary atmosphere and yellow lighting for daytime scenes.

The impressive inaugural program was introduced by tunes from a $40,000 Kimball organ built specifically for the venue. The audience stood to sing the national anthem, played by the 35-piece Phil Spitalny Allen Premier Concert Orchestra. (Because this was the era of “silent” films, the orchestra played continuously throughout the film, thus treating audiences to both a movie and concert experience!)

Next came Allenette, “a compendium of news events, educational and scenic pastels.”

The Hallroom Boys comedy followed, and finally the feature film “The Greatest Love” starring Vera Gordon. At the film’s end, patrons were invited to festively kick up their heels with informal dancing in the Rotunda. The evening was a smashing success for the Allen Brothers, but they would head up this plush movie palace for only a year, relinquishing management to the Loew’s theater chain in 1922.

Closure begins new incarnations

The Allen continued as a movie theater until its 1968 closure. Playhouse Square’s eventual savior, Ray Shepardson, and local concert promoters, brothers Jules and Mike Belkin would step up to utilize the venue for concerts including such then-fledgling acts as

the BeeGees, a 1971 Grateful Dead concert and Bruce Springsteen (in his first Cleveland theater concert opening for Wishbone Ash in ’74.)

One such Belkin concert nearly turned the Allen into a flaming Phoenix. Headlined by The New York Dolls rock band (performing in drag led by singer Buster Pointdexter, aka David Johansen), their opener was a newto-the-scene rock act called…KISS! KISS would nearly burn down the Allen when one of Gene Simmons’ onstage torches caught fire to fringe decorating the drummer’s platform. The fire soon encircled drummer Peter Criss (who continued to play, seemingly undeterred by the flames licking at his drum kit!)

A stagehand ultimately grabbed a fire extinguisher and, with a cloud of smoke, quashed the blaze, much to the surprise of Gene Simmons,

the burgeoning flames as they performed with their backs to the fire. The audience jumped to their feet and cheered wildly, assuming the conflagration was all part of the usual outrageous KISS antics!

In 1977-’78 the Allen was repurposed as a Laserium, a multi-colored light show set to music and projected on a dome that enveloped the lower auditorium. Following Laserium, the Allen’s next incarnations would be as restaurants: the Old Allen Restaurant (’77-’79) andThe Lobby Restaurant (’80-’82).

As with Playhouse Square’s four other historic venues, the Allen was rescued from the wrecking ball, and in ‘93 would return to present the long-running cabaret shows “Forever Plaid” and “Sheer Madness” (both performed as plaster fell during shows in the once-elegant auditorium now rife with years of neglect).

A more intensive 1998 restoration added a sorely needed Stage House and dressing rooms so Broadway productions could also be presented (the original design never needed a backstage as a movie-only venue).But in 2009 yet another renovation was on the horizon as Playhouse Square announced the Cleveland Play House and Cleveland State University’s Theater Department had agreed to move their productions to the Allen.

But a $38 million renovation would be required to redesign the Allen’s expansive auditorium into the more intimate 500-plus proscenium space Cleveland Play House needed. Beginning with its 2011 move from its former 86th Street complex, the Cleveland Play House is now a resident company of Playhouse Square, making the Allen’s lower auditorium home.

So what became of the Allen’s balcony? The space was converted to a separate 750-seat theater space, currently the location of the KeyBank Broadway Series’ popular pre-show Broadway Buzz talks hosted by Professor Joe Garry.

Jeannie Emser Schultz is the author of “Playhouse Square: An Entertaining History” (published in 2000).

Paul Stanley and Ace Frehley… oblivious to

The Allen’s original theater marquee at 1407 Euclid Ave. Left: The Rotunda would house a series of restaurants.

Pepper Pike home for sale features fabulous kitchen, four-car heated garage

By RITA KUEBER

The house at 2065 Heritage in Pepper Pike is a fascinating study in contrasts. It’s minutes from every amenity but possesses a rural-like serenity. Close to neighbors but located on a private culde-sac and shielded by meticulous landscaping. A new house, just eleven years old, but with appealing traditional architectural details from classic wood spindles along the front staircase, to decorative molding throughout.

