I know there are a lot of people in the world that don’t get to do that. But whatever you loved when you were 10 and 12 years old, whether it’s baseball or music, or whatever, you have to keep that alive within you, because being in touch with that 10-year-old is the thing that keeps the joy in your life. So, if you’re not doing a job that lets you be that person or live within the career you thought you might want to go, then do it as a hobby. ...

 

Welcome to our Music Issue.

With our feature story on, and incredible photography by, long-time Cleveland rock-and-roll photographer Janet Macoska, we’re honoring the region’s role in rock history. She’s got tales — plenty of them — and she shares a few in our music section that starts on page 30

We also know that music covers many genres. We’ve put together a list of places to enjoy for free, or mostly free, outdoor music. From folk artists to opera singers, one of the best places to listen to music is outdoors, in a park or sitting around a community bandstand, letting a warm breeze push the notes through the summer air.

Many of us indulge our love of music later in life. We’ve got profiles of several Northeast Ohio residents who’ve rekindled their passion and reframed it for the second stage of their lives, sharing it with others along the way.

And our music issue wouldn’t be complete without our pop culture columnist Mike Olszewski weighing in. He talks about NEO’s music venues and the personalities who performed there. We’re also happy to print an excerpt of his latest book, co-written with his wife, Janice, “Smoky, Sweaty, Rowdy, and Loud: Tales of Cleveland’s Legendary Rock & Roll Landmarks.”

 

Don’t Judge

 

Some people can’t imagine life without music. I’m not one of them, or at least I don’t think I am. As the first of four kids, I didn’t have older siblings to influence my musical development. The best we had was a console stereo and hand-me-down albums from my bachelor/ cool, Uncle Don. He owned a Corvette. I remember a Marty Robbins album with the song “A White Sportcoat and a Pink Carnation” — and that’s it; a sorry foundation for a ‘70s teen.

A high school friend — an enviable only child —  introduced me to The Beatles.

...

 

 

If you want a case of dog envy, check out the All-Around Dog Agility Championships, July 4-7 at Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field in Chagrin Falls.

The free event brings in more than 200 dogs and their handlers who will cajole, encourage and coax their canine charges to jump, climb, run, see-saw and weave their way through agility challenges.

No, your dog probably can’t do what they do. And, yes, it’s perfectly fine if yours takes power naps and begs for treats. Stop by anyway. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to watch as long as they’re on a leash. See how yours stacks up. You can test their agility aptitude on Saturday and Sunday in the Agility 101 ring for a $5 donation. Proceeds benefit Geauga County Humane Society’s Rescue Village.

To learn more about what your dog probably can’t do, but could if either of you really tried, go to usdaa.com

 

Tall Order

Ship Shape

You can enjoy the thrill of tall ships this summer without swabbing a deck or hoisting a sail.

The Tall Ships Challenge returns to Cleveland’s waterfront on July 11 for a four-day festival of live entertainment, historical exhibits, food and tours of the traditionally rigged sailing ships.

The event starts with a dramatic Parade of Sail at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 11 with 10 ships from Canada, the United States and New Zealand. The Captain’s Reception and Opening Ceremony are at 7 p.m.

Gates open at 9:30 a.m. July 12, 13 and 14 with festival activities, exhibits and public ships boarding from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. Ninety-minute excursions aboard the Appledore IV, Appledore V and Inland Seas ships are available for an extra charge over regular admission.

You’ll find the Tall Ships Challenge just north of FirstEnergy Stadium. Buy discounted presale tickets at tallshipscle.com.

...

Cluttered house, cluttered mind. Don't let your mess mess with your head. Make a list of what needs to go, what needs cleaning, and what can stay the way it is. Your house and head will thank you. ...

Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond magazine is thrilled to have several local authors join us at Boomer Bash West May 1 at LaCentre in Westlake.

 

They include:

 

•  Boomer’s pop culture columnist Mike Olszewski and his wife Janet Olszewski, the authors of the new book “Smoky, Sweaty, Rowdy, and Loud: Tales of Cleveland’s Legendary Rock & Roll Landmarks.” They will also have copies of their other books for sale, including “Cleveland Radio Tales: Stories from the Local Radio Scene of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.” Mike is a veteran of Cleveland radio and teaches pop culture at local universities.

 

•  Long-time sports reporter-turned-author Dan Coughlin with his latest book, “Just One More Story…A Last Batch of Stories About the Most Unusual, Eccentric and Outlandish People I’ve Known in Five Decades as a Sports Journalist.”

 

• Retired WJW reporter Neil Zurcher, author of “Tales from the Road,” “Ohio Road Trips,” “Ohio Oddities,” and “Strange Tales from Ohio.” Zurcher created the popular TV segment “One Tank Trips” during his on-air tenure at Channel 8.

 

• Fiction writer Bob Adamov, author of 12 mystery adventure novels. His latest is “Flight. Put-in-Bay to Key West to Cuba.” Two of his books are in discussions for screenplays, “Tan Lines” and “The Other Side of Hell.”

 

 

• Tak Sato, founder of the Cleveland-area nonprofit Center for Aging in the World. He and his wife Mely run workshops that help people 55+ develop computer skills. He’s also Boomer’s tech talk columnist and will be available to answer tech questions.
  Tickets are still available and are only $10. Call 440-971-0595, go online at
  boomerbashwest2019.eventbrite.com or show up and pay $10 at the door. We’ll see you at the Bash.

...

Akron's showcase estate, Stan Hywet, is open for the season and art is the focus both inside and outside the manor house and throughout the gardens. Catch a glimpse of the expansive gardens as they come to life throughout the early spring, and mark your calendars for special events throughout the rest of the year. ...

Veteran newscaster Leon Bibb has spent much of his career working within sight of Lake Erie covering stories and the people behind them. We recently spent a couple of hours with Bibb in a spacious WKYC conference room that had a broad view of the lake and parts of downtown Cleveland. During our talk, Bibb recalled memorable interviews, race, fake news and why he shares a last name with two white Alabama governors. Bibb is a gifted storyteller. He's thoughtful, funny, and reflective - similar in person as he comes across on the TV screen. We learned a lot about Bibb during our short time with him; we think you will know him better after reading this story. ...