Cleveland International Hall of Fame Ceremony

The photos and videos from the 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame ceremony are up now.

Andres Anelli led the National Anthem, the Horizon Science Academy's Junior ROTC Color Guard presented the colors, Rev. Remus Grama gave the invocation and Dan Hanson spoke about the state of ethnics and diversity in Cleveland comparing it to the problems in the rest of the world by referencing the "Chinese curse" 'May you live in interesting times."

People at Cleveland International Hall of Fame ceremony

We have 2 pages of photos of some of the 500 attendees of the 2017 Cleveland International Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Photo Page 1

and

Cleveland International Hall of Fame Photo Page 2

Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2017 Inductions

500 people attended the 2017 induction ceremony of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  There are photos and bios of the 6 inductees at the Cleveland International Hall of Fame website  and you can click on any of the 6 links to see videos and photos of the induction and acceptance speeches.

Easy to get to and attend Cleveland Asian Festival

Almost 50,000 people attended the Cleveland Asian Festival last year.  The 8^th annual Cleveland Asian Festival this weekend (May 20 and 21 11AM – 7PM) promises to be just as popular.  Yet many people have not visited this free family event because they are unfamiliar with the location, parking and other logistics.

The Cleveland Asian Festival (CAF) is held on Payne Ave. between East 27th and East 30th streets.  If you know where Asia Plaza is you know where CAF is.  You can get to the Festival via normal routes to downtown/midtown such as Chester, Carnegie, Euclid and Superior from the East.  There are freeway exits from I90, 71 and 77 at Chester and Superior that will take you to East 30^th.  Payne is between Superior and Chester.

FREE parking is available at East 24th and Payne Avenue in CSU Parking Lots #50, #54, and #57 and Magnet Lot #56.  There is no parking on East 30th or East 27th street.  This free parking is within walking distance (.2 miles) of the festival and Free Shuttle bus service rides provided by Ace Taxi occur every 10-15 minutes.

You will also see some “for fee” driveways and parking lots offering parking for money.  These are not affiliated with the Cleveland Asian Festival and should be used at your own risk.  We recommend the free official lots at East 24^th and Payne.

When you arrive at the CAF get a free program book.  Better yet, download it now.

The book has a map and lists the schedule of performances.  Note there are 2 main stages for entertainment, a large food area, shopping area, kid’s area and inside Asia Plaza you will find free health screenings and other community resources.

There will be plenty of friendly and knowledgeable volunteers to assist you with any questions.  Look for people in blue CAF polo shirts if you need a board member and visit the Volunteer tent on Payne Ave. for more information.

No pets are allowed on the Festival grounds.

The Cleveland Asian Festival is a family-friendly event with something for everyone.  While it is a celebration of Asian heritage and AsiaTown you do not need to be Asian to attend and enjoy this outstanding event.

Escape from Vietnam - A Refugee's Journey to Reach the American Dream

Loi Dang-Nguyen, Ph.D. was the keynote speaker at the 2nd annual ASIA, Inc. Friendraiser at Ariel International in Cleveland.

She told how her family, which included 12 siblings, had to suddenly flee the communists in 1975.

She told of being part of the boat people and how they arrived in a refugee camp in Florida and eventually settled in Akron, Ohio.

It's an amazing story.

Photos and videos of the keynote by Loi Dang-Nguyen

Mom is One for the Road

A great little essay from Amy Kenneley on Mother's Day.

I can still remember those little pairs of feet on Mother's Day, tiptoeing into the bedroom with a celebratory breakfast - a Pop Tart and a clutch of dandelions in a Dixie Cup. With Himself's urging, little hands thrust crayoned cards at me, vying to be the one who's card was opened first. Each one eager to be closest.

Read the rest of Amy's look at Mother's Day

As Amy says: To all Mom's everywhere: Well Done! To all kids everywhere: call your Mom…I wish I could call mine.

Polish Constitution Day in Parma

With May 3rd occurring on a Wednesday there were 2 weekends to celebrate Polish Constitution Day.

The Parma event started with a Parade featuring the Normandy and Parma High School bands as well as Grand Marshall Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and other marchers and units.  Bruce Kalinowski again served as MC of the Parade.

Then a ceremony  which included the Polish and US national anthems, young students from the Henryk Sienkiewicz Polish School reciting poetry in Polish, the Hejnal Mariack, Mayor Tim DeGeeter, God Bless America, Sto Lat and more.

Photos and videos of the Parma event

Polish Constitution Day in Slavic Village 2017

The Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791 was the first constitution to follow the 1788 ratification of the United States Constitution. May 3 was restored as an official Polish holiday in April 1990, after the fall of communism. It is celebrated in Cleveland with events including a parade in Slavic Village.

The Parade returned to Fleet Ave. after the restoration of the street. Fleet Ave. was transformed by a multi-year construction project into the First Complete and Green Street in Cleveland.


Click on the links below to see photos and videos of the Parade, Ceremony and People at the 2017 Polish Constitution Day in Slavic Village.

2017 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Slavic Village - Page 1

2017 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Slavic Village - Page 2

2017 Polish Constitution Day Parade in Slavic Village - Page 3

2017 Polish Constitution Day Ceremony

2017 Polish Constitution Day People Page (Who do you know?)

Brand New & Terrific - Alex Katz in the 1950's

Brand-New & Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950's is the largest museum exhibition to showcase Alex Katz's (b. 1927) innovative portraits, landscapes and still life form this pioneering period.

Organized by the Colby College Museum of Art in Waterville, Maine, in close collaboration with Katz, this presentation explores the first decade of the artist's career, a period characterized by fierce experimentation from which his signature brightly colored figurative paintings emerged.

Brand-New & Terrific: Alex Katz in the 1950's is on view in the Kelvin and Eleanor Smith Foundation Hall at the Cleveland Museum of Art April 30 through August 6, 2017.

Read my review of the Alex Katz exhibit and see more photos and video like this video interview with Diana K. Tuite,  the Katz Curator at the Colby Museum of Art in Maine.