The circular drive takes you to the double front doors. Inside the spacious foyer, a stunning chandelier illuminates a reverse staircase that leads to an upper landing. The formal dining room to the right has a wall of windows and a coffered ceiling. Straight ahead is the living room with a fireplace. Although it has a timbered ceiling, the feel is quite modern– a sort of contemporary Tudor. This room extends past the centered half wall of the fireplace to an even more intimate space, a den or sunroom, with two more walls of windows.

Left of the main entrance is a private office that has another eye-popping light fixture, elegant taupe walls, and a view of the front yard. The back of the house, behind the dining room, is possibly one of the most expansive and impressive kitchens this At Home reporter has seen. Its dimensions are 29 by 21 but it feels even larger since it has high ceilings, natural light, two working islands both with farmhouse sinks, an eight burner Wolf range, twin refrigerators masked to mimic the surrounding white cabinets, a breakfast bar, and an eat-in area. Adjacent French doors open to the backyard, outdoor kitchen, stone patio, a waterfall feature, and the inground pool beyond.

Past the kitchen is a second prep/work room another sink, and walk-in pantry. Off this room is the back staircase and mud room/drop zone off the four-car attached garage. Downstairs is a

This kitchen is sure to inspire culinary masterpieces with its professionalgrade range and appliances, two work islands, and an eat-in area. A large butler’s pantry is adjacent.

roomy lower level that currently houses a game area, media room, and exercise area. With its high ceilings and bright, recessed lighting, this level is the antithesis of a “basement.” This level has a private bedroom and full bath with a steam shower. This level walks out to the pool area which has a cabana with a changing area and sauna.

Upstairs are four bedrooms. The primary suite has an extensive bedroom that has a tiled fireplace, heated bathroom floors, a double slipper tub and separate shower, built-in vanity, his and her walk-in closets, plus built-in cabinets throughout. This level has three additional bedrooms, and a separate laundry room that holds two washers

and dryers. There’s also a bonus/family room off the main hall through an arched entry, perfect for games or watching TV.

At press time, the house at 2065 Heritage was listed at $2,995,000 with taxes of $34,445. Orange School District. There are five bedrooms (one on the lower level), six full baths, and three half baths. The house has a total of 12,569 square feet over two stories with a lower level (below grade) of 3,563 square feet. The four-car attached, heated garage has electric and water available. Central air and zoned heating. For more information contact Adam Kaufman at 216-831-7370, or adamkaufman@howardhanna.com.

This house has an intriguing combination of Tudor and contemporary styles.

A cozy and casual sun room with a timbered ceiling is located off the living room.

The Cleveland Home and Remodeling Expo reveals design trends

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

The post-pandemic remodeling rush is finally slowing down. Now could be the time to consider your next home improvement project.

The Cleveland Home and Remodeling Expo was held at the I-X Center recently with more than 250 exhibitors and days of renovation inspiration. Highlights included The Street of Tiny Home Living, the 2024 Student Model Home Design Contest and a main stage appearance by Patric Richardson, known as “The Laundry Guy.”

Homeowners are looking to personalize their homes, according to Rose Quint, assistant vice president of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home features that remain at the top of home owners’ wish lists are outdoor features like front porches, patios and landscaping, kitchen features such as walk-in pantries and table space, and energy-efficient windows and home appliances.

Whether you are looking for a cabin in the woods or the freedom to bring your living space with you, The Street of Tiny Home Living emphasized the benefits of a smaller home. Norman Yoder, a representative from Tiny Homes of Ohio, said his company built their first self-contained tiny home about seven years ago. “I’ve been in the construction business all of my life and have been building homes for more than 40 years. I designed and built a log cabin-style structure about 22 years ago, so I guess I was in the tiny home business then and didn’t realize it. I’ve been dabbling with smaller homes for quite some time. We spent quite some time finding out what our customers are looking for and what is practical and feasible,” he said.

“We find that there are basically a few categories of people interested in buying our tiny homes. Our older customers are often a grandma and grandpa with children who live out of state. They want to visit them, but they don’t want to intrude on their space and they don’t want to stay in a motel for a month. So, they pour a concrete pad somewhere near their children or on their property and stay in their own tiny home,” Yoder explained. “Another scenario is that the children have an elderly mom and dad who require constant care. So, they pick a spot near a son or daughter and install a tiny home where they can stay without going into a nursing facility.”

