MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 • THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
FREE
PG RUBBER CITY PRINTS SETTLES 12 INTO THEIR WEST HILL HOME
PG WHY ARE STATE LAWMAKERS 24 TOURING AKRON BREWERIES?
PG THIS IS WHAT THE FUTURE 34 PAST SOUNDS LIKE
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AGENDA 12 E. Exchange Street • 2nd Floor Akron, Ohio 44308 Publisher: Chris “No diggity” Horne Email: chris@thedevilstrip.com Phone: 330-555-GHOSTBUSTERS Art Director: Alesa “doesn’t sleep” Upholzer, Talented and Patient Managing Editor: M. Sophie “Has Many Names, Wears Many Hats” Franchi sophie@thedevilstrip.com Visuals Editor: Svetla “The Balkan Comrade” Morrison Director of Sales & Distribution: TJ "is in fact a Newsie, hat and all" Masterson TJ@thedevilstrip.com Staff Writers, Columnists & The A/V Club: Kristina “Urban Explorer” Aiad-Toss; Emily “Lady Beer Drinker” Anderson; Melanie “newbie for now” Anderson; Brett “The Red-bearded Intern” Auerbach; Holly “The Wanderer” Brown; Kyle “Needs a Whimsical Nickname” Brown; Drew “is kind of a big deal in Haiti” Dawson; Sam "Buzzkilling Feminist" DePaul; Emily “Potty Perfectionist” Dressler and Marissa Marangoni, Bathroom Culture Enthusiast; Brian “Wemlo Twinge” Dunphy; Dan “The Akron Knight” Gorman; Paul “I don’t write but I can draw” Hoffman; Josy “is everywhere already” Jones; Ted “Super No Bueno” Lehr; Jacob Luther, the Towny Townie Toonist; TJ “Don’t Call Me Shirley” Masterson; Krissy "Someone make me a real fish taco before I go insane" O'Connor; Lia “Just One More Slice” Pietrolungo; Amanda "That Crazy Cat Lady" Sedlak-Hevener; Nicole “likes the way Akron sounds” Stempak; Bradley “The Early Warning System” Thorla; Floco “no wonder he’s a lover and a writer” Torres; Steve “is not a zombie” Van Auken; Patrick “Pattycakes” Worden; and The Shane Wynn Supremacy ————————————————————
CONTACT US:
Office ......................................(330) 842-6606 General Info .......... info@thedevilstrip.com Advertising ............ads@thedevilstrip.com Distribution ....... distro@thedevilstrip.com Website .................... www.thedevilstrip.com Facebook .... Facebook.com/thedevilstrip Twitter ...................................@akrondevilstrip Instagram ..................................@thedevilstrip ———————————————————— 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 of The Devil Strip are copyright 2017 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.
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The Devil’s Dozen
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Showing off Akron to the Naysaying Out-of-Towners
THE PALETTE 12 In the (New) Studio with Rubber City Prints 13 Deterioration and Vibrancy at the
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BOX Gallery 14 Super No Bueno at Akron’s Pop Culture Con
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CULTURE CLUB
table of contents
19 What’s up with The Well? 21 Meet Cherokee. 22 She’s New and She’s Native
AKROPRENEURS
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23 What Troy and Tavares Wish They Knew 24 State Lawmakers Tour Akron Breweries
THE DISH 28 The Wanderer Welcomes Spring
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29 Lady Beer Drinker’s Favorite Beer Fest
THE SCENE 32 Six Akron Bands we Think You Should Know 33 Seeing Double with See Creatures 34 On Stage with the Sounds of Future Past, also Known as Stems
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About the Cover
addition to her abstract paintings and prints, Lindsey
Spring in Ohio is all about color. From hot pink blossoming trees to lime green fresh leaves to that
Jo also crafts modern handwoven wall hangings and is currently building her illustration and pattern design portfolio. A selection of her woven works are currently available at the Canton Museum of Art
bright blue May sky—it’s all a much needed, vibrant reprieve from the grey days of winter. So when we
and at the Akron Municipal Building in the Mayor’s office. Lindsey Jo’s work will be for sale this summer
began our search for May’s cover, I knew it needed to be colorful. Then, one morning as I was scrolling through Instagram, I saw a pop of color that caught
at the Northside Market on Saturdays June 3, July 1 and August 5 and at Crafty Mart at Canton’s First Friday on July 7.
my attention, and of course it was the work of one of my friends whose attitude I believe personifies Spring: Lindsey Jo Scott.
The image on this month’s cover is cropped from a larger work called “The Thing About Chaos is
Lindsey Jo lives and works in Akron and describes herself as a “color obsessed artist and designer.” In
Finding the Calm.” It’s acrylic on canvas. Learn more about Lindsey Jo at lindseyjoscott.com. — M. Sophie Franchi
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
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Pub Notes>>>
readers and viewers. Now consider how much
Can local media assorted tragedies. change a city’s and How long before you transfer those feelings narrative? Why you don’t read the comments
It’s hard to appreciate the volume of phone calls that come into even a small-sized local newsroom. Most are complaints, often things outside your control, like whatever the President, city council or the weather just did. Some are plain weird. Several are just questions that should be Googled, like, “When is the game on TV tonight?” or, “What’s my zip code?” Callers share (yell) theories about which political party “the media” is helping. You may hear four compliments in a year, but if you’re
coverage goes to crime, conflict, accidents, disasters
about your audience over to your feelings about the community as a whole? In Georgia, it wasn’t a problem because I was deeply engaged. That was my balance. But when I was new here and still working in Cleveland, it wore me down. The toil of callers and commenters on how local journalists feel about the communities they cover is worth exploring, but I’d rather discuss the toil local coverage has
really lucky, a couple of sweet, lonely regulars will call when you’ve got downtime because they need an ear to bend.
on the way communities feel about themselves.
As a reporter, you field fewer calls because you’re working a beat or enterprising a story.
commenters with local news. This is how your perspective is affected by how much contact you have with the news. On one hand, it’s
Plus, the cranks and complainers are lost amongst the interactions you have with other human beings in person. That caller-to-real life ratio determines your opinion about the audience. Really, over the last few years, it’s the ratio of real people to callers and online commenters. As I moved from reporter to editor and then managment, my caller and commenter interaction increased bigly, which degraded my judgment about our
For a moment, trade places with the reporter in that scenario then swap callers and
fodder for conversation with our family, friends and peers — “Did you see that story?!” But it’s also because we’re subject to recency bias, which means you give your most recent experience more credibility. That can stretch over the years and bridge across generations, passed along as received wisdom. For example, the last time my dad saw a snake at the lake, it was on the left side of the dock.
Naturally, we were only allowed to swim on the right side of the dock because he never saw a snake there. If my daughter wanted to swim there now, I’d say, “Fine, but stay on the right side!” Pictured left: A t-shirt design by The Social
the same fate that features reporting — think human interest, arts, culture, community — has suffered. That means, in most places, the community’s mirror is cracked, warped and tarnished. Of course we want more investigative reporting and accountability journalism, but cities get into trouble because overall the coverage is out of balance with reality in the places where we live.
Dept., based in Akron
If your story is that your community is poorly In a more serious context, this is how neighborhoods
educated, crime-ridden and jobless, it will prevent you from seeing what’s really there. When we can’t see the good as readily as
become the bad part of town. Something awful happens there. You forget the dozens
we see the bad, we don’t commit and won’t engage. You move on. When Jack and Jim Knight took over the
of good, decent people who live there but hang on to the news. I’m guilty of it too. As soon as I heard about the
Beacon Journal, it was still early in The Great Depression and yet they staffed up at the paper, an approach they took at every paper they
stabbings at UT-Austin, I immediately crossed
bought. The private owners and corporations
it off the campus visit list for Maddy, who is currently in kindergarten.
who control the local outlets in Northeast Ohio are unlikely to follow the Knights’ lead.
This makes local news dangerous now. Its impact is lasting but its resources are lacking.
Right now, until other options are available, you should inoculate yourself against broken stories. The best way is to get involved. Do something.
Peyton Anderson, the publisher of the daily paper in my hometown, was once asked what he thought the paper’s role was. His answer: To be a mirror for the community.
We build each issue of this magazine to be a how-to guide for civic engagement. So, find something you love and connect to other folks who care about it too. They’ll keep you balanced.
Over the last two decades, newsroom staff positions have been nearly halved by layoffs, buyouts and attrition. That damages the quality but also the community connection outlets once enjoyed. The part we overlook is that hard news, though clipped, was spared
Oh, and don't read the comments.
Chris
GIVES AKRON EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS A PLATFORM words and photos by M. Sophie Franchi It's great to meet teenagers who care about
Each student had two minutes to speak in
social justice and current events, and it seems
front of an audience at Akron Summit County Public Library Main Branch. Their topics ranged
as though it's becoming more and more commonplace since the election. Today's youth wants to be sure they have a bright future that is welcoming and inclusive to people from all walks of life, of all genders, races, sexualities and ethnicities. On April 19, Akron Early College High School hosted Project Soapbox, which gave some of these forward-thinking students a chance to speak their minds in an effort to open minds and hearts to the issues facing America's youth.
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from body shaming to dating violence to improvement of the education system. There were two awards: Judges' Choice, which went to 11th grader Krista Nisly for her speech which explained why the All Lives Matter movement isn't really a movement. Audience Choice went to 10th Grader Maria Finney for her speech on sexual abuse within the church. All the students did an amazing job and were awarded medals for their hard work.
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Pictured (clockwise from top): Winners Maria Finney (left) and Krista Nisly (right); Akron Early College High School students watch as their peers present; Maria Finney speaking on sexual abuse in the church; Krista Nisly speaking on #BLM vs #ALM movements
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the agenda
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OUR PICKS FOR THE 12 BEST CHOICES YOU CAN MAKE THIS MONTH Ongoing – June 10 µ Expressive Journey: The First 100 Days, Artists Respond // Nine Muses Art Gallery, 584 W Tuscarawas Ave, Barberton // Tired of reading political Facebook rants? Switch it up this month as “Artists Respond” will feature artists from Barberton and adjacent communities using art to share their responses to national events following the inauguration of Donald Trump. This event is sponsored by H.O.P.E. (Hope, Opportunity, Peace, Equality) in cooperation with Summit Artspace. Nine Muses is operated by Summit Artspace, the community arts center for Summit County and the surrounding area. Visit ninemusesart.com for more information.
Friday, May 5 å PechaKucha Akron, Volume VII // Greystone Hall, 103 S High St, Akron // Enjoy complimentary refreshments and a cash bar as some of Akron’s most creative visionaries showcase their passion, ideologies, artwork and much more. Doors open at 7 pm and the show starts promptly at 8 pm, key word being “promptly,” as each speaker will present 20 slides that last for 20 seconds each. RSVP is required to ensure you have a seat. Tickets are $5. Limited free are tickets available. For more information, visit pechakucha.org/cities/akron.
ç Akron Rubberducks Pride Night // Canal Park, 300 S Main St // 6:35 – 10pm Show your Pride and support the Akron Rubber Ducks this month. As if a ballgame isn’t entertaining enough, a George Michael tribute fireworks display is on the agenda as well. Grab a cold drink and lather that ball park dog in Akron’s delicious stadium mustard. Then it’s time to finally kick your feet back and roast in the sun – hopefully. The mission of Akron Pride is to unify and affirm the LGBTQ
Saturday, May 6 é Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird // John S Knight Center, 77 E Mill St // 10am5pm // The Oddmall is back in Akron. Oddmall is part art fair, part craft show, part comic con, part gaming festival, part cosplay extravaganza, part toy show, part antique show, part vintage fashion show, part geeksplosion, part music fest, part magic show and part various undefinable othernesses. If it’s fun, artsy, geeky, crafty or odd, chances are it can be found at Oddmall. It’s the Emporium of the Weird. Admission is free. For additional information visit oddmall.info
Sunday, May 7 è 2017 GCEF Annual Gathering: We Are ONE - Spring Forward // Akron Art Museum, 1 S High St // 2-5:30pm // Join the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation for its annual gathering to celebrate the fund's impact in the community and recognize its most recent grant recipients. This year's featured speaker is Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, public education director for Freedom for All Americans, whose work in developing nondiscrimination messaging has helped build public support of
Forget Netflix, this is the real deal. Come get
at events.evenzilla.net. Seating is limited.
your learning on at Akron's first official TEDx Event. TEDx is a local self-organized event that
Tuesday, May 9 ë Blood on the Mountain - Akron Premiere // Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S Main St // 7-10pm // Wasted Talent Media presents an exclusive Akron premiere of the nationally acclaimed film by Akronite Mari-Lynn Evans, “Blood on the Mountain.” “Blood on the Mountain” is an historical documentary investigating economic and environmental injustices that have resulted from industrial control in West Virginia. This special event includes a panel discussion of the film including the production team and guest appearances from individuals profiled in the film. The film will open with a special performance by Akron's
brings people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDxAkron, TEDTalks Video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connections in an intimate environment. The widely known quote: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room” is highly applicable to this event. Expand your knowledge, Akron! Get tickets at goodyeartheater.com.
ï Torchbearers 11th Annual AkRun & Crawl // Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail through Merriman Valley // 9pm // This afterdark glow 5K Race follows the scenic Ohio &
Erie Canal Towpath Trail through the Merriman Valley and is followed by a pub crawl through the Valley Bar District. Expect loads of music Saturday, May 13 and accessories. As if a beer at the finish line í The Mom and Pop Shoppe // Downtown isn’t motivation enough, the first 300 runners Akron, 11am-5pm // Celebrate Mother’s day will receive an AKRun & Crawl T-shirt. Early
own Angie Haze Project. akroncivic.com
perusing downtown through miscellaneous craft shops. Thanks to Crafty Mart, 65 vendors will scatter across three venues in downtown Akron: Musica, Akron Art Museum and Summit Artspace. Of course food and drinks are in the mix. The event is free and open to the public.
registration is $35 for both the run and crawl or $20 for the crawl only. Prices will increase after May 10. Please support Torchbearers in one of their largest fundraisers of the year. For additional information and registration, please visit: bit.ly/2pSdVJY.
transgender Americans and defend against anti-LGBT legislation. A transgender man and Brown University alumnus, Heng-Lehtinen is an expert in LGBT policy and advocacy. Hors
ì The Big Big Mess Featuring McGlynn/
Saturday, May 27 & Sunday, May 28 ‹ Nepali Applause: An Open Air
d'oeuvres and beverages will be served; cash
Culliton/Wilson // Annabell’ s Bar & Lounge,
Market/Performance Festival // Exchange
bar available. Tickets to the event are $40 for individuals or $75 for couples and can be purchased at akroncf.org/GCEFannualmeeting or by calling 330-376-8522.
784 W Market St // 6:30-9pm // The Big Big Mess reading series is back in Annabell’s basement this month with a poetry-filled
House Akron, 760 Elma St // 12-6pm both days // Celebrate diversity in Akron at this multidisciplinary event that illustrates the
reading. Take this as an opportunity to enjoy Annabell’s nostalgic atmosphere exempt from the typical aromas emanating from body sweat
rich history of the New American population in North Hill. The festival will showcase works of art, dance and music, and includes
of numerous moshers. Alternatively, use this as an opportunity to mosh at a poetry reading because what’s Annabell’s without a mosh pit?
performances led by professional and New American artists to create a bilingual variety show. The festival will also feature an open air
This month’s featured readers include: Karyna McGlynn, Patrick Culliton and Nicole Wilson. bigbigmess.tumblr.com
market in the parking lot behind the Exchange House. As a Knight Arts Challenge Winner of $10,000, Nepali Applause must raise a
ê Brewed: Coffee, Beer & Coffee Beer HiHO Brewing Company, 1707 Front St, Cuyahoga Falls // 1-2:30pm // HiHO Brewing Company and Akron Roasters combine for a special tasting event. Join Head Brewer Jon Hovan and Roast Master Albert Masco as they
share some of their best kept secrets in creating community and allies in celebrating our diversity a delicious beverage and demonstrate how the two can be perfectly paired. The event includes and recognizing our likeness. We will promote eight tastings, local German style baked goods acceptance of all individuals by defending and a special event glass to take home. Tickets human equality. Let’s rally together!
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are $30 and must be purchased ahead of time
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
For early bird tickets visit craftymart.org
Saturday, May 20 î TedxAkron 2017 // The Goodyear
matching $10,000 to implement the project. To donate visit gumdiptheatre.com/nepaliapplause.
Theater, 1201 East Market St // 12-5pm //
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
Agenda
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There's Nothing to Do in Akron The Devil Strip’s comprehensive, monthly argument that there’s plenty of fun to be had in Akron
Ongoing through June 10
blankets, crib sheets, newborn diapers, infant spoons, toddler spoons & forks, books, toys,
Saturday, May 6
roads are turning yellow this month. Get your tickets at akroncivic.com.
