TWO THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ARTS COLLINWOOD IS HAVING A BIRTHDAY!

Arts Collinwood’s Birthday Party & more!  Rock the Arts Center with live music, free food, birthday cake, prizes & beer, 6-9 PM, free to members (non-members, just $10 at the door buys your year’s membership, good for local discounts and free entry to other events). Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mary Taylor-Brooks performs with guitarist Al Moses. Prize give-aways start at 6:30 and the AIGA Awards Show hangs in the Gallery until May 23.

At 9 PM, the party moves seamlessly into concert mode with The Infamous Stringdusters, representing the new vanguard in acoustic music combining bluegrass, rock, country and folk room. The Waterloo Café is sponsoring their appearance and will be serving all evening. Show tickets $10 through www.beachlandballroom.com or call 216-383-1124.

For an additional $2, take the short stroll to Beachland Tavern to see legendary Memphis R& B artist Wiley & the Checkmates and The Party Stompers from Detroit.  The street’s shops, galleries, vintage and record stores will be open late, make a night of it in the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District.

YOU CAN VOLUNTEER NOW FOR THE ARTS FEST!

What can you do? Well . . .  Distribute marketing materials. Send folks our way: performers, artists, community groups, potential sponsors… Show up for one of our Saturday workshops and help make stuff: 1-4 pm in the Arts Collinwood Community Art Center, right behind the gallery! (Details below.)

And on The Day Itself:  Set up chairs, tables, supplies, etc. in the morning. Info booths, membership & t-shirt sales. Help with activities in the kids’ area and with the kids’ area craft tables (requires a certain joie de vivre). Help with activities in the street. Run a lemonade stand. Clean up the Fest site throughout the day. Assist with barricades at special entry points (especially good for authoritarians). Monitor the crosswalk at E. 156 Street (see preceding). Be a general helper: logistics, runners, vendor assistance, etc. (for this you get to use a walkie-talkie). Tear down at the end of the Fest (good for the tidy-minded).

And what do you get? Well . . . a FREE t-shirt. FREE entry to the After Party (that’s a serious bonus). Community service credit (through schools that offer it – I don’t believe this applies to grandmothers). The warm fuzzy feeling that comes from helping out the community. Good karma. AND LOTS MORE! (but Melanie doesn’t have time to list it all).

North Collinwood’s Summer Arts Bash! SATURDAY JUNE 27. VOLUNTEERS! CONTACT: Amy Callahan a.callahan@waterlooarts.org or visit the Waterloo Fest page on this site under EVENTS.

NEIGHBORHOOD ART

AIGA AT ARTS COLLINWOOD

Miles and I had a sneak peek at the show of work by the American Institute of Graphic Designers on Friday;  then we took Emma home for macaroni cheese and The Secret Garden (my mother’s copy).

The graphic artists, not surprisingly, had hung meticulously executed letterheads and posters and ad layouts with meticulous elegance, and had laid on a veritable feast. They obviously have high standards both aesthetically and culinarily. Visit www.cleveland.aiga.org for more information.

Arts Collinwood gallery is at 15605 Waterloo Road; hours are Thur/Fri 6-9; Sat/Sun 1-4. Call 216-692-9500.

Waterloo Seven and Wunderkind are closed on Mondays; open 2-8-Tue, 2-8-Wed, 2-8-Thu, 2-10-Fri/Sat, 1-6-Sun.

PEP AT WUNDERKIND

Jerry Schmidt says this may be the best show he’s ever mounted: work by children and young people in Cleveland’s Positive Education Program opens at Wunderkind Gallery May 15, with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments,  6-11 pm.

Positive Education Programs (PEP) is an alternative education program to help troubled youth learn, grow, and connect with their communities. Since 1971, PEP has locally and nationally been aiding these children to learn and explore their lives to the fullest. Art and music are integral parts of connecting with community and creating a greater understanding of the world. The children learn to communicate through their pieces of art in ways that they cannot verbally.

Visit Waterloo Seven while you’re at Wunderkind; sculptor Jerry Schmidt has an eclectic mix of sculpture, painting, jewelry and decorative. And browsing through the adjoining sculpture garden is always a pleasure.

Waterloo Seven and Wunderkind are closed on Mondays; open 2-8-Tue, 2-8-Wed, 2-8-Thu, 2-10-Fri/Sat, 1-6-Sun.

