Issue 7 - The Devil Strip

Transcription

The Devil Strip
JUNE 2015 • VOL 1 • ISSUE #7 • THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
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Akro
50+ Things to do with your kids this summer! (pg. 25)
Who is Mr. Van Awesome?
Meet the Most Interesting
Person We Know (pg. 6)
Akron Al Fresco: Our favorite places to eat “Heaven isn’t too far away”
outside (pg. 13) plus, our guide to local
Remembering Warrant
drive-in theatres (pg. 16)
singer Jani Lane (pg. 20)
growing upAkron
Join us at
AUGUST 14, 2015
at Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Make Reservations at cgfsevents.org
in this issue
The Devil Strip
lture
Akron Music, Art & Cu
CONTACT US:
“Somewhere there’s a score being kept, so you have an obligation to live life as well
as you can, be as engaged as you can. The human condition means that we can zone out and
forget what the hell we’re doing. So the secret is to have a sense of yourself, your real self, your unique self.
And not just once in a while, or once a day, but all through the day, the week and life. You know what they say:
‘Ain’t no try, ain’t nothing to it but to do it.’”
– Bill Murray
Office:
(330) 842-6606
General Info:
[email protected]
Advertising:
Every issue is born from two weeks of alternating
excitement and panic. Additionally, there’s a
bittersweet undercurrent running through
this issue.
[email protected]
Distribution:
[email protected]
ONLINE:
Website:
www.thedevilstrip.com
Facebook:
The sweet: Thanks to our talented freelancers,
my gifted wife and you, our generous readers,
we’ve produced an impressive collection of fun,
summertime stuff to do around Akron. As I
combed through the lists—from the summer events
guide to the patio primer and 50+ things your
kiddos will love—I was repeatedly hit with a pinchme sense of joy that I get to live here in Akron. I
hope you experience a similar giddiness when you
read through.
Facebook.com/thedevilstrip
Twitter:
@akrondevilstrip
Instagram:
@thedevilstrip
_______________________________________
Publisher >>
Chris Horne
[email protected]
Art Director >>
Alesa Upholzer
Illustration and Design >>
Bronlynn Thurman, Edgar Woolley
Photographers >>
Svetla Morrison, Paul Hoffman, Bronlynn
Thurman, Ilenia Pezzaniti and Shane Wynn
The bitter: We’re running two stories about two
different tribute shows that will honor two very
different guys who passed away too soon.
who excelled at living. Yes, he could be
blunt and if he didn’t like you, he didn’t
waste his energy on you, but that’s because
he was selfless with the relationships
that mattered to him. Especially with his
students.
The Danstravaganza takes places over
two nights at two different venues, where
the community that sprouted around Dan
Van Auken—some performing in Houseguest
and Drummer that night—will come together to
celebrate. Total strangers, like me, are welcome
too. The proceeds will join the thousands of
dollars already raised by Dan’s former students and
colleagues to build Van Auken Field, a running
track at the school where he taught.
Akron’s greatest strength, I think, is its people. So,
to do my part, I just want you to take one thing
with you when you finish this issue: Live life as well
as you can and be as engaged as you can because
you only get this one shot.
Take Care, Chris
One, born John Oswald, emerged from a mid-80s
glam metal chrysalis as Jani Lane, the blue-eyed
blonde singer who led Warrant to worldwide fame
with a string of hit songs like “Cherry Pie.” In her
profile on him, Jenny Conn tracks Jani’s rise through
Akron and Kent on the way to stardom. His former
bandmate, Billy Morris, and Cinderella’s Tom
Keifer take the Civic Theatre stage June 18 to raise
money to help Jani’s daughters, a fact that made
it impossible for me to ignore that Father’s Day is
almost here.
As a dad, I like the excuse to hang out with my little
girl (and con my wife into letting me eat badly). But
as a son, it still stings. My dad suffered a massive
stroke in the summer of 2009. Nearly two years
later, on April 1, at the age of 55, he died. The last
time we spent any real time together before his
stroke was at an Atlanta Braves game. The night
he passed, I sat by his bed in hospice watching
the season opener on TV as he slipped away. I’ve
watched a lot less baseball since.
Contributing Writers >>
Holly Brown, Jenny Conn, Jessica Conti,
Abby Cymerman, Katelyn Gainer, M. Sophie
Hamad, Noor Hindi, Carley Hull, Jecca,
Chris Kessinger, Isaac Kelley, Eric Morris,
Christopher Morrison, Brittany Nader, Ilenia
Pezzaniti, Sarah Stubbs, Bronlynn Thurman,
Elizabeth Tyran, Katie Wheeler, Joanna Wilson
_______________________________________
The Devil Strip is published bi-monthly by Random
Family, LLC. Akron Distribution: The Devil Strip
is available free of charge, limited to one copy per
reader. Copyright: The entire contents ofThe Devil
Strip are copyright 2015 by Random Family, LLC.
Reproduction in whole or in part without written
permission of the publisher is prohibited. Publisher
does not assume any liability for unsolicited
manuscripts, materials, or other content. Any
submission must include a stamped, self-addressed
envelope. All editorial, advertising, and business
correspondence should be mailed to the address
listed above.
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
A die-hard Cleveland Indians fan, Dan Van Auken
may not have liked me, at least immediately
following the 1995 World Series, but I am certain I
would have liked him. Just as I’m certain I want to
be more like him now. In fact, I want everyone to
be more like him. He wasn’t famous like Jani Lane,
or like his childhood friend Patrick Carney. He loved
music but didn’t become a musician like some of
his friends. He graduated college with a broadcast
communications degree but never spent a day in
that field. Instead, he became a 5th grade math
teacher—Mr. Van Awesome, as his students
called him.
Initially, I did not want to speak to his dad, Steven
Van Auken. It was my own selfishness. Fortunately,
Betsy Van Auken Walker, Steve’s daughter and
Dan’s sister, made it happen. Like everyone else I
interviewed for this story, he was generous with
his memories, filling out the portrait of this man
JUNE 2015 • VOL 1 • ISSUE #7 /
THE Devil Strip |
3
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
BREW AT THE ZOO TAKES YOU—
BUT NOT YOUR BEER—
ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE ‘80S
Spotlight
Brew at the Zoo
Wednesday, June 10 at 6 pm at Akron Zoo
Ohio Chautauqua
Tuesday, June 23 to Saturday, June 27
If you remember Cyndi Lauper, Guns N' Roses, Bruce Springsteen and Beastie Boys, then you are not
going to want to miss this Brew at the Zoo as we take you back to a great decade and spin some of
your favorite records while enjoying summer brews. Enjoy a casual beer tasting from local breweries
as you stroll through the zoo. Tastings are included and full-size beers will be available for purchase.
You may remember when Joanna Wilson wrote
about Akron inventor Lewis Miller in our “Big
Ideas” issue, she mentioned he helped organize
the first Chautauqua Assembly near Jamestown,
NY in 1874, which spawned a national adult
education movement most popular in the 1920s.
Each year, the Ohio Humanities Council takes
the iconic red-and-white-striped tent from city
to city across the state, stopping in Akron this year thanks to the Summit
County Historical Society and the Akron-Summit County Library. Starting at 7:30 each night with live
local music, we’ll get to meet (actors portraying) Titanic Survivor Edith Russell, Indian captive Olive
Ann Oatman, philosopher Henry David Thoreau, ‘49er J. Goldsborough Bruff, and Civil Rights leader
Martin Luther King, Jr. During the day, the same actors will hold workshops for kids and grown-ups
alike about the people they’re portraying. That week will also include walking tours of Oak Place, the
home of the aforementioned Lewis Miller.
AKRON NATIVE DEBUTING
HIS ‘FUNNY DOCUMENTARY’
AT THE NIGHTLIGHT
“Schmo Bizness”
Sunday, June 14 at 9 pm
Michael “Zombo” Devine comes home with this
zany chronicle of Those Generics, a nationally
touring comedy outfit in the 80s and 90s. A veteran
of King Dapper Combo, The Surfaholics and the
Graveyard Rockers, Devine’s film documents the
reunion of comics who haven’t seen each other in almost 30 years after
working “the trenches of grade B comedy clubs” for about 15 years. With back story lines illustrated
by cartoonist Eric Luden and a soundtrack of all original surf music, the archival live footage is woven
together to give you 70 minutes out of the ordinary. Watch the trailer on YouTube.
AREA
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EV
Ongoing
JSK Cafe
Every Friday through September 4
11am - 1:30pm at John S. Knight Center
77 E Mill St, Akron
Now in its 16th season, the JSK Cafe is a delicious
downtown staple. Help decide the Burger
Challenge between last year’s champion, the
Cowboy Burger, and the new contender, The
Caprese, or get one of their other sandwiches, and
enjoy al fresco dining. For more information, visit
johnsknightcenter.org.
Rob Allen
June 9-13 at Funny Stop Comedy Club ($7-$14)
1757 State Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
The Funny Stop welcomes back an old friend
and all-time club favorite, Rob Allen. His comedic
experience includes tours in eight different
countries and appearances in six different
courtrooms. Most recently, Rob Allen has been
performing as part of the "Standing Ovation Tour"
with host Sommore and Bruce Bruce, Tommy
4
CHAUTAUQUA BRINGS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
THOREAU AND OTHER HISTORICAL FIGURES TO
HARDESTY PARK
Davidson, Earthquake, Mark Curry and more. Rob
Allen is a legend in the world of stand-up comedy,
if for no other reason than for being the first comic
ever banned from B.E.T.'s ComicView (just for
being stupid).
The Akron All-City Musical: Shrek
Opens June 12 at Akron Civic Theatre ($10)
182 S Main St, Akron
Make room for ogre-sized family fun as the
greatest fairy tale never told comes to life in a
whole new way in this breathtaking Broadway
musical adaptation of the hit movie Shrek!
Featuring over 100 Summit County high school
students as the cast, crew and orchestra, this is a
show you won’t want to miss! Visit akroncivic.com
for dates and times.
The Market at Lock 3
Opens June 19
11:30am at Lock 3 (FREE)
The Market at Lock 3 is a unique, outdoor,
producers-only market managed by Downtown
Akron Partnership. Enjoy fresh produce, handmade
| THE Devil Strip / JUNE 2015 • VOL 1 • ISSUE #7
FUN FACT
If you’re celebrating something’s 175th anniversary, it’s called a centeseptequinary.
Example: This year marks the centeseptequinary of Summit County’s founding.
cheeses, fresh baked goods, home crafted gifts and
more. Kick off the market season on June 19 at
Downtown Akron Employee Appreciation Day and
enjoy a build-your-own sundae bar, and don’t miss
the pickle and salsa contests later in the summer!
Ohio Chautauqua
June 23-28 (FREE)
An exciting mixture of education and
entertainment, Ohio Chautauqua 2015 will explore
the transformative journeys taken by a variety
of historic figures. Featuring workshops, music,
living history performances and much more,
this unique event celebrates Ohio’s history. Visit
ohiohumanities.org for details and full schedule.
flow and art in a beginner friendly series taught
by a certified Nirvana Yoga instructor. Register at
akronartmuseum.org
Art Talk: Your Art in an Akron Gallery
7:30pm at Summit Artspace (FREE)
140 E Market St, Akron
Join Courtney Cable to learn more about the
Akron Area Art Prize, including an overview of the
submission process and a few tips on how to take
advantage of this exciting opportunity.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Yoga in the Galleries
6:30pm at Akron Art Museum (FREE)
One South High St, Akron
The transformational power of yoga for individuals,
relationships, and communities comes alive in the
Akron Art Museum galleries. Combine breath,
Founders’ Day Weekend at Stan Hywet
10am-4pm June 12-14 (FREE)
714 N Portage Path, Akron
Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens honors the 80th
anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics
Anonymous at its Gate Lodge during Founders' Day
Weekend. Admission to the Gate Lodge is free, and
entertainment will be provided all weekend by 91.3
The Summit.
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
AKRON HISTORY
Where Bill W. and Dr. Bob
CHANGED
THE WORLD
by Joanna Wilson
“No artist from anywhere, however,
not even Shakespeare, not even Beethoven,
not even James Whitcomb Riley,
has changed the course of so many
lives all over the planet as have
four hayseeds in Ohio -two in Dayton and two in Akron. ...
Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith and
William Griffith Wilson were in
Akron in 1935 when they devised the
12 steps to sobriety of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
By comparison with Smith and Wilson,
Sigmund Freud was a piker when it came
to healing dysfunctional minds and lives.”
— Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
‘Kids’
11:15pm at The Nightlight Cinema ($8.50)
30 N High St, Akron
Part of The Nightlight’s ongoing series about being
young in cinema in 1995, Kids showcases a day in
the life of a group of teens as they travel around
New York City skating, drinking, smoking, and
deflowering virgins. Also showing
June 13 at 11:15pm.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Craft Cocktails at the Market: Vodka
10:30am at Howe Meadows ($20)
4040 Riverview Rd, Peninsula
Every foodie knows that the perfect cocktail can
make or break a meal. For our first in a 3-part
series on craft cocktails with celebrated Cleveland
bartender Lorilei Bailey, we'll focus on vodka.
Vodka lends itself to virtually any flavor, making it
an excellent choice for letting the flavors of local
produce shine. Learn how to infuse vodka with the
fruits and herbs of the season, and compare flavors
developed by infusing fresh ingredients into a spirit
as opposed to a syrup or puree. Visit cvcountryside.
org to register!
Sow and Grow Farm Festival
10am - 5pm on June 13 & 14 ($10)
Hale Farm and Village, 2686 Oak Hill Rd, Bath
Experience the past and present farming lifestyle
– including wheel plowing a garden, bee keeping
You’re so Akron if...you hear the louder-thanusual rumble of motorcycle engines on W. Market
Street in June and smile knowingly that it must
be Founder’s Day. This year, the annual Founder’s
Day celebrations take place June 12-14 in Akron,
the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous and
2015 happens to be the 80th anniversary of the
founding of AA, the self-help group that has had
an enormous impact on our society. Not only does
the group help alcoholics achieve sobriety but it
introduced the Twelve Step program for selfimprovement. The Founder’s Day celebrations bring
visitors from all over the country and the world to
our city to honor the group’s origins and to join
with others who share the recovery experience.
The roaring sound of motorcycles on W. Market
Street is an annual experience because it has
become popular with AA members who own
bikes to make the annual journey. Akron’s west
side has several landmarks important to those
commemorating Founder’s Day and these locations
have become must-see destinations over the years.
At the top of the list is Dr. Bob’s Home at 855
from the Summit County bee keepers association,
and exploring the gardens on property maintained
by the Great Lakes Brewing Companies and
the Bath Gamma Garden Club. The festival also
features oxen and draft horse demonstrations, fiber
dying and much more!
20th Annual Art Auction
6pm at Akron Art Museum ($300)
One South High St, Akron
Join us for our 20th Year Celebration at the Annual
Auction to benefit the Akron Art Museum! Art,
fine wine, great food, tempting auction lots
and some of the most exciting people in Akron
contribute to one of the most successful events in
our community.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Food Truck Frenzy & Summer Concert
4pm at Keyser Barn (FREE)
851 W Bath Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
Akron’s best food trucks converge on Keyser Barn
for a food truck frenzy! Featuring Swensons,
Wholly Frijoles, Zydeco Bistro, The Orange Truk and
more. There is music and kids activities starting at
4pm, and 6pm the Wanda Hunt Band takes the
stage. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy music and
food in a beautiful park setting.
Ardmore Avenue. The modest arts and crafts home
was where Dr. Bob, the co-founder of Alcoholics
Anonymous, and his wife lived for years. The Akron
home has since been turned into a museum with its
own gift shop.
Another popular destination is the Gate Lodge at
Stan Hywet. This is the place where Dr. Bob first
met Bill W.--the other co-founder of Alcoholics
Anonymous. At meetings at the Gate Lodge, the
two men shared their experiences and understood
each other’s struggles with alcohol. Although they
didn’t originate the concept of group meetings,
it was the power of the shared experience that
convinced them to incorporate it as an important
element of AA
place and a popular place to honor the man who
dedicated his life to helping others. Several other
destinations of historical importance include the
lobby of the Mayflower Hotel downtown where
Bill W. used the public phone in the lobby to call
Dr. Bob--the man who would help to change his
life. Additional locations include the AA Archives
located on N. Main Street and the Dr. Bob’s Way
street sign (Olive Street) next to Summa St. Thomas
Hospital in North Hill, which acknowledges
Dr. Bob alongside Sister Ignatia Gavin’s work
with alcoholic patients.
You’ll probably also see people gathering at Mount
Peace Cemetery on Aqueduct Street in West Akron.
The rolling green span is Dr. Bob’s final resting
Museum and gift shop on Ardmore Avenue.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
Akron History Hike
1pm or 7pm at John Brown House (FREE)
550 Copley Rd, Akron
Join Summit Metro Parks and the Summit County
Historical Society for this hike from the John Brown
House to the John Brown Monument at the
Akron Zoo.