Expressive Journey: The First 100 Days, Artists Respond Nine Muses Art Gallery, 584 W Tuscarawas Ave, Barberton // “Artists Respond” will feature artists from Barberton
maternity tops & bottoms, nursing nighties, hygiene products, baby monitors and sippy cups. mbc95.org
Oddmall: Emporium of the Weird // John S Knight Center, 77 E Mill St // 10am-5pm // Oddmall is part art fair, part craft show, part comic con, part gaming festival, part cosplay
2017 GCEF Annual Gathering: We Are ONE Spring Forward Akron Art Museum, 1 S High St // 2-5:30pm // Join the Gay Community
and adjacent communities using art to share their responses to national events following the inauguration of Donald Trump. See Devil’s
Friday, May 5
extravaganza, part toy show, part antique show, Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation for its annual gathering to celebrate part vintage fashion show, part geeksplosion, the fund's impact in the community and part music fest, part magic show and part recognize its most recent grant recipients. See various undefinable othernesses. See Devil’s
Dozen. ninemusesart.com
Thursday, May 4 Blu Jazz Big Band Residency: “Exploring Ellington” Blu Jazz +, 47 E Market St // 7-11pm // Come out for a very special edition of the Blue Jazz big band residency – two groups plus an internationally renowned special guest trumpeter, Dominick Farinacci. Get your tickets today at ticketleap.com. Gemini Syndrome The Empire Concert Club & Bar, 1305 E Tallmadge Ave // 8pm-1am Tickets: $15 adv/ $18 door // Special guests include: Bones of Giants, Devilstrip and Mettal Maffia. empireconcertclub.com
College Night Rock Mill Climbing, Yoga & Fitness, 677 Carroll St // 4-10pm // Pregame on an entirely new level! Take a break from the books on the first Friday of each month and climb the stress away. Admission is $10 including rentals (must have valid college ID). rockmillclimbing.com PechaKucha Akron, Volume VII Greystone Hall, 103 S High St, Akron // Enjoy complimentary refreshments and a cash bar as some of Akron’s most creative visionaries showcase their passion, ideologies, artwork and much more. See Devil’s Dozen. pechakucha. org/cities/akron
Dozen. oddmall.info/ohio
Devil’s Dozen. akronartmuseum.org
“This is Trash” Opening Reception
Monday, May 8
22 High Street Gallery, 22 N High St // 5-9pm // “This is Trash” features a new series of large scale woodcuts by emerging artist Chad Uehlein. Graduating from The University of Akron’s Myers School of Art this Spring with a BFA in Printmaking, Uehlein exhibits his own humorous take on motivational posters. Rather than uplift, “This is Trash” is upfront and honest, telling the viewer exactly what to do and how to feel. Check it out May 1 through May 13. akronuncorked.com/gallery
“Chicago” E.J. Thomas Hall and UA Events, 198 Hill St // 7:30pm // Broadway visits The University of Akron. Grab your tickets at ticketmaster.com
9pm-2am // You can expect more Cosby sweaters than a thrift store at this show. thursdayslounge.com
thermometers, sample size lotions, baby
Just Outside Akron
Blood on the Mountain - Akron Premiere The Admirables Present: The High Street Hop High St. Hop House, 20 N High St //
402 // Please consider supporting Pregnancy Solutions & Services as they could use your assistance. Items needed: summer clothing for boys & girls NB-3years , shoes NB-size 5, socks NB-24 months, winter mittens, infant
Akron Rubberducks Pride Night Canal Park, 300 S Main St // 6:35-10pm // Show your Pride and support the Akron Rubber Ducks
7:30-11pm // Music and Brews. Nuff said! $5 cover. facebook.com/highsthophouse
this month. As if a ballgame isn’t entertaining enough, a George Michael tribute fireworks display is on the agenda as well! See Devil’s Dozen. milb.com
Summit County Fairgrounds 229 E Howe Rd, Tallmadge // 10am-4pm // Ohio Makers Market is a unique craft and vendor show,
Jane’s Walk Akron Multiple Times & Locations // Jane’s Walk is a series of citizenled neighborhood walking tours. Jane’s Walk
inspired by three small-shop Mamas. This event
cultivates a broad understanding of how
features local makers, vendors, food trucks, live music,and much much more. facebook.com/ ohiomakersmkt
cities develop, function, and thrive. It works to advance walkable neighborhoods, increase urban literacy, and promote neighborhood cohesion, civic engagement and leadership.
Sunday, May 7
Participating neighborhoods include Middlebury, Wallhaven, Highland Square, West Akron (Copley Road), Downtown Akron,
hihobrewingco.com
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
by Akronite Mari-Lynn Evans, “Blood on the Mountain.” See Devil’s Dozen. akroncivic.com
Like Tyrants w/ Special Guests Musica,
Friday, May 5-Sunday, May 7 E Market St // 9pm-12am // Tickets: $10
Cuyahoga Falls // 1-2:30pm // HiHO Brewing Company and Akron Roasters combine for a special tasting event. See Devil’s Dozen.
Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S Main St // 7-10pm // Wasted Talent Media presents an exclusive Akron premiere of the nationally acclaimed film
Thursday, May 11
Saturday, May 6
Brewed: Coffee, Beer & Coffee Beer HiHO Brewing Company, 1707 Front St,
Reiki Flow w/ Special Musical Guest The Well Community Development Corporation, 647 E Market Street // 7-8:30pm // Class is $10. Entrance is restricted after 7:10 pm, so be on time, peeps. thewellakron.com
Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10th Golden Bear, Automatic Orchids, Birthday Noose Thursday’s Lounge, 306 E Exchange St
MOM’s Group – PSS Baby Shower Maranatha Bible Church, 1424 Killian Rd, Room
Rooted Akron Be Still: A Harmonious Yoga
Cascade Valley, and North Hill. Visit janeswalk. org/united-states/akron-oh to learn more, including exact dates, times, locations, and themes. Interested in leading a walk? Visit the website to sign up!
adv/$12 door // Special guests include Tropic Bombs, Darling Waste and Hell & Highwater liveatmusica.com May Neighborhood Town Hall Innes Community Learning Center, 1999 East Ave
Sunday, May 7
// 6-7:15pm // Please join Mayor Horrigan as he discusses his vision for Akron and responds to questions and concerns from community members. If you are unable to attend, the Town Hall will also be livestreaming from their Facebook page for others to participate and post questions online. This might be your first and last opportunity to troll the mayor of Akron
“The Wizard of Oz” Presented By Ballet Theatre of Ohio Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S Main St // 2-5pm // Akron’s nostalgic brick
live on Facebook. facebook.com/AkronOhio
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agenda (continued from page 7)
Friday, May 12
Food Truck Fridays Frenzy Child Guidance & Family Solutions, 18 N Forge St // 4-8pm
reading series is back in Annabell’s basement this month. See Devil’s Dozen. bigbigmess. tumblr.com
project “Seven Summers.” Shaun Martin has
Friday, May 19
Hammond and many more. blujazzakron.com
Dread Engine The Vortex, 1167 Brittain Rd //
Monday, May 22
7:30pm // Special guests include: In the Wake, DAYOLDHATE, In a Broken World and Twysted Asylum. Tickets are $10. thevortexakron.com
// Heck yes: Local food trucks, vendors and live music! Participating trucks and vendors TedxAkron 2017 The Goodyear Theater, 1201 will donate a portion of their earnings to Child Guidance & Family Solutions. Come out and get East Market St // 12-5pm // Forget Netflix, this is the real deal. Come get your learning your first sunburn of the year. cgfs.org on at Akron's first official TEDx Event! TEDx is a local self-organized event that brings people together to share a TED-like experience. See The Mom and Pop Shoppe Downtown Devil’s Dozen. goodyeartheater.com
Saturday, May 20
Saturday, May 13
Akron 11am-5pm // Celebrate Mother’s day perusing downtown through miscellaneous craft shops. Thanks to Crafty Mart, 65 vendors
Torchbearers 11th Annual AkRun & Crawl
will scatter across three venues in downtown Akron: Musica, Akron Art Museum and Summit Artspace. Of course food and drinks are in the mix. The event is free and open to the public.
glow 5K Race follows the scenic Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail through the Merriman
For early bird tickets visit craftymart.org.
Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail through Merriman Valley // 9pm // This after-dark
been playing, creating and collaborating for most of his life with artists such as Kirk Franklin, Snarky Puppy, Erykah Badu, Chaka Kahn, Fred
Mother’s Day 5K 2017 Munroe Falls Metro Park, 521 S River Rd, Munroe Falls // 8am // Get Ma a new pair of
dinner. Visit eatdrinkcrave.com for more details. eatdrinkcrave.com
Mother’s Day Brunch Tangier Event & Entertainment Center, 532 W Market St // 10:30am-3pm // Moms deserve
Friday, May 26
a fancy brunch. Adults: $27/Children: $13.99 thetangier.com
Bones of Giants EP Release Party The Empire Concert Club & Bar, 1305 E Tallmadge Ave // 8pm-1am // Forget hitting the club. Rock out on your Friday night. Ticket prices TBA. empireconcertclub.com
Saturday, May 27
Mother’s Day Bend, Brunch & Brew Lock 15 Brewing Company, 21 W North St // 10am-12:30pm // Bend: Yoga class suitable for all levels (mats not required); Brunch: Prepared by Rix Bistro; Brew: Sampling four of
Valley and is followed by a pub crawl through the Valley Bar District. See Devil’s Dozen. torchbearersakron.com Juke Joint 2.0 The Rialto Theatre, 1000 Kenmore Blvd // 9pm // Get ready for the New Urban Hang Suite experience. Sight Sound & Word is hosting a night of old school R&B, Souls, House, Hip Hop and more. Come out for a night to unwind, get loose and...DANCE. DJ Roger Riddle and DJ Vinnie G will be setting
Sunday, May 14
running shoes and lace up for the 6th Annual Sibling Revelry Beer Dinner w/ Crave Crave, Mother’s Day 5K hosted by the Summit Metro 57 E Market St // 6-8pm // Sibling Revelry and Parks Foundation. summitmetroparks.org Crave will team up to host a five-course beer
Lock 15 Brewing Co.’s craft beers. Tickets: $40 facebook.com/lock15brewing
DIY Beeswax Candle with Urban Buzz Summit Artspace, 140 E Market St // 2-4pm // Get your candle making on in this workshop. Enjoy the scent of lavender & mint as you pour your own oils and hot Ohio beeswax into a 4 oz tin. For tickets visit tickethookups.com.
Mother’s Day
Color Vibe 5K Downtown Akron, 200 S main St // 9am // Brighten up Akron! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local charities. Register at thecolorvibe.com.
Mother’s Day Tea Akron Art Museum, 1 S High St // 11am3pm // Mimosas, lunch, tea and full access to the galleries & gardens. Members $25/Nonmembers $35. akronartmuseum.org
the vibe. Tickets are $7 and available through Eventbrite. rialtotheatre.com
Sunday, May 21 DIY Block Prints Summit Artspace, 140 E Rubber City Pop Culture Fest The Goodyear Theater, 1201 E Market St // 10am-6pm
Market St // 11:30am-1:30pm // Akron educator and self-proclaimed craft dude David Pluck invites you to explore the printing and design process by creating crafty prints using the block print method. Tickets at tickethookups.com.
// Comics, toys, games, music – celebrate everything pop culture! goodyeartheater.com
Mom & Me Yoga Workshop One Love Yoga Boutique, 295 Water St, Suite 108, Kent // 1-2pm // Feel better about pigging out at brunch and head to the One
Shaun Martin at BLU Jazz+ BLU Jazz+, 47
E Market St // 6-9pm // Seven-time Grammy award winning gospel and jazz pianist and The Big Big Mess Featuring McGlynn/ Culliton/Wilson Annabell’ s Bar & Lounge, 784 producer, Shaun Martin, will make his BLU W Market St // 6:30-9pm // The Big Big Mess Jazz+ debut with his very own high-energy
Taylor Carano/Brothers Band/Joe Risdon Musica, 51 E Market St // 9pm-12am // Tickets: $8 adv/$10 door // Amazing what $10 can get you in Akron. liveatmusica.com
Love Yoga Boutique to burn some calories. This class is for kids ages 4-12 and their moms. Workshop Price: Mom $10/kid $5 oneloveyogakent.com
SOUTH ST MINISTRIES - SO MUCH SPRING! South St Ministries - So Much Spring! 130 W South St, Akron, OH 44311 // There is a lot happening at South Street Ministries this season. From Faithful Servant clinics to South Street Studio
the Front Porch Cafe for breakfast or lunch,
Summer will be here before you know it.
Monday through Friday, 7 am - 3 pm.
Here are the two LARGEST ministry needs over the summer:
meals, we will share the present and future ways to get involved with South Street Ministries. DONATE TO SOUTH STREET MINISTRIES South Street Studio needs meals!
Bike Shop will begin on June 5 and run
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Support: This is a growing year for the
Girls Studio is a nine week program for middle school/high school Summit Lake
every Monday and Wednesday, 6 - 8 pm through the summer. Summer volunteers
ministers of the South Street staff. Please consider a monthly gift to support and stabilize our ongoing ministry in Summit
girls on Monday nights from 6:15 - 8:30 at the Front Porch Café. The program starts on Monday, March 27 and runs through
should be able to commit (as best as possible) to coming one day a week throughout the summer.
Lake and South Akron.
May 29. Sign up to prepare and bring a meal for the teens and mentors. Email Amber at amber@southstreetministries.org.
Summer Camp will begin on June 19 and run Monday through Thursday from 3 pm
Front Porch Cafe: The easiest way to be a part of the South Street family is to visit
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MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
to 5 pm for nine weeks.
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
the agenda
OUT AND ABOUT
words and photos by Lindsey Jo Scott
I
from the vendors. “Where else can you shop, drink coffee, listen to music, and all within a
don’t know about you, but when I have out-of-town friends come to visit, I am
National Park?” she said.
always eager to show off Akron in all her glory. Recently, we hosted my brother and his girlfriend who came to town for a family
SHOWING OFF AKRON TO THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS
We wandered from booth to booth for a bit, admiring the abundance of asparagus, broccoli,
wedding celebration. Despite the fact that, like me, my brother grew up in Northeast Ohio, he has since moved out of the state and has come to dislike the area, based solely on principle, I’m sure. The time had come to impress him and I was up for the challenge to show them the real Akron—beautiful, creative, witty—just like any metropolis, but with a unique Akron flavor all her own. I had a handful of favorite spots in mind, but lucky for me, the weekend was full of awesome
spinach, and ramps, among other items, stopping along the way to eye gluten free pastries, try samples and take in the smell of coffee brewing. After finalizing our selections, we made our way through the windy roads along the towpath and back to our home. The visit to the Farmer’s Market was everything I had hoped it would be and a great way to honor Earth Day and show off some of the beautiful parks and people of Akron. Later in the day, we made our way to the North side of town to Bluff Blue Door Gallery to celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading
Akron events, too full, in fact, that we could organized by Poetry in Akron. We gathered not attend them all. For starters, we visited the grand opening of the Countryside Conservancy’s together in the eclectic backyard space, greeted with the soft smoky scent of bonfire wafting, Farmers’ Market at Howe Meadow. The Countryside Conservancy Market opened two weeks early this year and will continue through October 28. The market is held every Saturday
and cookies and coffee waiting on the picnic table. The hilarious Chad Weaver emceed the event, and had us laughing all night. As we all
from 9 am to noon at Howe Meadow located at 4040 Riverview Road. Guests to future markets can anticipate a full market with 70
huddled together, listening to the words and rhymes and brave, honest stories of the six poets and authors who shared, I felt enlivened and even more in love with Akron. Thank you to Abi
vendors including some of my favorites, Ms. Julie’s Kitchen, Popsmith, Hattie Larlham, Akron Coffee Roasters, Morningside Farm, Brighton
Bechtel, Andrew Wehmann, Aumaine Gruich, AKeemjamal Rollins, Sarah Dravec, and Bekey Hewit, for sharing and reading your work.
Wool & Honey, and more. The Farmers’ Market returns to Highland Square on Thursdays from 4 Overlooking the construction and city horizon, pm to 7 pm beginning May 18. we watched the sky turn from pale blue to gray to pink and orange and I remembered all at Pictured from top left: Farmers Market and Morningside Farms; Poetry Reading; Friends from out once that truly, it is the people, not the places, of town; Poetry Reading that make a city a home. I had set out to show off Akron to my brother, hoping to convince him The morning was brisk, but the sky warm and of her stature in places and events, but Akron all bright, and upon our arrival, we were greeted with the sweet smells of fresh produce and
along has been showing off to me. The weird, wonderful, creative, compassionate, intelligent
the sounds of happy horns making music. A kind woman welcomed us and gave a brief introduction about the market, explaining how all of the produce and goods sold come directly
folks of Akron are, after all, what I’m always eager for my out-of-town guests to see.
Break out your scrunchies and parachute pants! Join us June 17 from 6:30-10:30 p.m. for our 80s-themed Brew at the Zoo event! Buy tickets now at akronzoo.org.
YOU’VE NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE! akronzoo.org
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
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Jodi Leigh Berg
President & CEO, Vitamix PRESENTED BY HKM DIRECT MARKET COMMUNICATIONS
Leading with Passion Wednesday, May 24, Tangier Doors open at 11 am for Meet the CEO Register at aafakron.com by May 17 co-hosted by:
presenting partner:
print partner:
media partners:
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The Palette
12 IN THE (NEW) STUDIO WITH RUBBER CITY PRINTS 14 SUPER NO BUENO'S POP CULTURE CON PREVIEW 16 SHE DOESN’T CARE IF YOU DON’T LIKE SHAKESPEARE. REALLY.
THE AKRON ART SCENE
YUGE student-powered, ‘Kaleidoscope’ Art Bomb goes up downtown Organizers to host big reveal throwdown on May 11
F
or this “colossal” public art project, the University of Akron’s Art Bomb Brigade
The Brigade and Echogen want more than just to pretty up the side of a building. They aim
Brigade, which has already installed murals at the Downtown Laundromat, Chill and the
ron.edu/art. To learn more about the Art Bomb Brigade, visit facebook.com/artbombbrigade,
looked inward for the talent to develop the 2,400 square foot mural they’re installing at Echogen Power Systems. In all, nearly two dozen Myers School of Art students worked
to help redefine the restaurant and bar district of downtown Akron that’s home to Diamond Deli, 69 Taps, Davinici’s, Bricco, Woody’s and Cilantro.
and while you’re at it, consider supporting the Brigade by texting “ArtBomb” to 41444.
with art educators and administrators to design the enormous mural going up at the
Akron Sustainer, will work through early May on the mural before hosting an unveiling party on Thursday, May 11, from 5 pm to 9 pm, featuring live music by Red Rose Panic and local eats from Square Scul-
“We believe it is important be an active
lery, Western Fruit Basket and Akron
corner of Exchange and Water Street on Lock 1.
participant in our community and to support the development and celebration of the arts, whenever possible,” Philip Brennan, CEO of
Coffee Roasters, as well as area arts, craft and clothing vendors.
“I am so excited to lead my peers in creating a prominent landmark for our city,” says Lindsey Mitchel, whose design is part of the mural.
Echogen, says.
For more info about Echogen, go to echogen.com. For details about the Myers School of Art, check out uak-
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
The Knight Arts Challenge-winning Art Bomb
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Hive Mind Hosts Curated Set of Experimental Musicians, Visual Artists
.........
by Brittany Nader
The beauty of DIY spaces, especially those thriving venues in Akron, is the guarantee that attendees will share a blended experience of diverse, experimental sounds and visuals on any given night.
