Creativity on Parade in Cleveland

by Jamie Rhein on

Here is a parade that is like no others, and I’ve seen a lot of parades. Next weekend in Cleveland, Ohio is the annual Cleveland Museum of Art “Parade the Circle.” This is an event where anyone with a creative spark has an opportunity to shine. Arts organizations from around the Cleveland area make costumes that are truly magnificent then skate, walk, glide, roll or do whatever it takes to transport themselves around the University Circle part of the city. People transform themselves into street performers, winged creatures, clowns, flowers and anything else that captures a lighthearted mood. We went four years ago and spent the day being enthralled.

These aren’t the “Let’s slap some glue on tissue paper to cover a brown paper shopping bag and cut eye holes,” type costumes either. The idea is to create wearable that showcases an artistic bent. Besides the parade around University Circle, there are free arts activities, performances and food as well. Activities are geared with both kids and adults in mind.

A few days ago my husband mentioned it was coming up. Now, that my sister-in-law sent me the flier, I think we’ll go. It’s worth the two hour drive from Columbus.

The University Circle is the area where the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Western Reserve Historical Society, the Cleveland Botanical Garden and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History are located.

Princess Diana: Memorabilia on Tour

by Jamie Rhein on

Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer has given a thumbs-up to Diana, A Celebration, an exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society Museum in Cleveland. He thinks the museum is well suited to showcase the items he helped to curate. The exhibit, which is also raising money for charities funded by Diana’s Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, is a chance to see different parts of Diana’s life through the memorabilia she once owned and wore. According to the exhibit’s description, it looks like one of the nine galleries loaded with stuff is devoted to the wedding, complete with tiara, wedding gown, shoes and bridesmaids’ dresses. Besides being a fashion retrospective, this traveling exhibit also gives insight into her childhood, her comings and goings as royalty and her charity work.

The exhibit will be in Cleveland until June 10. Since I missed this when it was in Dayton, Ohio I might just have to take a trip north. It would be a lot cheaper than going to Althorp in England, the Spencer family ancestral home where the exhibit has been on display since 1998. Considering the admission price ($25.50 with an audio component, $20 without) is partly going to charity, the price doesn’ t seem as steep. If you feel compelled to find out if the exhibit is worth it, there’s a preview and a detailed description of what you will see on the website. You can also shop!