“Among our younger clientele, and this is especially true with single females in the 35 to 55 age range, they want to be near family in their own home and don’t want to own their own property. So, they put a tiny home on mom and dad’s property,” he said. “We also have buyers who have been renting an apartment and realize that, for the same amount of money, they can make a payment on a tiny home. Our homes are fully self-contained and maintenance free.” Visit www.tinyhomesofohio.com for more information.

The theme for this year’s Student Model Home Design Contest was, “Return to the Ranch.” Participants were students in grades 10 to 12 who are taking classes in engineering, architecture, design and building trades at schools throughout Northeast Ohio.

Known for his show on HGTV and Discovery+, Patric Richardson, aka “The Laundry Guy,” has been teaching people new and better ways to care for their apparel and textiles. His new book, “House Love,” is about turning a house into a home.

When asked about his tips for designing a space, Richardson advised, “Make it yours. If you love orange, go for it. It will work even in the most formal of spaces. I designed my house 14 years ago and I still love it. I have only added artwork and a couple of pillows since then. I still look forward to coming home.”

“I love that we are embracing individuality in décor,” he said. “I think we are redefining how we use our home and we can make it personal. I also think we will see a lot more pattern and collections ahead.”

According to Richardson, there is an outdated trend that he hopes never returns. “Oh, gosh, those rooms that weren’t for using. Remember

those? I want to use every space in my house, even if it is to sit in the quiet and look at the fireplace. With all of the great fabrics and surfaces out there, there doesn’t need to be any space that is hands off,” he said. The Street of Tiny Home Living showcased tiny homes that are self-contained and maintenance free.

Whether you are looking for a cabin in the woods or the freedom to bring your living space with you, The Street of Tiny Home Living emphasized the benefits of a smaller home. Photographs by Eric Eakin

Discover a curated selection of exquisite furniture pieces and statement chandeliers that complement your design vision. RMD Designs can also develop a full custom furniture or lighting specifically to keep you in mind. RMD Design, 46 Ravenna St. Bldg C3, Hudson, 330.342.0403 or visit RMDdesignsLLC.com

Budget Lightscapes LED Landscape Lighting was founded 20 years ago on Quality and Excellence!! Our founding legacy governs our business practices and illuminates our pathway of success. We are committed to meeting the highest of industry standards with up-to-date training, professional development, and organizational improvements. Staying at the peak of our craft brilliantly reflects our established reputation as NE Ohio’s Premier Nightscape Experts! Schedule Your Free Design Consultation/Quote: Call our office 216-406-1900, email chris@budgetlightscapes.com or visit budgetlightscapes.com

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

HOME CARE SERVICES

Keep your environment safe from pests and rodents once and for all with our customized pest control programs that are designed to keep your commercial and residential properties free of insects and other pests.

Defense Pest Control 440-542-2000 www.defensepestcontrolservice.com

22nd annual 5K fun run, 1-mile walk/run, and Kids Dash

From Our Heart, To Your Home!

We provide compassionate and reliable home health care services to help keep seniors safe and independent wherever they call home.

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE

Conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia may come with unique care challenges, but you can lean on us to help you face those challenges today and everyday.

READY, SET, GO HOME

Conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia may come with unique care challenges, but you can lean on us to help you face those challenges today and everyday.

Conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia may come with unique care challenges, but you can lean on us to help you face those challenges today and everyday.

READY, SET, GO HOME

Some every day and regular activities are hard to manage alone. Our services are available 24-hours a day or part-time to offer as much assistance as you desire or need HOME CARE SERVICES

READY, SET, GO HOME

READY, SET, GO HOME

READY, SET, GO HOME

PERSONAL CARE

We provide compassionate and reliable home health care services to help keep seniors safe and independent wherever they call home.

Conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia may come with unique care challenges, but you can lean on us to help you face those challenges today and everyday.

Ready-Set-Go Home is a transitional care program that is designed to help seniors make a successful transition home after hospitalization.