Inside the Artist's Studio
Boaz Bair, a founding member of Hive Mind, has curated an event sure to live up to that expectation and yet surpass any
Rubber City Prints settles into its new home
preconceived notions about what a DIY show in Akron might be like. This particular
by Sam DePaul
I
n the far-stretched main room of a West Hill
house, there is a fireplace supporting mason jars filled with well-loved brushes stained of paint, as well as piece after print made by local artists from all paths and inspirations. Beside the fireplace sits the current live-in artist, Veronica Ceci, casually working on her next project: Un-America. She’s preparing multiple cutouts in the shape of our country which will soon complete a puzzle. On one side, Akronites will draw or design something they find joyful about living in our country, and on the other side, something they find challenging. This is Rubber City Prints (RCP), a local printmaking studio run by Krista Rickert and Pamela Testa, two Akronites who hope the studio will help keep recently graduated printmakers and artists in the area. Upon outgrowing the ground of Summit Art Space, RCP moved to 467 West Market Street, where they found a house to convert into a space for people to create, workshop and buy pieces by Akronite printmakers.
brought to life,” Rickert says.
saves and romanticizes these antique tools and techniques.”
Collected, with a slight buzz in her eye, Rickert explains what
This is a sentiment that can resonate with and inspire any artist visiting RCP.
RCP is all about. Printmaking is a process where ink is transferred from a matrix or plate to a piece of paper with the aide of pressure. The image is created on a matrix, usually of wood, metal or stone, and can then be inked many times to print many impressions of the same image. And Rickert, among other local artists, wanders a house they renovated for artists to use with unlimited hours, as she rightfully claims the best time for
details for her print. Photos by M. Sophie Franchi
Rickert is convinced that Akron is just the right location for an artist the thrive. “Akron loves to celebrate and knows how to party,” Rickert says. “Don’t we Akron? It’s a
tend to have private studios where they work. Printmakers share space in a shop.”
start their own lives,” she says. “We noticed Akron artists did not have access to the facilities
hunk of steel to others, but printmakers use this gadget to see how an image is coming along while still
Pictured right: Veronica Ceci
definitely will get a great upper body workout using
the musicians he has invited to the West Exchange Street venue Thursday, May 25. Hive Mind will host Chicago-based experimental rock trio Mako Sica, along with Youngstown’s NRML GRL — a.k.a. Alyssa D’Amico, a video collage performer and live mixing artist — who will enact an interactive performance art set. While D’Amico will present a special installation that allows participants to share their own emotions and have a personal, custom song created from those expressed feelings, Mako Sica will deliver an electrifying contrast of booming sounds and deliberate negative space that will invite the listener to be part of the music in an unexpected way.
place people want to be.”
“Printmaking tends to be a communal process because of the nature of the studio,” Rickert says. “Painters, sculptors, illustrators, etc.
to such a startup, and now here she is, adorned in her denim apron with a precise excitement to share what she does as an Akron artist.
required to use printmaking in art—it just makes sense that we would want to be located where such action is.”
Filling out the set are two Akron acts: Gov Naim, who incorporates video and audio elements from TV and movies into their performance, as well as pop-alternative trio Glenn Lazear, consisting of prolific local players Bob Ethington, Jacob Trombetta and Mike Wilkinson, aptly described as “middlemanagement-collar rock.” The show starts at 8 pm with a $5 to $10 suggested donation accepted at the door.
Quite fitting for the city we live in, RCP isn’t just a studio or fixed up house. It’s a home. It isn’t just a temporary space for artists such as Veronica. It’s welcoming and ever-changing—a mark of community in itself.
in process. “The press weighs about 200 pounds, so you
hangs a stencil she cut. Photos
it,” Rickert says. “I think many people would agree,
by M. Sophie Franchi
“I saw a void that needed filled within the organization and noticed that Rubber City Prints’ mission was my dream
12 | THE Devil Strip /
prepares to make a print. Pictured
right: Krista Rickert works on the
Rickert believes that Akron has a lot of potential, but emphasizes that we need to keep fine art graduates here. “There is a lot of struggle once students get out of school and
But the most enticing–and maybe unexpected– aspect of RCP is the melding of modern minds of her start with the studio. After she graduated with ancient tools and techniques. A few from Kent State University in 2013 with a BA in steps from the side door to the house rests an 1800’s proof press—a mere Printmaking (as well as a felt she had a lot to offer
Pictured above: Krista Rickert
an artist’s inspiration is night.
“It has been a whirlwind of excitement and changes,” says Executive Director Krista Rickert
BA in Psychology), Rickert
event will grant the audience a more significant role in the performance with
including RCP members, that artists are continually using [antique] equipment or forgotten processes. It somehow
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Rubber City Prints 467 West Market Street 330-269-9837
rubbercityprints.com Anyone interested in renting the Artist Caretaker room may apply through email at rubbercityprints@gmail.com.
Hive Mind • 375 W Exchange St
hivemindoh.org WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
the palette
Stories told through vibrant photography at The BOX Gallery
sts of l
by Josy Jones
s
ose tee
unds
up y Y cular
h st y 25.
g with ssa d live active ll s ns and
from ll ming hat music
Gov io r e
local a and ddle-
ON EX-
HIBIT
t
and a cup of iced coffee—during the steps of their decaying process. After talking to the artist, I realized that the works were much more
explore the human condition. BOX Gallery is showing Aimee Lambes’ “Cuba: An Education” and Shannon Star’s “Vibrant Deterioration.”
I had carried mine into the exhibit hall. Her opportunity turned into a learning experience where she says she met “really amazing people
personal than they originally seemed. They are what I’ve been calling metaphoric self-portraits; instead of taking pictures of herself, the artist
I thought it was a cool choice to put these two exhibits together. They complimented
in a really amazing place.” Those who see the can use non-human objects to reflect on exhibit will get to experience the vibrancy of the her emotions.
one another very well. Although the exhibits share two strong themes—deterioration and
culture, gain a new perspective on Cuba and be challenged to reexamine their own values all
vibrancy—they were otherwise completely unalike and told two very separate stories.
at once.
As humans, we cope with sadness and negative
The deterioration in Star’s exhibit “Vibrant
thoughts in complex ways, such as pretending that nothing’s wrong. The sadder you are on the inside, the more jubilant you may appear
The deterioration in Lambes’ exhibit “Cuba An Education” is seen in the infrastructure of Havana, Cuba. Many of the buildings in Lambes’ photographs reveal the decay of
Deterioration” is much more literal than in Lambes’ exhibit. In fact, Star’s exhibit literally examines objects as they decay. Like Lambes’, Star’s photographs explore vibrancy and its
on the outside to mask your true emotions. Star uses color to reflect the vibrant masks some may use to hide the fact that they are breaking down on the inside. The more you deteriorate
a city that once thrived. The once beautiful buildings in these photographs are kissed with fading blues, pinks and yellows and are now
connection to the human condition. The exhibit featured three subjects—a match, a flower
mentally, the more vibrant you appear to (continued on page 36)
embellished with rust, peeling paint and holes in walls and ceilings. The deterioration was in nearly every picture, and yet it was not the first thing I noticed. Against the decaying backdrop, a love for life shouts from these pictures. The oldest car in Cuba is from 1958. Lambes explains that “…there’s not really any technology” in Cuba; they were just starting to get the internet a year ago. Yet, I looked at the people in these photographs and saw people dancing and smiling. They have everything they need; they have each other. Friends, family, and joy are bursting at the seams of their culture despite the deteriorating infrastructure and the lack of technology. “Cuba: An Education” is a fitting title for the exhibit. I remember looking at some of the
United Way’s Bold Goals are a new, more targeted approach to solving the problems facing Greater Akron and will guide United Way’s mission across Summit County in the coming years. GoAl 1: 65% of APS third-graders reading at or above grade level (Currently at 38%) GoAl 2: 90% of APS high-schoolers graduating in 4 years, with 60% college/
10 oor.
rg
I
pictures and arrogantly thinking, “how are they so happy?” Lambes admittedly carried her American arrogance into Cuba, just as
f you’re thinking about going to see the exhibit currently up at the BOX Gallery, prepare to travel to another country and
career ready (Currently at 75% and 21% respectively) GoAl 3: Financially empower* 11,000 people
(Currently 42,000 people in Akron are considered to be “working poor”)
*With the skills, knowledge and resources to budget and save, manage debt, build credit and access banking services
GoAl 4: Reduce ER Visits due to drug overdoses to 1000 (Currently at 2,400 annually) Ultimately, United Way of Summit County envisions a future where EVERYONE has the tools to be financially empowered, where every student has the skills to succeed in the classroom and beyond and where no family is devastated by addiction. As we work toward the future, these Bold Goals for 2025 will serve as concrete benchmarks for our success and hold us accountable to our community.
*
Get involved At UWSUmmit.orG
THE TIME IS NOW TO LIVE UNITED AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
volUnteer. AdvoCAte. Give.
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
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Super No Bueno
Rubber City Pop Culture Fest is all about that nerd life by Ted Zep, SuperNoBueno.Wordpress.com
“Empire Strikes Back” was It doesn’t take long to figure out that Dan Gorman is a passionate guy. Whether it is comic released. My favorite movie when I was 5-years-old was books, movies or television, he clearly has the “Jaws.” I became a huge fan “bug” that afflicts those rife with an insatiable of the comic strip “Garfield” appetite for popular culture. And like anyone around that same time, and who fervently loves something, he wants to contribute. That’s why Gorman and his partner, Jason Miller, are hosting Rubber City Pop Culture Fest,
I thought I might become a syndicated cartoonist. When I was 12-years-old, I discovered comic books,
on the scale we envisioned. And then an opportunity presented itself to us.
One of our business associates was involved with the Rubber City Sports Group. They were looking for events to run in the East End Facility, and after
success. We have known many of the guests, vendors, and exhibitors for many years. As a first-time event, what experience do you hope RCPCF delivers for attendees? Jason and I hope that the show provides a convention experience that is up-tempo, exciting, and fun from the second it opens to the second it closes. We want you to have fun meeting and supporting the artists,
May 26-28, at Goodyear Hall (1201 Ohio 18, Akron, OH, 44305).
and the rest, as they say, is history.
Featuring actors Stephen Vinning and Tom Proctor of “The Walking Dead,” artists Matt Horak and Shawn Cos, and local author/pop culture authority Joanna Wilson (just to name
What is the origin of the idea for Rubber City Pop Culture Fest (RCPCF)? How long have you and your partner been working on it?
host our event there. So we set to work, re-branded our event to make it more fan and family friendly, and Rubber City Pop Culture Fest was born.
every Memorial Day Weekend for years to come — and fan participation will go a long way in making that happen. We want this to be YOUR pop culture convention, and a destination for
a few), the event is shaping up to be both an interactive and entertaining weekend. Vendors such as EarthQuaker Devices, Nerdy Taco,
Way back in the late-1990s, my partner Jason Miller and I had a shared dream about running a bonafide comic book convention in Akron.
RCPCF organizers have taken a broad approach to the genres represented in the
you each and every year. We can't wait to see everyone at the First Annual Rubber City Pop Culture Fest!
Defunct FX, Inked Earth and Blimp City Jewelry and Gifts will be on hand for conventioneers’ convenience.
We were going to call it "Rubber City Comicon: The Greatest Show in Con-Dom." However, the timing and the opportunity never really presented itself for us to be able to run the
show. Horror, comic books, and television are each prominent. What were the criteria for selecting guests? To be honest, guest selection was based on our
The Devil Strip: My first love as a child was professional wrestling. What was your entry point into the vast ocean of pop culture fandom? Daniel Gorman: I have been a fan of science fiction from the earliest time I can remember. I loved watching “The Hulk,” “Wonder Woman,” “Buck Rogers” and “Battlestar
event we really wanted to run. Flash forward 15 years, and the guys behind Akron Comicon beat us to the punch. We immediately got behind their show and wanted to help them realize the vision THEY had for a real convention for the city. The success of Akron Comicon also proved to us that our vision wasn't that off-base, and that the city
collective network of friends and celebrities we had worked with over the last 20 years. As an artist who has been exhibiting in Artist Alleys around the country since 2006, I had built a pretty solid network of talent who I either had worked with, worked for, or had become friends with through the course of business. Jason has also built a diverse network, so together we had a number of friends we could
could--and would--support a pop culture event
count on to help us make this convention a
Galactica” on television when I was very little. I fell in love with “Star Wars” around the time
taking one look at the place we knew we could
vendors, and guests. We want every attendee to participate in the events and leave wanting more. We want this event to be a celebration
Visit RCPCFest.com for event and ticket information.
‘BLOOD ON THE MOUNTAIN’
an Interview with filmmakers Mari-Lynn Evans and Jordan Freeman by Ted Zep //NOTE: This interview has been excerpted. The full version is online at thedevilstrip.com.
Mari-Lynn Evans, an Akron native, and Jordan Freeman are two such voices. “Blood on the Mountain,” the filmmakers’ recent documentary effort, focuses on political and ethical corruption in West Virginia’s coal industry. Told with passion and unflinching
honesty, the duo are attempting to make a
T
he United States is many things, but fair is always not one of them. For all the dreams
difference. It debuts locally at the Akron Civic Theatre on May 9 at 7 pm, hosted by Wasted
Talent Media, with a performance by the Angie
Mari-Lynn Evans: I grew up in West Virginia. After our farm was taken by the government, it
was always bittersweet to go back there. I never TZ: Coming off a particularly charged imagined that I, too, would hear the siren's call election season, the country feels more of home. I never imagined being a documentary vocal and active than it has in decades. filmmaker. I became one to tell the story of With your documentary debuting my own people who have never been fairly on Netflix this month, it will receive represented in the media. "The Appalachians" unprecedented exposure. How can those was my first documentary, followed by who are touched and inspired by the film "Coal Country," which supported a national begin to participate? movement to end MTR. In many ways, I see my own life unveiled through my documentaries.
JF: There are two major ways to participate:
Jordan Freeman: My relationship is
inside and outside the coalfields. Outside Appalachia, we believe strongly that we have to hold on to unions, and resist fascism and
realized in the Land of Opportunity, civil rights are still being squashed, liberties are still being trampled and virtues are still being
Haze Project. The event is free but requires a ticket. Ticket information can be found at AkronCivic.com.
compromised. While the planet is exploited for profit, the lives and livelihoods of workers are endangered. It takes brave, loud voices to
Ted Zep: How would you describe your relationship with the Appalachian region
complicated. It’s the best and the worst there. It is a place full of slow quiet suffering, industrial death at the hands of indifferent, and distant
combat the storm.
of the United States?
corporations. It’s also a place of incredible
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beauty and peace.
corporate control in our communities. The forces at play in the coalfields are present (continued on page 36)
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
Top: Andy Warhol, Electric Chairs, 1971, screenprints on paper, 35 1/2 x 47 7/8 in. (each) Collection of the Akron Art Museum. Gift of Peter M. Brant; Middle: Karl Blossfeldt, Wundegarten Der Natur (Magic Garden of Nature), 1932, photogravures, 11 x 8 1/2 in. (each) Collection of the Akron Art Museum. Museum Acquisition Fund; Bottom: Robert Indiana, Numbers, 1968, screenprints on paper, 25 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. (each) Collection of the Akron Art Museum. Museum Acquisition Fund
SERIAL INTENT
AKRON ART MUSEUM • Opening Party: Friday, June 2 • 7:30 pm Artists sometimes create works of art that are meant to be viewed as isolated, individual masterpieces. They also make artwork with Serial Intent. While they stand alone as works of art, individuals within a series also consciously relate to one another. Together they express additional meaning or concepts that are not apparent in any single component. Serial Intent presents ten of Andy Warhol’s Electric Chair prints as well as groupings from several print, drawing and photography series held in the Akron Art Museum collection. Artists include Robert Indiana, Jacob Lawrence, Sol LeWitt, Michael Loderstedt, Craig Lucas and Karl Blossfeldt, among others. Serial Intent is organized by the Akron Art Museum.
One
South
High
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Akron,
OH
44308
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330.376.9185
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AkronArtMuseum.org
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|| The Black Box ||
I DON’T CARE IF YOU DON’T LIKE SHAKESPEARE: A month of Shakespeare with the Ohio Shakespeare Festival by Josy Jones
I
’ll be honest with you, friend. I don’t care if you like Shakespeare. In fact, if you don’t
Student Spotlight Jonathan Wlodarski Is Weird by Claude Christensen Jonathan Wlodarski writes what he terms “reality ±1 fiction.”
Pictured above: Headshot of NEOMFA student Jonathan Wlodarski. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Wlodarski)
Wlodarski is a second-year graduate student studying creative writing in the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts in creative writing program (NEOMFA). He hails from Hubbard, a suburb of Youngstown, and has authored such short stories as “Dead Day” and the Pushcartnominated “The Cake.” In Wlodarski’s “reality ±1 fiction” a commonplace setting is altered to include something fantastical, something truly and unsettlingly weird. Drawing from his own personal experiences, Wlodarski can twist the idea of a funeral cake into a story about an obsessive, murder-inciting addiction, and the image of a “blurry person” into an unsettling dating-app chat that tests the very notion of individuality.
Wlodarski chose the NEOMFA program in order to study with his mentor, published author and faculty member Christopher Barzak, and to take advantage of the collective resources of the program’s four member universities. In the ambitiously creative environment of the NEOMFA program, Wlodarski finds that the constant expectation to produce new material and seek feedback from his peers has helped him to dramatically improve his own uniquely strange writing. In the future, Wlodarski hopes to teach in a university-setting. He wants to remain in a creative, engaging atmosphere. Writing needs a supportive community to thrive. And, well, an abundance of good writing is just as necessary
for the good health of any community. As Wlodarski so eloquently puts it, “What else The inspiration for these stories is often commonplace: an episode of one of Wlodarski’s would people do when they’re bored of mowing their lawns?” favorite shows, a discussion of death at the dinner table, the unanticipated death of a squirrel. The mundane is Wlodarski’s muse and material; the uncanny and fantastic a means
They might, if his stories are any guide, find something truly strange to do.
for piercing through the superficial gloss of the everyday.
like Shakespeare, I challenge you to give it a chance. Why? Because I did, and I would never encourage you to try something I wouldn’t. I’ll even walk you through my experience at the Ohio Shakespeare Festival for their run of “The Comedy of Errors” and hopefully it’ll convince
with outlandish situations, characters and physical action. It is a style that requires a lot of exaggerated—yet particular—physical or vocal actions to hit the comedic points. At times, the particulars of this style drove me to tiny temper tantrums and a few choice words. Fortunately, the director was patient with my fits.