CALL TO ARTISTS

Jerry Schmidt of Waterloo 7 Gallery, and Deby Cowdin of FromtheBlueBag,  are putting together an exhibit of Eco-Artists. Work must incorporate recycled or natural items. The show will open during a private party at Waterloo 7 on June 26 and will open to the public on June 27, in conjunction with the Arts Collinwood Waterloo Art Festival. The exhibit will run through the end of July.

To submit, email 2 images of your work to Deby Cowdin at deby@fromthebluebag.com. All work will be juried by May 15. Details of the show will be enclosed within your approval letter. If you cannot participate, please send this on to someone who might want to.

IN THE ART CENTER

POLYMER BEAD-JEWELRY CLASS  with  LINDA ZOLTEN WOOD

Linda has adapted the ancient technique of millefiore (used in Africa and still available in Italian glass pieces) to polymer clay, a much more flexible medium that lets crafters experiment to their hearts’ content. The Monday evening classes (June 1-July 6, 6:30-8:30) will start with jewelry and a bead exchange, then move on (time permitting) to making ornaments. All materials are provided, but bring 2 to 3 medium sized flat Tupperware-type containers.

AGE: 10 to ADULT (anyone younger with Adult only, see Linda). Each two-hour class is $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers. If the class reaches 10 or more, members will pay only $10 (so bring friends!). Discount for additional family members.

Follow-up Advanced Class – 4 weeks of Articulated Dollmaking and costume design for finished projects, potentially July 13-August 3.

Call Arts Collinwood at 216-692-9500 for information or to register. See one of Linda’s millefiore beads at www.ZoltenWoodDesign.com.

PARADE THE CIRCLE STARTS ON WATERLOO

It’s not too late to join the Parade the Circle workshops in the Arts Collinwood Art Center. Sign up for the series of 6 workshops, and one very low fee covers all materials and supplies plus your Parade registration (Parade the Circle will be June 16).

This is a great project if you like color, kids, joyful events and/or dragons (not to mention princesses). Artist Ian  Petroni will lead the Tuesday evening workshops, with possible Saturday sessions to supplement, at the Arts Collinwood Art Center (15605 Waterloo Road.  Sessions are fun for all ages. Call 216-692-9500 or contact Sarah at s.gyorki@waterlooarts.org). Fee: $30/person, $75/family.

BUILD A CARDBOARD CITY FOR THE WATERLOO FEST

Come to the Arts Collinwood Community Center, any Saturday 1-4 pm, and join the Fest Committee in building the fun stuff for the Fest’s temporary streetscape:  craft a cardboard city, paint signs, make a booth, create papier mache letters. Bring pizza, hang out, have a good time. Everyone welcome! For more info, give Amy Callahan a call at 216-692-9500.

You can also help – big time – by telling your friends and acquaintances — at work, PTA meetings, church – how much fun it is to volunteer for the Fest itself – doing crafts with kids, staffing the information booths and the gallery, . Contact Amy Callahan at 216-692-9500 or a.callahan@arts collinwood.org.

SHARE THE COST OF A  MODEL

Join other artists at the Art Center on Thursday evenings for life drawing sessions. Share the cost of the model while you hone your drafting skills – and maybe try out new techniques. Arts Collinwood Community Art Center, 7:15-9:30.  Pay as you go, only $8/$6 for students.

ART FOR THE SUMMER: ART & DRAMA DAY CAMP

The after-school program of visual arts, dance and percussion is winding down – it’s time to make plans for the summer. Arts Collinwood’s beloved art and drama day camp will run for four weeks this summer, July 7 to July 30, three mornings a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 9 to 12.

This is a wonderful opportunity for your children to work and play, learn and grow, with professional artists – right in the neighborhood – at a very modest cost.

Each week of camp has its own focus:
Week 1: Pantomime Games and Percussion
Children learn the art of acting through fun games and theater exercises. The foundations of music are explored as children learn about rhythm and beat in a hands on, energetic atmosphere.

Week 2: Improv with Props and Puppet Making
Children learn to let go and create in the moment as they practice improv with an experienced teacher in a comfortable, playful environment. All levels of artists learn a variety of techniques to tap into the amazing world of puppetry.

Week 3: Story Making and Painting
Stories come alive this week as the children learn the magic of creating and painting new worlds.

Week 4: Drama Production and Costume Design
What does it take to put on a play? Children learn all the elements needed, including what to wear and how to make it!

Watch it all come together in a final performance for friends and families!
Arts Collinwood Arts Experience is offered to only 40 children, ages five to twelve,  taught by two artists, two teachers’ aides and a small group of junior counselors. We group the children by age (five to eight and nine to twelve), so we can match our teaching to their abilities and offer lots of personal attention.