Ready-Set-Go Home is a transitional care program that is designed to help seniors make a successful transition home after hospitalization. PERSONAL CARE

Some every day and regular activities are hard to manage alone. Our services are available 24-hours a day or part-time to offer as much assistance as you desire or need HOME CARE SERVICES

PERSONAL CARE

PERSONAL CARE

Ready-Set-Go Home is a transitional care program that is designed to help seniors make a successful transition home after hospitalization.

Ready-Set-Go Home is a transitional care program that is designed to help seniors make a successful transition home after hospitalization.

PERSONAL CARE

ALZHEIMERS’ CARE Conditions like Alzheimer’s or Dementia may come with unique care challenges, but you can lean on us to help you face those challenges today and everyday. READY, SET, GO HOME Ready-Set-Go Home is a transitional care program that is designed to help seniors make a successful transition home after hospitalization.

READY, SET, GO HOME PERSONAL CARE

PERSONAL CARE

Some every day and regular activities are hard to manage alone. Our services are available 24-hours a day or part-time to offer as much assistance as you desire or need

Some every day and regular activities are hard to manage alone. Our services are available 24-hours a day or part-time to offer as much assistance as you desire or need

Some every day and regular activities are hard to manage alone. Our services are available 24-hours a day or part-time to offer as much assistance as you

✆ (216) 633-3604 (Nadine)• (216) 364-1111 (office) Nadine@rentadaughter.org From Our Heart, To Your Home!

Please join us for a day of fun for the whole family at our 22nd annual 5K fun run, 1-mile walk/run, and Kids Dash. We look forward to celebrating Family Connections’ 40+ years of service to families throughout Cuyahoga County. Since our humble beginning in 1982, we have grown to serve 1,191 families annually through our Family Playrooms, SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids,) and our Family School Connection program. This year, we are incredibly excited to offer a 5K race (in place of our historic 5-mile race) at our new Cleveland Metroparks Zoo location. We also have an exciting Cleveland Sports Basket with a signed Amari Cooper football, Kevin Love bobblehead, Hillcrest YMCA six-month membership, and other fun Cleveland items we will be raffling off at our Frolic. Tickets are on sale now, one for $5 or six for $20.

✆ (216) 633-3604 (Nadine)• (216) 364-1111 (office)

✉

Nadine@rentadaughter.org

(Nadine)•

Nadine@rentadaughter.org

 RentaDaughter.org • ˆ 24/7

 RentaDaughter.org

Serving Ohio and Florida

Serving Ohio and Florida HOME CARE SERVICES

READY, SET, GO HOME PERSONAL CARE ✉ ✆ (216) 633-3604 (Nadine)• (216) 364-1111 (office)

• ˆ 24/7

At Family Connections, we believe the potential of children and families has no limits. We blend supportive parent/child play with literacy development for families with children from birth to age six. Please support this fun event and HELP US make a difference for children and families across Cuyahoga County. Register the whole family at familyconnections1.org or call 330.256.6641. Contact Emily Holody, Development Manager, at 330-256-6641 or eholody@familyconnections1. org with questions or to purchase a sponsorship.

Christ Child Society of Cleveland

“Red Wagon Luncheon”

The Christ Child Society of Cleveland extends an invitation to all to attend their Annual Red Wagon Luncheon on Wednesday, May 22 at the Holiday Inn-Independence, 6001 Rockside Road, Independence, Ohio. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with luncheon served at 12 noon.Individual tickets are $50 per person.To make reservations, go to http:// www.christchildsocietycleveland.org.

Toni In Style of Chagrin Falls will present“Color My World” Fashion Show with the newest fashions from their Spring collection. CCS members will walk the runway alongside professional models.To help further the CCS mission to Challenge Childhood Poverty in Greater Cleveland, table sponsor levels are offered with preferred seating near the fashion runway. Many vendors will be on hand to showcase their businesses. Feeling lucky? A beautiful 1.5 ct. pink sapphire pendant has been donated by Peter & Co. Jewelers of Avon Lake for a very special jewelry raffle. Tickets for a chance to win this exquisite piece, valued at $5,000, will be sold online as well as at the luncheon. Winner needn’t be present. Loads of Raffle Baskets will be available at the event. Have a sweet tooth? Be sure to stop by “TheLittle Red Wagon Sweets & Treats” bakery to purchase delicious homemade baked goods to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The Christ Child Society of Cleveland, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit has been serving Northeast Ohio’s in-crisis children for 108 years. Last year, the devoted volunteers served over 12,000 children by providing Layettes, “My Stuff”™ Bags, Hygiene Kits, School Uniforms, Winter Coats, Cribettes and Beds. Following the belief that literacy is a pathway out of poverty, CCSC offered funding and staff for two elementary school libraries and proudlydistributed over 10,000 books to youngsters this past year. Please Help Us Help Them.

