What's Up Downtown ... Oberlin, Ohio!

SPOTLIGHT: Get A Haircut, Young Man ... in Downtown Oberlin!

Manuel's Barber Shop
17 East College Street
Mon thru Fri - 8:40am to 5pm
Sat - 8:30am to 2pm
Questions? Call Manuel at 440-774-8078.

E's Barber Shop
Oberlin Inn Room 119
7 North Main Street
Tues thru Thurs - 10am to 5pm
Fri - 10am to 7pm
Sat - 9am to 5pm
Questions? Call Edwin at 440-935-1718.


UPCOMING: Featured Downtown Entertainment & Events!

Friday Night Concert: Battle of the Bands
Friday, July 10 @ Tappan Square's Clark Bandstand
7-9pm
"Five Ohio performers go head-t0-head for two hours on Tappan Square. Featuring teen rockers Splitt out of Norwalk, 'Americoustic' group Two Men and a Campfire out of Bedford, and Oberlin favorites community jam band The Soul PropRioters, grunge guitarist Zack Kelley, and folk rocker Bobby Stevens. Also, FAVA will be hosting an art table for kids during the show - stop by and create your own crafts!"
Questions? Call 440-774-6262.

Family Arts Days
Saturdays, July 11 and 18 @ the Allen Memorial Art Museum
12:30pm
"Family-oriented tours featuring highlights from the museum's permanent collection. After the tour, take in an Oberlin Summer Theater Festival performance of 'The Glass Menagerie' (2pm) or 'The Tempest' (7pm)."

Oberlin Summer Theater Festival
June 26-July 18 @ Hall Auditorium
"Featuring free family classics - The Glass Menagerie and The Tempest!"
Schedule online at www.oberlin.edu/ostf or call 440-775-8169.

"Music in the Garden"
Wednesday, July 15 @ the Oberlin Public Library
7-8pm
"Fingerstyle guitar by Patrick Daugherty and friends. Open guitar jam!"
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.

"How to Get Published and How to Write a Successful Book Proposal"
Thursday, July 16 @ the Oberlin Public Library
6-8pm
"Thomas Sigel of Sigel Press will present an invaluable introduction to publishing your manuscript."
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.


ANTICIPATION: Too Much Fun! ... Now With Even More Exclamation Points!

17th Annual Family Fun Fair!
Saturday, August 1 @ Downtown Oberlin
10am-4pm!

Sidewalk Sales!
Classic Car Show on West College Street!
Dunk Booth with Politicians, Educators, Bureaucrats, Local Luminaries, and maybe even a Faceless Administrator!
Wandering Mimes, Magicians, Clowns, and More!
Fun with Underpaid Nonprofits - Crafts, Facepainting, and More ... Even A Mock Election!
Live Music! - Bobby Stevens on Solo Guitar!
Llive Music! - The Summer of '65: "Taking you back to cruisin' on weekend nights and sunny days at the beach, playing surf/beach songs, car tunes, and party jams!"
Live Music! - The Soul PropRioters: "A large originals band from a small college town! Progressive folk!"
Live Music! - Smokin' Fez Monkeys: "It's like cartoons for your ears! Acoustic, folk, jazz!"
Want to participate? Of course, you do! Call 440-775-2423!


OVERHEARD: What Others Say About Downtown Oberlin!

"Mommy, I want to live here!" - little girl to her mother, overheard on West College Street

(Thanks to Betsy Manderen for the quote.)

make it a FAMILY ARTS DAY in Downtown Oberlin!

Make it a FAMILY ARTS DAY in Downtown Oberlin!

WHAT: Family Arts Days
WHEN: Saturdays, July 11 and 18
WHERE: Allen Memorial Art Museum (87 North Main Street, downtown Oberlin) and Hall Auditorium/Oberlin Summer Theater Festival (67 North Main Street, downtown Oberlin)
COST: Free!

Tour Allen Memorial Art Museum and then take in a show with the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival - both free of charge!

On Saturdays, July 11 and 18, the Allen Memorial Art Museum will offer family-oriented tours at 12:30 PM, featuring highlights from the museum's permanent collection. Then stroll - don't walk or run, but stroll - next door to Hall Auditorium to take in a matinee performance of Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie" at 2:00 PM, or stick around for Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (with puppets, clowning, magic, and more! oh my!) at 7:00 PM.

