Monday July 4, 2011

Celebrate the 4th on Shore Acres!

10:15 a.m. Bike decorating workshop at Shore Acres Lakefront Park. Get ready for the parade! We'll help you decorate your bike, wagon, or yourself with provided patriotic supplies.

11:00 a.m. Parade steps off from Shore Acres Lakefront Park. Parade travels up and down the streets of our Shore Acres Neighborhood.
Ends with flag raising in the Park.

12:00 p.m. BBQ at the Shore Acres Lakefront Park. Hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips, sodas and desserts. Wristband required. Wristbands are $5/person, $25/family (household).

12:00 p.m. Horseshoe games at the Tennis Court (age 16+)

1:30 p.m. Raffle drawing & Parade awards at the Shore Acres. Lakefront Park

2:00 p.m. 50/50 Raffle, Awards for Most Patriot kids, adults, houses, bikes, and pets!
Games for all ages (at the intersection of E. 150th and Shore Acres). Candy grab! Egg toss! Waterballoons! Trivia! Prizes for winners!

Bring your family, your friends, your neighbors! Know anyone that used to live in the neighborhood? Invite them! All are welcome!

Volunteers needed! Can you help with food serving, set-up/clean-up, the bike decorating workshop, the games or raffle? Or can you bring a dessert to share?

Contact Meredith at 738-2495 if you are interested .

Manna

"And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey ... So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted."
Exodus, 16

So, Bill's new obsession is day lilies. You should come see. This is the second summer for a lot of them and they're filling out and getting wonderful. I don't have him here for quick reference, but I think there are around 80 in the garden now and several queued up in the garage for planting this week. Some 40 of them are currently in bloom.

Many of them are the most elaborate flowers I've ever seen. Showier than orchids. Ruffled, variegated, single, double. Their colors range from the palest pink to the blackest maroon. Some have different colored "eyes." Some are a single glorious shade. Some are fragrant like nectar. Some smell like something delicously alive and clean but nothing more. All have names. Like "Shores of Time" or "Ed Brown." Bill's recitation of their names is a daily liturgy.

Each one is a miracle you can hold in your hand. Every bloom thrives for a day and is gone the next morning. It's kind of painful. We've tried gathering them up and bringing them in. They're lovely at night fall and by morning have turned into something totally goopy and disgusting.

They are manna. Sufficient to nourish a soul one day at a time, then gone.

Therefore, in the evening, Bill goes around and picks off the spent blossoms, that are really at their peak. He tosses them into a bucket and that's it on them. Before he does that, though, we pass them back and forth and inhale their beauty. Trying to glean maximum enjoyment before they're gone. Then the slate is clean. Ready for a new morning of fresh bloom.

I am not a Biblical scholar by any means, but the metaphor of manna has always interested me. Touched me, I guess. To me it's the very paradigm of trust, which is a commodity I'm very low on a lot of the time. The Israelites were under a lot of stress in the wilderness, and they freaked out about a lot of stuff, annoying Moses and undoubtedly trying the patience of God. They tried to hoard up the manna for the desert version of a rainy day, and the leftover portion turned nasty very fast. They had to learn to take what they needed and trust in providence to provide for later. (Hey! Providence. Provide. I never noticed that before. What was I thinking?)

The Buddhists have that whole attachment concept, which is the same idea with a slightly different spin. It is our clinging that causes suffering. Our desire for every beautiful thing to last, when no beautiful thing ever can. For although the day lilies are extreme in their fleeting span, their wisdom applies to everything that blooms in the garden. Here today. Gone before we're ready.

This is the pitfall of living a human lifetime in such a magnificent world. We can't fully appreciate the beauty without seeing the fading, can't love summer without noticing how fast it goes.

We are commanded by the nature of the universe to live fully in each moment. To hold the lily and breathe in its loveliness so deeply and completely that we can toss it away without regret.

Tall order. Big challenge. Always worth a try.

And no kidding. Stop by and visit Billy's lilies. They're only here for a little while.