Free admission to Artists at the Twist Open Studios event on May 5

All are invited to the free admission Artists at the Twist Open Studios Event with free parking May 5, 2024, from noon until 5 p.m. at the Cleveland Twist Drill Building.

Twenty-five artists, 17 with the Artists at the Twist collective, and eight artists, also located on the fifth floor of the Cleveland Twist Drill Building, will open their studios to show, discuss, and sell artwork. Two available entrances: 1242 E. 49th Street, Cleveland 44114; and handicap accessible at 4700 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland 44114. Two free parking lots on Lakeside Ave. and free street parking on E. 49th St. is available.

Stake your claim in the booming metropolis of Cleveland’s near west side with this fully renovated Duplex in the Tremont neighborhood! Contact MICHAEL CANCELLIERE, Howard Hanna, 216.536.2794 or michaelcancelliere@howardhanna.com.

WINDSOR METAL ROOFING, service you can trust. Standing seam metal roofing with unparalleled attention to detail. Serving businesses and individuals in Northeast Ohio & Western Pennsylvania. To learn more call 440.313.5799.

Mandel JCC takes over Annual Shining Star CLE singing competition

The Mandel Jewish Community Center proudly announces its stewardship of Shining Star CLE 2024 as it becomes the host of the eighth annual event. Slated to hit the stage on Sept. 22 at Playhouse Square, the event is a solo singing competition for high school students from 10 Northeast Ohio counties who compete for college scholarships.

After years of being organized by the Menorah Park Foundation, the cherished community event will now be spearheaded by the nonprofit Mandel JCC. Longstanding presenting sponsor KeyBank, whose support has been vital, is committed to the 2024 event. WKYC is the media partner with Monica Robins, senior health correspondent, serving as event emcee.

In the past, the event had raised funds for individuals coping with dementia, since music provides deep-seated memories and allows individuals to reconnect with the world. Now under the auspices of the Mandel JCC, Shining Star CLE will continue to connect individuals through music and support an array of healthy aging programs and services that Mandel JCC provides to the community.

Celebrate Your Love Story at Standing Rock Farms

Set within the lush confines of Madison, OH’s Grand River Valley wine region, Standing Rock Farms has emerged as a location of choice for soon-to-be-brides. With a harmonious fusion of rustic authenticity and modern elegance, this venue has positioned itself as a standout in the realm of wedding destinations.

Diverse venues paint a vivid picture

The Flower Farm: One cannot help but be impressed by the meticulous craftsmanship that has gone into creating this space. Clearly, the objective was to evoke profound emotions. The Ceremony Barn, too, is a testament to how tradition can be seamlessly interwoven with contemporary aesthetics, all under the watchful and approving eyes of Mother Nature.

The Barrel Room: This venue offers a different kind of magic. Intimacy is at its core, with a thoughtful mix of the rustic and the refined. Its adjoining patio is almost poetic in its beauty, with the gentle murmurs of a nearby creek accentuating its allure.

Landscapes that speak volumes

For the photographically inclined, Standing Rock Farms is akin to a dream canvas. Its diverse landscapes, tranquil waters, and nature’s ever-changing

Located on more than 360 acres of scenic beauty in Madison, OH, in the heart of the Grand River Valley wine region, Standing Rock Farms is a top-tier destination that promises a distinctive and unforgettable experience.

palette offer endless possibilities. From capturing spontaneous joys in wildflower meadows to framing timeless moments against architectural marvels, the venue promises picture-perfect memories.

