Creative Voices, Literally

Entertainer Ben Vereen on the State Theater stage motivated the audience at the Creative Voices Arts Education Day Luncheon today. He had good things to say about Cleveland's emphasis on arts, plus encouragement to keep at it. Violin students from El Sistema at Rainey played Beethoven. Students from the Citizens Leadership Academy played the African drums and told the audience what makes them learn well. And a young Citizens Leadership Academy student named Malcolm demonstrated public speaking skills that will no doubt put him on the debate squad at whatever high school he attends. The luncheon was part of the Creative Voices Summit, which also presented a panel discussion on "The Creative Mind," at the Westfield Theater at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square. The panelists, including local architect Paul Westlake, Jr., riffed on what makes people creative, and what keeps them that way.

Backstage at Jubilation

Before the second night of the Jubilation finals Friday at St. John's Cathedral, WCLV's Bill O'Connell does a script run-through at the lectern. Behind him is that Grey Radio Eminence, Robert Conrad, as well as Nancy Gage, who did a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination for the two-night event, heard live on WCLV 104.9. The decision of the three-judge panel resulted in a top-prize finish for St. Noel of Willoughby Hills. The audience also voted for its favorites. I'll announce them tomorrow morning 6-10 a.m. ET on WCLV's "First Program."

Jammin' at the Happy Dog

Today at the Happy Dog we had a Chicago Dog and Tater Tots while listening to a quartet of musicians who are appearing at Severance Hall tonight following the Cleveland Orchestra concert. Michael Ward-Bergeman, Keita Ogawa, Jamey Haddad and Marcus Santos gave the audience a half-hour accordion-percussion jam. They'll be joined by cellist Alisa Weilerstein tonight as part of the popular "Fridays at Seven" series. The Happy Dog is at West 58th and Detroit, in the Gordon Square District. The photograph above says all you need to know about the prevailing decor "chez" Happy Dog. One of my WCLV colleagues says the pinball machine is probably worth more than the Elvis lamp. True?

Jubilation, Part One

This was the scene last night at St. John's Cathedral as the First United Methodist Church Epworth Youth Choir rehearsed prior to the first session of the Jubilation finals. The second and final night of choral performance is tonight at 8. Attend in person and enjoy sacred music in this exquisite setting; you can also vote for your favorite choir. Listen on WCLV 104/9 or wclv.com and enjoy the music on the radio. That fellow in the blue shirt at the left is Bruce Egre, one of the audio engineer wizards who make these broadcasts sound like you're sitting in the performance hall.

Hovering Over Euclid Avenue

There's no Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Cleveland, but this cloud formation bearing down on Euclid Avenue yesterday reminded me of that parade's stories-high balloons. Snoopy? Homer Simpson? Big Bird? Underdog?