July 13, 2009

What I Did On My July 4th Vacation

Yesterday was the BEST July 4th Celebration in the history of the United States of America and it happened right here in my neighborhood. I had the swellest day with everything I ever wanted in a 4th of July. It was sunny, but not too sunny, warm but not too warm, breezy but not windy -- just the right amount to make all the flags wave picturesquely in the All-American breeziness. And because of the rain everyone's been cursing lately, the world was a gorgeous shade of green.

We had a parade.

A parade so funny, so funky, so American, with a Salvation Army band; three friendly police cars with full-up light & sound; children in red, white & blue attire (and hair), on foot, in parents' arms, on decorated bikes; some wailing, some blissful; one young man posing as Benjamin Franklin with a degree of authenticity that in my opinion outBenned the young Ben himself.

There were floats that showed a lot of forethought and effort and floats with a whacked-together, thunk-up-at-the-last-minute, insouciance. (Notable was the cherry picker device Frank is using to paint his house, extended to its full height, tricked out with bunting and loaded with kids and grown-ups. It sailed up the street with its occupants at tree-level and Frank in his big white shirt looking BUT EXACTLY like THE Spirit of 1776. So cool you couldn't stand it.)

There was Emil (who is 90+) on his red scooter, dripping beads and wild enthusiasm.
This year's photos are "not yet available" but they will be shortly at BillHogsett.com (Along with weather, webcam, golf handicaps, what music is playing currently, etc. etc. You should go to there. It is fun.)

So the parade was, as noted above, the perfect parade with more participants than spectators. And I got to be a spectator this year. Which was a role that needed filling. Yay me.

Here's my schedule of what I got to do on Independence Day 2009:

Get up. Have coffee in the yard and listen to the neighborhood wake up with birds, sunshine and happy voices.

Help fill 150 water balloons for the games. The incredibly cheap and tacky nozzle device actually worked like a charm. We all three got pretty wet; it took a lot longer than you'd think, and obviously the y chromosome makes it utterly impossible for a couple of guys -- even father and son -- to resist firing off a couple of water bombs at each other. John, very good shot. And quite unexpected. That was excellent.


Watch the quintessential neighborhood 4th parade, as noted above.

Sell raffle tickets down at the park and root for every single kid to win the bicycle.

Eat a good hamburger and some delicious taco salad and have a Rolling Rock in a bottle, in a Shore Acres Association coaster, before 11:30 a.m. (The coaster was $2 and worth every penny. We moved 100 of them at the picnic.

Have another beer and guard the water balloons from 20 or so little boys who just really couldn't stay away from them. (Y chromosomes again.) Also guard and distribute prizes to kids who were mostly very polite and appreciative and who generously gave me the gift of seeing a cheap glow sword as the True Holy Grail.

Watch Bill be 100% the Bill I signed on the spend the last 40 years with, as Director of Games. I hope we ride our Emil Scooters down Shore Acres in the 2039 Parade.

See our water balloons well-used in water balloon tosses for all ages and then. at the end of the games, turned loose in a perfect freeforall, which included pelting Frank et al who were watching from that cherry picker and had NOWHERE to hide. (Lucky for you guys we didn't release the leftover eggs from the egg tosses.)

Note: I'm not even going to mention all the people (Meg, Dan, Meredith, Scott, Boo, another Dan, people, people, more people -- you know who you are; you are magificent and you know that.) who did all the work to make this event happen.

My day, continued:

Have another beer.

Sit down on our deck, listen to John's great playlist and watch the water and the boats with neighbors we knew and neighbors we're just getting to know and strangers we liked.

We flew our flag down there (instead of on the street side, where there were plenty) for the admiration of boaters and to warn off the Canadians. Or at least the dratted Canada Soldier, Bug of Many Names.

Have another beer. (Lost the previous one. Somewhere.)

Have a short nap caused by sun, busy day, and, possibly, beer.