Overnight accommodations:

A sojourn amidst nature

Beyond the festivities, Standing Rock Farms shines in its lodging offerings. Set against the backdrop of the property’s historic charm, their overnight accommodations are nothing short of enchanting. A perfect blend of rural

Rent A Daughter

Finding the right home care can relieve your stress. In today’s world stress is a major factor in our daily lives, no matter how hard we try to make the right decisions, we cannot always be sure of our choices. A decision you might face is how to care for a loved one who has recently become ill or has had a health decline. Do I care for them at home by myself or not? It is difficult to watch them decline. Sometimes, it is so subtle we do not see it and other times we ignore it hoping it will improve or go away. We live with the guilt of not being there or the fear of our loved one not receiving the right care. We all have that nagging feeling no can care and love our family as we do. Not only is having that feeling stressful, but the work of being a caregiver can be difficult. Many times, we translate that stress to our loved ones, compounding the situation. Caregiver burnout can happen quickly, and it results in a change in the relationship for a spouse, son or daughter. The family caregiver’s health can suffer too. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for our loved one is to find professional home care assistance. Though no one can replace family, there are people who dedicate their life to the care of those who cannot care for themselves. Rent A Daughter Senior Care Services can provide a professional vetted caregiver. We are here for the care you need. Our caregivers can be with a loved one for a few hours, for a day or up to 24/7. Our care includes rides to appointments, shopping, cooking, light housekeeping, laundry, bathing, dressing, incontinence care or simply companionship. Our goal is to keep your loved one as independent as possible. We want to create a sense of security for your family. Choosing home care can reduce your stress and allow you to be a family member again and not a caregiver. From our heart to your home, your family is our family. Call 216.633.3604, 216.364.1111 or email Nadine at rentadaughter.org.

SHAC-i-versary Birthday Celebration

The Shaker Arts Council (SHAC) is turning 21 and announces SHAC-i-versary, a two-day comingof-age celebration, May 17 and 18. On Friday evening, SHAC will host fundraising festivities and on Saturday, SHAC will present a family-friendly gathering, free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both events take place at Edwins Too, 13220 Shaker Square, Cleveland. Accompanying these events will be a two-day exhibit, Celebrating Shaker Artists, featuring local artists. The fundraiser will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and will feature heavy hors’doeuvres, and a birthday dessert. Tickets are $121. The family-friendly event with an art activity will take place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase fundraiser tickets, visit shakerartscouncil.org.

The Emerald Isle shines … perhaps most beautifully in March

By ANDREA C. TURNER

Ireland has been on the top of my wish list to visit. Growing up, my father listened to the traditional Irish folk band “The Irish Rovers,” from Toronto. His Irish ancestors came to the US from County Down, which is part of Northern Ireland. Many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Buffalo, Boston and Cleveland always heightened my desire to see this magical island country and learn more about its culture.

This spring made for a perfect opportunity to make the journey. My partner’s daughter is a student at Trinity College in Dublin, so we decided to make the trip to visit her, while also exploring the Emerald Isle and its breathtaking sites.

Aer Lingus makes it easy, and often very affordable, for Cleveland-area travelers to book a direct round-trip flight to Dublin from Cleveland Hopkins Airport. We departed the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, and arrived the next morning in Dublin – a vibrant and multicultural European capital, considered one of the most welcoming and safest cities in the world. Dubliners and tourists were still celebrating the weekend-long festival, so many of the government buildings were lit up at night, appropriately, in green.

Our first stop was a tour of Trinity College’s campus. The university was established by Queen Elizabeth more than 400 years ago. It was founded just before the Tudor monarchy had completed the task of extending its authority over the whole of Ireland. The idea of an Irish university had been considered for some time, and in 1592 a small group of Dublin citizens obtained a charter from the queen incorporating Trinity College.

One of Trinity’s treasures is the world-famous Book of Kells, an ancient illuminated volume of the Bible, written and colorfully illustrated by young monks from the Monastery of Kells over 1,000 years ago. Visitors can view it through a protective glass case, and walk through the new Book of Kells experience, a stunning multimedia presentation. The book’s precious cover was encrusted with valuable gems but stolen sometime during Viking or Norman invasions. Eventually the book was relocated — buried underground for safekeeping — but its cover has never been found.