13th Annual Summer Solstice Festival
4pm at Sarah’s Vineyard (FREE)
1204 W Steels Corner Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
Don’t miss this outdoor wine, art, and music
festival! Featuring Sarah’s Vineyard wines
exclusively, local food vendors, art vendors, and live
local bands. The festival continues all weekend visit sarahsvineyardwinery.com for the full schedule.
‘Let Me Go’
8pm at The Nightlight Cinema ($8.50)
30 N High St, Akron
A fractured narrative builds toward an impending
confrontation as a haunted young woman realizes
the specter of guilt has taken up residence in
her home, bringing to the fore a terrible secret
known only to her husband. Through a surrealist
daydream, the past, the search for truth, and the
process of healing are met with the transcendent
intercessor of music. Sound becomes touch and
music, a catalyst for forgiveness.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Carl Strong
June 18-20 at Funny Stop Comedy Club ($7-$14)
1757 State Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
Hold on to your seats and your funny bones… It's
almost impossible to categorize Carl Strong. He
delivers a blend of satire, observational comedy,
impressions and off the wall characterizations that
set him apart from other comedians.
Local Artists Showcase
5pm at Old 97 Cafe (FREE)
1503 Kenmore Blvd, Akron
Join Old 97 Cafe to support local artists and
artisans, including Urban Buzz’s handcrafted
beeswax candles, Lindsay Jean-Marie’s knit and
crochet women’s outerwear, and Eric Young’s
repurposed silverware jewelry, among others!
Elevation
Benefiting the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
6:30pm at The Ledges Shelter ($75)
701 Truxell Rd, Peninsula
Elevation is the only summer party where there's a
drink bar AND a trail mix bar, and your trail shoes
and dancing shoes are one and the same. Start
your evening off with a hike on the Ledges Loop
in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, then enjoy live
bands and delicious food and drink. Sit around a
campfire, dance under the stars, and enjoy the
(continued on page 8)
THE Devil Strip |
5
United Way
of Summit County
most interesting person
WhaT ThIS place needS
IS MORe paThWayS
OUT Of pOveRTy.
United Way is a champion for building a more prosperous and
sustainable Summit County community, for all of us. That’s why
we support Bridges Summit County, a community collaboration to
reduce poverty in a comprehensive way. Bridges Summit County
brings people from all sectors and economic classes together to
support those who are moving out of poverty.
cOMMUnITy WORkShOpS
Join our work to end poverty in Summit County! One-day Bridges
Summit County community workshops are an opportunity to understand the dynamics that cause and maintain poverty. This training
also provides tools and strategies for everyone in our community to
help with the effort to prevent, reduce and alleviate poverty.
Find out more at: summitbridges.org/workshops
“GeTTInG ahead” WORkShOpS
Are you looking for your own pathway out of poverty? Getting
Ahead is a series of workshops that help people in poverty build
their resources for a more prosperous future for themselves, their
families and their community. Each workshop has 8 to 12 people,
and meets weekly for nine weeks.
Find out more: summitbridges.org/getting-ahead
BECAUSE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
WHEN WE lIve UnITed.
United Way of Summit County
UWSUMMIT.ORG
Dear
Mr. Van Awesome
by Chris Horne
D
ave “Doc” Rich has posted only two
videos on YouTube. In one, it’s October
8, 2011 and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
is playing at Doc’s wedding reception. No
one, however, is even pretending they know the
dance. Not that it matters because one man has
seized control of the dance floor and with it the
wiggling crowd. He is thin, bald, be-spectacled and
amazing. Fans of “Arrested Development” might
mistake him in the poorly lit venue for Buster Bluth.
But it’s a cheap comparison; Buster never had
moves like this. Mate the prisyadka—those squatleap-kicks in the Russian kazatsky—with the Funky
Chicken then add plenty of freelancing, and you’ve
got it about right.
This—“the Dirty Bird,” as he called it—was not
just Dan Van Auken’s signature move but a series
of them, performed like jazz, all-engrossing and
improvised. One by one, it spreads but only in
pieces because no one but Dan could do it in
whole. While not at his absolute best there, he was
at least at his better, a practiced abandon of the
unassuming and straight-laced posture that marked
his non-dancing moments.
The other video, over an hour long, is from Dan’s
memorial service almost two years and nine months
later. It is, of course, solemn and quiet, the period
at the end of a sentence that began when he was
first diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a
brutal and aggressive brain cancer that stole him
from his family, friends, students, colleagues and a
romance that ended too early. This cancer would
rob him, an avid runner, of his mobility, his energy
and in time, some of his cognitive abilities. But
it could not keep him out of the classroom, and
it would not become an excuse to put himself
above others. He was as extraordinary in his grit,
selflessness and devotion as he was remarkably,
if not deceptively, average—a Clark Kent nesting
doll inside of whom was something seemingly
indestructible.
This is how to live like Dan Van Auken.
most interesting person
Perhaps the bully thought Dan, who was born
without his left hand, was an easy target. That part
is unclear but what his dad, Steven Van Auken,
knows is that the bully was unsuccessful.
“The other boys wouldn’t have it,” Steve says.
“They took care of him.”
These other boys were Dan’s friends. This circle
began in kindergarten at Case Elementary with
Philip Swift, Gabe Schray, Pat Carney and Steve
Caynon. Their numbers grew as they grew older,
adding Doc Rich, Ted Mallison, Ben Tausig, Mark
Brncik, Greg Madonia, Eric Pollack, Nick Milkovich
and others. Somehow they’ve stayed tight through
adulthood despite the geographic distance
between them now.
“He came close to hurting my feelings a few
times,” Doc says. Their first meeting foretold of
such bluntness. Doc joined the group to play guitar
for the soundtrack, which he had to do live on set
because they had limited editing ability. Dan took
one look at him and asked, “Who’s this asshole?”
This brotherhood was evidence of the adaptability
Dan had to master. It’s one thing to learn to type
one-handed, but his bigger challenge learning to
navigate a world that sometimes rewards smallminded people for their meanness. “I’m sure he
encountered cruel statements,” Steve says, “but he
never liked to talk about it. He wanted to put his
energy into friendships.”
to know each other over email as he recovered
from chemo. Eventually she asked him out and
on Halloween, in lieu of beer, they met over decaf
tea at Starbucks. It went well, but abruptly Dan
said, “I have to go.” It was still early in the evening
and raining outside, so Katie assumed she’d done
something wrong. But they swapped numbers and
he kissed her sweetly on the cheek before leaving,
later texting that he was sorry to bolt but that he
was exhausted from his treatments. The cancer
didn’t scare her.
“At that point, it wasn’t anything I was worried
about. To be totally honest with you, it sounded
like he was so confident in being well that it didn’t
was bleak. They had been through this before.
Their friend Steve Caynon passed away in 2004,
at age 24, after fighting leukemia for three years.
A charismatic guy who played in Houseguest and
starred in several of the short movies, he was the
true subject of Philip’s documentary, “Sincerely,
PV Reese,” which opens as a commemorative for
the 10th anniversary of “Dear Mothman” before
exploring their
collective grief.
For Dan’s family, the journey ahead of them was
likewise heartbreakingly familiar. In 1994, when he
was only 14 years old, and Betsy just 11, Dan lost
his mother, Karen Van Auken, to an illness.
“It was hard for him to see his mother suffer,”
Steve says. “It forced him to find more strength.
He’d been tested and was able to relate to great
suffering. I think that’s part of the reason he went
into teaching.”
Opposite page: Katie and Dan and Dan running
a marathon. Left: Dan w Houseguest: (L to R)
Gabe Schray, Dan Van Auken, David Whited,
Steve Clements and Ted Mallison (Photo courtesy
of Dave Rich)
--------------------------------------------------------------“They were their own crowd,” Dan’s sister, Betsy
Van Auken Walker, says. “We joked he didn’t have
girlfriends because he was hanging out with his
friends all the time.”
On June 20-21, most of these friends will be in
town again for the Danstravaganza, a two-night,
two-venue fundraiser featuring three otherwise
inactive bands, including one of Dan’s favorites,
Houseguest, and Drummer, famously featuring
the aforementioned Mr. Carney. Already, it’s raised
$20,000 to help pay for Van Auken Field, a new
running track at the school in Wadsworth where
Dan taught.
The friendships, which Steve once worried might
never materialize, multiplied. In those last few
months, he would sometimes get jealous of the
time these friends got with his son so he reminded
himself it was all a gift. When the cancer was
discovered, on May 3, 2013, it was so advanced
Dan was rushed into surgery the same day. Steve
and his wife Christine were in Florida when they
got the call.
In high school, they were less a clique than a
collective, making music and short movies that
lived in the overlap on a Venn diagram of Mr.
Show, Dogme 95 and Elephant 6. The weirdness of
their work— examples: “Close Quarters Celebrity
Trivia” and “Basquiat 2”—fits the primordial soup
from which these guys arose, a heady mix of their
teenage boredom and Akron’s late 90s stasis, that
calm between the rubber industry’s collapse and
the city’s relatively recent revival.
“I thought Dan would die before we could get
back,” he says. “Every day after that was a bonus.”
Dan was one of the stars of “Dear Mothman,”
which at 56 minutes was their longest feature. He
portrayed a skeptical reporter who, despite Deep
Throat-like calls from the comically high-pitched
P.V. Reese, refused to believe the Mothman existed
and blasted anyone who did. The character hewed
closely to Dan’s personality.
“In our group of friends, we all played a different
role. Dan was the level-headed individual,” says
Philip Swift, who helmed most of those flicks
behind his VHS camera, which led him to teaching
digital media for Young Audiences New York.
His early onset maturity inspired nicknames like
“Grandpa Dan” and “Old Man Dan,” which
inspired his friends to frustrate him with elaborate
pranks, like wrapping his bed in aluminum foil.
But Dan was no shrinking violet. One of
Houseguest’s most dedicated fans, he was also
their official critic because he didn’t blink when
asked his opinion. That performance? Not your
best. Your new song? He didn’t like it.
--------------------------------------------------------------It was not love at first sight. In fact, Katie Krumreig
didn’t think much about it when she first met Dan.
She was still married at the time—“So, not looking
for a boyfriend.”—and he had just started at
Central Intermediate School in Wadsworth where
she was teaching music part-time. She vaguely
remembers that he was “very quiet, very nice.”
Four years later, she moved to another building.
In the spring of 2013, friends of hers who worked
with Dan explained what he was going through.
Katie sent an email wishing him well but didn’t
hear back, which made sense. She kept him in her
prayers and moved along.
faze him either.” Katie and Dan may have been
alone in their confidence.
His sister Betsy says her hope was shattered shortly
after his surgery when a nurse told the family—
without tact and in a public setting—he didn’t have
long to live. Dan didn’t acknowledge that.
“He put his faith in medicine and science and
clinical trials,” she says. But every MRI was anxietyproducing because they never came back with
good news. “Part of the hope would be gone after
each one but he would say, ‘I’m going to continue
to fight.’ He never felt sorry for himself—no ‘woe is
me,’ he just stayed focused on the future.”
Steve, who researched glioblastoma multiforme,
which Dan refused to do, says he was briefly
optimistic his son could be “the guy who beats
this”—and Dan took part in medical trials to
avail him of every opportunity—but “no
one has ever gotten better after being
diagnosed” with GMF.
According to American Brain Tumor
Association statistics, the median survival
rate is 14.6 months. The tumor cells
come from normal brain
cells, which
Months later, that September, she thought she saw
him in Highland Square but wasn’t sure and “didn’t
want to be that weird, creepy girl,” choosing
instead to email him again. It worked. He wrote
back and said he was out with friends watching the
Browns game. And if she had come up to him?
“He said, ‘I probably would have chalked it up to
another woman throwing herself at this gorgeous
specimen of a male.’ And I’m just like, ‘Okay.
You’re funny.’”
As it turned out, they were also both Michigan
fans. His mother graduated from the university
and he embraced the opportunity to out-of-place.
Once, he ran through the school cafeteria with an
enormous Wolverines flag. So Katie and Dan got
mask them, and they
reproduce in large numbers quickly,
sustained by the brain’s ample
blood supply.
“It was hard to be hopeful,” Doc
says. For this group of friends, it
wasn’t just that Dan’s prognosis
It was no small miracle that Dan convinced his
principal, Joanne Gahan, to let him address his
students on speakerphone the day after he had a
softball-sized tumor removed from his brain. Her
nervous faith was repaid as he went, kid-by-kid,
asking them questions about their day. He even
got big laughs when he asked one pupil if she was
wearing pink, which she was, as usual.
Victoria Albanese, a Wadsworth school counselor
who was his “work mom,” says the call “was his
way of saying, ‘I see you and you’re here
with me.’”
Facing a diagnosis most everyone else considered a
death sentence, Dan remained stubbornly himself.
That meant getting back to the classroom after the
surgery prematurely ended his previous school year.
He made finishing the next school year his one
goal. “The fight was never for him,” Katie says. “It
was for his dad. It was for his sister and brother-inlaw and his new nephew, and his students.” Betsy
says, “His commitment to teaching was
how some people would commit to
marriage.”
Elizabeth Davis, who worked with
Dan for six years, rotating teams of
the same students, praises Dan’s work
in the classroom but remembers him in
that holistic, more-than-a-teacher
teacher way.
One year, the powers-that-be
assigned to his class a young
man who had, like Dan, been
born without his left hand. The
kid stayed in his shell but Dan
patiently waited. He didn’t push it.
Nothing seemed different the day that
student walked into Elizabeth’s class,
took his seat and volunteered to answer
a question as she quizzed the room.
When he raised his left arm, all she
could see was the smiley face drawn on
his nub. She burst into laughter. He told
her, “Mr. Van Auken said he used to do
that to his teachers too.”
THE Devil Strip |
7
out and about
Go ahead... just TRI it
by Katie Wheeler
S
o there I was… staring at my computer at
the intersection of “I haven’t tried anything
new in a while” and “what’s the worst that
could happen?”
A couple years ago, I signed up for my first
triathlon. I was online looking for a new
challenge and somehow stumbled out of the
running events pages and into the triathlon
section – and then I apparently blacked out.
For the life of me I cannot recall what made
me think signing up for a triathlon was a good
idea. I had no idea what went into a triathlon
and had certainly never trained for one. I was
on a swim team for all of about five seconds in
middle school and didn’t even own a bike when I
registered, but apparently my brain decided that
was enough and I was good to go.
I met up with a friend who was doing the same
race that I had signed up for, and had raced in
triathlons before. She started telling me about
things like “transitions” and “fueling,” and the
more she talked, the more wine I drank. I mean,
until then I didn’t even realize I would have to
figure out how to swim AND bike AND run – all
in the same clothes. What kind of mystery outfit
can do all of those things?!
The day of the race, the waves in Lake Erie were
so big that they had to cancel the swim. My first
foray into multi-sport events would actually be a
DUathlon, or a run-bike-run, which was probably
better for my survival in the long run. It went
better than you probably would have expected,
but I was ticked off that I was only a du-athlete
and signed up right away for another triathlon. I
was hooked.
It’s two years later and I have fallen in love with
(continued from page 5)
company of fellow park lovers! All proceeds benefit
the TRAILS FOREVER Legacy Fund to preserve our
national park trails. Visit conservancyforcvnp.org
for tickets.
one of the oldest car shows in America, the 58th
Annual Classic, Antique & Collector Car Show
at Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, presented with
the Ohio Region Classic Car Club of America. On
display are 400 classic, antique and collector cars
manufactured from 1925-1990.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Free Akron Yoga Summer Solstice Festival
6pm at Howe Meadow (FREE)
4040 Riverview Rd, Cuyahoga Falls
Celebrate the beginning of summer with 108
salutes to the sun and Kirtan with the sensational
Brenda McMorrow! In addition we will offer a
yoga dance party, local music, healing modalities,
meditations, and other fun activities for the whole
family. Visit facebook.com/freeakronyoga for
more information.
Akron Autism 5k Run & Walk
9am at Lock 3 ($30)
Let's Lace It. Race It. and Face Autism Together!
Join us for the fifth annual Akron Autism 5k Run
and Walk! This is a fun, healthy, and effective way
to show your support for all those impacted by
autism in our community and to raise funds for the
Autism Society of Greater Akron.
Visual Rhythm
1pm at Summit Artspace (FREE)
Part of Summit Artspace’s Fresh Art exhibit, at this
kid-friendly workshop attendees will use words
to construct a fun collage! Find your inner voice
with this unique take on art and language. Visit
akronareaarts.org for registration details.
‘Top Gun’
11:15pm at The Nightlight ($8.50)
30 N High St, Akron
Do you feel the need, the need for speed?