If you register by May 15, and get the early registration discount, you’ll pay only $140 for the first child, plus $110 for additional siblings – for the whole four-week program, including all materials, snacks and so on.

After May 15, the still very reasonable cost rises to $160 for the first child, plus $130 for each additional sibling.

Call 216-692-9500 to be the first to register!

ALONG WATERLOO

BE PART OF A MURAL’S BEGINNING

Community activists will consider Waterloo Road the place to be on Saturday, May 30, from noon to 4pm. Waterloo Walls will put brush to wall to begin  painting the first Waterloo mural. Arts Collinwood and the Waterloo Fest Committee will be mobilizing lots of people to do good things for the neighborhood and for the Fest: cleaning up, decorating the sidewalk, making and hanging signs, building stuff, guerrilla marketing, etc. Show up on May 30 to help out and celebrate the beginning of our first mural! (The Garden Club will be there, adding charm to the street with new planters.)

AND CELEBRATE ITS COMPLETION

Muralists work fast. On Saturday, June 5, Arts Collinwood and Waterloo Walls will hold a joint fundraiser, 6-10pm. For $25, attendees will receive food and drink, live entertainment, and door prizes. They’ll start at Arts Collinwood Gallery, then walk the street for lots of food and entertainment. At 8pm, the first Waterloo Walls mural will officially be unveiled, and door prize winners will be drawn.

If you’d like to help out in selling presale tickets to this awesome fundraiser, or to donate some food for the event, please contact Melanie Hershberger at 216.481.1875 or festcoordinator@waterlooarts.org.

THE THEATER SCENE

If you are between 13 and 18, and aspire to the stage, it’s not too soon to mark your calendar with UpStage Underground’s auditions on June 6. This summer’s show, Class Action, will be performed July 31 and August 1 and 2.

For the auditions, prepare a two-minute monologue and take it to the Slovenian Workmen’s Home at 10 am on June 6 (the auditions run until 12:30 and actors must stay for the whole process). Callbacks on June 7 at 1pm.

The Slovenian Workmen’s Home is at 15335 Waterloo Road. For more information, or if you’re an UpStage alum and interested in directing, call Sarah Bloom at 440-488-8869, or go to the UpStage Web site at www.upstageplayers.com.

LEARN ABOUT NATUREHOOD

The Lakeshore/Collinwood Garden Club will host Chris Trepal of EarthDay Coalition on Monday, May 18, with a talk about greening neighborhoods by planting vacant lots with self-sustaining gardens. Our neighborhood is well supplied with vacant lots; wouldn’t it be nice if they could become an attraction instead of an eyesore? Cleveland calls itself the Forest City; North Collinwood could be the Garden Neighborhood.

The Garden Club meets at the Golden Age Center, 16600 Lakeshore Blvd., at noon. Programs are open to all; dues are $8 a year. Call 216-531-8161 for information.

UPDATE YOUR YOYO SKILLS

Did you know that our very own neighborhood has a yoyo master? Who gives weekly lessons? After Sunday brunch at the Beachland, work off some of that wonderful food with a visit to ShopARooni at 15813 Waterloo for the weekly Sunday afternoon yo-yo lesson with owner/YoYo Master Steve Brown from 1-3 PM.  Really!  And if you think you’re pretty good with a Duncan, watch Steve’s video on this link to see you have a lot to learn: http://www.wkyc.com/video/default.aspx?maven_playerId=goodcompany&maven_referralObject=1094873735 .  More on ShopARooni at  www.shoparooni.com.

MUSIC ON WATERLOO

AT THE BEACHLAND

Fri, May 15|
Tarace Boulba (From France) / Outlaws I & I / DJ Franklin from WRUW “One the One”
Tarace Boulba is a brass band, also a cooperative called Rasta Baboul, which was formed in 1993 under a French law of 1901 – if I got the dates straight. Read all abut it (pretty interesting) on the Beachland’s Web site.

Bob Log III; Willem Maker / Church of the Lazy Bastard
Sat, May 16|
Eric Roberson; Anthony David; Angela Johnson
Wiley & The Checkmates, 7 piece soul & funk band with horns / The Party Stompers
The Infamous Stringdusters at Waterloo Café, 15601 Waterloo Rd

Sun, May 17|
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers; Dead Rock West
Mon, May 18|
Atmosphere; Brother Ali/Attracted to Gods / presented in conjunction with The Grog Shop
Tue, May 19|
Azita; Wrekmeister Harmonies / Chief Bromide

FOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

THE WATERLOO CAFE

Coffees and beers loom large on the Waterloo Cafe’s menu: café mocha, for instance, a creamy toddy concoction served steamed or iced (or, for the ultimate decadence) with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles and a shot of Drambuie. It costs more that way — but I should think it’s worth it.