When visiting, enter The Long Room, a wood-carved library full of ancient texts and busts of famous ancient writers, philosophers and leaders, many of whom are Irish. “Gaia,” artwork by Luke Jerram with NASA images on a rotating globe of the Earth hangs from the ceiling. A mythological goddess and personification of the earth, Gaia was referred to as “Mother Earth.” The library also contains one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic which was read outside the General Post Office at the start of the Easter Rising. A medieval harp on display known as the Brian Boru harp— the oldest of its kind in Ireland – is also displayed.

O’Brien’s Tower overlooks the Cliffs of Moher. Photographs by Andrea C. Turner

Dublin is easy to get around due to its Luas (Irish for speed) electric rail trams and green double-decker buses, and is easily walkable through the city centre. O’Connell Street is the city’s main thoroughfare. Pedestrians can easily cross its bridge over the River Liffey.

We stopped at St. Stephen’s Green, a picturesque natural sanctuary-like park, with lovely pathways, gardens, ponds and waterfowl. Ireland is known, unsurprisingly, for its abundance of seagulls. Many of these birds perch at your feet when seated on a park bench — waiting for you to share your snack.

Our accommodations at Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin were lovely and centrally located. The staff was incredibly friendly. Established in 1845, the hotel serves traditional Irish breakfasts and offers a large pub for guests to meet for some shared craic (fun and conversation).

A DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) train trip south to Bray, a seaside town, provided for picturesque views of a place where many Irish traditionally vacation.

After a two-plus hour train ride to Galway, on the Western coast, we found our new favorite pub, Tig Cóilí, which features traditional Irish music twice a day. Even Prince William and Princess Kate enjoyed it when they visited in 2020.

We traveled through the Burren, a “moon-like” rocky plateau in County Clare formed over 300 million years ago, rich with limestone. Colorful flora was beginning to bloom. We stopped to see Dunluce Castle, ancient portal tombs, and straw thatched-roof cottages. It was a windy, but clear day when we arrived at the Cliffs of Moher, the spectacular and awe-inspiring towering cliffs on the Atlantic Ocean. Ireland’s landscape of beautiful lush countryside with animal husbandry farms and pastures along the coastline did not disappoint either.

Another bus tour took us to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Visitors could choose to explore the Titanic Museum where the ill-fated ship was built at the local shipyards, or they could take a Black taxi tour through Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods that were part of

“The Troubles,” the political strife beginning in the late 1960’s that resulted in violent deaths and a walled city separating residents. It’s currently separated by a peace wall, full of painted murals and graffiti art. Visitors sign the wall with a Sharpie marker to share their hopes for peace and unity.

Afterward, we headed north to the coast to see Giant’s Causeway, an assembly of more than 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns — a true natural wonder. It provided for a great hike and stunning ocean views of rocky sea formations.

After a long day traveling, we discovered the famous Beshoff’s tasty fish & chips restaurant, a staple of Irish cuisine. And I couldn’t leave Dublin without tasting oysters (Kelly Gigas roasted with bone marrow) and a glass of white wine at the Hawksmoor restaurant, located in the historic National Bank Building. A pure delight.

The Titanic Museum, Belfast

Dublin City Hall lit up in green for St. Patrick’s Day

On Thursday, March 14th, 2024, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Cleveland Chapter hosted its annual Fundraising Boot Camp. Joined by keynote speakers William Bartolini, Ph.D., ACFRE, FAFP, and Beverly Thompson, Ph.D., CFRE, 100 members of the association gathered at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to learn how some of the latest world events have impacted the fundraising landscape.

Two central themes stood out from the speakers: First, fundraising remains a relationshipcentric business, even with the changing times and demographics of donors. All donors want to feel valued and heard, with an emphasis on a positive relationship with the organization.

Second, fundraisers need to be aware of how they communicate with different generations. Each generation requires a unique approach and strategy if you want to continue effectively communicating with and strengthening relationships with donors and constituents.

Reflecting on the event, Samuel Smith, CFRE, Development Officer at University

Hospitals, praised AFP Greater Cleveland’s forward-thinking approach.

“AFP Greater Cleveland has always stood out as a forward-thinking organization, which is sorely needed in our industry. The Boot Camp speakers painted a picture of fundraising’s future with a balance of data, anecdotes, and humor,” said Smith. “The nonprofit landscape is changing as rapidly as the rest of our world, and programs like Boot Camp help ensure that we can stay ahead of those changes in support of our organizations and our communities.”