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
58th Annual Father’s Day Car Show
9am at Stan Hywet ($14)
714 N Portage Path, Akron
Celebrate Father’s Day at an Akron tradition and
8
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
The Boiling Point: The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Nighttime
7pm at Metro RTA Downtown Transit Center
($5 suggested donation)
631 S Broadway, Akron
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
was first a book written by novelist Mark Haddon
and then adapted by Simon Stephens. The story is
set in Swindon and London, England, and is about
the mystery of the death of a neighbor's dog and
the investigation of the dog’s death by fifteen
year-old Christopher Boone, who is on the autism
spectrum. The story also explores his relationships
with his parents and his school mentor. Everyone is
welcome to come and read or simply listen and join
the discussion afterwards.
the world of triathlons. For
someone like me who gets bored very easily
in the face of routine, the idea of having three
sports to pick from on training days is awesome.
I’ve also found that it’s a lot kinder on my body.
Swimming hurts a lot less for me than running
does, and you can get so much farther on a bike
in the span of an hour than you can running. You
see some awesome things while you’re out there
pedaling along. I still enjoy running, but the cross
training has really helped me improve as a
runner too.
There are more opportunities in this area to
get involved in multi-sport racing than you
would think, and the triathlon at Munroe Falls
Metropark on June 21 is the perfect race for a
new duathlete or triathlete. It’s a smaller race so
you don’t have to worry about fighting through
a mass of people, and a lot of it is contained
Outdoor and
athletic events
RACES AND SPECIAL RUNS
Irish 5k Run
June 13, Cuyahoga Falls
riverfrontirishfest.com
Firestone Metro Park / Warner Road Lot
June 16, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
550 E. Warner Rd., Akron
Munroe Falls Triathlon
June 21, Munroe Falls
champracing.org
Rubber City Race Series, 8k, 1 mile
June 27, Akron
rubbercityraceseries.org
Stow Firecracker 4 Miles (4 mile and 3k)
July 4th, Stow
FunInStow.com
Firecracker 5k and Youth Race
July 4th, Hudson
champracing.org
Liberty Park/Pond Brook Conservation Area
July 7, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
3973 E. Aurora Rd., Twinsburg
Silver Creek Metro Park/Pheasant Run Area
Tuesday, July 21, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
5000 Hametown Rd., Norton
within the park.
If
the swim is the part that’s scaring you, you
can practically touch the bottom for the entire
swim, and the bike course is well policed. The run
is nice and shady and the race finishes right along
the lake.
Anyone who is even remotely interested in multisport races should absolutely give it a go, and
one of the best races to jump in and get your feet
wet is right around the corner. Go ahead and TRI
it, Akron. What's the worst that could happen?
For more info on the
Munroe Falls Triathlon:
www.champracing.org/2015_tri_schedule/
triathlon__munroe_falls
Rubber City Race Series, Half Marathon, 10k
August 15, Akron
rubbercityraceseries.org
Health and Wellness
Complimentary Community Classes at
Lululemon Akron Showroom Saturday
mornings at 9am
Ongoing Run & Ride!
APEX Running
Wednesdays after work, this run starts at 6:30
pm from the Urban Eats Trailhead in Akron's
Downtown Historic District and continues along the
towpath in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Portage Lakes Running Club
Roads - Every Tuesday at 6pm at various places
around Akron
Crooked River Trail Runners
Trails - Every Thursday at 6:30pm at various
locations in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Akron Bicycle Club
Every Thursday at 6:30pm from Deep Lock Quarry
Parking Lot
Bike Party Akron
A festive evening social ride through the City of
Akron. Every 3rd Friday of the month.10-12 miles.
Bring Lights, Bring Music. Ride starts @ Lock 3
@ 7pm
Summer Around Akron
How to make the most out of your
SUMMER AROUND AKRON
Though our summer selves hibernate all winter, somewhere in the back of the mind of every Akronite there’s the small, comforting knowledge that no matter how bitter the chill or how deep the snow,
one day we’ll get to play outside again. From this knowledge springs a small kernel of hope, which itself may be the core of this city’s seemingly boundless optimism, the faith that Yes,
this may be bad but it’s going to get better so keep moving forward. And now, here we are, at our reward. The summer.
RECURRING EVEN TS
Brew at the Zoo ($14-$31)
Wednesday, June 10 at 6 - 9 pm
Enjoy a casual beer tasting from local breweries as
you stroll through the zoo. Tastings are included
and full-size beers will be available for purchase
at $4 each. This first one kicks it old school with
an 80s theme. “Christmas in July” (July 15) and
Football Tailgate Night (September 9) follow. Buy
tickets online at akronzoo.org
Akron Racers
Thursday, June 11 at 7:05 pm
Firestone Stadium
1575 Firestone Parkway, Akron
The Racers return to Firestone Stadium to open
their season at home with Browns legend Bernie
Kosar will throw out the first pitch. Later in the
homestand: Superhero and Princess Day (June 14),
Trick or Treat Night (June 17), Summit Co. Softball
HOF night (June 21) and many other fun nights.
Visit akronracers.org for details and tickets. Season
runs through August 11.
Akron RubberDucks
Canal Park
Whether it’s “Two for Tuesdays” tickets, “Thirsty
Thursday” draft beers, “Friday Night Fireworks” or
their many special promotions, the RubberDucks
always have something for you to enjoy. Plus,
baseball! Home games continue through
September 3. Get details, merch and tickets at
akronrubberducks.com
WONE’s Rock the Lock
Fridays, May 22 - September 4 (FREE)
Tribute bands perform free at Lock 3, including the
aural doppelgangers for Rush, AC/DC, Bruce
The Ohio Chautauqua Series
Comes to Akron!
Presented by Summit County Historical Society and the
Akron-Summit County Public Library.
Tues., June 23 - Sat., June 27
@ Hardesty Park, 1615 W. Market St., Akron
Performances under the big tent every night.
• Local Musicians at 6:30pm.
• Humanity Scholars’ Journey Stories at 7:30pm
Tues., 6/23 – Edith Russell, Titanic Survivor
Wed., 6/ 24 – Olive Ann Oatman, Indian captive
Thur., 6/25 – Henry David Thoreau
Fri., 6/26 – J. Goldsborough Bruff, Gold Rush ‘49er
Sat., 6/27 – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Youth and Adult Workshops Each Day
For information, www.summithistory.org
or www.facebook.com/OhioChautauquaInAkron
THE Devil Strip |
9
summer around akron
Springsteen and George Thorogood with local
opening acts like Angie Haze, Shivering Timbers,
Elipsus, the Whiskey Kings and more. Gates open
at 6 pm and the concerts start at 7 pm. For more
information lock3live.com
Saturday Night Concerts at Lock 3 (up to $10)
Saturdays, June 27 – September 5 at 6 pm
The series opens with “Old School Soul,” includes
tribute bands of the Stevie Wonder Experience and
the Beatles then ends with the real Sheila E. For
more information, visit lock3live.com
Hardesty Park Concerts (FREE)
Mondays, June 8 – August 10 at 7-9 pm
1615 W. Market St., Akron
Featuring Wanda Hunt Band, Howard Street Blues
Band, Acid Cats and more.
akronohio.gov/communityevents
Summer Biking Spree
July 1 - August 31
Explore by bike the multipurpose trails managed
by Summit Metro Parks – and earn rewards
during this third annual event! Cycling forms
with the list of trail sections available June 15 at
summitmetroparks.org.
Firestone Park Concerts (FREE)
Tuesdays, June 9 – August 11 at 7-9 pm
1480 Girard St., Akron
Featuring The Kingbees, The Juke Hounds, Swizzle
Sticks and more. akronohio.gov/communityevents
Shadyside Park Concerts (FREE)
Wednesdays, June 10 – August 12 at 7-9 pm
1235 Kenmore Blvd., Akron
Featuring Conestoga, Southbound, JiMiller, Mystic
Taxi and more. akronohio.gov/communityevents
Gospel Sundays
Sundays, July 26 – August 30 at 5 pm – 7 pm
Lock 4 (off Bowery St, behind the Civic)
Featuring Henry Dunn’s Road to Glory on the Road,
the Gospel Tracks and First Apostolic Faith Church.
For more information, visit lock3live.com
Lock Bottom Blues & Jazz Club (FREE)
Wednesdays, July 8 – Sept. 2
Lock 4 (off Bowery St, behind the Civic)
Enjoy great blues and jazz acts like Dan Wilson,
the Wanda Hunt Band, Horns & Things and The
Stingers in one of Akron’s best outdoor (and most
overlooked) venues. For more information, visit
lock3live.com
Flicks on the Falls (FREE)
Falls River Square, Cuy Falls
Thursdays, June 4-August 13
Family friendly film fare for free:
June 18............................................... new “Annie”
July 9................................................. “Paddington”
August 13........................ “Muppets Most Wanted”
Cartoons start just after dusk and the feature
presentation starts at dark. Stadium-style seating
is available but you can bring your own chairs and
strollers for the kiddos. Just don’t bring your pets.
More at cfo.cityofcf.com/web/our-city/falls-riversquare/flicks-falls
Downtown@Dusk (FREE)
Thursdays, June 18 – August 6 at 6:30-8:30 pm
Akron Art Museum, One S. High St., Akron
Outdoor concerts featuring The Numbers Band, Mo
Mojo, Umojah Nation, Ryan Humbert and more.
akronartmuseum.org
Goodyear Heights Metro Park Concerts (FREE)
Fridays, June 12 – August 7 at 7-9 pm
2077 Newton St., Akron
Featuring Horns & Things, Dixie Soul, Juke in the
Box, Gary Shreve & Memphis Prowlers and more
akronohio.gov/communityevents
10
Brunch on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
Every Saturday and Sunday through summer
The Brunch Train (“…you’re on a gravy train with
biscuit wheels…”) departs Akron-Northside Station
at 10:45 am. Special breakfast and lunch menus
for Father’s Day on June 21. Details at
cvsr.com/calendar
The Market at Lock 3
Fridays, June 19 – Sept. 11 (except. July 3 or 10)
Load up on fresh, local produce and specialty
food items while SummaCare provides recipes and
healthy eating tips. Prizes every week.
Summer Concert Series
(prices vary but include camping)
Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
12001 Nelson Ledge Rd, Garrettsville
(440) 548-2716 | nlqp.com
July 10 - July 12..............................Blue Oyster Cult
and David Allen Coe
July 17........................................ Grateful Fest 2015
August 14..................................... Willie Nelson and
Old Crow Medicine Show
Sept 4.......................................Summerdance 2015
Heinz Poll Summer Dance Festival (FREE)
Interactive kid’s program by UA Dance Institute
at 7:45pm; Performances following at 8:45pm
Akrondancefestival.org
July 24-25......NEOS Dance Theatre at Firestone Park
July 31-Aug 1............. GroundWorks Dance Theatre
at Glendale Cemetery
August 7-8.................. Verb Ballets at Hardesty Park
August 14-15............................... PHILADANCO! at
Goodyear Hts. Metro Park
Ohio Chautauqua (FREE)
Tuesday, June 23-Saturday, June 27
Hardesty Park
Education and entertainment collide at this
reenactment of the famous Chautauqua movement
when that red-striped tent goes up and actors
portray historical figures like Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., Henry David Thoreau and Olive Ann
Oatman, among others. For more information, visit
Summithistory.org
Akron Symphony Orchestra Sundays
July 26............................................... Firestone Park
August 2.................................... Glendale Cemetery
August 9.............................................Hardesty Park
August 16........................Goodyear Hts. Metro Park
MON TH OF JUNE
Riverfront Irish Festival
June 12-14 at Falls River Square
2085 Front St., Cuy Falls
Music, food, beverages, games and entertainment
all weekend with a 5k on Saturday morning
and mass at 11 am on Sunday. Details at
riverfrontirishfest.com
Free Metro Parks lake swimming
Saturday, June 13
Munroe Falls Metro Park
521 S. River Rd., Munroe Falls
Silver Creek Metro Park
5000 Hametown Rd., Norton
Celebrate summer with a day of free lake
swimming from 10 am to 8 pm. Regularly, daily
admission will run you $4 for adults and teens and
$3 for ages 2 to 12. Kids under 2 are free. For
details, season passes and more programs, visit
summitmetroparks.org
Summer Concert Series and Food Truck Frenzy
Sunday, June 14 at 4-8 pm
Keyser Barn, 851 West Bath Rd., Cuy Falls
Summer Solstice Wine, Art
& Music Festival ($10)
Friday, June 19 – Sunday June 21
Sarah’s Vineyard
1204 West Steels Corners Rd, Cuy Falls
Admission at this 3-day outdoor festival includes
tasting tickets and a Sarah’s Vineyard wine glass.
Lots of food vendors and live performances by Alex
Bevan, Get on UP, Brian Keith Wallen, the Alan
Greene Band, Mike Lenz, Steve Cipriano Band and
Mo’ Mojo. Details at sarahsvineyardwinery.com
Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team vs.
Akron Fire Firefighters vs. the Akron Racers
Saturday, June 20
Firestone Stadium
projectsummitohio.com
Rock the Docks
Friday, June 26 - Sunday, June 28
2459 Canfield Rd, Akron
Food, fireworks, music and lots of family-friendly
fun down by Springfield Lake. On Sunday, get $3
off wristband with donation of two canned goods.
For more, find Rock the Docks on Facebook.
Thirsty Dog 8K & I Mile Race
Saturday, June 27
InfoCision Stadium, Akron
The kickoff of the inaugural Rubber City Race Series
culminates with an on-field finish at InfoCision
Stadium followed by a Thirsty Dog Beer Festival.
REPEAT Thirsty Dog Beer Festival! Learn more at
rubbercityraceseries.com
Glendale Steps Murals official unveiling
Saturday, June 27at 3-6 pm
Glendale Steps
Glendale Ave. or S. Walnut St., Akron
Enjoy the murals produced by a 2014 Lock 3
Summer Arts Experience program through the City
of Akron, which hired artists to develop art projects
to be produced and displayed within downtown.
Doubles as the end stop for the "Akron2Akron"
neighborhood tour.
MON TH OF JULY
Rib, White and Blue Festival (FREE admission)
Wednesday, July 1 - Saturday, July 4 at 11am-11pm
South Main Street
Barons of the barbeque from around the
world gather to battle for rib supremacy with
a soundtrack that includes ZOSO, Hollywood
Nights, Fleetwood Mix (not a typo) and the Akron
Symphony Orchestra with the Freedom Brass Band
and Alex Bevan. Details at akronribfestival.org
Downtown Akron Fireworks
July 4 at 9:45pm, Lock 3
Locate yourself and loved ones somewhere near
downtown, affix your body/eyes in downtown’s
general direction and look up at the sky near the
appointed time.
summer around akron
Music by the Lake
Tuesday, July 7 at 5 - 8 pm
Munroe Falls Metro Park/Lake Area
521 S. River Rd., Munroe Falls
Enjoy free lake swimming beginning at 5 pm and
a one-hour concert by the Metro Parks Ensemble
near Maple Beach Shelter at 6:30 pm.
MON TH OF AUGUST
Bridgestone Invitational
August 5-9
Firestone Country Club
In case you want to see some of the world’s best
doing their thing in person without taking too long
a drive from home. Details at PGAtour.com
Italian-American Festival (FREE admission)
Thursday, July 9 – Saturday, July 11
11am - 11pm
Lock 3
A family-friendly festival with an “infectious Italian
atmosphere” and lots of food to enjoy. Nightly
concerts, including Bon Jovi tribute band Crush
and Journey tribute band Separate Ways. Details
available at it-am.org
summer bucket list
"It isn't summer until I have enjoyed..."
How our friends are spending their Summer Vacation
“Disc golf, laying in the pool, walking the dogs in the Goodyear Metro Park
and my very favorite hobby of kayaking and fishing.” — Vickie Uhl
“Karaoke at the Upper Deck!” — Michael A. Black
“Riding bikes on the Towpath or the Bike and Hike trail.” — Colleen Segedy
Festa Italiana!
Friday, July 17 – Sunday, July 19
Falls River Square
2085 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls
Authentic Italian food, grape stomping, Italian
language lessons, morre, bocce tournaments and
much more! The Festa 5k on Saturday morning
with a Zumbathon from 10:30am to 2pm and mass
at 11am on Sunday. Details at festaitalianacf.com
African-American Festival ($10 after 5 pm)
Sunday, July 19 at 11 am-9 pm
Lock 3
All day festival concludes with a performance by
rock band WAR at 8 pm. For more information, visit
akronafricanculture.com
Taste of Akron
Thursday, July 23 at 6-10pm
Hardesty Park
1615 W. Market St., Akron
Get the full flavor of Akron by sampling appetizers,
entrees and desserts from a variety of area
restaurants and food trucks. Admission is free but
samples’ll cost ya. Food tickets are $2 each.
akronartsexpo.org/taste_of_akron.html
TubaSummer
Sunday, July 26 at 7 pm
Guzzetta Ampitheater
University of Akron
224 E. Buchtel Ave., Akron
If you love the tuba like we love the tuba, we know
you’re going to love TubaSummer.
