Here’s what you should put in your plans for Saturday morning….
Tomorrow celebrates the 22nd Parade on the Circle on Wade Oval. This annual parade involves local community organizations and businesses who create large floats and routines for the event. The parade starts at noon but I suggest you get there early to get a good spot. It is definitely something worth watching. I will be there, rain or shine, to capture the excitement.
Gather your people and get to University Circle tomorrow morning for all the festivities. I have been so impressed by the creativity of the parade in the past that I can’t wait to see what this year brings.
People who aren’t from Cleveland don’t often realize that it sits on an American border. Cleveland is located on the coast of Lake Erie and marks the northern coast of the United States. Sail north of Cleveland and you will eventually reach Canada. It surprises people when I mention the beach or the lake because they often don’t attribute the city with such a large body of water. At the end of the day, one of my favorite things to do is watch the sun set over the lake. My friend Amy and I went to Edgewater Park to watch this daily event and I wanted to document it. Clevelanders don’t know how lucky they are to experience such a beautiful work of nature right in their backyards. Keep reading.
In case you missed the GLO event last Friday at Fortress (shame on you), here are a few snapshots of the event so you can see what you missed. I said there would be poles and glow-sticks. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Autism is an epidemic that is plaguing our youth. One out of 110 children are born with the disorder. These numbers cannot be denied and these children’s needs cannot go ignored. It is a problem that affects not only our nation, but our communities as well. It is our responsibility to help these children be heard so that they get the necessary tools to assimilate to mainstream society. Lamont Robinson of Today’s Styles and Cuts Barber Shop, has recognized these issues and is making an effort to educate the Cleveland area. This past weekend, Lamont and radio personality, Latin Assassin, hosted an event to raise awareness for Autism and to support Lamont’s organization Lamari Speaks.
They say everything’s sexier with the lights off, but do you know what’s even sexier than that? When you glow in the dark. Come to Fortress this Friday for Glo. It’s time to shine in the black lights. All of NEXT’s finest will be out for the event so make sure you make an appearance. You won’t wanna miss this. The Gold Room at Fortress is going to be filled with pole dancers, glow sticks and sexy music.
While you were watching the Bulls play the Heat last night, ABC aired the 2011 Billboard Music Awards. In case your DVR had a malfunction, I’m going to fill you in how the evening went.
Usher’s OMG Tour came to Cleveland last Thursday and caused pandemonium in the city. The crowd in the QuickenLoans Arena was live and to be honest, quite random. I think every demographic in Cleveland was represented which really shows the versatility of an artist like Usher. His music crosses multiple genres and his longevity in the music industry has maintained a loyal fan base.
Every time Lady Gaga comes to town, Cleveland Monsters go all out. It’s a time to dress up in costume, make a statement, and celebrate everything that is Gaga. If you don’t believe me, check out the outfits we saw at last night’s concert. Some people are so creative! I was so proud to see Cleveland represent.
Zdenko Zovkic, owner of Cleveland’s XO restaurant, celebrated his birthday this weekend at Fortress Nightclub. Check out the pictures from the party. You may see some familiar faces.
Every Tuesday night, people gather in the underground, dimly-lit booths of the bside on Coventry in Cleveland Heights. They are there to experience something incredible. They have been experiencing Tuesday nights like this for the last 15 years. It’s a place where people from the Cleveland area can go to showcase their talents. They may not pursue these talents professionally, but they save them for Tuesday nights to share with the bside crowd. They are poets, singers, emcees and musicians. There’s a fantastic house band that picks up on the rhythms of the speakers and creates a soundtrack behind them. It’s an impromptu jam session mixed with a poetry slam in an environment that reminds me of an underground jazz club.
Every time I go, I am inspired. I am not only inspired by the words that are spoken or the songs that are performed, but I am inspired at the fact that people who you would never guess have these talents get on the stage and give a piece of themselves to the crowd. The performances are so raw and real. It’s truly something I wish everyone could experience. Some of these poets deliver words that can be quite profound. Some of their messages will remain in my thoughts for days after I hear them. If you haven’t been to the bside to see it for yourself, here’s a preview of what you’re missing.