Here’s the kicker: you’re expected to nail the language and style, and all the while the stage is bare. Occasionally you get lucky and there’s a “The Comedy of Errors” is my first perforchair, but that’s all you get. There’s no elaborate mance in Akron since I moved here. For some set to hide behind. The show depends on you odd reason, I chose Shakespeare as my first production. Don’t ask me why. Maybe I'm crazy. and your cast members. Scary, right? In my defense, I didn’t expect to be cast as such The company members at the Ohio Shakean important role. As a newbie, I just knew I speare Festival are talented. They have an was going to have to earn my stripes before they trusted me and I was alright with that. So, array of aptitudes. In many cases, there were when I found out I was playing Adriana (one of company members serving two (sometimes three) different roles. Imagine an assistant stage the main female roles) I was elated. Unfortumanager as an actor, an actor as the managing nately, that happiness was short-lived. director, a set-builder as an actor and even an you to see a show.
My excitement quickly turned into panic. “Shakespeare? When’s the last time you read Shakespeare, Josy?” and “You’ve never been in
actor as a costume designer. WHOO! If you thought learning this new language was difficult, try being in two places at once. Neverthe-
a full Shakespeare production! You’re obviously out of your mind!” That panicking inner scream
less, they do it all, and they do it well.
haunted me throughout the rehearsal process. After the show opened, I gained a new respect for Shakespeare and what the company at Ohio Shakespeare Festival is able to do.
After experiencing how hard they work to put up shows for our community, I really don’t care if you like Shakespeare. You don’t have to audition—unless you feel so inclined—but you should attend a show even if it’s only to help
Firstly, Shakespeare is hard in every way you’ve
them celebrate the hard work they put into each production.
considered and a few you haven’t. The obvious struggle is the language. Shakespeare is its own language, so before you’re able to act, you translate. Then you must figure out how to get the audience to understand this language that you’ve recently gotten a semi-decent hold on.
And lastly, to my new theatre buds at OSF, congratulations on your first show in your new home. And thank you for welcoming me with open arms.
(continued on page 39)
Pictured above: Full OSF company
Feeding an appetite for the writing of others encourages Wlodarski to continue writing his own stories, he says, and he often reads works associated with the weird and slipstream genres. Some of his favorite authors of the moment include Aimee Bender, Alexander Chee, and Lesley Nneka Arimah, all authors who twist reality with odd, fantastical elements.
16 | THE Devil Strip /
picture. Photo by Scott Custer // After a preparatory 10-mile hike, Claude Christensen
Let’s pile on the
ate with relish the the heads of ten dark-chocolate
fact that “The Comedy of Errors” is farce. Farce is a comedy
bunnies the day after Easter.
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
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MAY COMICS
18 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
SCulture Club
19 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: THE WELL 20 GET INVOLVED WITH UNITED WAY OF SUMMIT COUNTY 22 WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA WITH HOMELESS HELPERS GARDEN?
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
I
n a place where there’s no running water, a well is a gathering place, a place where the walls that divide people cease to exist and true togetherness, true community, can happen. Zac Kohl, Executive
Director of Akron's Community Development Corporation, The Well, believes this is happening in Akron in that sprawling brick
There are things that we, as Akronites, The Devil Strip readers and neighbors, can do to further The Well’s reach and support their cause.
When All Is Well
“It’s simple things…simple ways that people can help,” Kohl says. “Just come engage.
HOW A RECLAIMED CHURCH IS REHABBING A COMMUNITY by Ali Kezman
behemoth on East Market—the church in which Kohl had grown up and come to love.
Rubber City Shakespeare does shows, then there’s the farmer’s market starting in June, community dinners...Come have a cup of coffee, come in and be a neighbor. We’re just trying to build an energy and trying to bring people together.”
have truly opened their doors to the Middlebury Compass Coffee, which can be used by local Kohl’s history in the Middlebury neighborhood neighborhood and beyond. food entrepreneurs to prep and cook their of Akron fostered a fierce hometown pride, and wares? The Well has truly thought of everything just like any of us, he wanted the best for his Compass Coffee is a gorgeous, brand-new when it comes to giving Akronites a leg-up. neighborhood. Middlebury definitely struggles, coffee shop on the ground floor of the building.
I asked Kohl what he felt about the direction in which Akron seems to be heading, and what he thought about doing it “the hard way on purpose.”
and while Kohl hadn’t planned on starting a project, it became apparent that he could—and should—do something to rescue his community. Kohl began buying up and rehabbing homes on his street, and before long had taken his first steps into changing Middlebury forever.
“There are some real obstacles in Akron, for sure,” Kohl says. But at the same time, there’s a breath of fresh air in Akron right now, and I think people are excited. People have the power to stay in their hometown and make it their
Fast forward to the birth of The Well—Kohl pulled the trigger on snapping up his childhood church after the congregation relocated. Inspired by other Community Development Corporations he had seen in other cities, The Well was designed to be the vehicle by which economy, community and dignity are brought back to Middlebury, and the organization is doing so with marvelous grace.
Proceeds from this non-profit coffee shop are funneled into Kohl’s housing project. Upon walking inside, the scent of fresh coffee and the sound of clicking keyboards and gentle laughter fills the air. With smiling faces behind the unique counter and an open atmosphere, it’s
The Well is also home to Rubber City Shakespeare Company, which has a number of classics coming down the pike for the people of Akron to enjoy (next up is King Lear, which runs from June 2 through June 18. Visit rubbercityshakes.com/tickets for tickets). It
easy to feel at home at Compass Coffee. They host everything from live music to community dinners, and they believe their space belongs to the people of Akron.
also houses Rahab Ministries, which provides services to exploited and broken women and girls, and World Relief, which serves and offers aid to refugees arriving in Akron. Other partners include Asia Services in Action, Citizens Akron and Rooted Akron.
own, and to me, that’s awesome.” So let’s get out there, Devil Strip fanatics—stop by The Well, check it out, stay awhile, make a friend, and do some good in the process.
Even better, Compass Coffee also offers a unique pay-it-forward system, in which patrons can donate a dollar, and Compass Coffee covers The Well will also host a summer farmer’s the rest of the cost to provide a fresh cup of market starting June 3. The farmer’s market their amazing brew to someone in need. Not a
runs every Wednesday from 3 pm to 6 pm
bad trade if you ask us.
and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm, so bring your canvas bags and get your hands on t he goods.
The Well is home to seven wonderful partners and offers a number of community events. They Oh and did we mention the full kitchen behind
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MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
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culture club
The Power of Mentorship Getting Involved with United Way, VISTAs and iC.A.R.E. by Lia Pietrolungo
This summer marks the one year anniversary of United Way of Summit County housing
“We saw a lot of potential in the program a year ago when we started to have the
mentee and mentor feel is needed at that session.” The program has developed an
iC.A.R.E. Mentoring (Creating Authentic Relational Energy) under its community impact program umbrella.
conversation with iC.A.R.E.,” said Kujat. “We have a pool of children who are seeking a mentor and we have a pool of adults in our community who are trying to get connected.
app for easy access the iC.A.R.E. portal full of prompts, ideas and directions for sessions, as
Although it may seem like iC.A.R.E. is an overnight success, it was created six years ago
We have these two buckets of energy—how do we pull this together?”
United Way is also hiring eight new AmeriCorps VISTAs, five of which will be working with
by Jonathan and Jessica Greer, who took the
well as a log to track progress.
stability that happens.”
iC.A.R.E. With a focus on aiding nonprofit
first steps by writing curriculum and creating lesson plans for their program. One year later, the Greers launched the iC.A.R.E. mentoring program’s predecessor. Then in 2013, the
With the help of community members, the Akron Public School System and VISTA volunteers, the iC.A.R.E. mentoring program has grown into a sturdy, successful community
organizations across the United States, the VISTAS, or AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America, are placed in local programs fulltime for one year where they work to fight
iC.A.R.E. mentoring program emerged as a small nonprofit.
impact model that focuses on providing at-risk students with supportive role models in a one-on-one safe space. Working within
poverty and help programs thrive and expand. The VISTA program partners with schools, public agencies, colleges and universities, and
Through their community work, activism and dedication to upholding their promises come what may, the Greers earned the trust of the Akron Public School system. Now, as the
grades K-12, the program helps students face the challenges that come with childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. When the students enter into a new grade level, the
nonprofit organizations.
Director of iC.A.R.E. mentoring at United Way, Jonathan continues to work on expanding, developing and nurturing the program.
mentor travels with the student to the new building to continue their sessions. iC.A.R.E.’s mentoring program is not a one-
Cochran and Peter Patterson are cluster coordinators for the iC.A.R.E. program. “It’s our job to facilitate the mentor-mentee relationship,” explains Patterson, who also
size-fits-all model, says Kujat. “Although it’s relatively intentional in the matching process, it’s really designed to just do whatever it is the
worked as an iC.A.R.E. mentor. To Patterson, mentoring is not the equivalent of a friendship: “It’s the second adult. Being present is probably
Seth Kujat, Vice President of Community Impact at United Way and iC.A.R.E. mentor, was excited to welcome the program into the UW family.
Working through United Way in the Akron Public School system, VISTA volunteers Grace
F
acing hundreds of community leaders from all across the Akron area, United Way of Summit County CEO Jim Mullen laid out the organization's four "Bold Goals for 2025", each reflecting specific problems that need to be addressed locally. Currently, only 38 percent of Akron Public School 3rd graders read at or above grade level, so Goal #1 is to raise that number to 65 percent by 2025.
BOLD GOALS leading UNITED WAY into 2025
more important than anything [a mentor] says. Just being there so there's some
Likewise, only 75 percent of APS high-schoolers graduated in four years, and only 21 percent are considered college
Amidst the many components that keep iC.A.R.E. running seamlessly, the most important piece is the relationship between the mentors and mentees. Randy Culver, retiree and mentor for iC.A.R.E., has been mentoring Ka’Andre, a middle school student, for nearly two years. “I think I’ve grown from him,” says Randy Culver of Ka’Andre, “I think he’s taught me to be a little more patient.” For Ka’Andre, his sessions with Culver feel more like “hanging out,” where they’ll sometimes do school work, talk about a problem that he is facing or play chess. Together they work on problem-solving and strategies to help Ka’Andre through adolescence and into young adulthood. (continued on page 36)
wants to cut that by more than half, to 1000 by 2025. The organization developed these goals after a year of discussion with more than 400 community stakeholders who voiced their major concerns. Over the coming months, United Way's Community Impact Task Force will develop the strategies they'll employ to meet these goals. “We need to do more than just talk about the problems we’re facing,” Mullen says. “We need to do what it takes to push the needle forward on the measures that matter to children and
or career ready. Mullen says United Way's families in Summit County.” second goal is to increase the number of 4-year
20 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
graduates to 90 percent, and to ensure that 60 percent are college or career ready.
There are few entities as capable as United Way of convening, connecting and partnering
While 42,000 Akronites currently classify as "working poor", Goal #3 is to "financially
with the groups, businesses and organizations necessary to accomplish these ambitious goals. In addition to naming Christine Amer Mayer,
empower" 11,000 people over the next eight years, which means providing the skills, knowledge and resources to budget and save,
of the GAR Foundation, the new board chair, United Way of Summit County welcomed 14 new board members representing a wide
manage debt, build credit and increase access banking services.
variety of committed community champions from Acme Fresh Markets, Summit Juvenile Court and Akron Children’s Hospital to The
Lastly, 2400 annual ER visits in Summit County are due to drug overdose, and United Way
University of Akron, City of Akron and Summit County Executive's Office.
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culture club
On the Street
Faces of the homeless, previously homeless and those still struggling by Lisa Kane
I
t’s interview day. The weather is actually warm, but it’s been pouring all day. The cold isn’t the
only thing the homeless have to deal with. It finally stops and I go out looking for someone to talk to. There aren’t people at most of the “regular” corners, but I see a woman just getting ready to sit down on an overturned milk crate with her sign. I stop and walk up to her and introduce myself. I show her the interview from last month’s issue of The Devil Strip and ask her if we could interview her. She pauses. “Do I have to use my real name and a picture?” she asks. “Being homeless is embarrassing. Panhandling is humiliating, but it’s all I can do right now. No one expects this will be their life one day.” I tell her we can use a fake name and a different picture if she would still like to tell her story. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes and agrees. “What should my alias be?” she asks. She pauses, then says, “How about you call me Cherokee? Yes, Cherokee!”
Meet Cherokee. Cherokee (She’s part Native American) Age: Just turned 55 Hometown: Jackson, CA
Occupation/Previous Occupation/Source of income? I have a lot of health problems.
woman out here all alone.
There aren’t many jobs I can do. I’m a diabetic.
What is your biggest fear? Always being out
My feet are really bad. I have to wear shoes for diabetics. I’ve had three surgeries on my left foot. I have neuropathy. My feet lose feeling and are always cold. No matter how many
here alone like this. It’s a very lonely life. What are some of your daily struggles being homeless? Bathing. I haven’t had a
Do most people show you kindness or treat you rudely? Both. There are good people out there. Some say, “good for you, it takes nerve
pairs of socks I put on they are freezing. I get sores on my feet. A lot of time I don’t have the
bath since Friday (It’s Tuesday). I only had $2.11 left of my disability. I went to the Dollar Store
to sit out here and do this.” There are lots of rude people too. I’ve had people throw stuff
money to get the medicines I need. They took
to get body wash. I really needed some socks
at me and yell things at me. This one man was
away my Medicaid. I get a disability check, but it runs out fast. I can’t work at a job that I have to be on my feet for a long time.
and lotion too. My hands are so dried out and cracked, they hurt. I didn’t have enough money and I just broke down in the store and started bawling. It’s so embarrassing. The
swearing at me saying, “You’re a bum! Go get a job!” It made me mad. He doesn’t know me. He doesn’t know my story. Instead of yelling rude things out of your car window at me, take
all homeless people are lazy people who don’t want to work. They just are having a harder time than someone else. Everyone has a story.
How long have you been homeless? Off and manager came over to talk to me. She paid the on since 2008. difference so I could get all three items. I was so thankful. I went back when I got money and
a second to actually stop and talk to me.
Do you have family? No, not really. I have a son who lives in Ohio, not Akron. He’s as bad off as me though.
paid her back. I wash my hair in the sink at the rest stop and dry it with the wall dryer. I’m able to brush my teeth there and wash up as best I can with just a sink.
you this week? Nothing!
What is the hardest thing about being homeless? Never knowing where you will sleep or when you will eat next. Being alone, staying safe. It’s like always being in the dark.
What else do you want people to know? It’s not a good feeling. Being out here is embarrassing and lonely. I always feel so sad, lonely and stressed out that sometimes I can’t even eat. It’s just not a good feeling.
Where did you sleep last night? I slept in a rest stop. It was scary. I slept over by the bathrooms because the lights came on and made it not as dark in there. I always keep my cane right by me, and sometimes a big stick. It’s scary being a woman out there all alone. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? Not very many. I’m scared and I’m just so stressed out all the time, it’s hard to sleep. Do you usually have three meals a day? No.
What three words would you use to describe being homeless? Lonely, scared, stressed out. How do you feel people who have never faced homelessness view the homeless?
What’s the best thing that’s happened to
Is there anything that you really need right now? I really need underwear.
We ended the conversation with Cherokee having tears rolling down her face. It makes me so sad. No one should have to feel lonely and afraid every day. She is a kind, lovely, well-spoken woman. I left and returned with a
What brought you to Akron? I first moved
Half of the time I’m so stressed out I’m not even That I’m a lazy bum. That I don’t want to work.
bag full of toiletries, food and of course some
from California to Denver with my parents. I met a man there from Orville and he brought me to Ohio. That ended, and I ended up alone and on my own.
hungry. All I’ve eaten today is a piece of cheese. (It’s 2:30 pm.)
new underwear. Cherokee, I hope you didn’t feel so lonely, if just for a little while. I enjoyed our talk. Know that there are people who care. #SpreadTheWarmth
Do you feel safe? No. It’s really scary being a
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AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
What do you think is the biggest misconception about the homeless? I’m not a bum. I want to work. I don’t want to be out here. Not
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND
Grapes, Cheese & Chocolate Festival - 21 and Over -
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THE Devil Strip |
21
culture club
Katie Beck
Krissa Guenther Occupation:
Medical Laboratory Technician
Hometown:
Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the small town of Negaunee
Neighborhood: Downtown Akron
Occupation:
Theatre Artist / Community Builder (Exchange House, Gum-Dip Theatre, League of Creative Interventionists)
Hometown:
Akron, Ohio
Neighborhood: North Hill
What brought you to Akron? I am a
There is so much kindness and hometown pride over and over! People have just started conversations with me while I have been out
What do you wish was more on Akronites'
Medical Laboratory Technician and I came here because I was ready to check out a new part of the country. I moved to Akron about a month ago. I was living in Duluth, Minnesota for
and about, and that is how I have gotten to know about events coming up and where to find... anything really! I have only gotten excited and
radar? It depends on the Akronite. For the naysayer Akronites, I wish they'd step out of their comfort zone more often. There are some
about five years before moving here. Honestly, I welcoming responses when had never pictured myself moving to Ohio, but I've told people I am new to it has been nothing but pleasant surprises so this town and area of the
New / Native
far. I am currently living near the University of Akron campus.
country. There seems to be a lot of positive changes and growth happening here, and
What do you wish was more on Akronites'
the native Akronites couldn't
radar? From what I've gathered, people living outside of the Downtown/University of Akron main campus area do not venture this way very
be happier about where Akron is heading. People love talking up this city!
frequently. I spoken to people who have lived here their whole lives and have never gone to the Akron Art Museum, or have never heard of or been to the Arts District. There are some great things and people to find downtown. I am a big fan of the library, free Thursdays at the Art Museum, and happy hours at the Lockview and High Street Hop House. I have not had a chance to check out any live music anywhere yet, but I am trying, because I've heard really great things! I have also been on a donut mission. There are some great ones out there! My favorite donut and breakfast place so far is Stownut Diner. What is your favorite local cultural asset? I have nothing but great things to say about
That's when things got serious. I was swept away by the artistic and cultural renaissance that's happening here. I gained a deeper understanding of the love and support that Akronites have for each other. And the food. I love the food.
weekends with more events Where in Akron do you like to escape? than there are people in this It's hard to escape in Akron when you know city. You can't tell me there's someone everywhere you go...The one place nothing to do or nowhere to I can guarantee escape is on my bike on the go! For everyone else, have Towpath Trail. It's long, beautiful, and free! Plus you heard of the Exchange if I run into anyone I know, we're both moving House in North Hill? *wink*
so the interaction is limited to fleeting eye contact and a sloppy high five.