More mundanely useful — the $5 all-day refill on the house coffee. And of course espresso and cappuccino.

The beers run from Dos Equis, Great Lakes and Molsons to  Young’s Double Chocolate and Dragon’s Milk.

Jason is developing the bakery counter: the Waterloo cookie, for instance, combines chocolate chips, oatmeal, coconut, pecans and vanilla; the Waterloo muffin enlivens blueberries with orange juice and zest.

For early birds, there’s a breakfast burrito. For the rest of us, there’s a very nice hummus plate (on which I lunched four times — once at the cafe and three times at home with the leftover); an adaptable pita melt; a fresh, fruity salad and a selection of wraps (veggie included).

For the moment, the cafe will open from 8:15 am to 11 pm weekdays; 2 am Friday/Saturday; closed Sunday. When it’s in full swing in June, you’ll be able to get your coffee at 7:30 and pick up the New York Times on Sunday.

The cafe is at 15601 Waterloo Road. Come visit!

THE FARMERS’ MARKET IS LIVENING UP

Bo Schultz makes his triumphant return with asparagus, rhubarb, eggs and morel mushrooms (come early for those!). Burton Floral will have bedding plants and flowers as well as asparagus, cheeses, butter and all of the other stuff you’ve come to expect (I sampled some Secors’ asparagus over the weekend; actually, I didn’t sample, I gorged. Fresh-from-the-farm asparagus is just so good!)

Terry Mitchell has an excellent selection of handmade jewelry. Elisabeth, Flavia, Sandy and Willie have a long list of sweet treats.

The Market’s new urban farmers are hard at work clearing and otherwise prepping the property across the street to supply the market and you with some truly local and naturally raised produce this season. Please come and help them make this a successful new project for this old market.

The new Monday market will start July 13, 4pm-8pm – but you can contact Barb Foose about a CSA share any time, at http://bloomingpatches.com.

Coit Road Farmer’s Market is located at the corner of Coit & Woodworth Road in East Cleveland. www.coitmarket. org. Saturdays & Wednesdays 8am-1pm

MAY MADNESS MONEY AT THE GROVEWOOD

The Grovewood’s May special deal, part of  their 10th anniversary thank you program, offers you $10 off every $33 & up bottle of wine purchased Sunday thru Thursday. That’s almost State Minimum Retail. Go to the Web site for details on this offer, what’s coming in June, and the menu for Mothers’ Day.  Grovewood Tavern & Wine Bar  17105 Grovewood Avenue · 216-531-4900. www.grovewoodtavern.com

PERENNIAL FAVORITES

Sunday Brunch at the Beachland with DJ Beautiful Balloon

Rockin’ Brunch, Sun, May 17 (as always) –  11-3 (11 AM door) with DJ Matt Rolin. Chef Kimberly Homan will tempt your palates with, for instance: Ginger Roasted Asian Pears (V)Strawberry-coconut risotto;  Scrambled Eggs (v)Fresh herbs, caramelized onions & provolone;  Scrambled Tofu (V) Asian spices, scallions & sweet chili sauce;  Pan Fried Grits (v) served with scrambled eggs; Creme Brulee French Toast (v) Apricot cream cheese & candied nuts. (V) is vegan; (v) is vegetarian. Kimberly understands.

There’s too much more for a newsletter; go to the Beachland’s Web site and salivate.

The Slovenian Workmen’s Home Friday Fish Fry offers walleye, shrimp, pork chops, goulash and macaroni cheese, with sides of coleslaw, home or French fries and polenta. One frequent diner comes specially for the coleslaw, which is shredded very fine, in an oil dressing – pretty divine. 3pm to 8 pm, 15335 Waterloo, 481-4378.

The Grove-Light East-West Dining Deal was cooked up by Grovewood Tavern & Light Bistro, offering $20 gift certificates to diners who spend $60 at each restaurant over 60 days. Mail in your receipts and the gift certificates are yours. Mail receipts dated between 3/15/09 to 5/15/09 to 17105 Grovewood Ave., Cleveland 44110; for details and conditions, call 216-531-4900.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

OUTDOOR FUN IN THE PARK: PRESCHOOL NATURE DISCOVERY

On Select Fridays, 10—11am, the Lakefront Park naturalist will lead children age 3 to 5 (accompanied by an adult) on easy nature hikes. May 15—Meet at the Edgewater upper pavilion (from West Blvd.) for insect collection and observation. May 22—Meet at Wildwood (west end parking lot) for fishing from the breakwall (rods & bait provided).