Summit County Fair
July 28 – August 2
229 E. Howe Rd., Tallmadge
(330)633-6200 | summitfair.com
From rides, pig races and a petting zoo to the
lemon-eating contest and the Rock ‘n Country
Cloggers, the Summit County Fair has something
for everyone who is interested in the kinds of
family-friendly you can typically find at a county
fair. Rides & concessions open at 12 pm. Admission
is $6 (ages 8 and older). An all-day ride pass will set
you back $14.
National Hamburger Festival ($5)
Saturday, August 8 – Sunday, August 9
Lock 3 Park, Downtown Akron
At this point, who cares whether Akron’s Menches
Brothers really invented the hamburger? We have
the National Hamburger Festival with its live music
and more than 50 different ways to enjoy a good
burger. Learn more at hamburgerfestival.com
Flair Fest (FREE)
Friday, August 14-Saturday, August 15
Lock 3 at Main Street, Akron
This LGBT festival, featuring art, food and
entertainment, brought the Indigo Girls to Akron
last year, coinciding with 2014 Gay Games. It’s
back this year to celebrate and commemorate
the success of the games, featuring Four Swedes
(ABBA tribute), Mystic Taxi and *the* Taylor Dayne
with Alex Newell, Rachel Roberts and the Ruthless.
“Cheap seats, Rubber Ducks games.” — Dominic Caruso
“Picnic on the lawn at Blossom and
listen to the orchestra under the stars.” — Arnold Tunstall
“Sitting on the rooftop patio at the Lockview.” — Joanna Wilson
“Blueberry picking at Greenfield Berry Farm!” — Lauren Garcia-Duplain
“Rent pontoons from Pier 619. Taking youngsters around Akron to historical sites including
the canal locks in CVNP (Cuyahoga Valley National Park) and through town, eventually
going to Canal Fulton to experience riding the canal boat in the canal.” — Brenda St Clair
“Hiking the Cuyahoga River bed starting at Blue Hen Falls,
ending at Buttermilk Falls.” — Alicia Wagner
“The Summit County Fair for sure!” — Sarah Emily Diaz
“Take a walk in Stan Hywet's amazing gardens. Ohio Shakespeare Festival
—awesome outdoor theatre. If it's raining and you want unusual shopping,
visit the Bomb Shelter! Eat breakfast at Blue Door for up-scale or at the
Front Door for a taste of reality served with love.” — Carolyn Behrman
“Rubber Ducks game, Portage Lakes fireworks, hamburger cook off, concert at Lock 3,
hiking in the most beautiful state parks in the country.” — Peggy Jolly Weaver
“The Soap Box Derby!” — Erin Stevens
“Downhill longboarding” — Jonathon James Smith
“The Akron Zoo! ...and the good old slip n' slide, of course.” — Rebecca Wesley
Porch Rokr (FREE)
Saturday, August 29
With bands, arts and lots of community, if Porch
Rokr isn’t already Akron’s signature event of the
summer, it’s fast on its way. This year, the party
moves to a stretch along Merriman Road from
Edgerton Road down to West Market. For details,
keep checking porchrokr.org
“Hiking the Gorge with the grandkids and
Countryside Farmers' Market—my new favorite!” — Jeanne Tassiello Jordan
“Kayaking!” — Rachael Gilliland
“Porch Rokr, hike to Mary Campbell cave at Gorge Park, biking from Akron to Barberton on
the Towpath with a stop for Hamburger Station’s lemonade.” — Rick Pavelko
“Ballet in the park.” — Laura Baker Cosentino
“I love the Saturday morning markets at Countryside Farmers' Market
at Howe Meadow. That defines summer and what is great about our area.
It’s located within a National Park, and just 15 minutes
from my house.” — Nancy Brennan
“Mini-golf and drive-ins.” — Stephanie Baker
“Hiking the Summit Metro Parks!” — John Vendetti
THE Devil Strip |
11
hike and picnic
EXPLORING THE RITCHIE LEDGES AT VIRGINIA KENDALL PARK
Roots and Recovery in a Primitive Swamp Bed
by M. Sophie Hamad
The Virginia Kendall Park Ledges Trail is my favorite
hiking trail because it saved my life.
The Overlook at Virginia Kendall Ledges
I’ve been hiking the Ritchie Ledges at Virginia
Kendall Park for as long as I can remember. My dad
and I visited them, usually at my request, on many
of our weekend father-daughter visits. We would
often follow our hikes with a meal of toasted
zatar bread with goat cheese. After leaving Ohio
as a teenager, I lived in other areas with abundant
natural beauty and exotic cuisine, so I didn’t think
I could miss the Ritchie Ledges or my dad’s goat
cheese pizzas.
I was wrong, and when I moved back to my
Dad’s house in Akron in May of 2007, brokenhearted and withdrawing from heroin, I realized
how much I had missed them. I spent that entire
summer on the Ledges Trail, sitting on boulders and
thinking. Hiking gave me an escape and helped
me rediscover my roots. It gave me the adrenaline
rush I desired. It made me breathe, which I needed
after sniffing toxic opiates for five years. When my
anxiety started up, I would go hike the Ledges.
When my legs and back started to feel restless,
again the Ledges came to my rescue. When I felt
sorrow and regret and guilt and time lost—again
the Ledges, always the Ledges. Hiking the Ritchie
Ledges was my private rehab.
This May marked eight years opiate-free. Of course
I had to celebrate by going to the Ledges. My
husband and I stopped at Sanabel Middle East
Bakery and took our kids and my brother for a hike
and picnic.
The Ledges Trail makes a big loop around the
Ritchie Ledges and a large meadow. There are
several shortcuts, as well as several connecting
trails, so this hike can be as long or short as it
needs to be. We had a short hike, because toddlers
make everything take longer.
The Ledges Trail provides incredible sensory
stimulation. It smells like wet earth. Trees take root
on rocks and cliffs covered in moss and lichen. 320
million years ago, the Ritchie Ledges were part of
a steamy swamp. The swamp deposited sand and
pebble sediments that compacted and became
Sharon Conglomerate, which was then shaped by
erosion into its current state of pebble-speckled
ledges and cliffs and boulders—a world of wonder.
Starting on the paved Ledges Road at the northeast
end of the parking lot, we took the first connector
trail down to the Ledges Trail. This section hits all
the best Ledges, as well as the Ice Box Cave. Sadly,
the Ice Box Cave is currently closed to the public
due to a declining bat population. It didn’t matter,
though. There is so much awe-inspiring beauty
radiating from the Ledges themselves that I have
never actually gone into the cave farther than a few
feet. (Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do
with fear of dark, tight spaces filled with bats.)
pieces in true Lebanese fashion and dipped into
labne (strained yogurt), fresh hummous and baba
ghanouje. We also tried spinach pies. The light,
fluffy dough was stuffed with tangy spinach
and onions.
We tried both kinds of stuffed grape leaves, and
both were delicious. The tender leaves were stuffed
with lightly seasoned fillings: parsley onions,
tomatoes and chickpeas for vegetarians, seasoned
rice and beef for omnivores. Sanabel’s tabbouli
was light and fresh, as was the house salad of
tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and onions
in lemon dressing.
We enjoyed our meal from what is quite possibly
the best natural vista in Northeast Ohio. Then we
stood atop the Ritchie Ledges and took in more
beauty with full bellies and happy hearts. As I
stood there, with one toddler in a baby carrier on
my back and his big brother at my side, I felt deep
gratitude for such beauty, and for all the Ritchie
Ledges have done for my soul’s path to inner peace.
Above: Sanabel Middle East Bakery
308 East South Street, Akron, OH 44311
(330) 253-4505
www.facebook.com/SanabelBakery
// Writer M. Sophie Hamad could eat Middle Eastern food
every day.
The stone steps are another shortcut back to the
paved Ledges Road. We hiked up the steps to the
paved road and then to the parking lot, grabbed
our picnic cooler from the car and headed toward
the big meadow. We crossed the meadow to look
for one of the surrounding picnic spots with a table.
All of the picnic spots have tables and grills, and
several have nice views. The one with the best view
is near the top of the Ritchie Ledges, behind the
Ledges Overlook. We found it empty, and set up
our feast.
We brought Sanabel’s fresh baked zatar bread,
cheese bread, and pita, which we ripped into
The Ledges Trail Bridge
12
The Akronist Archives
THREE SISTERS
launch Kickstarter for Nepali
mobile food business
by Chris Miller
Originally published on May 18, 2015 at akronist.com
After marrying into a Nepali family, Tiffany StacySubba realized that her new sisters-in-law have a
knack for cooking “momos,” a signature dish that
uses cabbage and meat in a hand-folded dumpling.
Realizing the difficulty mothers face
finding flexible work schedules,
Stacy-Subba teamed up with
her two sisters to launch
Three Sisters Momo, a
mobile food business that
aims to bring this Nepali
cuisine to neighborhoods
and events
around Akron.
women who have children to find employment
that’s flexible.”
The money donated will go toward a tent, a tarp,
pots and pans, a custom-built portable sink, a /new
camp stove, two portable tables and a
variety of utensils.
momos
To date, the sisters-in-law have
operated on a shoestring,
and Charly Murphy of Stray
Dog Cart has generously
donated equipment to
a signature dish
the startup, along with
that uses
helping to sell and serve
cabbage and meat
their food. Three Sisters
in a hand-folded
The momos have been
Momo also operated from a
dumpling.
popular among the refugee
popup location in North Hill at
community in North Hill, and
the Better Block event
now the three sisters are seeking
May 15-17.
community support to serve other
Akron residents.
The sisters use locally sourced ingredients, and the
dumplings are naturally vegan-friendly because
A recently lunched Kickstarter project seeks to raise
no eggs are used in the dough. (The Akronist’s
$1,800 to cover the cost of a mobile setup, with
own Working Class Vegan Man, Greg Milo, had
plans to expand and eventually offer employment to an opportunity to try the vegan momos and was
other refugee women in the community.
impressed.)
“When I first married into the family, I tried to
convince them that we should start a business
(making dumplings). It took a while to convince
them,” says Stacy-Subba. “It’s very difficult for
To find out more about their crowdfunding effort,
search “Three Sisters Momo” on Kickstarter.com.
For more info about Three Sisters Momo, visit
facebook.com/3sistersmomo.
NUEVO MODERN MEXICAN
& TEQUILA BAR
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR SEATING BUT
ADVENTURESOME TASTE BUDS REQUIRED FOR DINING
«««««
"This is the 3rd time we've been, and the 2nd time we ate at Nuevo (the first time we went,
we just had drinks). The drink selections are always unique and delicious, and the food is
outstanding. My husband had the carnitas, and he absolutely loved it. I had the soft-shelled
crab special, which was superb. Great atmosphere, wonderful and friendly service. We will
definitely be back!!" — Dined on 5/22/2015
54 East Mill St. Akron 44308
(330) 762-8000
nuevomodmex.com
Hours: M-Th 11-10, F 11-11, Sat 3-11
in the kitchen
Truckin' it with Kevin and J.J. Altomare, Chefs/Owners of
THE BEACHCOMBER TRUCK
by Abby Cymerman
If you ever need to find Kevin and J.J. Altomare,
they’re most likely at a local sushi spot. The
brothers enjoy fresh seafood so much, they decided
to add the Beachcomber Truck to their 3 Foodies
portfolio of growing businesses, which already
included two Hudson’s Restaurant locations and a
catering company.
That’s what challenges us as chefs. You use the
ingredients that you have, or that are in season,
and that’s what drives me: Did we bring enough
food? Did we write the right menu? Did we get the
right price point? The idea is to sell out; you don’t
want to bring the stuff back.
What menu item do you suggest for
our readers?
Kevin: The lobster roll is fun and different. We
poach the lobster and cool it. Then we make a
creamy salad with chunks of lobster meat, tarragon
and celery on a sweet split-top bun with spring
greens.
“Food truck followers are getting tired of tacos and
barbecue,” J.J. says. “As chefs, this creates a new
avenue for us. This is beachy, coastal cuisine with
Dressed in matching aloha shirts, chefs/owners
Kevin and J.J. Altomare are ready to serve coastal
cuisine from The Beachcomber Truck.
Floribbean flavors. We put a menu together that
went along with the name of the truck.”
They bought the food truck in mid-April from
Kendra St. Charles, who had been using family
recipes from her grandfather, the late Nick Yanko,
a restauranteur whose Beachcomber Sandwich was
a favorite at his Fairlawn eatery in the late 1960s
and ‘70s. The Altomares have the recipe for the
sandwich and the rights to sell it when the food
truck makes a stop in Fairlawn.
pretzel bun with caramelized onions, kraut and
Stadium Mustard.”
“I can’t base an entire menu on one item. We have
to have cuisine that makes sense,” J.J. says. “We
will do a lot of shrimp, fresh fish and other items
for people who don’t like seafood, like a ¼-pound
hot dog wrapped in bacon and served on a
The Beachcomber Truck will hit the parking lots of
Northeast Ohio until late October.
.
F
L
E
S
R
U
O
FOEUERIDSH YOUR COMMUNITY.
We almost bought a food truck six years ago to use
for catering. We went to buy it, and they had sent
the truck to auction that day. We pulled the trigger
too late. Right after we lost that truck, we opened
the Hudson’s location in Fairlawn so we wouldn’t
have had time to do it so we put it on the
back burner.
N
JOIN US AS THE AREA’S BEST FOOD TRUCKS SERVE UP SCRUMPTIOUS LUNCHES
AND TREATS TO SUPPORT CHILD GUIDANCE & FAMILY SOLUTIONS.
EVERY FRIDAY
THROUGH AUGUST 28
11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
18 NORTH FORGE ST. IN AKRON.
/
What will having the food truck allow you to
do from a culinary point of view?
Kevin: The food truck has a short season – six
months – but it's peak for local ingredients. We’re
using The Pierogi Lady, Trigo’s Market Bakery out
of Cuyahoga Falls and Cleveland-based companies
like Cleveland Kraut. We work with Thaxton’s
Organic Garlic here in Hudson; they’re like family to
us. And, we buy from Sunrise Farm in Millersburg.
J.J.: Over the last couple of years, we’ve done a
lot of Farm-To-Table Dinners on the catering side.
So when we started this truck, we said we’re
going to try to do new food that has our twist
on it and work with these farmers as much as
possible. It helps to build relationships with them
for our restaurants too. It’s brought another aspect
to it; the food truck allows us to get out of the
restaurant and see other things.
(AT THE CORNER OF EAST MARKET ST.)
Will the menu remain the same each time the
truck goes out?
J.J.: We can change the menu based on the event,
where we’re going, what the demographic is,
and that’s the part that intrigued us six years ago.
We can create a new menu every single night.
FOLLOW AKRON FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY
ON FACEBOOK FOR WEEKLY SPECIALS
AND A LIST OF FOOD TRUCKS WHO
WILL BE SERVING.
CGFS_FTF_DS-Ad.indd
14
| THE Devil 1Strip
Why did you decide to start a food truck?
Kevin: It was something that we had always toyed
around with doing, and then we were approached
about purchasing The Beachcomber Truck so we
looked at it, and it just ended up being the
right deal.
JUNE 2015 • VOL 1 • ISSUE #7
5/29/15 12:35 PM
Together, you own four businesses. Are you
guys kind of crazy?
J.J.: If you’re a good chef, you’ve gotta be.
Kevin: Maybe we should change the name of the
company to 3 Loco Foodies.
To catch up with The Beachcomber Truck, follow it
on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
// Writer Abby Cymerman’s new favorite word is
“Floribbean.”
HITTING THE ROAD
Check out The Beachcomber Truck this
summer at the following locations:
JUNE 12, Akron Food Truck Friday,
18. N. Forge St., Akron, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
JUNE 13, Summer Second Saturdays,
Downtown Hartville, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
JUNE 15, Riverfront Cruise In,
Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, 4-8 p.m.
JUNE 19 TO 21, Sarah’s Vineyard Summer
Solstice Festival, Fri. from 4-10:30 p.m., Sat.
from noon to 10:30 p.m., and Sun. from
noon to 6 p.m.