What is your favorite local cultural asset? My favorite local cultural asset is the
Why should everyone try your favorite
When did you fall for Akron? My first week in town, I went to the Art Museum on a free Thursday. There were some excellent exhibits and I spent hours there by myself. On my
diversity of people and history in each of the Akron neighborhoods. Some days I'll work within the Bhutanese refugee community in North Hill and then drive ten minutes to
local restaurant? My loyalty has been drawn: Akron Family Restaurant has the best breakfast/ brunch. I've been going there since my STVM days and I will never look back. What other
way out, I chatted with a person who made a few suggestions for things to check out nearby. So I did. Then I got more suggestions at the next place, and so on... it was my own Akron treasure hunt. It was an amazing way to familiarize myself with what is nearby and I loved the wander to see what else I could find. I am a wanderer and this is a great place for that.
Firestone Park with a story circle of retired rubber workers. Or I'll have lunch downtown at Crave and then go to a community dinner with soul food. Each community has its own history and it's virtually impossible to know all of it! It makes Akron a place of never-ending exploration.
restaurant serves so much food in one platter that they call it "the Blimp"? They also have bottomless cups of coffee. For real. Your coffee cup will NEVER be empty when you eat there.
Where in Akron do you like to escape?I am a big nerd and a huge fan of libraries. I love the library. It is pretty large and I haven't even explored all that is there, yet. It's free, quiet, a
the people I have encountered in Akron.
When did you fall for Akron? It took me until my adulthood to fall inescapably in love with Akron. It was one of those "we've always been friends and I enjoy your company but not in that way" kind of relationship until I
How do you hope Akron will be different in five years? My three wishes are more people, more bike lanes, and more coffee shops.
(continued on page 36) returned after graduating from college in 2014.
Homeless Helpers Garden by Floco Torres
Paul Leroy Hays Age: 51 Occupation: Director of Services and General Manager of The Homeless Charity Hometown: Akron, OH Current neighborhood please: Highland Square
BIG IDEA
22 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
What's your big idea? Feeding the homeless non gmo, organic, fresh garden vegetables. Why pursue it? The homeless community unfortunately eats a lot of low quality food and we would like to change that! When did you know your big idea was a good idea? I think that helping people is always a good idea and I knew that from the start. How do you hope your big idea helps Akron grow? We hope that with our many other services along with Homeless Helpers Garden, maybe we can help a few people get back on their feet again.
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Akropreneurs
24 STATE LAWMAKERS TOUR AKRON BREWERIES 26 TEDX AKRON RETURNS 26 PAYING THE COST TO BE YOUR OWN BOSS
AKRON BIZ
Troy & Tavares (The Barber Twins) WHAT I WISH I KNEW Occupations: Barber stylists at Monty’s Place Hometown: Akron, OH Current Neighborhood: Akron, OH
How did you get into the work you do? Tavares: Actually, we were inspired by several
What are you glad that you didn’t know? Tavares: I’m glad that I didn’t know I would
Tavares: Smile and be courteous.
contact with all different types of people. You have to be 100 percent authentic to yourself.
people—our mom and a friend of the family.
have to put in a lot of hours. Even though I could assume that from working, but that
Troy: Some of the best things I’ve learned working for myself is that everybody counts.
The best business lesson that I’ve learned is that I didn’t have enough business information
Troy: That friend of the family told us that we could be criminals and do nothing or work for ourselves.
would mean that I was satisfied with a certain dollar amount at that time. Now I know that consistency pays more bills than just coming in the shop for a certain amount of money.
Every person and interaction is worth giving your 100%. Tavares: I was going to say something similar
working for myself so it caused me to go learn and research about taxes, insurance, etc. If you’re working under someone, they may not tell you those things. We had to learn these
to that.
things ourselves. We did go to school so we got the basic craft skills down. Our position comes from the art, working with other people and listening to our customers. They’ll tell you want they want but then they’ll want to quantify it // Photo by Floco Torres
What do you wish you knew when you got started? Tavares: Discipline and saving money.
Troy: I don’t have any answer for that one. (Laughs)
Troy: I would have to agree, and I wish I knew
What are some of the best lessons — in
Troy: I’ve definitely been learning to diversify yourself but still strengthen yourself through that diversity. This meaning that you don’t
how to be more productive and constructive when I got started.
business or for life — you've learned from being your own boss?
just try and spread yourself so thin, but reach people where they are because we come in
but you’re an artist as well.
Podcast Pullquote:
Naresh Subba knows you from Family Groceries. Now get to know him
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
“Beginning 2008 and 2009 when there were few people, I had to do a lot
all my customers, almost all. And there are thousands of them.”
of helping family members go shopping and, you know, things like that. I knew that there was this need, so that’s when I talked to my brothers
This podcast is part of The Devil Strip’s reporting on small business
and my nephew and that there was a need for a traditional food. . . for Bhutanese refugees. That is how we ended up opening this grocery.”
ownership and entrepreneurship, which has been made possible with support from The Fund for Our Economic Future and the Burton D. Morgan Foundation. You can listen to Naresh's full, moving story at
“We knew each other. Almost everyone knew every other. I mean that’s what our culture is. And back in our home land, even now, I know almost
bit.ly/Akro4_Naresh
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
23
akropreneurs stake in the potential tax changes. We all met at the John S. Knight Center, and just after 4 pm we boarded the trolley, a.k.a
Brewing up small business
After sampling the product, we joined Karm on the patio, where he addressed the group and shared his thoughts on the craft brewing industry and how the proposed tax increase
beer bus, which would transport us between breweries.
would affect his business. Hoppin’ Frog currently produces approximately 1780 barrels of beer per year, so the excise tax changes
When we arrived at our first destination, Thirsty Dog Brewing Co., owner John Patrick Najeway met us in the tasting room and implored we get beverages in our hands immediately. I listened.
wouldn’t impact his business. However, Karm worries that with the increased sales tax, he could see a dent in sales.
Once everyone had their beverage of choice, “Our beer is at the high end of the craft brew John led us on a tour of the facilities, showcasing market,” Karm explained. It’s not uncommon to all the nifty devices used in the beer making see a bottle of Hoppin’ Frog beer selling for $14 process. All of the materials used in the brewing process at Thirsty Dog were made in the U.S.A. As the Thirsty Dog tour ended, I asked Najeway how the tax would affect his brewery.
Why your state lawmakers were taking a beer tour of Akron
- $15 at the market. Any price increase makes that a harder sell for even the most seasoned beer drinkers. After Karm entertained a few questions from
“We all have an obligation to pay certain taxes, but putting that tax on will slow growth in the
our group and we finished our drinks, it was time to take off for our next destination, R.
craft beer industry, and specifically us because the excise tax they want to lower down to the 10,000 barrel mark,” said Najeway. “Of the breweries you’re going to today, Thirsty Dog is
Shea Brewing, which is nestled in the Merriman Valley, right across from the Towpath Trail. We were greeted at the door and escorted to a sitting area where some of the most delicious
In Summit County alone, there are 14 beer producers open and operating, with another seven on the way. That’s a lot of suds. That’s
the only one above that mark, so absolutely it will affect us.”
pretzels and cheese I have ever eaten were awaiting us.
make the law. Not really, but I was definitely entering foreign territory when our publisher asked if I could join some of our state lawmakers on a tour around Akron. At first I
also a lot of jobs and potential for more. State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) is keenly aware of the positive impact local
With a quick handshake I was off with the rest of the tour group to our next destination, Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, where owner and brewmaster Fred Karm greeted us warmly at
As our beer samples were delivered, owner Ron Shea joined us and gave us his view on the proposed tax increases. At 1.5 years old, his brewery is currently only producing 500 barrels
was a little unsure if I was the right man for the job. Then he mentioned there’d be beer involved, and I knew I had to do my civic duty!
breweries have of on the economy. In order to educate other lawmakers and strengthen the dialogue between them regarding the proposed tax changes, Sykes hosted a unique brewery tour for her fellow legislators in the city she grew up in and loves, with the help of Greg
the door. Karm ushered us over to a seating area reserved for Rep. Sykes’ tour group and quickly popped the top off a 22 ounce chocolate infused brew. Next up was a pitcher of Dankster, a fruity and flowery I.P.A. that pleased the taste buds. As we sampled Hoppin’
of beer per year, almost all of which goes to the taproom we were sitting in. The brewery has big expansion plans though. By 2020, Shea anticipates exceeding the 10,000 barrel per year mark, meaning R. Shea would owe approximately $56,000 in additional excise tax
from 5.75 percent to 6.25 percent, as well as excise tax for certain commodities, including beer. These changes could have a direct impact on our state’s flourishing craft beer industry. The excise tax is currently only imposed on breweries
Mervis, President and CEO of Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Frog’s flavorful beverages, I asked State Rep. Glenn Holmes whether he could see himself supporting the budget.
if the changes were to go through.
Joining us on the tour were other State Rep.s from around Ohio, including House Majority
“It feels like a band-aid,” Holmes said. “There
At R. Shea, I had a great conversation with State Rep. and Minority Leader Fred Strahorn about the changes would impact small breweries.
producing 300,000 barrels or more per year, but under the new budget, would apply to
Leader Fred Strahorn (D-Dayton), Rep. Glenn W. Holmes (D-McDonald), Rep. Thomas West
needs to be something more sustainable done to keep the budget in check. I think it’s a
“When I think of the brewers and small
breweries producing 10,000 barrels or more.
(D-Canton), Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), and Rep. Michael J. O’Brien (D-Warren), as well as other guests from various backgrounds that had a
stop-gap measure in trying to plug holes in the breweries, I think of them generically in terms budget that’s going to negatively impact of small businesses, and small businesses are, micro breweries.” (continued on page 37)
by Dave Daly // This article has been edited for length. Read the full version online at thedevilstrip.com.
O
n any given day, I’d rather break the law than hang out with people that
Governor John Kasich’s proposed 2017 budget includes an increase in the statewide sales tax
If you drink beer and don’t live under a rock,
you’ve probably noticed that local breweries big and small have popped up all over Ohio.
Come on in, the wifi’s fine!
Join us for free on Thursdays and discover why Akron works from the Tech Lab www.OSCTechLab.com
24 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
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akropreneurs
SPOTLIGHT
2017 at The Goodyear Theater by Floco Torres
on refugee resettlement, the stage is set for an array of perspective on Akron’s future. Organizers Sam Faletta and Ned Parks did a great job in assembling a group of speakers
We spoke last month about the term “entrepreneurship” and its potential overuse when it’s not clearly defined. The internationally recognized media organization, TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) has been
that are not only diverse in background but in career paths and energy.
giving the term meaning while encouraging community members to see themselves as gatekeepers of ideas worth spreading. TED
Being a Tedx speaker is definitely good to have on your resume, but being an attendee is just as powerful. It’s not everyday you get to be in the same room with this many like-minded
has been providing general guidance for TEDx events in cities all over the world. At the Goodyear Theater on Saturday, May 20, Akron
individuals with this many jewels to drop. If you need any more encouragement, then consider that the event is at 1 pm and you’ll still have the
will host its first TEDxAkron event since 2011. TED was founded by architect and designer Richard Saul Wurman in 1984 and began as a
rest of your day to start working on that idea you’ve been putting off.
conference (that still happens yearly) focusing on technology and design. In its 33 years, TED has expanded to cover science, art, education and more. Thousands of TED Talks are online for free viewing, and some of these talks have launched careers into the stratosphere. I was even able to cross “Ted Talk” off my bucket list in the summer of 2012 when I spoke at TedxMacon down in Georgia.
TedxAkron 2017 will be held at the Goodyear Theater on Saturday May 20 at 1 pm. Tickets are between $15-50 and are available at
goodyeartheater.com. TEDxAkron, like other TED talks, is selforganized and will feature 13 speakers throughout the evening. From Jim Mullen,
United Way of Summit County’s seventh President and CEO, to Kara Ulmer, Director of the World Relief Akron office focusing
Paying the costs to be your own boss words by Chris Horne; photos by Ilenia Pezzaniti
Once “Big Betty” finally hit the road, they knew they’d made the right decision. Their debut was at Gypsy Grace and The Vintage Goat in Highland Square and they got slammed. But they handled it like champs and they haven’t turned back since.
Heather & Matt Ulichney have put everything on the line
Now, they’re not only gearing up for their second
to make their upscale food truck, The Square Scullery, a reality. But that’s almost every entrepreneur's story.
season, feeding a fanbase hungry for their trademark fried Brussels sprouts, but they’re trying to make Akron a
It’s almost certainly the case for all the “Akropreneurs” we’ve met. So while it’s important to understand how someone could put in 100 hours a week, what’s really fascinating is why they would.
better place for food trucks in general. But that’s a story for another day. Promise. In the meantime, you can catch them all around Akron, including every Third Thursday at our Live at Lock 4
For the Ulichneys, it’s because they want to raise the bar, not just for food trucks but for Akron on the whole. That fancypants menu of theirs isn’t about showing off. It’s about doing it the right way, which is how they do their
events and at Signal Tree Fest on Sat., July 29 in Lock 3.
part to help the city grow.
Goat Summer Series”, their monthly 1st Thursday dinner shindigs from 4 PM to 8 PM through October.
Starting May 4, Matt, Heather and Big Betty return to Gypsy Grace and the Vintage Goat for the “Truck Meets
"We do it because we know what the potential is here,” Heather says. “We know what Akron can be." That’s why they spent a full year working on “Big Betty”.
More info about the Square Scullery is available at akronfoodtruck.com and facebook.com/ SquareScullery
Working off a digital model Heather made, it took them a year to renovate the truck, which included moving the service window from one side to the other because originally it was an old Snap-on Tools truck.
NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T DO THIS
26 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
The whole time that they were ripping out stuff and rebuilding from the floor up, Matt and Heather were taking care of their two kids and working overtime at their “day jobs” to keep the bills paid. Fortunately, Matt’s dad is a contractor who was able to lend a hand so this first part of the dream,
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The Dish
28 THE WANDERER WELCOMES SPRING 29 LADY BEER DRINKER’S FAVORITE BEER FEST
FOOD & DRINK IN AKRON
FRONT OF THE HOUSE BACK OF THE HOUSE Sweet Mary’s Bakery by Krissy O’Connor
The Wanderer Springing on Sushi Katsu words and photos by Holly Brown
Spring is something I had never truly experienced before I moved to Akron. Having lived in northeastern Massachusetts and up, up, upstate New York (we’re talking twenty minutes from the Canadian border), Spring is basically nothing more than mud and rain and dirty snow and one day in May, something like summer shows up. Spring is easily one of my favorite things about Akron: blooming magnolias, chartreuse buds that pompom from every tree. This is before the humidity hits, and while there’s still certainly rain, it falls with the
playlist with everything from Bill Withers to the Beatles to the Marshall Tucker Band to Jackie Wilson. I was into it. Predictably, I struggled to decide what to order, though I did know two things: I wanted sake and I wanted miso soup. The sake was warm and therefore great. But the miso soup. That. Miso. Soup. I try to order miso soup as often as I can because it’s the perfect way to start any meal (i.e. light, warm, and flavorful without filling you up). Miso soup is truly an appetizer in that it genuinely primes your appetite. While I
FOH:
BOH:
Retail Town: Akron
Baker Town: West Akron
Heather Brown
Patty Fann
You are on your feet for a lot of fast-paced
I have heard that cooking is easier than
hours. What is your remedy to take care of your feet at the end of the day? I learned from my husband to switch out my
baking. Is that true or not true? Not for me. I would much rather bake. When Mary does lunch specials, sigh. I would rather
tennis shoes during the day. I keep an extra pair in my truck. We also have those black mats to work on so my feet don’t really hurt. I do have a foot spa at home but that is still in it’s box!
bake. I am Mary’s mom and the lunch specials are usually some of her favorite childhood meals like Tuna Casserole, Cabbage Rolls, Chicken Pot Pie, all those comfort foods you love as a kid. She asks me to make them and
If I gave you $40,000 to start a business here in Akron, what would you start? I love to bake and my Mom has always been a baker. I would love to start a bakery also. Something I have always wanted to do is to be a personal shopper. That wouldn’t take too much money to start. I could just do that while I
I do.
am shopping anyway!
example, I worked in H. R. at Babcock & Wilcox
Name one thing about you that most people might not know. About me, hum. I am pretty much open an open book. As you get older you can tell how people know you by what they call you. For
in Barberton for 37 years and was known there What do you love to do in Akron when you as Pat. Now, here at Sweet Mary’s, I am Patty. have a few free hours? Pat and Patty are two very different people. I like to shop. (A ha! Now it is all much more
knowledge that it’s necessary for the coolness
have rarely had a miso soup I didn’t like, this miso soup was the best I have
in the breeze and the color all around us.
ever had.
relevant!) The J.C. Penny’s in Montrose is my favorite store. In fact, I will be going there
What is your go-to spot on a sunny day in Akron?
When it comes to beautiful food, there’s nothing that pops on a plate quite like sushi. Between the seaweed exterior, the white rice,
The broth was rich without being overbearing: flavorful but never sacrificing the lightness or brightness of the dish. The tofu, scallions, and
today after work to shop for Easter dresses and my daughter’s birthday is tomorrow. I love to use the coupons that they have too, you can save a lot!
We go to the Towpath Trail. It is the one down near the Memorial Parkway Dog Park. It is a good four mile walk. We used to go to the Chuckery a lot too. That is a nice trail that
the wasabi and the ginger alone, there’s a feast
wakame were plentiful and all of it steeped
for the eyes. Sushi is almost as pleasing to look at as it is to eat. And so, on a warm-ish April evening, I decided to mirror my surroundings with my dinner and pay a visit to Sushi Katsu.
together in that steaming bowl was everything I’d ever hoped for in a soup. Seriously, it was incredible.
After coming upon a sizeable patio under construction (future perk for summer visits!),
In the wake of delirious soup and sake happiness, I began to get truly excited for the main event: the sushi. Ryan and I decided to
we entered through a side door and came upon try four rolls, splitting them between us. We one of my favorite restaurant interiors to date. deliberated extensively and decided upon: the Small enough to be intimate but large enough to seat quite a few different groups (especially when the seats at the sushi bar are taken into
Since you are her mom, is there any inside scoop about Mary? When I was pregnant with Mary they thought I might be having twins because there was so much movement. That never changed. She was and is always moving and very active. She was a good kid. Spending time with her now and baking is fun.
