Here’s the good:

Went to Bloggapalooza yesterday and had a fine time. Apparently the downstaters who attended are having a Rashomon moment over one incident, which I will get to. Whoever’s at faulth, that’s an unfortunate harshing of the mellow.

Speaking of harshing, I got there well late because my five-year-old pitched a screaming meemie about me leaving and it took some time to calm her down. As a result I missed the alt/emo band about which, Oh well. But I also missed Chucklef*ckers which was a real loss. I heard they had a good set and, according the George, Carrie Callahan killed. This is as good a time as any to mention that Carrie’s blog started a mite slow but I’ve been enjoying the hell out of lately. So much so that I’ll probably add it to my blogroll the next time I’m doing that sort of thing.

Frankly, I went mostly for the company. My schedule doesn’t allow me to make it to meetups any more and I haven’t attended a MTB in maybe nine months. So the great joy was f2f convos with folks there… In addition to enjoying music from The Elderly Brothers, I picked up an excellent pulled pork sandwich from Wild Bill’s BBQ and roamed the booths at the arts festival. I had a long talk with Anastasia Pantsios of the Free Times while I rummaged through the used CDs she was selling at the rock flea market. We talked about the MedMart/Convo Center controversy which is Topic A in Cleveland these days. (And I bought discs by Duke Robillard, Dar Williams and Pavement from her.)

Best of all I bought a pot from a woman whose work I saw in one gallery once but didn’t pull the trigger and had seen nowhere since. Few pottery styles have felt like the one that got away like this, so it was great serendipity to have another chance. She makes coil pots and indents the coil about every 3/4 inch, then glazes only the inside. The effect looks from a distance like a basket made of rope fiber…

You’ll have to click thru for the bad and the ugly.

Pho’s Akron Pages: Bloggapalooza: Good Food, Good Friends, Good Tunes, and Whatever the Hell Happened Between Vessels and Naugle.

Best coverage (with pics and video) I’ve seen so far:

As Edwin finishes a song, I turn to look around, in case I might recognize anyone. I saw Jill Miller Zimon, of Writes Like She Talks, Jeff Hess of Have Coffee Will Write, Eric of Plunderbund, and a slew of folks I knew had to be bloggers.

Scott and the rest of Word of Mouth (the band) start setting up. Muley and I talk more, and I ask about his green VIP wristband. He takes me to the door, informs the gentleman there that I need a wristband, and I trade the man $5 for it. Now I don’t stand out like a sore thumb, and I can relax a little. Muley and I see Bill Sturgill, and talk with him for a bit about days gone by. Later, I walk outside and look around the neighborhood, to see what Bloggapalooza is really about.

I see booths set up with paintings for sale, a young poet reciting verse she’s written, Cleveland Peace Action selling buttons and T-shirts,a gentleman selling framed and matted photographs he’d taken, and the Lake Shore Garden Club selling greens…

word of mouth » Bloggapalooza 2.0: A Great Time for A Great Cause

“Multimedia message” by Bob Rhubart

A big thank you to all of the bands, comics, bloggers, and friends who made this year’s Bloggapalooza the smash success that it was. Tim Ferris tagged and released 180 attendees, and I’m willing to bet he didn’t get ‘em all. I’m looking forward to hearing the accounts, but from the smattering of emails I’ve received so far, everyone had a good time. What do we do next year to top it?

If I see him tomorrow, I’ll apologize in person:

After having studio ‘Pre’ Final reviews on Sunday and Monday (which deserves its own post, in its own right, trust me) our thesis studio class at CUDC has been working on storefront installations as part of ARTScollinwood’s Waterloo Arts Festival, that takes place this Saturday.

As a very shameless plug, do not only come down to see my group’s installation, 24 Hours, along with my classmates installations, but also come to see Cleveland’s number alternative comedy show, Chucklef*ck, perform in the tavern at 1pm as part of Bloggapalooza. I believe that the hilarious Carrie Callahan is coming out of Chucklef*ck organizing retirement for this one, allowing the equally hilarious Jim Tews a respite from the jaws of what is organizing Chucklef*ck.

