Midweek a time to get outdoors for summer’s music, dancing, food and fun - The News-Herald
The fun doesn’t have to wait for the weekend.
Around here, midweek days Wednesday and Thursday have become times to celebrate summer outdoors with music, dancing and shared camaraderie over food.
From Wade Oval Wednesdays in the heart of University Circle to twilight concerts at the Holden Arboretum and the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the opportunities are many for a pleasant immersion in the sheer loveliness of a Northeast Ohio summer.
Although personal seating is not needed everywhere, seek the perfect spot at the venue of choice for settling into a portable chair with cup holder armrests that’s been stashed in the car trunk to stay ready for this idyllic season.
Listen to the folksy blues by Liz Bullock on June 5 at the first of the Holden Arboretum’s summer Concerts in the Forest from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The venue at the Arboretum, on Sperry Road in Kirtland, has changed to a wide lawn near the Corning Visitor Center that’s closer to restrooms than the former concert space out in the gardens. The Off the GRIDdle food truck will be nearby with its tacos, flatbreads and pitas as will a kiosk where wine and other libations will be sold starting at 5:30 p.m. This year’s concert series, hosted by Roots of American Music, will continue on July 10 with a quartet of musicians from the Lake Erie Roots Collective and on Aug. 7 with Apostle Jones, led by singer-keyboardist Mikey Silas. The arboretum requests reservations so a head-count can be made although they aren’t required.
A highlight of the summer will be “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons — rediscovered,” Apollo’s Fire’s Countryside Concert series, which will include performances July 17 through 21 at the Holden Arboretum. Except for the Apollo’s Fire shows, Concerts in the Forest are included with admission which, at $10, is half off on Wednesday evenings. Members get free admission to both the Arboretum and Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. in University Circle, which also is managed by Holden Forests & Gardens.
The Botanical Garden grants half-off admission on Thursday evenings, when it’s open until 8:30 p.m.
Gourmets in the Garden will return to the Botanical Garden on Thursday evenings June 20, July 1, Aug. 1 and Aug. 15.
After sampling bite-sized portions from the evening’s chef, guests will learn how to recreate the dish in their own kitchen. The required reservations are $10 for members and $24 for nonmembers.
Chef Magdalis Galarza with Creative Feasts will the first to appear, on June 20. Personal chef Tiffany Miller will follow her on July 11, chef Brand Schran of Marigold Catering on Aug. 1 and chef Bonn Rassavong from Doinks Burger Joint on Aug. 15.
Reservations may be made in person or at bit.ly/cbg-chefs-2024.
Live music and chef stations will be on the Garden’s Geis Terrace from 6 to 8 p.m. on select Thursdays. Reservations are needed, and the food choices will be $12.
June 6 brings XE La SOL’s guitar and vocal arrangements with a folkadelic edge along with a “Build Your Own Bowl” chef station among choices that include steamed rice, sauteed peppers and onions, black beans, marinated chicken, wild mushrooms, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, corn salsa, sour cream and cilantro crema.
“Heartfelt” and “charming” are words used to describe the music of Jimmy Mrozek, who’s there on June 27. That’s when the chef’s station will feature charcuterie with a selection of seasonal cheeses, meats, grapes, berries, dried fruit and nuts.
July 18 brings the Jazz Shepherds, with Ed Alisauskas on guitars, Bill Nichols on upright bass and Ed Michaels on tenor and soprano saxophones and flute. A mixture of high-energy jazz standards and contemporary and Latin songs is promised. The chef station will have fresh, made-to-order flatbread pizzas with barbecue chicken, margarita, classic cheese or pepperoni choices.
When Buskin’ Bois brings its jazz and pop music to the Botanical Garden on Aug. 1, the upbeat performance is expected to turn Geis Terrace into a dance floor. The $12 steamed bun bar will let patrons build their own from marinated chicken, wild mushrooms, pulled pork, assorted toppings and sauces. Add on Seared Vegetables potstickers tossed in sweet chili sauce for $4. No preorders on potstickers.
On Aug 22, Ryann Anderson will bring instrumental guitar music to Geis Terrace with a sound drawing on jazz, classical and folk music. That night’s chef station will feature Cleveland pierogies, housemade and seared to order with assorted toppings.
Reservations are needed and can be made at bit.ly/tunesontheterrace24.
Wade Oval Wednesdays, in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood, gets underway from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. each Wednesday from June 12 through Aug. 14. Music ranges from jazz to rhythm and blues and country to folk. Illustrious highlights include The Cleveland Orchestra on June 26 and reggae maestro Carlos Jones on July 3. Halftime shows will include dance lessons, zumba and a performance by Dancing Wheels. Food trucks will operate around the edge of Wade Oval, which is in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Botanical Garden and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The Yard at StoneWater Golf Club, at One Club Drive, in Highland Heights, is hosting movie night under the stars one Thursday night each month with a cash bar, food and popcorn stands. June 20 is the first one, with The Yard opening at 5 p.m. and the film “The Sandlot” beginning at dark. Normally, The Yard, behind the 10th tee in the middle of the golf course, is open on summer Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. with live music, dancing, tastings, food trucks and food from the club’s Rustic Grill. It’s open to everyone, including the kids and the family dog. Learn more at 440-461-4653.