Spiderman, the Kent, the Crunch, and one of their nightly specials called the Cavalier roll, which for obvious reasons already was hard to
consideration) it was both classy and casual pass up. with many diners knowing the sushi chefs by name. You could also watch the chefs make The Spiderman is a large, 5-piece roll with your sushi right there in front of you! Talk about tempura soft-shell crab, cream cheese, instant visual satisfaction. There was a stellar
28 | THE Devil Strip /
follows the river and the Signal Tree is there.
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Sweet Mary’s Bakery 76 E Mill Street Akron, OH 44308
(continued on page 36)
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
the dish
LADY BEER DRINKER
arnie’s public house
RUBBER CITY BEER FEST words and photos by Emily Anderson
I
t’s official. Rubber City Beer Fest at Lock 3
into the common area room. It was so packed
to go around as well. Besides Crafted Artisan
Park is my favorite beer festival in Akron. This year, only the third year of the annual fest, was the biggest and best so far. So big,
with people that you could barely navigate from one booth to the next. It was really overwhelming. This year, there was plenty of
Meadery, that was so popular they ran out completely after two hours, most beers lasted until the last half hour of the four-hour event.
they had to expand the tasting area from the common area out into the ice skate rental room. 30+ breweries from all over Ohio came to participate in and/or judge the “Wizard of
room to freely roam. You could go get some air outside or chat with other beer drinkers without The reason why RCBF is my favorite Akron beer saying “excuse me” 20 times. It was much less event is that all of the breweries who come to stressful. serve samples are from Ohio. Most other beer
SAAZ” annual homebrew competition, and then hung out to provide samples of their own creations.
In fact, the whole event was very laid back and chill. It took place on a beautiful, sunny
events are sponsored by beverage distribution companies, and are therefore obligated to feature beers that that particular company sells.
Breweries set up sample booths around the whole perimeter of the common area and the skate room. Out in the park, they had a bunch
Saturday in March. Tickets were $33 in advance or $40 at the door, and included “30 twoounce tastings.” This sounds kind of funny looking back now because a lot of people
RCBF is sponsored by SAAZ (Society of Akron Area Zymurgists), which is a homebrewing club. SAAZ can choose their brewery lineup free from contractual obligations, so they only
(myself included) kept forgetting to turn in tickets for samples, and a lot of samples I saw looked like more than two ounces. Despite this, attendees didn’t abuse their freedom or take advantage of the system. I didn’t see a single person acting belligerent or getting sloppy. People were joking about how many tickets they still had at the end, tossing them around like confetti. There was plenty of beer
feature beers made in Ohio. It was really cool to see how many amazing brewers, with all their unique styles and brands, are making beer here in our state. You all probably know by now that I’m a huge advocate of supporting local breweries, and nothing says that like the all-Ohio lineup they have at RCBF.
of seating set up around the band stage and food trucks. Upbeat, funky music from the Dixieland Band and the Rhodes Street Boys kept the energy up and food from Square Scullery, Firehouse Grilling, and Lock 3 concessions kept our bellies full. The extra space made a huge difference this year. Last year, all the breweries were crammed
{The Dish}
Laurie Graham Tiffany
“Aladdins Fattoush Salad is amazing!! Or the Beet & Goat Cheese salad at Bricco.”
“O'Charley's California Chicken Salad.”
“Lembo’s 88-item salad & soup bar! Plus they have this new chicken strawberry
Adria Henry Buzek “Chameleon Cafe has an awesome roasted corn and kale salad with maple honey mustard. They also have a sweet spinach salad with fruits and feta cheese and candied pecans with raspberry dressing.”
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
The weather is getting warmer, so we’re craving fresh salads. We asked our readers where they like to get a hefty plate of tasty greens. Here’s what they had to say.
Amber Blazeff Robin Springer-Vega mixed greens salad with blueberry vinaigrette & a chicken Waldorf salad on the menu.”
Amy May “Mustard Seed's salad bar is always my #1 salad.”
ap Elegantly Casual Dining featuring Modern Twists on Your Favorite Comfort Foods and Classic Cocktails 1682 W. Market St at Westgate Plaza in Akron 330-867-0154 Open 7 days a week 11:00am-2:30am
F OUR O E N TRY O TE PLAZA A WESTG RANTS! U RESTA
Akron’s Home of the All Day Breakfast featuring a Bloody Mary Menu, Mimosas and much more... 1688 W. Market St at Westgate Plaza in Akron 330-867-1114 Open 7 days a week 6:30am-3:00pm Sundays 8:00am-3:00pm
Your Favorite Tribute Bands
Gates open at 6:00 p.m. Concerts start at 7:00 p.m.
NEW this year! GIVE BACK FRIDAYS. $5 Admission at the gate on the of each month for charity. See website for charity info. Also join us at Lock 4 for Thirsty Dog Happy Hour before the Give Back Fridays, 5-7 p.m. MAY 26 Straight On Heart Tribute Band with Rachel Roberts JUN 2
Hotel California The Original Eagles Tribute Band with Shivering Timbers
JUN 9 JUN 16 JUN 23 JUN 30
Green River Revival Tribute to CCR and John Fogerty with Mick Rogers Band Dirty Deeds Xtreme AC/DC with Good Night Tonight Draw The Line The Endorsed Aerosmith Tribute with Devil Strip Almost Queen The Ultimate Queen Experience with Angie Haze Project
JUL 7
Hollywood Nights A Bob Seger Experience with The Juke Hounds
JUL 21 JUL 28
Crush A Tribute to Bon Jovi with Snazzy Cats Atomic Punks A Tribute to Early Van Halen with Body Thief
AUG 4
The Machine Performs Pink Floyd with Joe Vitale Jr and Ravenwood
AUG 11 Time Traveller Tribute to Moody Blues with Crown Kingdom AUG 18 Full Moon Fever America’s Premier Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Tribute Band with Monica Robins & Whiskey Kings
AUG 25 David Brighton’s Space Oddity The Ultimate Bowie Experience with Mo’ Mojo SEP 1
ZOSO The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience with Electric Mud
Tues. June 27th 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Free Admission
The 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band Thurs. July 27th 5:30 to 9:30 p.m Admission $5.00
Akron Peacemakers 10th Anniversary Celebration and Teen Expo featuring
LDNL
(Lt. Dan’s New Legs)
CONCERT INFO: Gates open at 6:00 p.m. Events are free, unless noted in description. No coolers, unsealed drinks or outside alcohol permitted. Limited reserved and general admission tickets for George Clinton and Kool & The Gang can be purchased at the Akron Civic Theatre box office, by calling 330-253-2488, AkronCivic.com and Ticketmaster.com.
Jun 30th – Jul 4th
FREE Admission 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. JUN 30 Almost Queen The Ultimate Queen Experience 8:30 p.m. with Angie Haze Project 6:30 p.m.
JUL 1
Satisfaction The International Rolling Stones Show 8:30 p.m.
JUL 2
Bruce in the USA World’s #1 Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
JUL 3 JUL 4
with Kerosene 6:30 p.m.
E Street Band 8:30 p.m. with Nied’s Hotel Band 6:30 p.m. Absolute Journey The International Tribute to Journey 8:30 p.m. with MDU 6:30 p.m.
Akron Symphony Orchestra 8:00 p.m. Zach 4:00 p.m. Freedom Brass Band 6:00 p.m.
AKRON’S OFFICIAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY 9:45 p.m.
AUG 12
National Hamburger Festival AUG 13
hamburgerfestival.com JUL 13
Fleetwood Mac Mania 8:30 p.m. with Victory Highway 6:30 p.m.
JUL 14
1964 The Tribute Beatles Tribute 8:30 p.m. with Aftermath Experience the Sixties 6:30 p.m.
JUL 15
Lights Out America's #1 Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with Avanti 6:30 p.m.
36TH ANNUAL
Admission $5 Gates Open at 12 p.m.
AUG 12
The Buck Naked Band
Disc Can
JUL JUL AU AU AU AU AU
8:30 p.m.
Shooter Sharp & The Shootouts 2:00 p.m. Justin Fabus
4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
& PARADE EXHIBITION
JUL 22
GATES OPEN AT 12 p.m. Featuring Slave 8:00 p.m. with Opener TBA 7:00 p.m. Free Admission.
JUL 23
Midnight Star 8:00 p.m. Opener TBA 7:00 p.m. Admission $10 after 4:00 p.m.
AUG 13
The Rhythm Syndicate
12:00 p.m.
The King Bees 3:30 p.m.
Performances on the South Terrace
DAN
JUN 17 Family Movie Night Featuring Shrek JUN 24 Old School Soul
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
9:00 p.m. with Jan Marie & AZ 1 Band 7:00 p.m. Tickets on Sale April 21st. See below.
JUL 1 JUL 8
rs
Satisfaction The International Rolling Stones Show
(Rib White and Blue Festival)
Signal Tree Festival
Outdoor movie, chairs and blankets welcome 5:00 p.m. | Free Admission | Movie starts at 8:00 p.m.
JUL 15
Lights Out America’s #1 Tribute to Frankie Valli
JUL 22 JUL 29 AUG 5
Slave 8:00 p.m. (African American Festival) Signal Tree Festival Akron Food, Music + Culture Festival The Luther Vandross Experience
and The Four Seasons (Italian-American Festival)
Featuring Darron Moore and The 14th Floor 8:30 p.m. with Charita Franks 6:30 p.m.
Family Fun Festivities 2017
AUG 26 Joey DeFrancesco (Rubber City Jazz Festival)
Featuring TROLLS
Kool & The Gang 9:00 p.m.
with GET ON UP 7:00 p.m. Tickets on Sale April 28th. See below.
Located outdoors off Bowery St.behind the Civic Theatre next to Lock 3. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chair.
Akron Food, Music + Culture Festival. All-day celebration with the very best of Akron's past, present and future, presented by The Devil Strip and Lock 3. Wash down your pizza, jo-jos and sauerkraut balls with some of the Blimp City's tastiest craft brews and incredible live, local music. There's too much to list, but we guarantee Signal Tree won't be like any other festival you've attended before. For updates and details, visit signaltreefest.com.
Sat. August 19th
3:00 p.m. | Free Admission | Movie starts at 8:00 p.m.
SEP 2
Free Admission. Tasting starts at 5:00 p.m. Outdoor movie starts at 8:00 p.m. Join us for a night of Malternative Beer tasting, local music and a classic movie. Bring your chairs and blankets. Visit lock3live.com for more information. Brought to you by Tramonte Distributing.
Sat. July 29th
Music, Malts & Movie
AUG 12 The Buck Naked Band $5 (Hamburger Festival) AUG 19 Family Fun Festivities 2017 Featuring Trolls
s, hol d orge an c
m.
Music, Malts and Movie
Outdoor movie, chairs and blankets welcome 8:00 p.m. | Free Admission
my d
m
Sat. July 8th
lock3live.com
Free Admission. 3:00 p.m. Outdoor movie starts at 8:00 p.m. Kids inflatables, contests, entertainment and other events. Bring your chairs and blankets. Follow us on social media for updates & info. lock3live.com
Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Lock Bottom Blues & Jazz at Lock 4
Discover blues and jazz beats on the banks of the Ohio-Erie Canal in the heart of Akron. Food and drinks available.
JUL 19 JUL 26 AUG 2 AUG 9 AUG 16 AUG 23 AUG 30
John J. Saxx Watkins Fabulous Voices The Stingers Gaetano’s Underworld Blues Band Mike Lenz Horns and Things WONE Blues for The Blue
Gospel Sundays at Lock 4 JUL 30th|AUG 13th|AUG 27th
A glorious way to spend your Sunday evening. Concerts 5:00– 7:00 p.m.
Firestone Park – Summit Lake – Kenmore
Jun 15|Jul 20|Aug 17|Sept 21 Begins at 6:00 p.m. Live local music, downtown beer garden, food trucks and yard games.
Experience Akron in a new way. Sun. June 25th 12 – 5 p.m
Open Streets closes the streets to cars and opens them to people. Bike, walk, jog, or skate and explore your community in a safe, fun and healthy way. akronohio.gov
Firestone Park – Summit Lake – Kenmore
Mon. June 26th
Air National Band of The Northeast Join us on the first Friday of the month before our GIVE BACK FRIDAY concerts from 5-7 p.m.
7 – 9 p.m. Joy Park Community Center 825 Fuller St. Akron 44306 Admission is free. Bring your lawn chair.
For event and concert update info:
FB | Lock 3 Akron, Ohio TWITTER | Lock3@Lock3Akron Instagram | lock3live
ace DANIEL HORRIGAN, MAYOR
The Scene
32 WE THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW THESE BANDS
34 THE BAND OF FUTURE PAST, A.K.A. STEMS
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
STANDING ROOM
... Six Akron bands we think you should know
å
by Floco Torres
å Maid Myriad It seems that at least once a week I learn about a new genre in Akron and this week, it’s “kaleidoscope rock.” Since it’s new to me, I’m going to assume that Jeff Klemm, Greg Meisenberg, and Mario Tonathy created this genre for their band “Maid Myriad.” Their record “With Haste On It’s Breath” molds the kaleidoscope sound throughout the hour long album on standouts like “Encircled” and “Dance By The Moonlight.” Jeff Klemm’s vocals are impressive from top to bottom and the musicianship is some of the better prog rock that I’ve heard even if we’re not calling it that. Maid Myriad has new LP coming soon and they’ll be hitting the road again in their big red van called “Strawberry Fields.” (Photo courtesy of Maid Myriad)
ç é
ç G.S. Schray Gabriel S. Schray bka “G.S. Schray” is a musician and producer who’s been at it for about a decade now. His new record “Gabriel” was released with London based label Last Resort after years of self released records. On “Gabriel,” all the instruments were played by G.S. which is pretty amazing when you listen to the genreless eight songs. One of the best displays of this is on “The Unused Detail” where I think I counted 8 different sounds throughout the track. At his show at Hive Mind back in March, I’m pretty sure someone mentioned to me that “Only a few of us know him around here but he’s pretty big overseas.” Don’t sleep Akron.
é Teddy & Keith “Teddy & Keith” are an americana acoustic duo that have been putting their heart into the music for ten years now. Their song “Blank White Pages” is a good place to start on their journey of creating and the battle musicians fight while continuing to pursue their passions. Teddy & Keith also lead up the indie rock band “The Woovs” and the video for their “Sorry Song” features loads of cute dogs while Teddy apologizes about the evils of the world. These guys are always playing gigs and you can catch them on May 29 at Clay’s Park in North Lawrence, OH. (Photo courtesy of the Teddy & Keith)
è Thorla/Cummings/Prettyman
è
Brad Thorla, Ian Cummings and Walter Prettyman used all their last names to create the trio “Thorla/Cummings/ Prettyman.” Now here’s where it gets tricky: That may not be their name the next time you see them. I caught their debut show at Annabel’s in April & what I can tell you is I’ve NEVER seen this setup before. Brad on bass guitar, Ian on drums & Walter playing his violin furiously through an assorted group of guitar pedals. The violin sounded like if Jack White was playing guitar during a robot and dinosaur battle (this is a good thing). Sadly though, I think Brad & Ian said the lineup is subject to change as Walter is moving soon. The upside is, whoever steps in may play another instrument in a sick and unorthodox matter. We’ll just have to wait and see. (Photo courtesy of Brad Thorla)
ê Portage
ê
Justin Cheuvront, Isaac Thomas and Eric Vaught are “Portage,” an emo/math rock band that lists their interest as “making music and eating Chipotle.” Most of their songs are about drinking and women problems like “Drunk, Probably” and “Dead Sobriety Poet,” and there are unhinged changes throughout the songs. There’s a genuine energy to lines like “Now there's no point in drinking alone / When no one is sleeping alone” that make it completely acceptable to be in your feelings. Portage has been playing gigs regularly in 2017, so make sure to catch them if you get a chance. (Photo courtesy of Portage)
ë Operations
ë 32 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
I first saw Eagan Ammerman this past January at the open mic hosted by Gretchen Pleuss in downtown Akron at Uncorked Wine Bar. (You should check it out sometime—it happens every Tuesday.) Eagan displayed a ludicrous level of talent on the piano paired with unorthodox lyrics and an untroubled urgency in his vocal delivery. Experiencing this set me up perfectly for catching his Jazz/Lounge/R&B/Reggae project “Operations.” At the live show, you’ll hear anything from D’Angelo and Michael Jackson covers, to unreleased original material and A+ level jam sessions. You also never know who could end up sitting in, whether it be Justin Tibbs on sax (Acid Cats) or HR3 on drums (Bluelight), among others. Be on the lookout for the next Operations show this summer.
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
T ON
33 CHECK OUT TWO ALBUMS FROM TWO-PIECE SEE CREATURES
the scene R EC
OR
D
ON
E TH
On the Record: See Creatures Two Albums by a Two-piece by Dawson Steeber
AKRON CIVIC THEATRE WOMEN’S GUILD
by Brett Auerbach
Surface Tension, the debut LP from Akron’s dynamic two-piece, See Creatures (Nate Bucher and Adam Murray), is an album with the freshness and energy of a new band, and the ease and musicianship that only comes with experience. From start to finish, the tracks are a lugubrious groove slick
renders a certain space, describes a time and follows a spell of vocals
cathartic quilt woven from fuzz-blitzed guitar, shoegaze synth, garage bred back beats, and
via exploratory, slippery synth and guitars and a subtle but sincere
hypnotic echo-swamped vocals.
backbeat. This is an album rich with sharp yet sedated pop chops
A loose lyrical theme of depression and
captured in stardust and resin…a cosmic sonic sigh—more white
psych-soul than jam band— woven together in a tapestry of simple repeated riffs simultaneously sterile and filthy and always vaguely
of techno and minimalist psych-pop peppered with sci-fi inspired fuzzed out reverb and endless loops.
menacing.
From the contemplative “#Ghosted” and “RGB” to the nuanced layered lyrics and celestial, scuzzy bedroom pop of tracks
six track follow up. “UNK” was released in early April, and what a fantastic
like “Open Mind=Lonely Times,” “I Sleep Alone with the Promise of Lovers” and “S.S. Grudgeqween,” the entire album is huge and
album! From the opening track, “7 is Low” to “The Burlington,” this album is a
And now, to my great joy, they’ve already released a
fuzzed riffs and the pulse and stab of these drum beats make the pain seem almost pleasant enough to stagger out blithely and dislocate the present moment if only to wrench freedom from our self-made psychic prisons. These cats are easily one of my favorite local bands.