(Note: I may or may not be friends with these people.)

Its part of Bloggapalooza, which is part of the Waterloo Arts Festival.

As a further plug, deBiase will be performing in the living flesh as part of Chucklef*ck.
(Note: I may or may not be deBiase’s roommate. He also may or may not be telling a story about me almost killing him. Except its not about that at all. Except it is.)

So its like this:

Waterloo Arts Festival = art installations by graudate architecture students at CUDC = Bloggapalooza in the Beachland Tavern = Chucklef*ck in the Tavern = people I know being funny.

More info here.

Last night was the private opening, which gave us all a chance to see if our installations actually work.

And to ask Mike Polensek if he’s wrote any good letters lately.

That reminds me. I have to get the pictures off my phone. But don’t wait for me, click thru. There’s some posted there.

rockitecture.: Waterloo Arts Festival Storefront Installations (and Other Misc. Events)

I’m reposting this email from one of the members of ArtsCollinwood, because it details all the great stuff going on today and tomorrow. Last night’s Sneak Peek was great fun. The members show is wonderful, the food was great, and everyone had a good time. Here’s what’s on tap:

Waterloo Road is hopping this weekend – ignore the rain and come on down!

Tonight (Friday):
The Arts Collinwood Members’ Show opens at the Arts Collinwood gallery (corner Waterloo and E156); wine and cheese reception 6-9. Get there early; three pieces sold at last night’s Sneak Peek!
AND: The Enchanted Sculpture Garden opens at the Zaller Building (corner Waterloo and E160): hundreds of sculptures and paintings, plus a peace-inducing Zen poetry garden. Wine and cheese reception 7-9.
The Zaller Building also has a show of work by the Arts Collinwood Art&Drama Camp.
AND: TrueArt gallery (410 E156, corner of Waterloo) will be open with work by Dave Cintron, John Howitt, Glenn Baskin and Scott Pickering.
AND the Schwartz Brothers will be playing for FREE (Beachland Ballroom, 9 pm. The Beachland will also present The Two Bobs in NumbSkull).

Everything listed to this point is indoors or well-protected by trees. In a short stroll down the street (take an umbrella), you can see the four guerrilla installations by Kent State architecture students.

AND ON SATURDAY, AT THE WATERLOO ARTS FEST, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.,

All this will be on view PLUS:
An ice cream social with live music at MUSIC SAVES
BloggaPalooza at the Beachland (12-7, four bands, comedians and many bloggers)
RocknRoll Flea Market at the Beachland
AND the outdoor Waterloo Arts Fest attractions: 30-40 vendors, the bubble maker, the kids’ crafts, the Euclid Beach carrousel horses and memorabilia inside St John’s Lodge ( ), the carrousel horse painter, the surprise visits of popular highlights from regional events such as Parade the Circle, the Cardboard Festival, and Ingenuity, the creative collaborations with Cleveland Rides, Ohio City Bike CoOp and Clevelanders in Motion. And don’t forget the interactive mural painting with Progressive Arts Alliance, the three stages with live music (Mfune, Passport Project, gospel choir, Hayshaker Jones, readings and poetry) – and of course, Wild Bill’s Barbeque in the Beachland parking lot.

You just can’t miss all this!

Eric Vessels called last night. He’s coming up and tells me Jerid’s going to try to come by. Got an email from Kyle Kutucheif. He’s trying to make it too. So yes, this will probably be the biggest gathering of bloggers in NEO since… last year’s Bloggapalooza.

A big thank-you to Anastasia Pantsios for including Bloggapalooza in the FT this week

By the way, if you come down early, or stay late, ArtsCollinwood can use a hand with the festival. Also, for the poets, there’s a poetry competition and an open mic. Plus, Gina DeSantis will be there with Mike Zellers and Ruth Sholtis-Furyes as vendors, so make sure you swing by their booth. While you’re at it, check out Anastasia’s table in the Rock ‘n’ Roll flea market next door at the tavern.

One last thing (geez, there’s a ton happening). Jim Eastman will be deejayin’ at the after party. Here’s a PDF of the flyer. FYI, Mel of Music Saves did an awesome job on it.