JUNE 26, Riverfront Concert Series by IROK,
JUNE 27, Hudson Flea at Evaporator Works,
51 S. Main St., Hudson, 11 a.m. to sellout
JUNE 28, Adopt-a-Pet Palooza,
9500 Sweet Valley Drive, Valley View,
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Akron al fresco
WHERE TO EAT LOCAL
when you want to enjoy the weather outside
by Abby Cymerman
ELEVATED EATS
Nuevo
54 E. Mill St, Akron
(330) 762-8000
nuevomodmex.com
Portage Lakes
Brewing Company
503 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron
(330) 644-2337
BY A BODY OF WATER
Lockview
207 S. Main St, Akron
(330) 252-5128
thelockview.com
On Tap Grille
562 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron
(330) 644-1664
ontapgrille.com
BY THE GLASS
Upper Deck Bar
357 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Rd, Akron
(330) 644-2338
upperdecklakes.com
Nauti Vine
(330) 644-5444
nautivinewine.com
The Coffee Pot Café
60 S High St., Akron
facebook.com/librarycoffeeshop
Valley Café
1212 Weathervane Ln., Akron
(330) 865-0101
valley-cafe.com
FOR SPORT
The Game Bar and
Grill at Canal Park
(330) 252-0804
thegameakron.com
Edgar's
530 Nome Ave, Akron
(330) 869-3000
edgarsrestaurant.com
DOWN IN THE VALLEY
Johnny J’s
1282 Weathervane Ln., Akron
(330) 865-6504
johnnyjspub.com
Pictured Above: The Pavilion at Sarah’s
Vineyard is open for the season and
they’re serving fresh pizza out there with
their intoxicating wines (PHOTO: Sarah’s
Vineyard/Coville Photography)
Sarah’s Vineyard
1204 W Steels Corners Rd,
Cuy Falls
(330) 929-8057
sarahsvineyardwinery.com
Uncorked
22 N High St, Akron
(330) 374-1850
uncorkedakron.com
Wolf Creek Winery
2637 Cleveland Mass. Rd, Norton
(800) 436-0426
wineryatwolfcreek.com
BY THE CRAFT-BREWED PINT
Aqueduct Brewing
529 Grant St #106, Akron
(330) 606-6583
facebook.com/AqueductBrewing
Craft Beer Bar
1846 Front St, Cuyahoga Falls
(234) 571-1409
craft-beer-bar.com
WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT
Akron Zoo
500 Edgewood Ave, Akron
(330) 375-2550
Akronzoo.org
Chin’s Place
(outdoor garden patio)
474 W Market St, Akron
(330) 434-1998
chinsplace.com
AFTER A RUN…OR BIKE…OR HIKE
The Winking Lizard
1615 Main St, Peninsula
(330) 467-1002
winkinglizard.com
Fisher’s Café
(330) 657-2651
fisherscafe.com
WHEN YOU WANT TO
CAFFEINATE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Nervous Dog
(330) 864-2326
nervousdog.com
Angel Falls
(330) 376-5282
Pub Bricco
1841 Merriman Rd, Akron
(330) 869-0035
pubbricco.com
The Merchant
1824 Merriman Rd, Akron
(330) 865-9510
themerchanttavern.com
WHEN YOU’RE FEELING “SQUARE”
Aladdin’s
(330) 535-0110
aladdinseatery.com
Mary Coyle's
(330) 253-1511
marycoyle.com
Mustard Seed Market & Café
(330) 666-7333
mustardseedmarket.com
Pictured above: The outdoor seating at
the Old 97 Café’ is almost as cool as the
indoor. (Photo courtesy of the Old 97 Café
Facebook page)
LIVE MUSIC FRIENDLY
Baxter’s
(234) 678-0761
baxtersbar.com
Old 97
1503 Kenmore Blvd, Akron
(330) 745-5493
old97cafe.vpweb.com
FALLING FOR THE FALLS
Burntwood Tavern
2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Cuy Falls
(330) 794-7085
burntwoodtavern.com
Cashmere Cricket
2235 Front St, Cuy Falls
(330) 928-8200
cashmerecricket.com
Chowder House
2028 Chestnut Blvd, Cuy Falls
(330) 794-7102
thechowderhousecafe.com
The Firehouse Grille and Pub
2097 Front St, Cuy Falls
(330) 940-2000
thefirehousegrilleandpub.com
FOR THE MARGARITA CROWD
El Rancho
1666 W Exchange St, Akron
(330) 864-3300
elranchoakron.com
BEST OPPORTUNITY
FOR US TO SELF-PROMOTE
Always read Sophie’s “Hike & Picnic”
column and go where she goes.
Pictured left: Since opening in May, the
patio at the Mustard Seed Market and
Café has been a popular spot for Highland
Square residents. Photo by Paul Hoffman
THE Devil Strip |
15
film and feast
(SUMMER)COMES EARLY WITH
HOME FRIED
COOKING
WATCHING ‘500 DAYS OF SUMMER’ & EATING AT HARTVILLE KITCHEN
by Chris Kessinger, The Film Freak
MOVIE: “500 Days of Summer” (2009)
STARS: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel
IN A TWEET: Brilliantly original and tastefully
relatable, “500 Days of Summer” is the perfect
on-screen deconstruction of a relationship, and the
step by step process of such a misery.
WHAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT: Tom (Gordon-Levitt)
is an aspiring architect who currently earns his
living as a greeting card writer. Upon encountering
his boss's beautiful new secretary, Summer
(Deschanel), Tom discovers that the pair have plenty
in common, despite his inability to function around
her. Tom believes deeply in the concept of soul
mates, and he's finally found his. Unfortunately for
Tom, Summer sees true love as the stuff of fairy
tales, and isn't looking for long term. Unaffected
by his lover's casual stance on relationships, Tom
summons all of his might and courage to pursue
Summer and convince her that their love is real.
WHY IT'S GOOD: This was director Marc Webb's
first feature film, and in his debut he showcases
a knowledge for relationship patter that very few
have captured. The on-screen chemistry between
the two protagonists is believable because of its
familiarity to the highs and lows of relationships
past. Webb's stylish cinematography is presented
in backgrounds being drawn before our very eyes.
Our characters and their stories are presented in
a storybook telling of sorts that is beautifully eye
appeasing. On top of it, there is a killer soundtrack
of classical and modern among the likes of The
Smiths, The Temper Trap and Regina Spektor to
name a few.
HOW IT'LL SURPRISE YOU: Most romantic
comedies are disliked because of their predictability,
but this film totally takes the opposite direction.
While it is romantic and a great watch for couples,
it has no problem playing for laughs while casting
an awkward aura in the room with the couple's
ongoing trysts. The film plays love for being the
single greatest force in the universe, but it never
feels sappy or degrading to its characters. The
ending is totally against anything you will ever see
coming, and keep your ears open for a wink to the
audience coincidence in the movie's final line.
SYMBOLISM IN THE FILM: Red is intentionally
not used, and the color blue is often conveyed to
WHY YOU HAVE TO GET TO A
drive-in
THIS SUMMER
written by Matthew Wilkening with
photos courtesy of Eric Haggard
While the number of drive-in movie theaters has
decreased nationwide from 4,000 to less than
350 over the past five decades, the greater Akron/
Cleveland area is somehow still blessed with no
less than six active outdoor theaters. Even better,
all of them have successfully made the expensive
transition from film to digital projection – an
unavoidable and very expensive obstacle still
threatening to close about 50 of the remaining
drive-ins around the country – and are now
prepared to show Hollywood’s latest hit films with
the same brightness and sharpness as your local
indoor theatre.
If you haven’t been to the drive-ins in years, you
should also know that in addition to massively
16
upgrading the occasionally dim or out-of-focus
picture quality, these venues have also kissed the
tiny, tinny window-hanging speakers goodbye in
favor of gorgeous FM stereo broadcasts. So it’s
the perfect summer to introduce or re-acquaint
yourself to the Midway Twin, Magic City, Blue
Sky, Aut-O-Rama, Mayfield Road and Lynn Auto
drive-ins. Every night between Memorial Day and
Labor Day weekends, you can bring as many family
and friends as you can (safely) fit into your car and
catch two hit movies under the stars, typically at a
total cost of less than two normal movie tickets.
To make your night out even more fun, several of
the local theaters have playgrounds for the kids,
and the Midway Twin is planning a series of special
represent love or happiness. Also, the
film's blue-centric color scheme was
done to intentionally bring out Zooey
Deschanel's eyes.
FARMER'S FEAST: A relaxing and
peaceful drive down State Route 619
will transport you to a land of fields as
far as the eye can see, and some of the
best home cooking that Summit County has to
offer. Hartville Kitchen opened in 1966 as a Mom
and Pop owned small restaurant. Its influence in
Hartville and surrounding cities grew immensely
when word broke of its deliciously hunger
quenching soul food, as well as tasty desserts to
buy that will give you memories that last for days.
The portions are generous, and the prices are
cheap enough to lure you into their country gift
shop full of sweets and irresistible goodies.
experience by adding on some
of their savory Mashed Potatoes and Jojo's to
complete a three piece hunger healing. Be sure
to save room for dessert however, as the pies are
entirely out of this world. The Black Raspberry or
Dutch Apple is a safe bet, but the Cherry pie offers
a sweet taste of what this township really has
to offer.
// Chris Kessinger is the Devil Strip’s resident reviewer.
For more of his work, visit thefilmfreak.com
FILM FREAK SUGGESTION: You have to go
with the delicious fried chicken if you are a first
timer. Summit County has always been famous
for producing some of the very best chicken that
the country has to offer, and a lot of that comes
from this true gem in Hartville. Complete the
pre-movie concerts on their brand-new musical
stage. North Ridgeville’s Aut-O-Rama will also be
bringing back “Retro Tuesdays,” a weekly series
matching up two classic, crowd-pleasing films.
This year’s schedule is still being finalized, but in
previous years we’ve caught “The Blues Brothers”
with “Animal House,” “The Breakfast Club” with
“Pretty in Pink,” and “Jaws” with “Jurassic Park”
on local screens. (The Midway Twin is pondering a
few special “Retro” weekends for later in the year.)
If you’re new to this experience, here’s a handy
three-point Drive-In Survival Guide. First off,
remember that your hard-working local theater
operators make most of their money from food
and drink sales, as the lion’s share of your ticket
purchase goes straight back to the movie studio. So
either load up at the concession stand, or if you’re
bringing your own grub, do the right thing and pay
the small outside food & beverage fee required by
most of these establishments. Second, have warm
clothes ready - even the warmest summer evenings
can get chilly as it gets late. Lastly, check out the
owner’s manual for your car and get to know
exactly how your car’s accessory mode works, to
make sure you have your headlights off and your
radio on in a way that won’t drain your battery.
(Don’t worry, they have a jump-start kit on hand if
things do go awry!)
// Matthew Wilkening is the Akron-based Editor-in-Chief of
ultimateclassicrock.com
Hartville Kitchen
1015 Edison St.
Hartville, OH 44632
Theatres:
MIDWAY TWIN DRIVE-IN THEATRE
State Road 59 (1/2 Mile East of Kent. West of
Ravenna): funflick.com/midway.html
MAGIC CITY TWIN DRIVE-IN THEATER
5602 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Barberton:
magiccitydrive-in.com
BLUE SKY DRIVE IN THEATER
959 Broad Street, Wadsworth:
blueskydrive-in.com
AUT-O-RAMA TWIN DRIVE-IN THEATER
33395 Lorain Road, North Ridgeville:
autoramadrivein.com
MAYFIELD ROAD DRIVE-IN THEATER
12100 State Road 322 (Just West of State Rd. 44):
funflick.com/mayfield.html
LYNN TWIN DRIVE-IN
Junction of State Routes 21 & 250, Strasburg:
lynndrivein.com
the wanderer
THE DISH
A Vegetarian’s
(brief)
Guide To Eating
in Akron
curated by Jessica Conti
BREAKFAST
The crepes at the
Blue Door Bakery and Cafe
dining out in akron
by Holly Brown
Breakfast Burrito at Birchwood Tavern
2 eggs any style (poached),
hashbrowns, and toast at Akron Family
LUNCH
Baked Potato soup at
The Stew Pot Kitchen
Avocado sushi and Edamame at Cilantro
DINNER
The #6: cheddar cheese and apples
(remove the bacon) at the Lockview
Veggie burger with sprouts, avocado,
roasted red peppers, and
cheese at Pub Bricco
The “Bambino” Pizza at Three Palms
DESSERT
Toffee Sundae at Mary Coyle’s
Any smoothie at Mustard Seed Cafe
One of the most difficult things about moving to a
new city is leaving all of the friends you stuff your
face with on the regular behind. Consequently,
one of the best things about living in a new city
is sharing that city with your favorite people who
have never been there. Keelie and I have been best
friends since we were ten years old. Possibly my
and Keelie’s favorite activity is talking about/eating
cheese of all kinds; thus we get along pretty well.
In the middle of May, Keelie and her boyfriend, Joe,
came to visit me in Akron for the first time. And, if
you have read this column before, you can probably
guess what the major Akron highlights were: food.
Disclaimer: picking the few places to take them
in three days was excruciating; there’s about a
thousand more places I wanted to take them (just
means you’ll have to come back, right guys?!).
Keelie had read my first column and as soon as she
told me she was coming, her exact words were:
“Can we go to that grilled cheese place?” Night
one: Lockview. It’s basically impossible to dislike
grilled cheese, especially when you can choose to
have it one of thirteen different ways. Of course we
started with beer and mac and cheese bites before
fried cheese. I’m pretty sure our server came back
no less than three times to see if we had decided
on sandwiches. If you can think way way back to
the first time you went to the Lockview, perhaps
you can remember how difficult it is to pick your
first grilled cheese. After much deliberation, Joe
ordered The Number Six (cheddar, apples, bacon)
and Keelie went with the infamous Number Twelve
(American, mashed potatoes). I had to have The
Number Four (Mozz, sundried tomato pesto,
arugula, parmesan) because on this particular day,
that was my favorite one (my favorite Lockview
grilled cheese changes probably multiple times in
one day… just saying).
no way for me to resist the Mani Siracha Chicken
Tacos because the promise of not only aged
cheddar but also peanut sauce was too enticing.
One last word of advice: when at Nuevo, always
get the pepita green beans.
Since we had already done the cheese-scapade,
night two was for something different. First,
pre-dinner drinks at the new Mustard Seed
Market in Highland Square. As I live in Highland
Square, I am all about this place. You get a great
view of the whole square, even some of the
downtown skyline. I think standing up there may
have been the real game changer in getting Keelie
and Joe to truly love Akron. There’s something
about seeing the rugged beauty of the city from
all the way up there that really makes you happy
to be right where you are. Maybe that’s true of all
rooftop beer drinking, but I digress.
On their last night in Akron, Maya and I decided
to take Joe and Keelie on our typical Thursday
night escapade, to fully immerse them in our
weekly rituals.
After sunset and some beers, we made our way to
Nuevo for a Mexican feast. The margarita flight
is a must at Nuevo, so obviously we ordered three
of them…and house guacamole (Joe revealed his
deep love of avocados to me at this very moment,
hard core taking down some guac). Keelie’s favorite
marg was the passion fruit, Joe’s the raspberry. As
for me, I have a hard time resisting the jalapeño
cilantro because hot damn (literally) I’ve never had
anything like it before, and though I do love the
sweet stuff, I’m all about that spice. It was another
tough dinner decision but the end results were as
follows: Achiote BBQ Pork Tacos for Joe, Michelada
Shrimp Tacos for Keelie, and ultimately there was
4. Swing by Matinee for one more drink.
1. Drinks at Mustard Seed on the patio
(a newer addition).
2. Quick slice of pizza at Capri
(mushroom for me…mmmmm).
3. Power hour at Ray’s Pub (8-9 on Thursdays
means $1 Rolling Rocks for this guy!)
5. Mr. Zub’s because there is actually not a
single person that visits that doesn’t have to
see the place with the mac and cheese and
bacon sandwich. It is a staple of my Akron
descriptions.
Back at my apartment, eating Zub’s, amid questions
such as: “How do you not weigh 5,000 pounds
living around all of this crazy food?” (I ask myself
that daily.) Keelie and Joe told me how much they
truly loved Akron, and I couldn’t have been happier
to know I showed it off right.
THE Devil Strip |
17
Music, Bars & Nightlife
CELEBRATING
JCK’s homecoming birthday at Musica
Maid Myriad with The Beyonderers and The Fine Constant
by Madison Cummins
Walking into Musica on May 23 was like walking
through a festive, celebratory homecoming of
musicians, families, and friends. The main act
was Maid Myriad consisting of lead singer and
guitarist Jeff Klemm, drummer Greg Meisenberg,
and bassist Mario Tonathy. After their 40-show
tour titled Woven In Haste, Maid Myriad ended
with a show at home in Akron. The first words
that came out of Jeff’s mouth were, “Holy hell,
is it good to be back in Akron. Hello family
and friends.”
Playing music off of their last album as well as
some newer songs, Maid Myriad provided an
explosion of lively rock music with incredible,
melodic lyrics. The crowd was on their feet
singing along with their heads bobbing. What
blew me away about Maid Myriad was their
spirited energy and Jeff’s amazing, crystal clear
vocals.” Their sound is heavy and ruminating
while staying melodic and their presence is very
memorable. A favorite song of mine was called
“Shake Them Off”.