After all that fun you're going to be hungry, right? Good news! Seven Oberlin restaurants are offering a 10% discount if you show your theater tickets on the day of the performance. For more information, visit www.oberlin.edu/ostf/intown.html.

About the Allen Memorial Art Museum:
"The Allen Memorial Art Museum has an outstanding collection of more than 12,000 objects - including painting, sculpture, decorative arts, prints, and photographs - that provide a comprehensive overview of the history of art from a variety of cultures. The collection is particularly strong in European and American paintings and sculpture from the fifteenth century to today, and has important holdings of Asian paintings, scrolls, sculpture, and decorative arts, including a large group of Japanese ukiyo-e prints. Admission is free."

About the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival:
"The family-friendly productions of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival offer a great opportunity to introduce school-age children to Shakespeare and classic American drama. 'The Glass Menagerie' features a bi-racial cast and uses video projections to explore expressionistic elements and universal themes in Williams's favored version of the text, while a fantastical retelling of 'The Tempest' features puppets, clowning, magic, and more! These productions of classic plays have something to offer for audience members of all ages. Plays are free, but seating is limited so reservations are recommended. To reserve tickets, call 440-775-8169 or email ostf@oberlin.edu. For more information, please visit www.oberlin.edu/ostf."

Smiling, happy people ...

Why are these people smiling? 'Cause they just ate a scrumptious meal in downtown Oberlin --- and got a 10% discount by showing their Oberlin Summer Theater Festival tickets! What downtown Oberlin restaurants offer that discount? Lorenzo's, Main Street Menu, Black River Cafe, Agave Burrito Bar, and The Feve ...

After that delicious meal, these smiling people headed over to Hall Auditorium and saw a free and fantastic performance of Oberlin Summer Theater Festival's "Glass Menagerie"! And they're going to repeat this fun next week for the theater festival's "The Tempest" ...

Want to smile and be happy? See an Oberlin Summer Theater Festival performance and get a discounted meal in downtown Oberlin!

Questions? Reserve your free theater tickets by calling 440-775-8169. Performance schedule and additional information is online at www.oberlin.edu/ostf.

What Others Say ... Bead Paradise in Downtown Oberlin

What Others Say ...
Bead Paradise II
29 West College Street
Downtown Oberlin, Ohio

Evelyn Theiss, "Places In Style: Boutique is a font of artful inspiration; Shoppers find nirvana among beads," Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 24, 2009, pg. E4

"Susan Socotch doesn't hold back while talking to a saleswoman at Bead Paradise II in Oberlin. 'I want to live here!' she announces dramatically ..." Read the whole article online at: http://www.cleveland.com/style/index.ssf/2009/06/ruth_aschaffenburg_has_built_h.html

(Thanks to Gary Boyle for heads up on the article.)

What's Up Downtown

SPOTLIGHT: Downtown Business Special Offers & Events!

Olla Mae's Drygoods
5 South Main Street, Lower Level
"June savings! Additional 25% off clearance fabric and 40% off on thangles! Upcoming summer classes include 'Cotton Theory Placemat' on June 30 and 'PHD (Projects Half Done)' on July 17."
Questions? Call 440-776-0309 or www.ollamaes.com.

Summer Open Mic Nite @ Agave Burrito Bar
19 West College Street
Saturdays, 8pm-12midnite
Questions? Call 440-774-7336.

Downtown Dining Discounts!
"Show your Oberlin Summer Theater Festival ticket and get a 10% discount from the following downtown restaurants!"
Lorenzo's Pizza - on Carpenter Court off-street parking lot
Main Street Menu - 38 South Main Street
Black River Cafe - 15 South Main Street
Agave Burrito Bar - 19 West College Street
The Feve - 30 South Main Street
Questions? Go online at www.oberlin.edu/ostf/intown.html.


FEATURED DOWNTOWN EVENT: Oberlin Summer Theater Festival!

Free, family-friendly, fun in downtown Oberlin!

What: Oberlin Summer Theater Festival
When: June 26-July 12
Where: Hall Auditorium, 67 North Main Street

Oberlin Summer Theater Festival begins Friday, June 26, with a 9pm preview of "Glass Menagerie." Opening night for "Glass Menagerie" is Saturday, June 27, at 7pm. Performances of "Glass Menagerie" and "The Tempest" continue through Sunday, July 12. Free admission! Tickets available at Hall Auditorium box office or reserve by calling 440-775-8169. Performance Schedule and additional information available online at www.oberlin.edu/ostf.