NATURE ON DIKE 14

A special event sponsored by the Dike 14 Environmental Education Collaborative will offer a unique opportunity to gain access to this usually gated area.  On May 16, there will be guided hikes on the half hour from 7:30 am—10:30 am. A self guided tour with activity stations along the way will be offered between noon & 3 pm. Also during the afternoon, a garlic-mustard pull will take place.

Dike 14 is a contained disposal facility located next to the Gordon State Park area at Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. and North Marginal. Parking is available at Gordon State Park boat ramp area, fishing area, and park office area.

INDOOR FUN AT THE LIBRARY

MAY AT MEM-NOTT

Movie Fun Saturday, May 30, 12:00 p.m.
Sit back, relax and enjoy a movie!  Each Saturday we choose a new release from our vast movie collection for you to watch in our Multi-Purpose Room. Popcorn will be provided. See you there!

Play and Learn, Friday, May 22, 10–11 a.m.
Parents, caregivers and their young children are invited to play and learn with educational toys.
Preschool Story Time, every Monday and Thursday during May, 10 – 10:30 a.m. Stories, rhymes, songs and more for children ages 3-5 years old and their parents/caregivers. For more information, please call 623-7039 or email cpl-memnot@cpl.org.

Marvelous Me Book Club, every Thursday during May, 4. – 5p.m.
The book title for 2009 is Wiley and Grandpa’s Creature Features: Grandpa’s Zombie BBQ by Kirk Scroggs.  Patrons, ages 8-13, are welcome to join.

America Reads Tutors, Monday through Thursday during May, 3:30 – 6:00 p.m. ATTENTION!!  Elementary, middle and high school students! Do you need help with your school work?  Free tutoring is provided Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.  You do not have to sign up.  Just bring your homework, and an attitude to learn!  The rest is up to us!

Summer Reading Club starts Monday, June 8, 2009! Don’t forget to sign up!

FUN FOR SENIORS – and the community

GOLDEN AGE CENTER, MAY
Wii: May 19; noon. This isn’t exercise, it’s fun. Actually, it is exercise, so you get lots of points for enjoying it.
Lunch&Learn: noon on Tue May 16: enjoy lunch while you listen to healthcare presentations by University Hospital.
Spaghetti Dinner and Hillcrest Band: Tue, May 26. Dinner 5-6:45; band 7pm. Dinner $5. This is a very popular event; Hillcrest Band are famous musicmakers.
Memorial Service May 28, 1 pm. Remember past members of the Golden Age Center and reminisce with friends.
Knitting/crocheting classes: Tuesdays 11 am. Bring crochet hooks, knitting materials supplied.
Pick up Spades/Wiz Card Game: Thursdays 1pm
Walking Group daily round the Center; check progress on walking chart
Social Worker Mon/Wed 11-3. If your income is below $1800/month ($2600 couple) have a confidential conversation with GAC staff; it may lead to extra funding for Center programs.
This is only a sampling of the Center’s programs. Call or visit; you’ll probably find something you like! I’ve attached the calendar for May.

The Lakeshore Golden Age Center is at 16600 Lakeshore Blvd., and is open Monday through Thursday. 11-3. Membership is only $8 a year; many of the entertainments are open to all ages. Call 216-481-0631 and ask for Lynn. Or go to www.gacgc.org.

HELP WITH DIGITAL TV

If you’re elderly, and you are worried about the June conversion to digital TV, call the Cleveland Dept of Aging (216-664-2833). They’ll answer your questions, help you get the converter box coupon (and hook up the box if you can’t get anyone else to do it) and coordinate transportation for getting the converter box home from the store. (They remind us that a TV connected to a cable, satellite or other TV service does not require a converter box.)

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
WALK  FOR MS
Kenny & Pam Yuko have formed a team to enter the May 16 MS Walk, with a goal of $5000. The walk starts at Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City, 351 Canal Road. You may choose between the long route (approximately 4 miles) the short route (approximately2 miles). Both are through downtown Cleveland and are fully accessible. For more information, go to the Yukos’ team page at http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/OHAWalkEvents?team_id=168619&pg=team&fr_id=9572&s_tafId=90560