Opening for Maid Myriad were The Beyonderers
and The Fine Constant. The Beyonderers, made
up of guitarist Dave Rich, keyboardist Stephanie
Falk, bassist Andrew Rich and drummer Anne
Lillis say they play “future surf music.” I would
describe them as the perfect musicians to play in
Music
& COncerts
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
18
The Womacks
5:30pm at Howe Meadow (FREE)
4040 Riverview Rd, Peninsula
This unique Americana folk/rock quartet from
north-central Ohio shares beautiful three-part vocal
harmony and sincere lyrical insights, with highenergy musical passages reminiscent of the days of
tie-dye and vinyl.
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Bob Niederriter Trio
8pm at BLU Jazz+ ($10)
Join us in welcoming back one of Northeast Ohio’s
leading names on the jazz guitar, Bob Niederriter,
as he joins forces with Columbus-based B3 organist
& pianist, Jim Luellen, and renowned bassist,
Roger Hines. This will be a very special Thursday
at BLU, indeed!
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Soul Asylum
8pm at Hard Rock Live ($15)
10777 Northfield Rd, Northfield
Formed in the summer of 1981 by high school
friends Dan Murphy, Karl Mueller, and Dave Pirner,
Soul Asylum (named Loud Fast Rules up until 1983)
quickly became frontrunners of American college
rock, following in the tradition of fellow Minnesota
bandsHüsker Dü and The Replacements. They’ve
been topping the charts ever since!
a 1950’s surf movie recreated by
Quentin Tarantino. I was blown
away by Dave’s guitar skills and
the band’s badass drummer
Anne Lillis.
The Fine Constant—guitarist Sarah Longfield,
guitarist Steve-O Wilkes and drummer Steve
Meyer—returned home after touring alongside
Maid Myriad in the Woven In Haste Tour. What
I loved about this group of musicians was the
technicality of their guitar playing skills. Their
songs would go from intense alternative songs
to slower, dreamy tunes that kept the audience
on their toes.
After this show, I
wish I could have seen The Fine Constant and
Maid Myriad on tour in some of their other
venues and I’ll be keeping an eye out for The
Beyonderers. Not only was this gang of bands
celebrating the end of the successful Woven In
Haste Tour, but it was also Jeff’s birthday.” By
the end of the night, there was a sea of satisfied
audience members singing Happy Birthday at
the top of their lungs.
Liz Woolley Band
The Liz Woolley Band is a jazz/pop quintet featuring
the original music of singer/songwriter Liz Woolley
as well as the arranging and musical talents of
guitarist Dennis Hodges, vibraphonist Dylan Bram,
bassist John Allen, and drummer Brian Ellerman.
The Liz Woolley Band blends a traditional jazz
sound with modern pop influences to showcase
the wonderful voice and overall musicianship of
Liz and the musical prowess of the instrumentalists
that stands behind her.
The Outer Vibe with Kate Tucker + The Sons of
Sweden and The HolyWalk
8pm at Musica ($10)
Through their music and live performance, The
Outer Vibe captures a “Big America” energy that
is larger than a 1960s Detroit assembly line. Their
sound is a collage of the motor city’s passion and
power, the upbeat, good feelings of the West
coast, and a cinematic southwestern nostalgia, a
blend they like to call “surf disco.” Seattle-born,
Nashville-based Kate Tucker + the Sons of Sweden
play lush, layered indie rock with sparkling melodies
and shimmering soundscapes.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Long Tall Deb
5:30pm at Jilly’s Music Room (FREE)
111 N Main St, Akron
It’s not just her honey and molasses-soaked voice
or her keen, nuanced songwriting that blend
experience with a hint of mysticism (Long Tall Deb’s
Texas/Mexico border roots are never far away from
her songwriting). What Long Tall Deb brings to the
studio and the stage is nothing short of one-ofa-kind. She goes beyond the “my-man-done-mewrong” songs to paint a stunning picture that is
deep, full-bodied and a reflection of who she is.
David Mayfield’s Bluegrass Parade
7:30pm at G.A.R. Hall ($15)
David Mayfield grew up playing bass and touring
with his family’s bluegrass band. As a teenager
he established himself as a hot picker collecting
national awards for his dexterity on guitar and
mandolin. He took his skills and personality when
he joined the bluegrass outfit Cadillac Sky, playing
sold out shows with British folk revivalists Mumford
and Sons. Join us for a rare acoustic appearance
from this grammy nominated artists, as David
returns to his Bluegrass roots and brings some of
his favorite “pickers” with him to the G.A.R. Hall!
Rob Thomas
8pm at Akron Civic Theatre ($43)
Rob Thomas has been one of modern music’s most
compelling and commercially successful artists for
well over a decade – between Matchbox Twenty,
his solo work, and his various collaborations with
iconic artists like Santana, Mick Jagger and Willie
Nelson, his tally now stands at more than 80
million albums sold worldwide. Don’t miss this
performance with special guest Plain White T’s!
Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions
8pm at Blossom Music Center ($44)
Get ready as Pokemon Symphonic Evolutions is
coming to Blossom Music Center! The classic
spotlight
Cinderella’s Tom Keifer
with Special Guests Joey D of Liquid &
former Warrant guitarist Billy Morris
playing a tribute to Jani Lane
Thursday, June 18 at 7:30pm
Akron Civic Theatre ($27)
This great night of music will be led by Cinderella's
Tom Kiefer performing all the Cinderella hits, and
songs from his new album. Joining him on stage
will be Billy Morris, former guitarist of Warrant. This
concert is a tribute to Jani Lane (John Oswald), the
founding lead singer and front man for the MultiPlatinum selling artist Warrant. Also taking the
stage for a song will be Eric Oswald, Jani's brother.
games that you all remember will be brought
to life by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as
they perform live in perfect synchronization with
the video footage. Don't miss this unbelievable
opportunity to meet-up with friends catch, battle,
and trade Pokémon from your favorite games in a
way you've never seen before!
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Arson’s Harbor with Entrendre and Firmament
7pm at Empire Concert Club ($7)
1305 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron
Forming in a small suburban basement in
Lynchburg, VA, Arson’s Harbor is an alternative rock
band with only one goal in mind: to write loud,
heavy, face-melting songs. Entendre combines
wailing guitars, thunderous drums, chilling vocals
and a heavy dose of synth.
Tuesday, June 16
Boys Of Zummer Tour With Fall Out Boy
And Wiz Khalifa
Fall Out Boy, Wiz Khalifa & Hoodie Allen come to
Blossom Music Center! The pop punk pioneers
co-headline with the Blacc Hollywood MC on what
was very nearly called The Happy Buddies Fun-Time
Hugs And Hangouts And Bunnies And Unicorns
Tour With Wiz Khalifa And Fall Out Boy. Thankfully,
Wiz decided that it was "…the dumbest tour name
I've ever heard", and they decided to go for The
Boys of Zummer Tour instead. Either way, it's going
to be the highlight of your summer! Book your
tickets now – this one's going to sell fast!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Clear Water
With their music being compared to the bass drops
of Skrillex, grooves to Soundgarden, and overall
feel to 70s Miles Davis, Clear Water is pushing the
Jeff Klemm & The Letters
Friday, June 19 at 8pm
Jilly’s Music Room (FREE)
Jeff Klemm may be the Hardest Workin’ Man in
Akron Show Business, or so it seems between
his touring with Maid Myriad, recording, running
sound and the 15* other bands he’s in. This
appearance at Jilly’s marks the first full show for
his side project with The Letters, which highlights
his “crooning acrobatic vocals” and spiderweb
fingerpicking acoustic guitar. They’ll be joined by
Scott Paris and his group of assorted vagabonds
bringing danceable, singable, get-drunkable
goodness wherever they go, and Witch Fist: loud
and heavy, soft and pretty, wherever the musical
ebb and flow takes them. (*may not be the actual
number of bands in which JCK plays)
envelope in the music world. The union of this
electronic/acoustic duo is greatly defining the sound
of the “Electro Jazz” – a jazz fusion subgenre
comprised of dubstep, rock, and jazz.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Cinderella’s Tom Keifer with Special Guests
Joey D of Liquid & former Warrant guitarist
Billy Morris playing a tribute to Jani Lane
7:30pm at Akron Civic Theatre ($27)
This great night of music will be led by Cinderella's
Tom Kiefer performing all the Cinderella hits, and
songs from his new album. Joining him on stage
will be Billy Morris,former guitarist of Warrant. This
concert is a tribute to Jani Lane (John Oswald), the
founding lead singer and front man for the MultiPlatinum selling artist Warrant. Also taking the
stage for a song will be Eric Oswald, Jani's brother.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
Danstravaganza, Pt. 2:
Drummer, Houseguest and
The Man I Fell In Love With
Sunday, June 21 at 7pm
Musica ($25)
What happens when three beloved local bands
reunite to honor their friend Dan Van Auken, a
marathon-running, movie-loving math teacher who
passed away from brain cancer last year at the age
of 34? Well, they sell-out 400 tickets for the first
show at Tangier in just three hours and have to
open up a second night at Musica. Whether you’re
going because you love Houseguest, are in the
know about overlooked underground band The
Man I Fell In Love With, or never got to catch Pat
Carney’s side project Drummer, your attendance at
the Danstravaganza will help his students and CIS
colleagues in Wadsworth construct a running track
and name it Van Auken Field in his memory.
Jeff Klemm & The Letters with Scott Paris &
The Assorted Vagabonds and Witch Fist
8pm at Jilly’s Music Room (FREE)
Don’t miss local favorites Jeff Klemm & The
Letters, highlighting his crooning acrobatic vocals
and spiderweb fingerpicking acoustic guitar, at
Jilly’s Music Room! Joined by Scott Paris and his
group of assorted vagabonds bringing dancable,
singable, get-drunkable goodness wherever they
go, and Witch Fist: loud and heavy, soft and pretty,
wherever the musical ebb and flow takes them.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Lady Antebellum
The all-star country trio Lady Antebellum are back
and joined by top supporting artists Hunter Hayes &
Sam Hunt. This will be a night of fantastic country
pop music!
Dan Pugach Nonet
Dan Pugach Nonet features Pugach’s original
compositions and contemporary arrangements of
the Great American Songbook. Drawing influence
from the legendary Gil Evans, Maria Schneider and
Thad Jones, Dan also integrates middle eastern
traditions from his homeland Israel as well as
Brazilian nuances from his studies in Rio de Janiero.
This exciting new arrangement of the Nonet
features five-horns up front, bass trombone and
acclaimed New York jazz vocalist Nicole Zuraitis.
The Temptations and The Four Tops
8pm at Akron Civic Theatre ($45)
For more than forty years, The Temptations have
prospered, propelling popular music with a series of
smash hits, and sold-out performances throughout
the world. The Four Tops were one of soul music’s
most popular and long-lived vocal groups. This
quartet from Detroit endured for more than 40
years without a single change in personnel. This is a
night of music you won’t want to miss!
Scars on 45
8pm at Musica ($12)
Presented by 91.3 The Summit, British alt-rock
ensemble Scars on 45 make yearning, melodic pop
that combines the big guitar rock of Oasis with the
melodic, country-influenced sound of Fleetwood
Mac. Their music has been featured on CSI: New
York and Grey’s Anatomy.
Drummer, Houseguest and The Man I Fell in
Love with for Danstravaganza
7pm at Musica ($25)
Three great local bands getting back together to
honor their friend Dan Van Auken. Dan was a
great man who passed away far too early last year
at the age of 34 after a battle with brain cancer.
All proceeds from this Danstravaganza concert
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
(
(
will go toward the building of a running track to
be enjoyed by future generations of Wadsworth
students, where Dan was a teacher.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
Ben Nichols of Lucero
8pm at Musica ($13)
51 E Mill St, Akron
Ben Nichols is the frontman of Lucero, an American
country-punk rock band based in Memphis,
Tennessee. Their punk rock roots flavour their now
“country-ish” music, while their Southern roots
give them the twang that they have come to be
known by. This solo tour will feature stripped-down
versions of Lucero tracks, as well as Ben Nichols’s
own solo work.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Little Yellow Dog with Anderson Ferry Band
and Ezefeld
7pm at Empire Concert Club
1305 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron
Little Yellow Dog’s music has melodic influences
from folk and country, while the lyrical content
tends to take a page out of indie and punk
artists arsenal. Anderson Ferry has a mix of funk,
psychedelic rock, and jam music, while Ezefeld is an
experimental band who encourages you to decide
for yourself what his music is.
J Roddy Walston and the Business
8:30pm at Musica ($16)
For J. Roddy Walston & The Business, embracing
weirdness means a mumble-out-loud celebration
of that great and terrible burden of being human.
Forcing the oft-clashing worlds of art and rockand-roll to make nice, the band deals in a scrappy
yet sublime sound that honors both their Southern
roots and punk spirit.
THE Devil Strip |
19
20
'Heaven isn't too far away’
REMEMBERING
ROCKER
JANI LANE
by Jenny Conn
Those of us who lived the Akron area’s hair metal glory days know
Jani Lane’s story well. We followed him through his early bands at the
Akron Agora, Ramone’s, Filthy McNasty’s in Kent and Peabody’s Down
Under in the Flats. We were wild with pride when he went to L.A. and
the rest of the world caught on to his talent. And when Lane’s star
rocketed in the mid-80s with Warrant we all took the ride with him.
On June 18, the Akron Civic Theater hosts a tribute to this hometown
boy, which benefits Lane’s two daughters and was put together by
friends who loved and respected him from his childhood in Brimfield
to his untimely death at 47 years old. The headliner is Cinderella’s
Tom Keifer, with special guest Joey D of Liquid and former Warrant
guitarist Billy Morris playing the band’s hits.
Lane, born John Oswald, died unexpectedly in California in August
2011. The details of his death are sketchy at best yet widely reported.
But this isn’t a story about his tragic end. It’s about a local boy who
made good; a boy who instinctively knew how to meld his natural
talent and fierce dedication to make it to the rock ‘n roll big time.
Young rockers
in Brimfield
Quick rise to
stardom
Randy Arehart first met John Oswald at the age
of 15. Oswald went to Field and Arehart, who is
co-organizing the tribute, went to Mogadore. The
boys met through youth football leagues and rival
bands. In those days, young rockers had plenty of
local talent shows to play.
Graduating from high school in 1982, Oswald
had a football scholarship to Kent State University
but he chose music instead. His band Cyren was
gaining prominence, opening for popular bands
such as Risque at McNasty’s and the Agora. Cyren
soon made way for the band Dorian Gray.
“We were the kids wearing bandanas out of our
back pockets and gigantic combs,” Arehart says.
“We were wearing spandex with leg warmers back
when we were 16 years old.”
Oswald moved to Florida in 1983, still drumming
in Dorian Gray until Risque front man Dave Brooks
advised him to get out from behind the drums and
sing. Oswald followed Brooks’ advice. He formed
Plain Jane with future Warrant drummer Steven
(Chamberlin) Sweet, adopted the stage name Jani
Lane and the two moved to L.A. By 1986, Plain
Jane was a well-known act on the Strip.
Tall and athletic, Oswald was a talented
quarterback, got excellent grades in school and
was already dedicated to music. The youngest child
in a large musical family, Oswald was turned onto
the Beatles classics by his older brother, Eric, which
fine-tuned his ear for melody. Oswald would often
be found after school sitting on his bed, guitar in
hand, picking out melodies with catchy hooks.
“When you walked into his room when he was
just learning to play acoustic, you felt he had
been playing for a long time,” Arehart says. “He
also played piano and he was a most incredible
drummer.”
The boys listened to the Babies, AC/DC and
Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Although music was
the focus, they sometimes cut loose, scoring Canei
wine, which they’d drink by the railroad tracks
in Mogadore or out behind White’s Fish Farm.
Sometimes they’d set up a card table in the yard
and play poker, Monopoly or Life.
But beyond Oswald’s musical skill, there was
something different about him.
“You just knew being around him—his aura, his
presence— he was going to be the leader of the
team, the driver of the car and he was going to be
a superstar,” Arehart says. “He thought the whole
thing through and he was going to do whatever it
took to make his dreams come true.”
According to local legend, Lane and Sweet were
considering moving back to Florida when they
came back to their rehearsal studio to find a note
on the door from Warrant founder Erik Turner,
asking them to jam with his band. Warrant was
already gaining notoriety and by 1987, Lane and
Sweet had joined a band on the rise.
a pre-release tour that brought
the band to Peabody’s. At the
time, Morris’s band Spoyld was
the biggest glam metal band
in Cleveland and a natural
opening act for Warrant. On
that tour, Lane and Morris,
who was in Warrant from
1999 to 2006, began a
friendship that lasted to the
end of Lane’s life.