Stroll down to Meredith and Scott's fabulous new patio on (like, no kidding, ON) the water and watch the sunset and the bonfire, have a beer, and meet and remeet their cool friends. If Domino hadn't gone out of the magazine business, they'd have been down on the patio last night doing a spread on how the young, hip, people of Shore Acres Drive celebrate the 4th.

Fireworks were visible up and down the lakeshore; everybody's city was putting on a display. And if fireworks were legal, I'm sure there would have been really cool, really loud, almost scary fireworks at Scott & Meredith's. But that would have been illegal and I hasten to say there were NONE. At all. No firework fun was had by us there. Really.

Then we came home, met Sue and Hossein on the sidewalk and got Hossein's recipe for ribs which includes, and I quote, "zap them with my magic" and went to sleep. All worn out from fun and no fireworks. And beer.

See? Perfect.

God bless the people and the friends of Shore Acres Drive.

God Bless the USA.

July 5, 2009

SUMMER NEWS

Movie Nights happen every other Friday night all summer long. The movies are free and family friendly. Everyone is invited. Bring a blanket or chair and a snack to the Lakefront Park; movies begin when it gets dark. (see flier below)

3rd Saturday Neighborhood Clean-Ups June 20, July 18, & August 15 at 9 am
Meet at the corner of Lake Shore and E. 149th. Bring a bag and gloves, clippers, a rake, or other favorite clean-up tool... Following the Clean-Ups, join your neighbors for a pot-luck cookout. Hot dogs/veggie burgers & beverages provided. Cookout at Bill & Ann Hogsett’s yard: 14915 Shore Acres.

Finally, some follow-up from our May neighborhood safety meeting, which was prompted by a series of break-ins throughout the neighborhood. Sargent Don Robinson attended the meeting. Below is a list of contact numbers he gave to our community to alert the police to unwanted activity in the neighborhood:

- Community services (to register complaints regarding quality of life issues like loud music, loitering, public drinking): 623-5620

- For special attention from the District office to a recurrent issue: 623-5500

- For non-emergency complaints: 623-1234

- For all emergencies (robbery in progress, for example): 911

- To follow-up on a reported crime, call the Detectives Bureau: 623-5518

The Sargent urged Shore Acres residents to continue to follow "common sense" safety practices, including keeping valuables out of sight, doors locked on homes and cars, lights on outside the home at night, and keeping an eye out for unfamiliar faces in the neighborhood.

We're happy to report that a suspect has been identified and captured for the break-ins in our neighborhood. We will let you know more as details are released.

MOVIE NIGHTS!

checking raffle tickets

anita & mere

scott instigator, danielle designer

john & meredith

eileen, jill, boo

la presidente y su hombre (gimme a break, my spanish was never very good...

rini-uvas and pangrace-stettins...

2 bills, an ann and a tess!

meg with elegant new sign & tempting raffle prizes

Come Celebrate!

What: Shore Acres Association Parks and Projects Fundraiser
When: Sunday, March 15th from 2-5pm
Where: Grovewood Tavern (17105 Grovewood Ave.)

Details: Tickets are $25 per person/$20 for seniors and can be purchased at the door. Included in the ticket price is a smorgasbord of delicious snacks from the Grovewood's catering menu. As in years past, there will be a raffle and cash bar.
Bring your friends to celebrate and support our neighborhood parks and projects!

Questions/RSVP:
Meg Doerr phone: 692-0216 or email: megdan@sbcglobal.net

In Memory of Jerry Mrsnik

Hello All,

I am sorry to share with you that Jerry Mrsnik has passed away. Jerry and her husband John, who survives her, moved to their Spanish-style home on the south side of Shore Acres Drive 52 years ago this September. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Visiting hours are from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Friday, December 26th at the Zele Funeral home (452 E 152nd St, Cleveland, OH‎ phone:481-3118‎). Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Jerome's Church on Saturday, December 27th at 10 a.m.

A flower arrangement has been sent from the Neighbors of Shore Acres (paid for by the non-dues based "special projects" Shore Acres Association fund).

