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🗞️ New Joint in Town

🗞️ New Joint in Town

April 25, 2025

Good Morning, Akron!

They say April showers bring May flowers, but in Akron they also bring monster trucks, comedians, and apparently a new place to buy "medicinal herbs" where you used to get cheeseburgers.

Let’s dive in to this week’s newsletter.

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The Digest

Library Seeks Funding Boost on May Ballot 📚

The Akron-Summit County Public Library is asking voters to turn the page on aging facilities with a new capital levy on the May 6 ballot. The 1-mill levy would generate approximately $15 million annually for building improvements, technology upgrades, and expanding digital resources. Library officials emphasize that without this funding, they'll face difficult decisions about reducing hours or services at their 18 branches. The levy would cost property owners about $35 per year for every $100,000 in home value—roughly the price of a hardcover book or two. Supporters point to the library's role as a community hub providing internet access, educational programs, and job-seeking resources, while opponents question whether digital alternatives reduce the need for physical library spaces. If passed, the levy would fund improvements for the next decade, helping ensure the library system doesn't become a closed book.

Potholes Beware: Malik's Road Warriors Coming For You 🛣️

The battle against Akron's bumpy streets is getting a $7.9 million boost as Mayor Shammas Malik unveils his 2025 road improvement plan. The ambitious project will resurface 48 total miles of roadway—34 new miles plus 14 miles of carryover work from previous years. Streets like Cuyahoga Falls Avenue and Orlando Avenue, which have been waiting their turn while lead line replacements were completed, will finally get their smooth-riding makeover. The city uses a "worst first" approach, prioritizing streets with the lowest pavement condition index scores while clustering projects for maximum efficiency. Since voters approved that 0.25% income tax increase in 2017, Akron has tripled its annual paving capacity from 16 to 48 miles. Meanwhile, pothole patrol teams are working overtime, filling 200-300 crater culprits daily with a 48-hour response time to citizen reports. Residents can request pothole fixes through the city's 311 service by phone, website, or app.

Fast Food to Pharmaceuticals: Medical Cannabis Outlet Planned for Firestone Park 🌿

A former burger joint in Akron's Firestone Park is getting a green makeover. Signal Akron is reporting that the old Steinly's site is slated to become a medical marijuana dispensary, bringing a new kind of joint to the neighborhood. Local residents have mixed feelings about the transformation, with some welcoming the potential for increased foot traffic to nearby businesses, while others express concerns about parking and community impact. The property has sat vacant since the beloved burger spot closed its doors, becoming yet another empty storefront in the area. City officials note that the dispensary will need to meet strict security and operational guidelines before opening, ensuring it's not just a pipe dream but a legitimate business serving patients with medical needs.

What’s Happening

Here is our list of hand-picked events around the area:

Comedy's Favorite Everyman Takes the Stage 🎭

Brian Regan brings his "perfect balance of sophisticated writing and physicality" to the Akron Civic Theatre on Saturday at 8:00 PM. Known as the "comedian's comedian," Regan has built a 30-year career on observational humor that transforms everyday situations into comedy gold without resorting to profanity or shock value. His clean approach has earned him fans across generations, from teenagers to grandparents, all united by uncontrollable laughter.

What makes Regan stand out is his remarkable physical comedy and expressive face—tools he uses to elevate jokes about doctor visits, shipping packages, or buying refrigerators into masterclasses of comedic timing. With over 30 appearances on late-night shows and sold-out performances at venues like Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall, this is your chance to see a master at work in a more intimate setting. Info and Tickets Here

Monster Trucks Roll Into Town 🏎️

Hold onto your eardrums—Monster Truck Wars is crashing into Norton Raceway Park on Saturday with two shows - 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. This earth-shaking spectacle features massive national TV monster trucks competing on a dirt track designed for maximum air and white-knuckle thrills. These 12,000-pound mechanical beasts will crush cars, perform gravity-defying stunts, and battle for supremacy in a competition where bigger is definitely better.