About the same time,
Arehart got a surprise call
from Lane asking a favor. The song “Down
Boys” was in a competition on MTV and Lane
wanted his old friends to call and vote for the song
to make the countdown. “I said whatever you
want brother, let’s make it happen,” he says. “Back
then you were still flyering telephones poles and
stores, doing whatever you could to get the word
out.”
It worked. Arehart was starstruck when a few days
later the video aired and there was his childhood
buddy John on MTV.
True to his roots, Lane always came home for
holidays, making appearances at his old haunts,
Ramone’s and heavy metal Sunday nights at
McNasty’s. That’s where Morris first met Lane,
when a soundman pointed Lane out telling Morris,
“That guy’s going to be a superstar.”
Local musicians all knew Lane was on the move.
“He used to come watch us at Ramone's and play
foosball with us,” said John Stevens, Autumn’s Ruin
guitarist. “It was an exciting time for our scene. He
got signed. It gave us all pride and hope….”
With videos playing a huge role in music, Lane’s
good looks and songwriting prowess contributed
significantly to Warrant’s success. Signed by
Columbia in 1988, Warrant’s first album, “Dirty
Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich,” had four hit singles.
Among them, “Heaven,” a song Lane had written
at 17, charted at #2 on the Billboard
200. Lane wrote most of the band's
big hits, including “Cherry Pie,”
“Down Boys” and “Uncle Tom’s
Cabin” co-written with his
brother Eric.
Prior to the debut album, Warrant did
“We did our customary Crown and Coke before we
walked on stage but it wasn’t that binge drinking,”
he says. “They wanted me to keep him straight,
which I did.”
He remembers when a New Year’s Day show in
New Jersey was cancelled because of a snow storm,
closing the airports. “He wanted to see his kids so
badly, we rented a car and drove home,” Morris
says. “We got lost in Philadelphia and at midnight
we’re sitting in the car, it’s snowing and we’re
eating cheesesteaks.”
Love of friends,
family and sports No goodbyes
Friendship mattered to Lane and he was passionate
about Ohio sports. A favorite memory for Morris is
going with Lane in 1993 to a Browns game against
the Redskins: “It was a driving ice storm and he
said to me, ‘I would rather be here right now than
at the Led Zeppelin reunion.’”
Lane also wanted his friends to be successful. In
the early years, whenever Warrant was coming
to town, Lane would give Morris the heads up to
book a gig for his own band. Then Lane would
announce from the stage of the Richfield Coliseum
that after the show the band was going to the bar
Morris’s band was playing.
“There would be like 2,000 people there,” Morris
said. “The band would come up and destroy our
equipment for an hour and we would love it.”
Even when the grunge scene moved in and metal
began to lose momentum, Warrant continued
recording and touring. But the lifestyle was taking
a toll on Lane. He brought Morris into the fold in
1999, in part because he needed someone
from home he could relate to.
“He loved L.A., he loved that superstar
mentality, but he got me in the band so he
could relate to someone,” Morris says. “He
wanted me because I could relate to the
Buckeyes, the Browns, the Indians and we could
watch sports and room together and really live
Ohio.”
The last time Morris saw Lane was in February
2011 when he looked fit and seemed clear. He
and Morris had been planning a summer tour with
an all-Cleveland band and had high hopes for the
summer. But it never happened.
“I loved the guy like a brother,” Morris says. “I owe
him everything because he made my rock-and-roll
dreams come true.”
A few months before Lane’s death, Arehart was
in L.A. He got a pass to be on set of “That Metal
Show” the day Lane was to be there.
“I asked him to come home,” he remembers. “I
was offering words like a father. But I could see the
grasp of where we’d been some 30 years before
was a gray area, a cloud in his memory.”
A few months later Arehart got a call from a
member of Faster Pussycat about Lane’s death,
which had not yet hit the news.
“It hit me that I lost a childhood buddy,” he says.
“I only saw the things the guy ever did that were
great. He was a hometown guy. He loved life and
loved his children. He was the most magnetic guy.”
A few Lane tribute events on the West Coast have
been held in bars. Arehart and Morris want this
tribute show to honor Lane’s life in the right way.
“We’re doing this at the Civic,” Arehart says. “It’s
theater, not a bar and it‘s seven miles from where
the guy grew up.”
Morris was able to help keep the partying down.
John dancing with Kathy Rice
The Jani Lane Tribute show is Thursday, June 18
at 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets online at
www.ticketmaster.com or call 330-253-2488.
THE Devil Strip |
21
in the crowd
House parties and the Akron DIY circuit with
Penny Arcade
written by Jessica Conti with photos by Victor Petrella
For Nick Muffet, making music was never a
question, but rather an answer. In high school,
he created Penny Arcade as a place to house his
confessional-style songs that reference literature,
death and growing pains. Inspired by emo legends
before him, Muffet wanted to give his musical
endeavor the room to grow organically without
being limited to only his birth name.
Even if at the core, Penny Arcade is just
Nick Muffet.
Growing up in Ohio creates a certain perspective
that only people from similarly-sized Midwestern
towns can understand. It’s hidden in the drastic
weather changes and the way that the seasons
are either never ending or so brief they are
forgotten. It’s the kind of environmental influence
that challenges its residents’ moods, their sense
of normalcy, and usually fosters some extreme
creativity even if it was painful to get there. For
Muffet, this helped challenge him lyrically. “I
am definitely a product of my environment. The
seasons, for example, I think correlate with our
moods and outlooks. That’s something that comes
through in a few songs. Any references to the
seasons in songs, I think might carry a little more
weight coming from here.”
Akron from the suburbs to downtown and they all
share one common thread: everyone loves music.
Penny Arcade tackles heavy topics and Muffet’s
kind demeanor elevates his songs to another level
of thinking. Over the course of Penny Arcade’s
existence, Muffet too has grown-up. He’s moved
on from drinking Polar Pops and skateboarding
in parking lots to working at a record store and
finishing up a degree in business. He’s the anti-pop
punk hero with an increasingly pop-punk aesthetic.
As he ages, so does his music. His songs are
getting more emotionally complex while adopting a
poppier sensibility and it’s working really well.
Muffet’s favorite house to play is It’s a Kling
Thing! which has been around in some capacity
since 2007. It supports both local and national
underground bands. Muffet plays at It’s a Kling
Thing! the most and is incredibly inspired by the
scene they have helped create and continue to help
grow. “Everyone is really welcoming and nice. I
think the fact that everyone wants to contribute to
and be a part of the scene is what ties it together
more-so than each band sounding a certain way
does,” says Muffet. As an acoustic act, Muffet
benefits greatly as he needs less time to set up and
has greater flexibility than full-sized bands.
Muffet has found an outlet and a place for his
songs in the Akron D.I.Y. house show circuit. Akron
has a plethora of houses that open themselves up
as music venues. Sometimes these shows happen
in sweaty crowded basements, sometimes on living
room couches, and occasionally in both. These
houses are spread throughout various parts of
Currently Muffet is collaborating with local
musician Zach Myer’s who previously drummed for
the Origin Animate. Together, Muffet and Myer’s
plan to turn Penny Arcade into much more than
an acoustic act. While it started as Muffet’s solo
project he wants everyone he works with to have
as much creative control and freedom as they want
to have. “That’s what I’m most excited about; is
for someone else’s musical tastes and habits to
influence Penny Arcade and make it something
more interesting.” Muffet plans to spend the
summer playing shows with a full band both in
Akron and in other cities (mostly) for the first time.
With Myer’s, Muffet intends to create new music,
push himself harder, and record the best possible
recording he’s released up until this point. Even if
that means stepping outside of the boundaries of
self-recording. Muffet explains, “We (Myer) both
really love recording and self-recording means a
lot to me, but I’m definitely ready to take the next
step and make something that sounds professional
and that I’m willing to call an official release -- not
a demo like everything else I’ve put out. We’ll see
what happens. If that means going to a studio to
record, so be it.” This is the start of the next Penny
Arcade chapter, the one Muffet has been working
on since he was a teenager. But for the rest of us,
it’s just the beginning and we cannot wait.
What I’d find on those Lawson's
SPINNER RACKS?
by Isaac Kelley
By 1993, at the age of 11, I had become
hooked on superhero comic books. I enjoyed
the melodramatic conflict and the morality play
nature and the soap opera storylines, however
the thing I liked best about these comic books
was the shared universes. Almost every title
published by the two major American comic
book publishers, DC Comics and Marvel Comics,
treated all the other books in in the publishing
line as being part of the same fictional universe.
Most of these books had been running for
hundreds of issues, stretching back decades.
Starting to read from the beginning was simply
not a valid approach to these stories.
In the history of the human storytelling there
has never been anything quite like the dense,
jumbled, group-authored narratives created
by the shared universe storytelling of DC and
Marvel Comics. Every issue of every story
set within those universes is a tiny part of a
colossal Uberstory, a work of graphic literature
so dense that reading the entire thing is all but
mathematically impossible. I had always been
a voracious reader, but these superhero comics
were a wholly different kind of thing.
22
At the time I began reading these books, there
was no Wikipedia and there were no message
boards. I didn't have anyone to explain what was
going on in these titles. I had no road map to
these worlds. For me, that made diving into them
all the more exciting. The only way for me to
learn was to read as many books as I could.
The thing was, I didn't have a lot of money. I
was a kid from a working class family and at a
$1.50 for seven minutes worth of entertainment,
comics poised a questionable value proposition.
Never mind the fact that I would re-read each
issue over and over again, you could rent a video
game for a whole weekend at the price of one
comic book. I tried to buy the four Superman
titles and Green Lantern every month. That pretty
much ate up my entire comic book budget.
In those days any decent drug store or
supermarket would have a rotating wire display
rack that would display about forty different titles
for sale, called a spinner rack. That is where I
would go to buy my comic books. Whenever my
mom would go shopping, I would come with her
and make a beeline for the spinner rack. I would
pour through as many books as I could before my
mom grabbed me, with no intention or ability to
buy the ones I was reading.
Soon, that wasn't enough. There were more titles
to read than my mom's shopping gave me time
for. I started volunteering to make solo shopping
trips for the family on foot, picking up milk and
bread and the like. Of course, to my mind, the
groceries were a secondary concern. Once I
arrived at the store I would read the racks dry.
I'd spend hours standing around these spinner
racks. If anyone objected, I didn't notice. I would
read almost every title on the racks. Soon, I
figured out that different stores had slightly
different stock, so I would have to make tactical
decisions: go to Lawson's if I wanted to read
Slapstick, go to Stop N Shop if I wanted to read
Showcase '93, go to Discount Drug Mart if I
wanted to read anything published by Image.
I'd start with the books that I actually liked,
of course, but then I would keep going. I
would move on first to the boring titles like
Iron Man and the overly convoluted tiles like
X-Force. If it had a superhero in it, I would read
it. I wasn't reading just to be entertained. I was
also reading to learn all about these superhero
worlds. I was gaining an education.
I was a shy, awkward kid at that time. I had no
real friends to speak of, and peeling back the
history of these comic books filled some void I
desperately needed filled. Bit by bit, I learned
the relationships and the histories of these vast
fictional worlds. I learned which characters were
friends and which were rivals. I learned about the
legacies of the heroes that had died and about
the secret wars and the crises that had come
before. I took it all in and familiarized myself with
these intricate worlds inside ours. By reading
comic books off of the spinner rack at Lawson's
without paying, I slowly turned myself into an
expert in the field of superheroes.
fashion
Life in
Red Lipstick
Local Treasure Hunting
by Natalie Ulm
Arrive early. Remember, the early bird gets
the vintage.
Bring cash. I’ve never met a dealer who accepts
any other form of payment (besides at some estate
sales). Avoid silly ATM fees and come prepared.
Check the weather. For those of us living in
Northeast Ohio, this might seem like a no-brainer,
but I always bring rain gear, sunscreen, and an
extra jacket.
Bring measuring tape. That way, you won’t get
all mussed up awkwardly trying vintage clothing on.
Don’t be afraid to haggle a little. Pricing can
be somewhat tricky when it comes to antiques, so
if you’re looking for something specific, do your
research beforehand to make sure you’re getting a
good deal.
The birds are singing, the temperature is warming
up and the sun is (mostly) shining. For a vintage
and antique hunter like me, that means only one
thing: flea market, estate sale and yard sale season.
Dealers have been collecting all winter long, and I
can’t wait to see what I can score in this summer’s
treasure hunts.
Bring a pull-along mini cart. I feel like someone’s
grandmother pulling the thing around, but I
wouldn’t dare leave home without it.
Here are a few upcoming events to
be sure not to miss:
Saturday Flea at The Cleveland Flea:
Saturday, June 13 from 9 am – 4 pm.
Tyler Village, 3615 Superior Ave, Cleveland 44114
This “urban treasure hunt” highlights 160+ vendors
featuring Cleveland’s best artisans, makers, and
culinary creatives—Coquette Patisserie’s French
Springfield Flea & Antique Show:
June 21 & 22 from 8-5 on Saturday and 9am – 4pm
on Sunday. Clark County Fairgrounds: 4401 South
Charleston Pike, Springfield 45502.
If you don’t mind the drive, try your luck treasure
hunting at the Springfield Flea, one of the largest
outdoor flea markets in the area. Take some time
to explore the Clark County Fairgrounds, too—the
location was an airport from the 1920s to the
1940s.
All Day Yard Sale: June 20 and Independence Day
Flea at Hartville Marketplace: Saturday, July 4. All
day. 1289 Edison Street NW, Hartville 44632.
The Hartville Flea Market has come a long way
since it started as a livestock auction back in 1939.
Check out hundreds of outdoor vendors, and make
sure to pick up some locally-grown produce and
fresh honey under the pavilions.
Akron Farm & Flea:
Saturday, August 1 from 9 am – 2pm.
The Musica complex at Maiden Lane and East
Market Street, Akron 44308.
Find this local market downtown in our Historic
Arts District. You can visit its unique local vendors
on the first Saturday of every month until October
(besides July).
Check the classified section in your Beacon Journal
or West Side Leader for information about local
yard and estate sales. Happy hunting!
// Natalie Ulm is a 21-year-old vintage collector, bookworm
and red lipstick enthusiast. You can usually find her at
Akron Family Restaurant or at a rummage sale chatting
with your grandma.
by Dina Younis
Stylish People
I’m often questioned about how I discover such
gems—I’ve been thrift shopping and digging
through bins at yard sales since I was a little
girl. My mother and grandmothers are amazing
bargain-hunters. It’s in my blood, but these skills
can be learned, too. Here are a few of my tips
for attending any flea or estate event… Whether
you’re a beginner or a historic hoarder, keep these
points in mind and you’ll be golden.
Splurge on the unique. I’m a fairly frugal person
and rarely spend a lot of money on anything.
However, if I come across something like a 1930s
evening dress in my size, chances are, it’s coming
home with me. If you don’t pick it up, someone
else will.
macaroons are reason enough for me to go.
Parking is kind of scarce at this location, so try
carpooling with family and friends rather than
driving alone.
Girl:
Guy:
Maeli, 19 years old. Freshmen at UA.
Loved her casual, easy campus style.
Gabriel, 20 years old. Sophomore at
UA. Loved his t-shirt and top knot!
THE Devil Strip |
23
Misc.
Above: Dan with his brother-in-law,
sister, nephew, stepmom and Dad.
Right: The Van Auken family at
ribbon cutting
Dan was an advocate for the voiceless and
recognized how often children are overlooked
or ignored by adults. “He really respected
them as people,” Elizabeth says. “He had tons
of patience with where they were and never
treated them like little kids.”
In turn, they called him Mr. Van Awesome. One
day, the students and staff threw a big breakfast in
his honor, giving him a “Super Dan” cape, which
he kept on all day. When a kid asked why he was
wearing it, Dan joked, “Why aren’t YOU?”
If things had gone according to plan, Dan might
have instead become spokesman for his beloved
Cleveland Indians. However, after graduating with
a communications degree from Ohio University,
he didn’t find work in the field so he became
a paraprofessional at a school for children with
behavioral needs. It ignited something in Dan
and soon he was back to school for a second
bachelor’s. He was working on a master’s when his
GMF was diagnosed.
--------------------------------------------------------------It took everything he had but Dan made it through
the school year. He lost pieces of himself in the
process, forgetting how to tie a tie and struggling
with his balance. He couldn’t be left alone
overnight. As it worsened, he gave up on his rule
against beer and coffee, which was as close to
conceding defeat as he got.
“I never heard Dan say he was going to die,”
Victoria says. “I kind of wished for that. You can’t
say how much you’re going to miss someone if
they don’t acknowledge it’s going to happen.”
He was forced into a wheelchair then suffered a
bad seizure. In hospice care, he could no longer
speak but Dan hung on for another three days. His
dad says it was to give everyone time to
say goodbye.
“I think he was functioning as a teacher for all
of us,” Steve says. “He was teaching us how to
24
handle this because we’re all going to get there—
we will all have our dark night.”