Below is the article from our Newsletter about the Mrsnik's. We will all miss her dearly.

THE MRSNIKS by Kathy Baker

If you moved into the Shore Acres neighborhood before September of 1956, almost a half century ago, you have lived here longer than John and Jerry Mrsnik have. But if not, the Mrsniks can claim the Shore Acres longevity record.

They bought their Spanish-style house at 15020 Shore Acres Drive for $37,000, quite a step up from their previous home in Mentor, priced at $15,000 even though it was on 8 acres of land. For an extra four thousand or so dollars they bought the small white clapboard cottage next to their current home, previously used as servants’ quarters. The Mrsniks had no servants, but they hoped that Jerry’s parents would live there upon retirement. Her parents moved to the Euclid Beach trailer park instead, so through the years they have rented the cottage to a variety of people, but never a maid.

John and Jerry, but especially Jerry, had been lonely in their Mentor home. The houses were far apart and they had trouble getting to know their neighbors. John was traveling all over the world then, first as an engineer and then as a salesman for Zagar Inc., so Jerry was often left alone with their two small children. All that changed when they moved to Shore Acres, where the Mrsnik kids soon had many playmates and Jerry had many neighbors to talk to, since in those days almost all of the mothers stayed at home. Jerry remembers fondly the streets and yards and Park being full of playing children. Summers were the most fun of all, of course, with a beach and boat docks all along Shore Acres, swimming and a beach house at the park, and the Fourth of July parade a genuine extravaganza, with many of the larger families (8-10 children per family was not considered unusual) producing elaborate floats. Jerry was the Den mother for a Cub Scout den made up entirely of neighborhood boys.

Gradually, however, erosion was taking its toll on the Shore Acres beach and yards along the lake. Some say that a major storm in the ‘70s destroyed the beaches, docks, and Park beach house, but the Mrsniks remember that even in the ‘50s their neighbors on the north side of Shore Acres were spending thousands of dollars on erosion control. Finally the Corps of Engineers put in gabions and rocks at a cost of $10-15 thousand per house. Those who didn’t pay up had their gabions removed.

The Mrsnik children, Frank and Kathy, grew up on Shore Acres, attending St. Jerome’s, Villa Angela and St. Joseph High School. Both still live here in the Cleveland area. Frank is a dentist, and Kathy pupil personnel director for the West Geauga School District. John and Jerry have three grandchildren.

Meanwhile John was still traveling to England, Germany, and Italy. He knew his wife and children were safe and happy in their friendly neighborhood so he never worried about them. But his work was stressful, and in 1974 he had a heart attack. He didn’t expect to live five more years, but he took his doctor’s advice and changed jobs, and here he is 30 years later, healthy and vigorous. He still works for Ohio Broach and Machine in Willoughby.

Jerry has had some health problems, however, and recently the Mrsniks considered selling their house and moving to something smaller, without the stairs that she has difficulty navigating these days. But the grandchildren objected (“Strangers will live in our house?”) and other houses John and Jerry considered buying were poorly constructed and had outrageously high taxes by comparison. So they put in some chair lifts, and took down the for sale sign.

People look out for each other here,” John says. “The Association is maintaining what we’ve had all these years. It always was and it still is a great neighborhood.” 


Neighborhood News by Nan

Bonniewood resident Nan Kennedy has been sending out e-mails with neighborhood news, and has agreed to share her listings with us. Thanks, Nan!

For this month's edition read below!

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING TO WATERLOO:

BRIGHTEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ARTS COLLINWOOD
A group of Arts Collinwood artists has returned from a lantern-making workshop, at the Cleveland Museum of Art, with four beautiful lanterns and material to make lots more! AC will install the first four along Waterloo Road, and would love to see many more join them.

So, if you've got time -- come to the AC Community Arts Center at 10 am on Saturday (Nov 29). Arts Collinwood will be building more lanterns, getting out some holiday lights, and generally looking for folks to help make the district festive. They’ll bring the coffee and bagels -- you should feel free to bring a friend. Children welcome (there are lantern projects for them, too!)