UPCOMING: More summer fun in downtown Oberlin!

Summer Reading Program @ the Oberlin Public Library
"For adults and young adults. Sign-up at the Information Desk to win prizes! Everyone who completes the program is a winner!"
June 15-August 15
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.

Friday Night Summer Concert Series
Tappan Square Clark Bandstand @ 7pm - Fridays in June, July & August
June 26 - Geeze Cats: "featuring the classic songs of the pre-Beatle days of the late '50s and early '60s --- the Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll."
July 3 - Heelsplitter: "Cleveland-based group plays original Americana/Garage/Acoustic tunes featuring guitar, banjo, and mandolin."
July 10 - Battle of the Bands!

Art Exhibition: "Express Yourself" @ the Oberlin Public Library
Saturday, June 27 @ 12noon-3:3opm
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.

Open Mic with James Peake @ the Oberlin Public Library
"Listen and/or participate with friends in the Garden Room."
Wednesday, July 1 @ 6-8pm
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.

"A Body of Art: Henna Painting" @ the Oberlin Public Library
"Come learn the ancient technique of henna art and application with local artiste Pat Haumann. All materials provided. Be advised that henna lasts 1-3 week and can stain clothing! Please dress appropriately!"
Thursday, July 2 @ 3-6pm
Questions? Call 440-775-4790.

Mingle on Main Street
Thursday, July 2 @ 6-8pm
"Learn the gossip, spread the gossip, make up the gossip - with downtown friends, new and old. Open to all!"
The Feve (upstairs)
Questions? Call 440-775-2423.

FAVA Summer Art Camps @ the New Union Center for the Arts
Week 2: July 13-17 ... register by July 6
Week 3: August 24-28 ... register by August 17
Teen Art Camp: August 3-7 .... register by July 27
Questions? Call 440-774-7158.


PEER PRESSURE: You, too, can be cool!

What do the following have in common: Michael Bush, Beth Blissman, Alverta Schneider, Eric Norenberg, Dina Schoonmaker, Sigrid Boe, the 19th Century Club, the New Union Center for the Arts, Betsy Manderen, Linda Donovan, Jeanne Pease, Rosen-Jones Photography, Margie Andre, David Stull, John Baumann, Nancy London, John Petersen, Terry Banas, Doug Lawton, Ann MacKay, Louise Richards, and Oberlin College? They're cool 'cause they sponsored a downtown flower basket! You can be cool, too! A $75 tax-deductible donation sponsors a flower basket. Contact Main Street Oberlin, Inc., at 440-775-2423 for more information.


OVERHEARD: What others say!

"I've only experienced beautiful things [in Oberlin] ... dude, this everything I ever dreamed ... perfect, perfect college town." --- YouTubing Clevelandite hipsters

(Thanks to Tom Geller for quotation and YouTube heads up.)

Oberlin Summer Theater Festival ... starts on Friday!

WHAT: Oberlin Summer Theater Festival
WHEN: begins Friday, June 26, and continues through July 12
WHERE: Hall Auditorium, 67 North Main Street, in downtown Oberlin

Free, family-friendly, fun in downtown Oberlin!

Oberlin Summer Theater Festival begins this Friday, June 26, with a 9pm preview of "Glass Menagerie." Opening night for "Glass Menagerie" is Saturday, June 27, at 7pm. Performances of "Glass Menagerie" and "The Tempest" continue through Sunday, July 12. Free admission! Tickets available at Hall Auditorium box office or reserve by calling 440-775-8169. Performance schedule and additional information available online at www.oberlin.edu/ostf.

Hungry? Dinner and a play in downtown Oberlin!

The following downtown restaurants offer a 10% discount for those who show their Theater Festival tickets on the day of the show! Pick up your tickets at the Hall Auditorium box office and enjoy a meal just a block away in downtown Oberlin.

Lorenzo's Pizza - on Carpenter Court off-street parking lot
Main Street Menu - 38 South Main Street
Black River Cafe - 15 South Main Street
Agave Burrito Bar - 19 West College Street
The Feve - 30 South Main Street

Oberlin Summer Theater Festival - www.oberlin.edu/ostf

Chalk Walk POSTPONED until SUNDAY, June 21

With rain looming tonight and tomorrow, downtown Oberlin's Chalk Walk is being POSTPONED until SUNDAY, June 21, 10am to 4pm. Same place, same free, family-friendly, fun ... just a day later! Spread the word!