Your guide to distant future events by Bradley Thorla
and strength of musicianship across all four members of the quartet lend the heavy, late
previously unheard noises from his instrument.
Ohio’s weather is really heating up, and so is the summer show schedule! Giving everyone a heads up- June is looking primed for some face melting with 6 shows featuring some of the
night grooves a wonderfully heavy complexity. Catch them now, before they blow up after their run opening up for Depeche Mode (which is such a perfect pairing for them).
June 21 marks At the Drive-In’s return to Cleveland, after quite a few years off. They played a shortened set at last year’s Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, but the band’s
most incredible active musicians.
historical significance (and overall non-nu metal Less than a week later on June 13, Mary Timony vibe) was lost on most of the crowd, though
Starting things off, on Sunday June 4, Nashville will be sending the Grog Shop their dirtiest garage/sludge rock rippers, Thelma and the Sleaze. The all-female group’s singer, LG, says
will be at the Beachland Ballroom performing songs from her Helium catalogue. Make sure you get there early and catch Noveller’s set. A solo project by Parts & Labor’s Sarah Lipstate,
I did see Anthony Keidis from Red Hot Chili Peppers on the opposite side of the backstage area, transfixed, because “game recognize game.” That band still kills a stage after all
via text that anyone in attendance should expect “heavy handed hits excellently executed
you may have caught her opening for St. Vincent, the Soft Moon or Iggy Pop recently.
these years—Omar still kicks over cabinets and Cedric does those trademark acrobatic, mid-
for maximum enjoyment. BANTER and hair flips, too (eye roll emoji).” If your mind isn’t sufficiently melted by the shows of the first half of the month, June’s Then on June 6, another set of incredible second half has plenty finish you off. On June
chorus handstands.
(coincidentally female) musicians, in the form of Los Angeles’ Warpaint, are playing the
since Alice Coltrane hung up her harp in the 90s, Kamasi Washington is bringing his insane
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
PRODUCTION OF
heart’s own maelstrom as the mind struggles to come to terms with rejection and loss. And yet, the warmth of these
ago). I then managed to catch their set at the Nick Reinhardt brings a newness of technique Grog Shop shortly before the band released The to the “progressive” genre, deftly using effect Fool in 2010, and a few times since. The depth pedals and incredible technicality to wrangle
Beachland Ballroom. Seeing their band name on of shred-prog tastefully mixed with indie rock the Billions’ booking agency webpage years ago tones and punk sensibilities. All of the bands led me to their MySpace page (yes that long shralp the gnar, but in particular Tera Melos’
AKRON ALL- CITY MUSICAL
break-up tethers this all together. There’s a tumult in the lyrics where the confluence of love, anger, and melancholy meet to create a certain desperation, blistered and burnt in the
THE THORLA EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
15, Chon and Tera Melos will be bringing to the Agora Ballroom a very new, specific brand
PRESENTS THE
On the jazz side of the game, one of the new monsters, maybe the biggest musical mind
big band to the Tri-C Jazz Festival. First brought to notoriety by composing the incredibly (continued on page 36)
A MUSICAL BASED ON THE STORIES OF P.L. TRAVERS AND THE WALT DISNEY FILM ORIGINAL MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
RICHARD M. SHERMAN AND ROBERT B. SHERMAN BOOK BY
JULIAN FELLOWES NEW SONGS AND ADDITIONAL MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
GEORGE STILES AND ANTHONY DREWE CO-CREATED BY
CAMERON MACKINTOSH
FRI JUNE 16, 7:30PM SAT JUNE 17, 2:30PM SAT JUNE 17, 7:30PM TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THE AKRON CIVIC BOX OFFICE, BY PHONE AT 330-253-2488, OR ONLINE AT AKRONCIVIC.COM Mark A. Zimmerman, DIRECTOR Barbara Bellamy, MUSIC DIRECTOR Gary Davis, CONDUCTOR AND INSTRUMENTAL DIRECTOR
ON STAGE WITH
the scene
IN THE CROWD
STEMS
Remembering Space Man Bond
by Brittany Nader
quickly and organically, while the experience of recording is much slower and more nuanced.
become more unified and collaborative.
When a band explains the songs they write are about “paranoia, general disregard and, probably, bad love,” you might anticipate
Voris says crafting each song flows like a stream-of-consciousness experience where they each just start playing their instruments without
“Our music is really unique because we each have very different types of music we like, but it all just comes together,” Weiss says.
We showed up late to Musica for the Space Man Bond Benefit Show because we worked late that night. I didn't really feel
a droning sound shrouded in darkness and despair. But that’s where Stems serves as the perfect anomaly, a contrast between
a set plan. Seeker credits the band’s practice space, a garage on Voris’ property in Akron, as highly influential. It’s where the new album
Seeker describes Stems as “if The Shins did stuff by The Cure,” with Voris mentioning the
comfortable going, because a) I didn't know Matt, and b) I feel weird about death. But I went anyway, because my boyfriend was
melancholy, indie-rock tunes with a danceable, Talking Heads energy. The title of Stems’ upcoming release, “Your Sullen Ways Are Getting Boring,” is, perhaps, a tongue-in-cheek jab at themselves, as well as a realization that the band is evolving in tone and artistry.
was recorded, and all the artifacts posted up in the space can serve as random songwriting inspiration. Many cases of Busch beer, a signed print by Big Star’s Alex Chilton and a woodburning stove are a few of the relics that complete the outdoor collection and may, in some subtle ways, make appearances on the new release.
addition of dance rock, kraut rock and afro beats that give the band a more diverse, varied sound. Voris adds that the band is “future past,” or akin to the music one would hear on an oldies station in the future. He also notes that while each band member has very different and distinct tastes, it contributes positively to the evolution of the band’s songwriting.
Seeker attributes the name Stems to his evolution as a musician, having performed solo and in bands with other local players. This
“I know I can end practice when I tell them I want to put on a song by Kanye or Type O Negative,” Voris says.
"To Matt Bond, Goddammit," the lead singer lamented as the song began.
addition of Joel McAdams on guitar and vocals as a big leap forward in the direction of the
current group “stems” or branches off from the songs and sound he had created in previous
Weiss says the band feels each recording is
"Goddammit!" the crowd responded.
band, as well as a major asset in the songwriting process. The comradery between the bandmates and shared admiration of their new member is enough to shatter expectations about their
music projects. Many of Stems’ early songs were written and performed by Seeker himself, then fleshed out by Voris, Weiss and a former guitar player. The guys first played live together
getting stronger, as they’re each learning more and growing as they play. Voris says “Easily Lost” is one of his favorite tracks on the new album, as it showcases three different vocal
sound from their own description. Press play on
at a Buddy Holly cover show (their band aptly
parts and highlights their harmonies and
the rough mix of their upcoming album, and the rhythmic beats and melodic guitars are enough to put their current tunes in the “feel-good” range, rather than something one would put on in their darkest hour.
called Beardy Holly) and practiced in the 245 Gallery in Kent. Voris says he wasn’t much of a bass player, and Weiss only recently picked up drums at that point. Weiss came from a musical background, with his father playing mostly
dynamics, as well as highly collaborative lyrics that all seemed to naturally flow and work well together to create a cohesive song.
Spending a few hours with Justin Seeker, Josh Weiss and Michael Voris, the repertoire between them is jovial and jokey, a clear reflection of their distinctive working relationship which they call a “unit.” They each credit the recent
“People always say it’s like we operate as one
traditional Appalachian, folk and Celtic music, Seeker, who serves as primary lyricist, vocalist and and he played the mandolin for many years.
thing during our live shows, but it’s because we write that way. As a unit,” Weiss says.
guitar player in Stems, says the new song, “Good Voris had been performing as a guitarist since Times,” is one of his personal favorites. Hearing the ‘90s, but banding together with Seeker the faster pace of that track compared to allowed each of them to explore and hone their
The new album, set to be released this summer, was recorded in the band’s infamous practice
something like “Don’t Fit” off of the band’s 2015 skills on new instruments. space with the help of Ben Vehorn from release, “Identity Believer,” highlights the growth Tangerine Sound Studios. Stems is working and coming together of each band member’s Seeker says after their previous guitarist quit the on building up a schedule of live shows in the individual tastes, influences and skill sets. “This one is more collaborative,” Seeker says. “Joel was more of a writing partner. We
band, he sought refuge at the Zephyr in Kent to drown his sorrows. He confided in McAdams, who manages the bar, and finally something clicked. He, Voris and Weiss were all huge fans
upcoming months, and with a repertoire of sharing a stage with bands like Man Man, Built To Spill, King Gizzard and The Dodos, fans of local music are sure to be in for a treat from
stopped playing shows regularly to take a break
of McAdams’ work in “legendary” local band
this foursome.
and record this album. We really wanted to devote our time to that.”
Beaten Awake, and they finally asked him to join Stems on guitar. McAdams’ influences added that extra something special to Stems’ The band’s current songwriting process happens sound and helped their songwriting process
34 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Find Stems at facebook.com/stemsakron and stems-akron.bandcamp.com. // Photo by Jamie Suvak
by M. Sophie Franchi
friends with him and because I wanted to support the unborn child of a man who died too young. We showed up right before Astral Projections, Matt's most recent musical project, began the second to last song of the show, sans Matt. This was their first show ever.
The music was beautiful, melodic, rocking, spacey and emotional, the chorus an ode to Matt: "I see a spaceship coming from far away to take our friend...we're not ready..." The last song of the night was ceremonial, complete with an on-stage, sage burning, with a hawk feather for wafting the smoke toward the crowd and all around them. Astral Projections played along with Matt's pre recorded parts, and as they finished, you could see Matt’s band mates falling into a sort of trance, as they said their musical goodbye. All proceeds from the show, T-shirt sales and gift basket raffle went to Matt’s girlfriend, Leah Armbruster and their unborn child. Akron showed up for their “best friend,” and the benefit raised over $3,000. To support Leah and Baby Bond, please visit their gofundme page at gofundme.com/ caring-for-the-needs-of-his-child. Pictured above: Matt Bond with Meow Meow Kitty (Photo by Jacob Bruckner)
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
Steven Jeffrey Roberts performs May 13th at 8pm
Frank's Place ng
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know But was
to o died
Mondays ............................. Queen of Heart Drawing Monday 8pm! “At the Hop Disc Jockeys” featuring DJ Rusty and Fultz spinning vinyl, every 1st Monday of the month, starting in May • DJ Larry’s music trivia on the alternate Mondays 9pm Tuesdays .................... Taco Nights $1.50 to $3 and Drink Specials Rob's trivia 8pm Wednesdays .............................................. Chef Todd’s Food Specials Thursdays...................................................... $4 Burgers (dine-in only) Fridays ................................... 12oz Strip Steak $12.00. Cupcakes by Sweet Mary's Bakery (234) 706-6088 Saturdays .................................Check Out Our Live Music Schedule ........................... Sundays ...........................Karaoke hosted by Natalie • 9pm to 1am $0.60 Wings (dine-in only) Super Power Hour • From Open - 8:00pm $3.50 Well Drinks • $3.50 Bud Light Drafts
549 W Market St, Akron (330) 376-8307
HAPPY Hour: Monday - Friday Until 8pm Open: M-F at 2pm • Sat-Sun at 12:30pm
l of t
NUEVO MODERN MEXICAN & TEQUILA BAR
ing,
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m far dy..."
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR SEATING BUT ADVENTURESOME TASTE BUDS REQUIRED FOR DINING
al,
g, oke
Great food and service! We didn't have reservations so we opted to sit at the bar. Still had great service, the bartenders were fun and answered any questions we had about drinks they were making. The food was delish! We will be back!
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Happy Hour
3 - 7 pm • Mon. to Sat. $1.75 domestics | $2 wells | $3 select craft pints Sat. & Sun. • $5 Bloody Mary’s
Grab a cold one & enjoy a Ninny’s hot dog while you’re here. ~ 801 W. Market STreet ~
We will be celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday, May 14th with a special brunch and drinks, starting at 11am, and go until 5pm. v Nuevo will be open every Sunday after Mother's Day from 3-9 pm. v Enjoy brunch on the first Sunday of each month from 11am to 9pm.
54 East Mill St. Akron 44308 (330) 762-8000 nuevomodmex.com Hours: M-Th 11-10, F 11-11, Sat 3-11
overflow (continued from page 22) short walk away, and loaded with resources. They have a variety of programs for people of
well. It is a great location for me, a good space, and they usually have pretty good music on, as well. After, that being my first meal here, I
all ages. I have been there more than any other place in Akron, other than my apartment, since I've been here.
decided I could live here. Overall, I have had good food experiences here, which is very important!
I like to hike and bike also, and have been told
How do you hope Akron will be different
of a few good places and trails to check out, but I have not had the chance to do so, yet.
in five years? Well, I am still getting to know Akron for what it is now and it has been pretty
Why should everyone try your favorite local restaurant? My first meal in Akron was
great so far, but I would like to see the Arts District to grow. From what I have heard, Akron has, and is continuing to become more of a
at Nuevo, and I must say it is also my favorite. They have an excellent menu for both food and drinks. I want to eat everything on it! It is amazing food that is different than other places
destination for people, as opposed to a place from which they are moving away. I am really enjoying my new city and I appreciate all of the factors that have lead me here!
around, and the margaritas are pretty tasty, as (continued from page 28)
the pan and gently coated in crunchy goodness
cucumber, and eel sauce. My personal favorite piece was the one that had the crab legs clawing out of the
is not something I was used to, but something I could definitely get used to.
rice. Absolutely delicious, especially when topped with
The Cavalier Roll was a smorgasbord of sushi. With tempura shrimp and spicy tuna on the inside and delicious slices of pepper seared tuna on the top along with sesame seeds and
ginger (I’m not a wasabi person, myself). Sushi + cream cheese is always a good call, but with that rich and savory eel sauce, it had me from the beginning. We decided on the Kent roll because it incorporated mackerel and bonito which neither of us had in sushi before. It also showcased the ponzu sauce which is light and citrusy. This roll really allowed the fish to shine and, for that, I was happy. The fish was fresh and bright and was complemented by the slight tang in the ponzu sauce. The Crunch was unlike any sushi roll I had eaten before. Inside was crab sticks topped with a dollop of spicy mayonnaise. It came out warm. As in I literally watched one of the chefs take it out of the pan and slice it up moments
scallions, the sushi roll was just the right amount of everything: crunch, spice, density and lightness. The flavor changed with every bite. Be sure to keep an eye on the specials board for this guy!
To me, the mark of great sushi is finding a roll tastes better without soy sauce purely because the flavors are allowed to stand on their own. I can confidently say that this was the case for everything I tried at Sushi Katsu. I am already planning my next trip back.
1446 N Portage Path, Akron Mon – Sat, 5 pm – 9 pm
(continued from page 13)
“Vibrant Deterioration”
was more vibrant than the first, using lighted frames to further brighten the colors.
will remain on exhibit until May 20.
Star’s exhibit—although she does not explicitly imply that she wanted her audience to learn anything—also provides an opportunity for the
The Box Gallery 140 East Market St (3rd Flr: Summit Artspace)
audience to self-reflect and feel connected. As you look at her beautiful depictions of deterioration, you may realize that you’re not alone in hiding your suffering behind a cheery façade, and you have more in common with those around you than you think.
Hours: Fri and Sat 125pm; Fri Openings 5-8pm
Travel to Cuba with Lambes and then give yourself the time to self-examine with Star. Let the vibrancy of these exhibits draw you in, take a moment for self-reflection and possibly learn something along the way. (continued from page 20) As a parent himself, Culver understands the importance of consistency and being present with youth. While mentors are only required to meet with mentees once per week, per Ka’Andre’s request, the pair meet twice per week. Regardless of any schedule conflicts,
before it reached our table. Sushi fresh out of (cotninued from page 14) everywhere, often less clear because they are less concentrated. Looking at the example
(continued from page 33) complex string arrangements on Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly,” Kamasi then
Culver is dedicated to his role as Ka’Andre’s mentor: “I’m coming twice a week unless school is closed. Those are given. I want to be there for him [and] be that presence.”
of the coalfields, we can see clearly how toxic environments are created and people
released his 3xLP debut album, the Epic. His two-drummer, two-bass player, 12-piece big
Currently, iC.A.R.E. offers family enrichment
disenfranchised. It’s important to fight for the things which give us dignity in the workplace and our communities. This means supporting movements like Black Lives Matter, the Fight for $15, trade unions, and the defense of science
band blends Jazz and Soul using the most intense, burning music heard in recent years and is not to be missed.
sessions four times per year and is in the process of redeveloping their curriculum to best serve all parties involved in the program
It’s looming months like this when it should be decided—brains are not really that important.
including parents, who are highly encouraged to work alongside mentors. The aim is to engage parents in the mentoring process
in shaping environmental policy. It means accepting that global warming is real and supporting strong controls on CO2. If there is one thing we can learn from the audacity and success of the coal industry in staying relevant, it is that there is no such thing as defense. We have to not be content to negotiate away an inch, and play the long game, holding on to each small benefit our ancestors fought and died for. The fight is everywhere. For more information about the film, visit BloodOnTheMoutain.com
36 | THE Devil Strip /
Might as well give in to the musical madness when it is this available. //BIO: Bradley Thorla works at EarthQuaker Devices and spent nearly a decade booking bands. He has 20 releases with eight different
more intentional work this coming school year to support families with needed resources
bands to his credit, along with three zines and a and direction to help them as we serve their book. He presently performs with Relaxer, This children.” Is What We Are Now and as a solo artist under
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Akron Artwalk (First Sat of each Month) 12-9pm (First Sat. of each month) * Gallery hours valid during exhibitions only. Check out more of these artists’ work and full galleries of these works: AimeeLambes.com ShannonStarPhotography.com
Public Schools and Barberton City Schools. “Any child who wants/needs a mentor has the right to one and we work hard to make that happen,” says Jonathan Greer. “In short, no matter what the challenge for the student, we want to support them.” // Photo courtesy of United Way of Summit County.
United Way has already begun recruiting for
at home to garner the best chances of the student’s success. When it comes to getting parents more involved, Greer says that he and the iC.A.R.E. team “will be doing a lot
the name THORLA. His photography can be found on Instagram via @bradleythorla.