GUESTS WITH YOU FOR THE WEEKEND? DO A WATERLOO STROLL.

Christmas UnCheer at LowLife
A collection of artwork celebrating dysfunctional families ruining the holidays – “Dad Just Screwed up Christmas Again.” a twisted holiday show, opens at the Low Life Gallery, at 16100 Waterloo, at 8pm on November 28.

Farewell to Langford at Waterloo 7
Step across Waterloo to the Zaller Building for a final look at Jon Langford's show: "Country Music Legends, Paintings and Prints". Waterloo VII, at 16006 Waterloo Rd, next to the outdoor sculpture garden, is also showing a ton of buyable art by a long list of artists. Gallery hours at 16006 Waterloo are Friday 6-10, Sat 2-10, Sun 1-6. Call 239-293-9548.

As Much Christmas Movie as You Can Stand at ReVamped
Also in the Zaller Building, to round out your Friday evening, the ReVamped gently used shop is throwing a Christmas party: for only $2, you can see “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in the Waterloo VII/ReVamped basement – and enjoy cupcakes and eggnog. Bring a wrapped gift under $10 to swap after the movies. Movies start at 7 pm. ReVamped is at 16008 Waterloo Road, beside Waterloo VII.

ShopARooni Lobs The Cleveland Art Bomb
Cleveland’s premier destination for people who don’t know what they’re missing has stocked a veritable fruit cake of affordable local art available for the holidays only! They’ve collected so many collectibles that they’ve had to open The ShopARooni Annex, starting Friday, November 28, 7-11pm, and continuing through the holidays.

Not only that, but they still have PlushForms, the customized plush figures that local artists have turned into one-of-a-kinds. They'll all be sold to the highest bidders on November 29, to benefit Toys for Tots. ShopARooni is at 15813 Waterloo Rd. Hours: 2-10 p.m. Tues-Thurs; 2-11 p.m. Fri; noon-11 p.m. Sat; noon-6 p.m. Sun. Info: 216-383-3633 or www.shoparooni.com.

End Thanksgiving with a Polka
Polka Hall of Fame at 605 E 222 is currently selling tickets to the Annual Polka Hall of Fame Awards Show at 2 PM Sat Nov 29, where Frankie Mullec and Eddie Rodick will receive Lifetime Achievement awards. Show's at Slovenian National Home Auditorium, 6409 St Clair. $15 advance sale tickets with a $2 coupon applicable for PHF gift shop purchases. Call 216-261-3263.

IF YOU STILL WANT TO COOK . . .

Want to add creative appetizers to your holiday repertoire and share a few secrets of your own? Reserve your spot at Euclid Library's Food for Thought-- Cookbook Discussions event on Wed Dec 3 at 7 PM in the Shore Rm. Participants limited to 20; bring samples to share! Call 261-5300.

OR YOUR KIDS WANT TO ACT . . .

Upstage Players begins auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! Audition dates are: Sat Dec 6th for children 7 - 11 years of age; Sun Dec. 7th for children 12 - 15 years of age. Auditions, rehearsals and performances will be held at Slovenian Workmen's Home, 15335 Waterloo, Cleveland 44110. Visit Upstageplayers.com for details.

LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN! WEEKENDS ON WATERLOO IS BACK!

The Annual Shopping-as-Party at Arts Collinwood
Arts Collinwood’s Holiday Art Sale is a unique marketplace, crammed with giftables AND quality original art (not to mention great nosh). This year’s sale runs Dec. 12-Dec. 14: 5-10pm Friday, 11-10pm Saturday, and 11-5 Sunday. On Friday and Saturday evening you’ll find beer, wine and light appetizers in the gallery, and live music in the adjoining Community Center, where North Collinwood Stage will be doing its final shows. This two-day event will feature a variety of performers from over the years of the North Collinwood Stage.