This is the hard part. Now is. Dan died July 6, 2014.
Since then, Elizabeth has been consoled by their
former students who come by with a hug and
a confession that they miss Mr. Van Auken too.
Others have channeled their grief into projects like
Van Auken Field, the scholarship fund established
in his name and fundraisers for both, like the
Danstravaganza. A couple of friends are organizing
a 5k in his honor, and that finally convinced Katie
to give running a chance. It’s one way she’s handles
missing him. “I’m still grieving what I would have
hoped would have been,” she says.
Most of his adult life, Dan professed no faith, but
that changed during his last year when he started
attending services at the Unitarian Universalist
Church with Doc. He even became a member.
“It was surprising,” Betsy says. “But he needed a
higher power than himself to give him faith that
he’d be okay.”
Towards the end, Katie says, a hospice minister
came to visit Dan and asked how he wanted
to be remembered. “He said, ‘I don’t know if I
really want anyone to remember me, but I think
people in general should practice kindness and
thoughtfulness and generosity.’”
Then Katie says Dan turned to her and his
stepmother Christine and asked, “Do you think
that would be true about me?”
Absolutely.
For the longer version, featuring more stories about
Dan, his teaching, his friends and running, visit
thedevilstrip.com/danvanauken
50+
WAYS TO
summer 101: fun for kids
JUNE
Old School Photography
June 11, 1-3pm. Registration required. Akron Art
Museum, 1 South High St., Akron. Ages 7-12.
akronartmuseum.org/calendar
Summer Night Out
June 12, 6-9pm, Tuscarawas Meadows,
2620 Harrington Rd., Akron. Picnic, games, and
campfire. www.summitmetroparks.org/Activities/
ProgramsAndEvents.aspx
Lowe’s Build and Grow
June 13, Iron Man’s Avenjet. Free Building Clinic
for Kids. lowesbuildandgrow.com/pages/
fullschedule.aspx
ENJOY
AKRON
Superhero Summer Camp
June 15-19, 9am-12pm. Cafe O’ Play. 911 Graham
Rd., Suite 27, Stow. www.cafeoplay.com/events/
event-calendar
Art Tales: Summer Road Trip
June 18, 11:15 am–12:30 pm, Akron Art Museum,
All ages. akronartmuseum.org/calendar/
Flicks on the Falls
June 18, Falls River Square. Annie (2014).
Movies begin at dusk. For more information, visit
cfo.cityofcf.com/web/our-city/falls-river-square/
flicks-falls
WITH YOUR
KIDS THIS
Li’l Sprouts
June 19, 10:30-11:30am. Nature Realm,
1828 Smith Rd., Akron. Kids 3 and older learn
how to identify weeds and garden plants.
Wear old clothes and expect to be dirty.
www.summitmetroparks.org.
SUMMER
Father's Day Celebration
Sun, Jun 21, Akron Rubber Ducks vs. SeaWolves
on Family FUNday with the kids running bases
afterwards. akronrubberducks.com
Dad’s Day at the Zoo
June 21, Akron Zoo. akronzoo.org
Paddle the Parks
June 21, Tannery Park, 8:30-12pm and 2-4pm,
100 Stow St, Kent. Kayak or canoe 4.5 miles
down the Cuyahoga River from Tannery Park in
Kent to Brust Park in Munroe Falls with a Metro
parks naturalist as your guide. Cost: $20/kayak;
$30/canoe. www.summitmetroparks.org.
Archery for Father’s Day
June 21, HH/Archery Range, 1940 W. Steels
Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls. Dads, uncles,
granddads: Celebrate Father’s Day by bringing
a child, ages 9-17, to learn archery together. All
equipment provided. Must be 50 inches or taller.
summitmetroparks.org.
Father’s Day Breakfast
June 21, Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Departs Rockside Station at 9am. For tickets and
information, visit: cvsr.com/calendar
Art Babes: Curiosity Garden
June 24, 11 and 1pm, Akron Art Museum.
0-18 months. akronartmuseum.org/calendar/
Flicks on the Falls
July 9, Falls River Square. Paddington. Movies begin
at dusk. For more information, visit cfo.cityofcf.
com/web/our-city/falls-river-square/flicks-falls
Flicks on the Falls
June 25, Falls River Square. The Lorax. Movies begin Pancakes with Penguins
July 11, 8-10am, Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave.,
Akron. akronzoo.org/
Sidewalk Beach Party
June 25, 11am -3pm, Akron Art Museum.
akronartmuseum.org/calendar
Lowe’s Build and Grow
June 27. Captain America’s Motorcycle. Free
Building Clinic for Kids. lowesbuildandgrow.com/
pages/fullschedule.aspx
2nd Annual RubberDucks Comicon
June 28, featuring free comic books and an
appearance by NEO Ghostbusters on Family
FUNday with the kids—some dressed as their
favorite superheroes, running bases afterwards.
Canal Days Duck Derby
July 11, 11-3pm, Cascade Locks Park. Fun,
food, music, festivities and prizes all day.
www.cascadelocks.org
Music in the Valley Festival
July 11, 10am-5pm. Hale Farm & Village,
2686 Oak Hill Rd. www.halefarm.org
Pirate Days Treasure Hunt
July 18, 11-3pm., Portage Lakes State Park, Swim
Beach, 5031 Manchester Rd., Akron. Treasure
hunts, crafts, food, costume contest, face painting,
for all ages. Free. www.plkiwanis.org
FirstEnergy All-American Soap Box Derby
World Championship
July 19 to 25 at Derby Downs aasbd.org
JULY
Summer Movie Matinee
July 1, 1pm, Akron Public Library, Odom Branch.
Epic. akronlibrary.org
Stuck in the Middle with You:
Middle Child Appreciation Night
July 1 at the Akron Rubber Ducks vs.Baysox
Flicks on the Falls
July 2, Falls River Square. Escape from Planet Earth.
cfo.cityofcf.com/web/our-city/falls-river-square/
flicks-falls
Downtown Akron Artwalk
July 4, 5-10pm. 103 S. High Street, 4th Floor.
Downtown Akron Partnership. downtownakron.
com/enjoy/artwalk
Summer Movie Matinee
July 20, 1pm, Akron Summit County Public Library,
Odom Branch. 600 Vernon Odom Blvd. Brave.
akronlibrary.org
Dance Camp
July 20-24, 9am-12pm (4-6 years); 2-5pm (7-12
years). Cafe O’ Play. 911 Graham Rd., Suite 27,
Stow. cafeoplay.com/events/event-calendar
Flicks on the Falls
July 23, Falls River Square. Planes, Fire & Rescue.
cfo.cityofcf.com
Yo, ho! Let's go! A Pirates Life for Me Puny Pirate Party
July 26 at Akron Rubber Ducks vs. the Curve for
Family FUNday when the kid run the bases after the
game. akronrubberducks.com
Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Much Ado About Nothing, July 2-5, 9-12, 16-19
2015, Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, For tickets and
information, visit: stanhywet.org/events
Mark Wood Magic Show
July 28, 1pm, Akron Summit County Public Library,
Goodyear Branch. 60 Goodyear Blvd. Cowboy
magician does comedy, juggling, etc.
akronlibrary.org
Preschool Library Story Time
July 8-29, 1pm, Fairlawn-Bath Branch. Children
ages 3-5 can join Miss Pam for stories, music, and
more. fairlawnbathbranch.akronlibrary.org
Flicks on the Falls
July 30, Falls River Square. Big Hero 6. Movies begin
Drop-in Dance Party
July 9, 6:30pm, Akron Public Library, Mogadore
Branch. Ages 3 and up. mogadorebranch.
akronlibrary.org/
Yoga for Kids
July 31, 1pm, LP/Nature Center. Ages 6-10 years.
Registration required and begins 7/3:
330-865-8065. summitmetroparks.org/Activities
Peter Pan on Stage
July 31- August 16, 2:30 and 4:30pm.
Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Ln.
weathervaneplayhouse.com
THE Devil Strip |
25
big ideas
AUGUST
Flicks on the Falls
August 6, Falls River Square. Ratatouille. Movies
begin at dusk. For more information, visit
cfo.cityofcf.com
Summer Safari
August 7, Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron.
akronzoo.org
Nature Connect
August 8, 1pm, Akron-Summit County Public
Library/Maple Valley. 1186 Copley Rd., Akron.
Contact for Emmalee Coontz at
[email protected]
Princess Tea Party for Family FUNday at Akron
Rubber Ducks vs. SeaDogs
August 9. Be a princess for a day and do crafts
with your favorite princesses. (Take part in the
RubberDucks 5k, running the streets of downtown
Akron on game day. Ticket and 2 beers or sodas
are included with race registration
Hey
Cristina...
what’s the
big idea
for ‘Akron’s
International
District’?
Indiana Jones Adventure Camp
August 10-14, 10am-2pm. Weathervane
Playhouse. Ages 7-13. $180. Contact:
330-836-2626, www.weathervaneplayhouse.com
Hot Wheels Derby
August 11, Akron-Summit County Public Library/
Nordonia Hills, 9458 Olde Eight Rd. Northfield.
www.akronlibrary.org/nordoniahills/
Flicks on the Falls
August 13, Falls River Square. Muppets Most
Wanted. Movies begin at dusk. For more
information, visit cfo.cityofcf.com
Summit for Kids
August 15, 10am-4pm, Knight Center, 77 East Mill
Street, Akron. summitforkids.net/
Name / Age: Cristina González Alcalá / 29
Hometown/Home now:
I am from Durango, Mexico and I currently reside
in North Hill.
Occupation:
Research Associate at Summit Education Initiative;
Co-owner at Not Yo' Daddy's
Contact:
notyodaddys.com or on Twitter
@notyodaddys or @cgonzalezalcala
Big idea:
A year-around market in North Hill, similar to
Cleveland's West Side Market, that showcases
the vibrant cultures of the neighborhood while
providing the shared space to help
immigrant entrepreneurs.
Quote: “A friend of mine, who is also a resident
of North Hill, once asked me if it was okay to go
inside a place that only had Spanish words written
on the outside, or if that was a hint for Americans
to stay out. Recently, I was talking to Hem, one
of the owners of the Nepali Kitchen, who asked
for suggestions to help him attract diverse clients.
This reinforced my perceived need for a place
that could serve as the epicenter and landmark of
Akron’s International District. …the conversation
and energy around urban revitalization and
neighborhood branding, thanks to young
professional groups’ leadership, the Akron Better
Block and Akron2Akron, seems to be the perfect
mirepoix to get this idea going.”
From the
Akronist Archives
Community Day at
Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens
August 16. stanhywet.org/events/community-day
Kids Scientist Day
August 23, at Akron RubberDucks vs. SeaWolves
for Family FUNday
Gym & Swim
August 24-28, 10-12pm. Shaw JCC of Akron, 750
White Pond Drive. Ages 3-6. $50 Members; $60
Guests. www.shawjcc.org.
Summer Legos
August 24-28, 1-3pm. Shaw JCC of Akron, 750
White Pond Drive. Ages 3-8. $50 Members; $60
Guests. www.shawjcc.org.
26
North Hill’s Better Block event gave a number of new businesses
the chance to get valuable face time with customers. In a video at
akronist.com, Cristina Gonzalez Alcala, founder of Not Yo Daddy’s
Salsa, explains the origins of her business and the valuable secret
recipe behind this flavorful product.
Alcala’s temporary storefront led to sellouts of her product, and
she explains why she brought this blend of chiles and spices from
Durango, Mexico to Akron. For more information, you can find
Not Yo Daddy’s Salsa on Facebook and Twitter or visit
notyodaddys.com.
Scene
BRINGS AMERICANA ACTS
Elephant Revival and The Speedbumps
TO HISTORIC G.A.R. HALL
by Brittany Nader with photographs by Jim Lightcap
E
very Friday, G.A.R. Hall, the noted historical
treasure trove in Peninsula, becomes a
grand-scale music box as acts both national
and local make their way to the venue to
entertain with traditional roots music. As part of
the hall’s Voices in the Valley series, touring bands
roll through to bring fresh new sounds and faces to
the Greater Akron area. Local bands are showcased
as well, filling the crowd with loyal listeners and
music lovers delighted to see up-and-coming acts
making big noise in the intimate venue.
Akron-based indie folk band, The Speedbumps,
kicked the show the evening of May 31, a few
weeks after releasing their new album, “Soil to
the Seed.” Dreamy acoustic Americana notes ring
out, met with much cheering and applause. Guitar
player and vocalist Erik Urycki pauses a moment
to take in the scenery and muse at what a special
place the historic venue truly is.
“I feel like G.A.R. Hall is our personal home,”
Urycki says.
He explains that the venue’s staff let the band
play and rehearse in the space several nights while
recording their new album. It’s not surprisingly
that the doors were graciously opened to the local
band, as the hall feels much more personal than a
standard local venue or bar. It has been a gathering
place for the community since its early days in
the 1800s. From a church to a schoolhouse and
meeting place for Civil War veterans, the building
has seen its share of faces and, undoubtedly, holds
an important collection of stories within the knots
and splinters of its wooden walls.
Outside, attendees break after the first set for street
food, local beer, wine and a perusal of the merch
table. Despite the rain and chill, the warmth of
the packed room carries out into the valley as the
musicians and crowd congregate outdoors. Inside,
a bar with mixed drinks sees light foot traffic as
many attendees venture downstairs to hover under
the low ceilings to take in the history of the space.
Soon, resounding notes call the crowd back to their
theater-style seating, and the headlining act begins
its set.
Clad in long dresses and attire that certainly
fit the feel of the hall, Colorado-based touring
band Elephant Revival packs the sold-out room.
A menagerie of instruments sparkles from the
stage, including washboard, musical saw, stomp
box, banjo and mandolin. The quintet mixes folk,
bluegrass and traditional roots music with carefully
crafted dynamics that inspire awe from the crowd
of locals.
“This is such a special place to play music,” says
fiddle player Bridget Law. “We’re just drenching our
souls in history playing in this room.”
Bonnie Paine paints scenes with her collection of
instruments and soft melodic words. An a cappella
tune called “Raven Song” enraptures the audience,
while more boot-stompin’ ditties inspire certain
folks to get up and dance in the narrow aisles of
the hall.
The two bands showcased on this evening are a
great introduction to the heart of the Voices of
the Valley concert series. More than a showcase of
old-fashioned sounds and local music, these nights
are reserved for the community to relax and join
together a little outside of the hustle and bustle of
the city streets. Like a family barbecue or miniature
festival, G.A.R. Hall makes concertgoers feel at
home in a majestic setting rich with the tales and
lore of yesteryear.
G.A.R. Hall will welcome bluegrass acts Gold Heart
and David Mayfield’s Bluegrass Parade to the venue
June 12 and 13 as part of its Voices in the Valley
concert series.
With stories songs of sea monsters, winding rivers
and pastures, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist
THE Devil Strip |
27
Something for
Everyone.
Eat.
From small bites on the go to inspired
culinary masterpieces, many of the city’s
best dining options are right here on our
block.
The Akron you’ve been waiting for has been here all
along. Dine, shop, and be entertained at the crossroads
of commerce, culture, & cuisine!
Drink.
The Historic Arts District has it all: draft
brews, small batch bourbons, bottled
craft beers, signature cocktails, & more!
Be Merry.
Meet the Neighbors.
Retail shops, an indie movie theater, art
museum, jewelry shops, & handcrafted
art to put a smile on your face.
BLU Jazz+
Live Jazz • Fine Food • Spirits • Photo Gallery
Featuring the best in regional, national, &
international live jazz talent, Wed-Sat. Inspired ﬁne
dining, signature cocktails, craft beer, and more!
Uncorked
MAID
Wine Bar • Gathering Space • Acoustic Music
Intimate space for events ranging from small
gatherings to large soirees. Boasting a vast
selection of reds, whites, and bubbles!
E. M
ARKE
T ST
REET
N. HI
GH S
TREE
T
N. M
AIN
STRE
ET
Live Music • Event Space • Bar
Follow the sizzlin’ orange glow to the all-new vibrant
bar layout and scorching sound & lighting systems.
Special events include live rock/folk/alternative
shows, open mic, karaoke, dance parties, & comedy.
EN L
ANE
Musica
Find your Way.
N
Urban Eats
Pop Art Cafe • Wraps, Paninis • Coffee
Daily specials feature specialty wraps, paninis,
ﬂatbread pizzas, soups from scratch, coffee, espresso,
pastries, & Mary Coyle ice cream! Mon-Fri, 9am-9pm.
Even more reasons to Visit (& Stay).
• Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequila Bar
• 3 Point Restaurant
• Crave
P
Plenty o’ Parking.
• Free parking in the deck attached to the
Akron Public Library on High St.
• Metered street parking (free after 6pm)
• Valet Parking
• Rubber City Clothing
• Nightlight Cinema
• WE Gallery

Issue 7 - The Devil Strip

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