Beyond the main event, you'll find Quad Wars racing, Kids Powerwheel races, and the popular pre-show Pit Party where fans can get up close with the trucks and meet the drivers. For the truly adventurous, there's even an opportunity to ride in a real monster truck (just maybe don't eat lunch first). With special effects, pyrotechnics, and engines that roar louder than a jet taking off, this high-octane affair promises to be a sensory overload in the best possible way. Info Here

Ali Siddiq: Stories from the Shadows 😂

Storytelling meets stand-up when Ali Siddiq brings his "In The Shadows" tour to Goodyear Theater on Friday at 7:00 PM. Described as "spellbinding," Siddiq's unique approach to comedy transforms real-life experiences—including six years in prison during the 1990s—into hilarious narratives that have audiences hanging on every word while simultaneously holding their sides from laughter.

Since first gaining prominence on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, Siddiq has built a reputation for authentic, thought-provoking comedy that goes beyond simple jokes to reveal deeper truths about life and society. His viral YouTube videos have garnered millions of views, with his famous "Mexicans Got On Boots" prison riot story alone exceeding 15 million watches. Unlike comedians who rely on one-liners, Siddiq creates immersive comedic worlds that audiences don't just hear—they experience. His masterful timing and observational skills make even the most ordinary situations extraordinary. Info and Tickets Here

Dive Into Fantasy with "The Mermaid" 🧜‍♀️

Let Les Délices lure you beneath the waves with "The Mermaid" at The Knight Stage on Friday at 7:30 PM. This enchanting performance combines baroque music with fantastical maritime tales, creating an immersive journey filled with pirate adventures, fearsome storms, and the mysterious allure of the deep. The innovative musical experience features both period instruments and traditional sea shanties, reimagining classical compositions alongside folk traditions.

Special guest vocalist and Irish bouzouki player Seán Dagher joins soprano performers to bring these nautical narratives to life through song. The production blends storytelling with musical artistry, creating an atmosphere where audiences can almost feel the salt spray and ocean breezes. With its blend of historical music and timeless tales, "The Mermaid" offers a refreshing artistic experience that's both intellectually stimulating and emotionally captivating—a perfect evening for music lovers, mythology enthusiasts, or anyone seeking cultural enrichment with a dash of maritime magic. Info and Tickets Here

Book Hunters' Bonanza Returns 📖

Bibliophiles rejoice! The Friends of Main Library Book Sale is back Today and Saturday at 10:00 AM at the downtown Akron Public Library. This treasure trove of literary finds features thousands of gently used books, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records at bargain prices that would make even the most frugal reader smile. Fill a whole bag for only $5!

Early birds get the best selection, with dedicated collectors often lining up before doors open to snag rare finds and first editions that occasionally appear among the stacks. Proceeds benefit library programs and services, making this not just a shopping spree but a community investment. With everything from bestselling novels to obscure academic texts, children's picture books to vintage cookbooks, there's something for every reading taste. Bring your own bags or boxes—you'll need them as you fill your shelves while emptying your wallet far less than you'd expect. Info Here

Akron Weekend Movie Action 🎬️ 🎥

Nightlight Theatre

The Ballad Of Wallis Island
Eccentric lottery winner Charles lives alone on a remote island but dreams of hiring his favourite musician, Herb McGwyer, to play an exclusive, private gig. Unbeknownst to Herb, Charles has also hired Herb’s ex-bandmate and ex-girlfriend, Nell, with her new husband in tow, to perform the old favourites. As tempers flare and old tensions resurface, the stormy weather traps them all on the island and Charles desperately looks for a way to salvage his dream gig.
Rotten Tomatoes: 97%
Showtimes
Pride & Prejudice
A story of love and life among the landed English gentry during the Georgian era. Mr. Bennet is a gentleman living in Hertfordshire with his overbearing wife and five daughters, but if he dies their house will be inherited by a distant cousin whom they have never met, so the family's future happiness and security is dependent on the daughters making good marriages.
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Showtimes

Highland Theatre

King Of Kings
A father tells his son the greatest story ever told, and what begins as a bedtime tale becomes a life-changing journey. Through vivid imagination, the boy walks alongside Jesus, witnessing His miracles, facing His trials, and understanding His ultimate sacrifice. The King of Kings invites us to rediscover the enduring power of hope, love, and redemption through the eyes of a child. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Showtimes

Live Music Breakdown

Here is a summary of live music happening all around Akron this weekend:

Friday

Saturday

Weather

Today

69 🌡️ 49 | 🌦️ | 88% 🌧️

Saturday

54 🌡️ 38 | 🌦️ | 67% 🌧️

Sunday

61 🌡️ 42 | ☀️ | 0% 🌧️

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Talk to you next Friday!