Saturday and Sunday afternoons are family oriented, with coffee, cocoa, cookies and activities for children, and -- a new feature this year -- family open studios in the community center: for $5/person or $20/family, you can make gift wrap, cards, gift tags, ornaments and small gifts to take home. It’s a nice way to keep the children engaged while the parents shop, or to make visiting the Holiday Sale part of a larger family tradition. The Arts Collinwood Gallery accepts cash, checks and major credit cards, and you can find it at the corner of E156 and Waterloo Road. Call 216-692-9500.

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL, FOLKS!

On Saturday, December 13, you can also visit the Beachland’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Flea Market, the Holiday Sale at MusicSaves and ShopARooni’s Magic Holiday Sale.

The very popular Flea Market features an eclectic mix of vintage dealers…clothing, records, toys, accessories, and more! Be sure to stop in and try the Beachland's new menu too! 11am-4pm.

Rockin deals from your favorite indie record store -- it's the Music Saves holiday sale! 11am-4pm.

Twelve hours of dealaroonis from your favorite boutique! ShopARooni ‘s super Magic Holiday Sale goes from 11am-11pm.

Festivus at LowLife
And from 1 to 5 pm on the 13th, you can take in “Festivus For the Rest of Us” at LowLife Gallery. The event includes a Festivus Pole, Festivus Dinner, Feats of Strength and Airing of Grievances.

Stained Glass on Sale at Azure
A little more traditionally, Azure Stained Glass Studio will hold its first Holiday Sale in its new Waterloo Road home, in the old ALO building on the southeast corner of E156 and Waterloo. Saturday, December 13, times TBA.

And don’t forget the Holiday Raffle at ReVamped! Tickets are on sale now, at $1 each, for the drawing at 7 pm on December 13. The raffle is sponsored by Body Anthology and items include: Tattoo/Piercing gift certificates, Young Rembrandts classes at ReVamped, art work, restaurant/store gift certificates , clothing & jewelry -- to name a few. Ticket holders need not be present to win.

IF YOU’RE STUMPED FOR A GIFT . . .
. . . a Waterloo business can help. Have you thought of Pay-as-you-go Life Drawing Classes at Arts Collinwood? Thursdays at 7pm, $8 a class. And/or Pin Up Style Life Drawing at ReVamped every Friday, 6-9pm, $10. And/or buy your favorite aspiring rock star some studio time! Call Exit Stencil for more details: 216.481-8321.

ONE MORE THING: YA GOTTA EAT
And you can eat well at Fotina’s, which serves up rockin hash browns and other treats (try the gyros. And the Greek rice pudding.) daily til 2pm. E156 next door to Vision Gallery, (216-692-1375).

And at Cafe Marika, which offers pastries, soups and other small meals Mon-Sat until 10pm (216-456-8094). Remember Café Marika for your holiday bakery order with a 10% discount; visit www.lucyssweetsurrender.com to see their goodies, then call in your order, Tues-Sat, 7am-4 pm, a day or two before you want I, to the bakery at 216-752-0828, and say the Waterloo Newsletter sent you.

And on Sundays, at the Beachland Tavern, which hosts the most delicious brunch you’ll ever find under $10. Sundays 11am-3pm.

TWO-DAY HOLIDAY FESTIVAL IN EUCLID

Breakfast with Santa on Sat Dec 13 in Shore Center’s CulinarySchool: 9-11 am, $4 for adults and $3 for children under 5. Girls -- a perfect day to wear your Princess dress! Pictures with Santa available. Consider bringing a toy for a Euclid child or a canned good for the Euclid Hunger Center. Reservations necessary, call 289-8107.

Also Saturday, 9- 2:00 PM, Holiday Gift Sale and Christmas Tree Auction Preview. Visit the Community Room to view the donated, decorated Christmas trees and purchase art, crafts and jewelry for holiday gifts. There will also be Amish bakery, foods, cheese, nuts and more!

And on Dec 14, the Euclid Orchestra Holiday Concert in Shore's auditorium at 3 PM, with a Silent Auction of the Holiday Trees immediately afterward at 5 PM in the Community Room.