“Cuba: An Education” and
others. In turn, each subject’s ending picture
As of this year, there are 420 mentor/mentee pairs with 600 students having signed up through the iC.A.R.E. program between Akron
the new VISTA openings, with applications due by May 13. The starting date for all eight positions is June 27. Prospective applicants can learn more on the United Way website at uwsummit.org/vista.
To get involved with the iC.A.R.E. Mentoring program, please visit uwsummit.org/mentor For more information about United Way of Summit County please visit uwsummit.org
WWW.THEDEVILSTRIP.COM
back of the book
SOUTH POINT TAVERN
MAYBE IT’S YOU by Floco Torres Most of us were never taught growing up that
the fact that I’ve already been to four or five
finding a city you love to live in is like dating. I’m not a dating guru, but it seems to me that the best relationships are built from two people that have something positive to offer each
DIY music venues that are run by creatives who have day jobs and who are hosting collectively three to five shows a month.
other and that they’re somewhat compatible. Outside of that, it’s all horoscopes and Dr. Phil episodes, right? I’ve dated quite a few cities
If music isn’t your thing, then consider that the Akron Art Museum is free every Thursday for a reason I’ve yet to find. Not everyone is into art,
JOIN US AND ENJOY OUR LARGE SELECTION OF CRAFT BEER, BOURBON AND COCKTAILS.
in my time, and Akron so far has been the healthiest relationship I can remember, even though it’s only been five months. I have the luxury of still being in the honeymoon phase
but I do know adults like craft beer a lot, and there are eight local breweries in Akron for you to support (while you get beer foam in your manicured beard).
Tuesday........................... Check Out Bourbon Night Wednesday ................. Enjoy Discount Wine Night Friday/Saturday ........... $5 Moscow Mules until 9
while some of Akron’s detractors (aka folks that have dated Akron for a while and are sick of its crap) don’t get what I see in the city.
This “dislike” could very well be that between working and having a family, there just hasn’t been enough time to do the things you The city I moved from is a great place with a enjoy. Consider then that the Main Branch of tight-knit community that really wants to see the Akron Summit County Public Library in some game-changing things happen. The downtown Akron offers 13 different services problem is that the community of folks is less that could help you get going on a new hobby than 400 people in a city with a population or business idea. From a sewing machine to 3D of 92,000. I had simply done everything that I printing to a silhouette for your next holiday could with my career and and experienced all the card, I’ve never seen a city want you to succeed nightlife I could in only four years of my eight
and be involved (like a sugar daddy/momma
year stay there. I chose to move to a city that is still small enough (200,000 people) for my liking and has a higher percentage of folks that are active in making change. I love it here, and while
would) more than Akron.
every place has its problems, I find that the only people I talk to who don’t like Akron so far are
salvaged and sometimes you just have to walk away and start anew. It’s never acceptable for
the folks who don’t do anything. When I say they don’t do anything, I mean they
either party is to just stick around because the rent is cheap, until they find some freshly cut grass on the other side of the fence. Maybe
aren’t taking advantage of the innumerable amount of rabbit holes to get lost in here. I’m usually faced with “there’s not much to do
those of us who are enamored with our love life have been sharing too many happy photos. Maybe you just can’t see your old flame in the
here,” or “I wish it was more like *insert big city*,” or “there’s not really a music scene.” Since music is my strong point, let’s start with
light that we see it because it wasn’t as pretty (or handsome) as it is now. Or maybe it’s just you.
(continued from page 24) much like working people, taking the brunt of
was not on our side, and we departed for the Knight Center to say our goodbyes. It’s clear
a lot of the bad tax policies,” Strahorn said. “When we do tax policies that release really big corporations and wealthy people from their tax
that the State Representatives on the tour will resist the proposed tax changes. What’s not so clear is how the rest of the Representatives will
responsibility, it gets shifted downhill. The folks that end up picking that tab up are working
vote, especially on the other side of the aisle. Personally, I’d like to see policies in place that
people and small businesses. At every level or facet of this discussion all the indications are this is bad policy and we shouldn’t do it.”
allow small businesses like craft breweries the opportunity to grow.
Although I would have happily continued on to the other 11 breweries in Summit County, time
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
1947 W. Market Street Find us right behind the CVS
It’s no secret that relationships are tough and they do get boring. Sometimes things can be
Special thanks to State Rep. Emilia Strong Sykes for allowing me to join her on this tour.
CELEBRATING AKRON FOOD, MUSIC & CULTURE
back of book
The Trouble with Old People Too Social Media
For a long time, younger people have been telling me that I should start using social media. I wasn't sure what it was, and I thought it
she's the one. Of course Tyler denies it. Which is
wasn't right for me. But something happened recently and I've learned that social media can be a deeply enriching life experience.
exactly what you'd expect him to say. And after I invited his stupid sister to my cousin's baby shower after he
her back at the gym either, probably because she's too upset with Tyler to enjoy exercising. So it's a good thing
That's all the social media I got from him, but it was enough to make me realize I had an
I was pedaling away in the cardio room at the
begged me to. Just because she doesn't know I had a chance to share my thoughts with anybody because she just got here from helping her when I did. That's the thing I've come to
obligation. My insights could help. "You know, Dennis--your name's Dennis, right?--maybe
by Steve Van Auken
gave me the wrong number. I haven't seen
energy sector entirely. Yeah, I know there's a lot of volatility there. But I think your position is sound. Your risk level is well-controlled."
gym. The bike next to me was occupied by a the refugees in Burkina Faso. Did I ask her to young lady who appeared to be communicating go help the refugees in Burkina Faso? No. But I
appreciate most about social media. It's so immediate and spontaneous. It can link people
you should rethink your strategy here. I got gas just this morning. It was down to 2.24 a
with hallucinations. She was talking in a loud voice in a highly animated way. No one but me was nearby. I assumed she was experiencing a
invited her anyway. And now he does this."
of all types who otherwise would have nothing to say to each other.
gallon! And yesterday it was at 2.43! Talk about your volatility in the market! Are you sure you wouldn't do better by shifting your client into
psychotic episode. This seemed like a good time to move on to the weight room. But then her hair swung back and I saw one of those BlueTooth things in her ear.
standing by her bike when I told her, "You shouldn't let him take advantage of you like that." She jumped a little and she said, "What? What? No, not you. There's this old guy, he's
Like Dennis, a guy who has an office on the floor above mine. I'd seen him around for years but we never said much more than "Hi" to each other. All I knew about him was that he
commercial transportation? I'm not saying I'm an expert, but there is a train track that runs right by my house. It's been there for years. A safe, solid investment."
By this time I was deeply concerned. I was
standing by my bike!" She was talking to somebody. That somebody could have been in Tallmadge, Ohio, or in Khartoum. There was no way to know, from the half of the conversation that I could hear. "So I'm like, 'Whatever.' And then he said, 'Maybe we could get some coffee.' And I'm, 'Really? Really? After you don't call me for two weeks? And after I find out that you've been talking to that Rhonda again? After you told me she was your cousin? And now I find out that no, she's not your cousin, she's the girl you took to the prom back in high school? And I find this hair in your truck that is blue? Is my hair blue? Has it ever been blue? No. It has not." At first I felt I was eavesdropping on a private conversation. But then I realized I had stumbled into some social media, and I shouldn't just walk
was some kind of financial planner. But then last week we were riding up in the elevator "That so-called fishing trip was an obvious ruse. together. He was talking when I got on, and at I'll bet Tyler doesn't even know anything about fishing. I can help you trap him. Ask him if the fish were feeding on the surface and he was casting Rapalas, or if they were down deep and he used a spinner bait with a harness of rubber worms. See if he knows. I bet he won't. The weasel." "What? No, he hasn't left. He has totally not left. He's standing here talking to me. About rubber worms." "And Rapalas. You cast them. On the surface. I bet Tyler wasn't within a hundred miles of a fishing lake. I'll bet he was with Rhonda. You see very few women with blue hair out fishing."
away. This young woman was in obvious distress. "Okay, so I'm going to have to go now. He's still here. Talking to me. I'll call you later." "And now I'm not trusting anything he says. Like that so-called fishing trip he took with 'the I could tell that she was uncertain about what guys'--I haven't even met one of these so-called I was saying. In spite of everything, she still friends of his--to someplace where he said there was no cell reception? Now I'm thinking, was that really fishing? Or was that about Rhonda? You know?"
wanted to believe in that snake, Tyler. Probably she didn't know much about fishing. Maybe, even though she was young, she was unfamiliar with social media. I felt I was making great strides. I was quickly getting comfortable with
I had stopped riding. My concern for her was
social media. By the time we got to her car,
mounting by the moment. It was becoming more and more clear that Rhonda and this guy were weaving a web of lies, and she was trapped in it. I wasn't sure that the friend she
she was still pretty upset. She had stayed in the women's locker room a long time. On our way to her car she walked fast, and I barely had time to share another concern I had.
was talking to would be capable of giving her the help she desperately needed.
"Have you considered that maybe Rhonda is not only his girlfriend but also his cousin? That's
"So I drove by his work. And I walked around the neighborhood. And what do I find? Just two blocks from the place he works there's this coffee shop. And who sells me my coffee? This
illegal in most states. Think about the kind of guy who would do that. And then he has the nerve to invite you for coffee! You're too good for him! I can see you're in a hurry. Better give
girl with blue hair on one side. Yes! Can you believe it! Her name tag said she was Tiffany but I bet that was just an alias. So I said to her,
me your number so we can discuss our next move. I have some more ideas about fishing tackle."
"How was the fishing? With you and Tyler?" And she acts like she's all innocent. But I bet
Unfortunately, she was so upset that she
38 | THE Devil Strip /
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5
Of course it was a lot for him to take in. No one likes to have their professional assumptions
first I thought he was talking to me. But then I challenged, even when it's in their own interest. realized it was another case of one of those Blue He said, "Huh? What? Bill, I got to go." Teeth, and he was talking to one of his clients. By then I had stayed on the elevator past my "No, I wouldn't advise you to get out of the (continued on page 39)
back of the book
Urine Luck: The BrickOven BrewPub by Marissa Marangoni You know what goes well with pizza? Beer. You know what goes with beer? A toilet, of course! You might not be able to find a convenient parking space at the BrickOven BrewPub or have enough light to read a book (but who does that at a pizza and beer place?), but you will find a bathroom if you need one. After managing to somehow eat two slices of deep dish (the best deep dish I’ve ever had outside of Chicago, no less) while mitigating the damage my not-yet-1-year-old son managed to do with all the silverware on the table, I made the required visit to the relief site. Have we ever talked about how finding a bathroom can be awkward? It shouldn’t be,
Pavona’s Pizza Joint by Emily Dressler The bathroom at Pavona’s Pizza Joint--the coolest little pizza shop ever-is easy to find and is very out in the open. I mean, it has a door and all that, but it feels like you’re right in the middle of the action. Sometimes I get anxious in bathrooms like that. Pavona’s is a little place, but at least they are using their space wisely.
right? We all have to go. Why is it embarrassing to try and locate a bathroom? Is that just me? You know what is more embarrassing than trying and failing to find a bathroom in a restaurant? Having your distant Italian cousin offer you a towel before you go to the
Peeza Pizza by Emily Dressler and Marissa Marangoni
coordination of my dog who can’t figure out how to go down stairs, which makes it hard to pee and hang onto a purse.
BrewPub isn’t a small Airstream trailer. I wouldn’t mind dragging it along with me and
If there was only one word I could use to describe the BrickOven BrewPub’s bathroom, it would be “damp.” Damp is what I expect in a
Overall, this bathroom was a typical bar bathroom. Toilet, sink, towels. Moderately
bathroom in his home. Let me just tell you that that towel was
bar bathroom, and though this is not a bar, its atmosphere (small, unconcerned with decor, friendly) is similar to one, so the dampness
not for my hands, and remember
wasn’t a surprise. There was even some graffiti
clean. Functional. You know, the fact that it was what I expected was good. I liked it. The carpet matched the drapes, so to speak. BrickOven BrewPub bathroom gets a 3.5/5 toilets from me.
that bathrooms in Europe include on the odd outdoorsy artwork! I attempted bidets. Now that is embarrassing. to make out what it said, but I couldn’t. I was excited to see the graffiti, though there wasn’t My cousin would be appalled by deep dish pizza; after all, I was informed that there is one way to make a real pizza. And it is not
much of it. And it might have been better placed on the wall instead of the art, but details, schmetails I guess.
deep dish. But, heritage be damned, I loved BrickOven BrewPub’s pizza, and after I ate it, I did manage to find their bathroom. It’s straight through the main seating area to the
BrickOven BrewPub 604 Canton Rd., Akron, OH 44312 (330) 475-7005 Wed. & Thurs.: 4-10pm
You know what other word I’d use to describe this water closet? Tin can. Okay, two words. It felt like a tin can, but I don’t mean that in a bad
Fri. & Sat.: 11:30am - 11pm Sun.: 11:30am - 10pm (Closed Mon. & Tues.)
back and to the right. I was relieved to find a single-staller--sans bidet. The purse hook was a nice feature because I wasn’t interested in
sort of way. It’s just a fact. Something about all the silver of the art and the lighting in the space that made it feel like I was peeing in a
// Marissa has a dream of writing bathroom reviews
putting my bag on the floor, and I have the
silver Airstream trailer. It’s too bad BrickOven
life’s calling?
review extra seriously.
industrious person saw it at an antique store and just knew it would make the perfect toilet paper holder. The paper towel holder is also made from a chain because you can’t stop at one chain bathroom fixture.
same fate and will sometimes work, sometimes not. That will be sad.
The single-stall, unisex bathroom is right past the cash register, almost in the kitchen but not quite. The bathroom is dimly lit, but not so dark that you worry they’re trying to hide a spider problem. I was pleasantly surprised by the dark red walls, but I guess it makes sense for a pizza place to look to pizza colors for inspiration. If I owned a pizza place or designed bathrooms for one, I would paint a joyful slice of pizza on the wall.
The wide mirror over the sink is definitely a prize piece, with its thick reclaimed wood frame, minus any chains. Someone either really knew what they were doing when they put this
for full-time pay. Anyone interested in supporting her
This bathroom provides all the basics and looks nice doing it. I do wish there was at least one piece of pizza wall art, but not everyone recognizes the beauty of pizza as art the way I do. I am awarding this bathroom 4 out of 5 toilets. Congrats on the cool bathroom and the freaking amazing pizza crust, you guys.
bathroom together or is maybe just a pro at scouring pinterest.
The features in here are a nice combo of
Before I even washed my hands, I saw the trashcan in the corner and noticed that it looked “electronic” so I sort of waved my hand
Pavona’s Pizza Joint 32 Sand Run Rd, Akron, OH 44313 Sunday - Thursday: 4-9 pm Fri & Sat: 4-10 pm
reclaimed wood and chains. I know that sounds
over it to see what would happen. Dear reader,
Before I get any further in this, I should tell you that I often wear a dainty gold necklace with a heart on it that says “pizza.” It was a birthday gift from my husband. I really really like pizza,
more like dungeon decor, but in here it is comforting and gives the bathroom an overall warm tone. The toilet paper holder looks like a bicycle chain sculpture and I wonder if it was
the trashcan opened! Can you believe it? I was excited to use it again for real after I dried my hands. I do worry though, that like automatic toilets, sinks, and soap dispensers, this
so maybe I am taking this pizza place bathroom
made to be a toilet paper holder or if some
automatic trashcan will eventually suffer the
(continued from page 38) floor. We walked down the hall to his office. When we got inside I got some coffee and told
I did think I saw him near the elevator this morning, but then it looked like he dashed into the stairwell. He is probably trying to get in
(continued from page 16) Huzzah.
him I would be happy to share some thoughts I have about the likely direction of government
some cardio work by taking the stairs, which is a smart move.
subsidies for domestic rice producers. But he had to go to the bathroom so I settled in to wait. Unfortunately, the poor guy must have had the stomach flu that is going around. He
The bottom line is that social media has opened up the world for me in a way I never imagined. I wish I had had the confidence to try it years
// Emily Dressler wants to spend all her days writing fun things for pay and staring wistfully out windows.
// Josy recently moved to Akron in January and thinks Akron is an amazing place. Pictured below (L to R): Joe Pine as Antipholus of Ephesus, Tess Burgler as Doctor Pinch, and Ernie Gonzalez as Dromio of Ephesus. (Photo by Scott Custer.)
Ohio Shakespeare Festival’s next show is
never did come back. At noon his secretary said ago. It's all about being open and spontaneous they always lock the door over lunch hour. So with people when you have something useful he and I haven't had a chance yet to discuss the to share. Like my new friend, the financial
“As you Like It,” showing June 30 - July 16.
rice market. Or for that matter, the healthcare sector. I'm sure I can help him there. I've had a
planner. I can't wait to see his face tomorrow morning when I meet him in the stairwell. It
View the entire season’s lineup at
lot of health care.
really is true what they say. With social media there are no boundaries.
AKRON MUSIC, ART & CULTURE
having some of that pizza any time I wanted.
OhioShakespeareFestival.com.
MAY 2017 • VOL 3 • ISSUE #5 /
THE Devil Strip |
39
Mary-Elizabeth Fenn, a Wisconsin native, has trained at Milwaukee Ballet School, Central
Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School-NYC, BalletMet, and Point Park University. Mary-Elizabeth is currently dancing with Neos Dance Theater and is their resident choreographer. She has served as an adjunct faculty member for University of Akron’s Dance Department and teaches for various dance studios throughout Ohio. SummitLive365.com
Mary-Elizabeth Fenn, a Wisconsin native, has trained at Milwaukee Ballet School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School-NYC, BalletMet, and Point Park University. She has a BFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Professional dance experience includes; featured soloist with Spinal Tap and appeared as a soloist in Kanye West’s concert summer series in 2011. Mary-Elizabeth has performed in New York City with Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, Amalgamate Dance Company, Yoo & Dancers, Caitlin Dutton, and London artist Eddie Peake in Performa 13. In New York, she presented her own work through Fenn & Company at Triskelion Arts Split Bill Series, Comedy in Dance Festival, Triskelion Presents, and NYC10. Mary-Elizabeth is currently dancing with Neos Dance Theater and is their resident choreographer. She has served as an adjunct faculty member for University of Akron’s Dance Department and teaches for various dance studios throughout Ohio. www.summitlive365.com/artist/mary-elizabeth-fenn (Photo by Bryce Millikin Dancers: Mary-Elizabeth Fenn and Tyler Schnese)