For those interested in joining this dynamic community of fundraising professionals, further information and membership details can be found at AFPCleveland.org. The next event will be a Networking Gathering at the historic Cleveland Foundation on Thursday, April 18, at 5 p.m. STORY SUBMITTED BY Ryan Zapolski, CFRE, Senior Development Manager, Smile Train/PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS GREATER CLEVELAND

04. 27. 24.

Fine contemporary & antique items including Julian Stanczak, several Claude Conover pots, Sir Henry Raeburn, sculptures by Harriet Frishmuth, Monumental Herend Queen Victoria service, Dante Marioni, Viktor Schreckengost, Pino Signoretto, R.C. Gorman, Fine Jewelry & objects for homes & collections.

This year mark’s Values-in-Action’s 30th Anniversary. Through programs like its Kindland initiative, the organization empowers students and adults to lead with kindness. Learn more at www.BeKindland.com.

Join us for a night of fun and fundraising at Beech Brook’s Bash for the Brook on April 26! Help children and families thrive! www.beechbrook.org/ bash (Photo by Mariana Edelman Photography)

Shop now for a fresh, inspired look that celebrates the season. GREENWALD ANTIQUES, Woodmere, greenwaldantiques.com

FutureHeights “Spring Forward Donor Dinner”

A small group of FutureHeights supporters gathered on March 14 at a beautiful contemporary home in the historic Ambler Heights neighborhood of Cleveland Heights, owned by Cleveland native Laura Ospanik and her husband Stephen Robbins.

FutureHeights serves as the Community Development Corporation (CDC) for the City of Cleveland Heights, with an emphasis on community building, fair housing, civic engagement, and planning and development. It publishes the monthly community-written newspaper and weekly e-blast, “The Heights Observer,” and produces the Heights Music Hop festival.

FutureHeights donors who gave $500 or more were invited to this special event, meant as a “thank you” to ongoing supporters. The event’s proceeds of $6,750 benefit FutureHeights’ programs and operations in Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Head Chef Rasul Welch of Saroj & Carlos, with help from Assistant Chef Saralila Kalafat, prepared a veritable feast for 14 people. The son and grandson of missionary social workers, Welch grew up traveling and cooking in India, Europe, and the US.

Saroj & Carlos serves Indian- and Soulinspired culinary creations at the highest level, from white tablecloth service to backyard BBQs. Formerly located inside the Bottlehouse Brewery & Meadery, Welch now focuses his business on catering, as well as private and public events.

Guests enjoyed charcuterie and crudités for the appetizer. Following a home tour, they were treated to a first course of Sweet Pea Pann Cotta, Endive and Smoked Oyster Veloute. Dinner consisted of Trussed Hen stuffed with Morel, Sea Salt Poached Sunchoke, Tomato Chutney with Grilled White Asparagus and Aioli. Dessert course was Hard Cheese and Honey on a Fruit Herbed Shortbread, all paired with fine wines.

Ospanik, a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art and current board member, is a graphic designer and art collector with a fine eye for employing local and national artists in painting, photography and sculpture. Robbins, originally from Los Angeles and a former professor, is one of the world’s best-selling textbook authors on organizational behavior and management. An avid runner, he also happens to be a member of the prestigious USA Masters’ Track & Field Hall of Fame with multiple national and world titles. They purchased the existing house, not designated a landmark property, and eventually obtained permission to demolish it because of cost-prohibitive repairs and maintenance issues. They then built a contemporary home less than three years ago, with walnut wood accents, neutral tones and clean lines, paired with red and black accents. The house is equipped with an elevator with an eye for “aging in place.” It accommodates friends and family members with mobility issues, making the three-story home easily accessible.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Robbins mused that he wanted three things built into this new house: a media room, an outdoor patio off of the kitchen, and a home gym. “Everything else was up to Laura,” he admitted.

BY ANDREA C. TURNER

FutureHeights donors, staff and board members

Dinner hosts Laura Ospanik and Stephen Robbins Mark and Hope Derrickson

Chef Rasul Welch presents the main course

Neall Distad and Brenda O’Reilly