SOMETHING TO HELP WITH NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Get Fit PT, the gym at 22040 Lake Shore Blvd, has a personal holiday gift with no strings attached. Your choice: free classes for 30 days, or FOUR free training sessions! You must be a new client, and the offer expires Jan 31. Register for a free consultation by calling 216-731-3141. Visit www.GETFITPT.com to learn more. Owner Nicole Carpenter will see that you reach your potential!

Shore Acres Signage Update

As many of you already know, the proposed Shore Acres Signage project has gone through many stages and modifications in the last year. We ran into trouble with city regulations which would not allow us to do an archway, so the plan evolved into elegant street signs on E. 149, 150, and 151. We are happy to announce that the sign designs are at the manufacturers and will be installed soon - hopefully before the new year. Thanks to Scott Stettin for having the vision to lead the way on this project, also our hard-working board and especially Danielle for creating the gorgeous artwork. We will be looking for neighbors to help install the signs so look for more information here on the blog soon.

Neighbors star in election video

See if you recognize 2 of these awesome kids in the video below. Great job, guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHFszAQ2TFo

Life drawing at the Beachland, Unique classes at Arts Collinwood

Now that summer is over and we don't have to spend endless hours basking in the sun or pulling weeds, what will we do with all our free time? Arts Collinwood has begun to offer classes for adults and children in their new community center. Everything from Capoiera to Life Drawing. It's a "soft launch" of their programming, so make sure to keep an eye on their website as classes and offerings change.

And for adults only, the Beachland is having a life drawing class hosted by Dr.Sketchy on October 28, with a unique retro-glam model, music and drinks. Sounds like a blast. Check out the flier at right.

Voted best secret neighborhood!

Of course all of us here in Shore Acres knew that our neighborhood was one of the best secret neighborhoods in the country! But to have Travel + Leisure magazine point it out... well that is super cool. Check it out by clicking here.

BBQ UPDATE!

Due to today's stormy weather, the neighborhood BBQ will be held at Meg's house, the yellow house on Shore Acres. There will still be all the pulled pork, falafel and sides. BYOB. Call Meg (see flier on post below) if you plan on attending or can no longer attend.

Arts Collinwood Open House

Have you seen the new community center space? Behind the Cafe and Gallery is a section of the building that has been transformed from an old bar to our future neighborhood arts center, which will be offering classes for kids and adults beginning soon.

COSE Arts Network Education Event

There's an event for artists at the Beachland on Wednesday. Please pass along the info to anyone you think may be interested...

How Do They Do It? A Best Practices Forum from Local Art Pros
Wednesday, September 10
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
$5 members, $15 non-members

www.cosearts.org

Ph. 216.592.2472 for more information

Commodore Theater likely to be torn down

From clevend.coom, posted by Michael O'Malley August 29, 2008 22:45PM

The old Commodore Theater in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood finally got to Housing Court Friday -- four years after the city condemned it -- and appears to be heading for demolition.

What took so long?

If you ask Councilman Mike Polensek, it's a Law Department that lacks the spine to drag landlords with problem buildings into court.

"The Law Department is in a foxhole," said Polensek, who has been trying to rid his East Side ward of the empty, hazardous building for eight years.

The Commodore, a complex of apartments, street-front retail and a movie theater featuring a Wurlitzer organ, was built in the 1920s. But in recent years, it has become a haven for vandals and junkies.

The rambling brick structure with a classic overhanging marquee sits at a school crossing on the corner of East 152nd Street and Lake Shore Boulevard. Decorative pieces of stone facade have been falling off the building onto the public sidewalk.

Read the full story here.

Farmer Jason Concert, September 14

Farmer Jason is back to shake things up at the Beachland. These shows are great for kids and adults. Come support your local music venue and see a really fun, interactive show. The bar is open for the adults during the show. Pizza and hotdogs will be for sale.

Movie Night Reminder!

Geeks unite. It's Star Wars. If it gets dark enough early, we'll have time for a second feature. Any suggestions?