🗞️ The Rat Pack Returns

Good Morning, Akron!

Thought for the morning: When you clean out a vacuum cleaner, you become the vacuum cleaner... or maybe the vacuum cleaner cleaner. And then your shower becomes the vacuum cleaner cleaner cleaner.

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The Digest

Akron’s Logo Gets a Do-Over 🔁

The Rubberworker logo is clocking out—just two years after clocking in. Akron is launching a full-scale redesign of its city logo, following mixed community feedback about the current design, which was unveiled in 2023. Now, the city’s doing it differently. Led by the Akron Bicentennial Committee, a diverse team of artists, students, and civic leaders is steering a community-first process to create a new logo. Residents can fill out a multi-language survey, submit design ideas, or just tell the city what Akron should look like on paper. A Request for Proposals is open through May 19 for designers with branding skills and a collaborative mindset. Mayor Shammas Malik says it’s about creating a symbol everyone can rally behind—and this time, Akronites are in the driver’s seat. If you’d like to give your input, you can do so here.

Summit Lake Gets a Makeover 🌿

One of Akron’s most overlooked natural spaces is getting a $7.5 million upgrade. The Summit Lake North Shore project officially broke ground, thanks to a partnership between the City of Akron and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition. The makeover includes a new pavilion, educational outdoor spaces, trails, and even a kayak launch. Slated for completion by next spring, this project marks a shift toward reclaiming green space for community use. City officials say it's about more than just beautifying the space—it's about giving Akron residents a shoreline they can be proud of.

Quaker Square Sale Approved🏨

It’s official: Quaker Square is on the move. The Ohio Controlling Board has greenlit the University of Akron’s sale of the historic hotel and retail complex to three Akron-based developers for $800,000. That’s a deep discount from the $22.7 million the university paid back in 2007. Once a bustling hub with round silo hotel rooms, the site has sat mostly empty since 2019. Though state senators raised questions about the price, maintenance backlog, and sale process, the deal is expected to close in May. Developer Kyle Craven says the team is “extremely excited” to revive the 411,000-square-foot property, starting with the hotel. With $57 million in deferred maintenance, it won’t be easy—but the city’s most iconic cereal factory-turned-landmark is finally getting its second shot.

What’s Happening

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

Mambo, Margaritas & Moonlight 🌙

Looking for a Friday night with flavor? Head to the Knight Stage at the The Knight Stage for Moonlight, Margaritas, and Mambo, featuring Latin guitar virtuoso Justo Saborit. This spicy soirée kicks off on Friday at 7:30 PM and brings together Saborit’s Cuban roots and modern fusion flair for an evening of tropical sound. Expect electrifying rhythms, smooth solos, and the kind of atmosphere that pairs perfectly with a hand-shaken margarita (yes, those are available). The venue’s intimate layout makes it feel like you’ve been transported to a Havana lounge. Whether you want to dance in your seat or just sway with your drink in hand, this event blends music and mood like few others. Start your weekend with a rhythm you’ll still be humming by Monday. Info Here

Floyd Fantasy Lands in Akron 🎸 

Pink Floyd may never tour again, but Brit Floyd is the next best thing. The renowned tribute band brings its full-scale production to the Akron Civic Theatre on Sunday at 7:00 PM. With note-for-note accuracy, dazzling laser lights, and immersive visuals, this isn’t just a concert—it’s a sensory time machine. You’ll hear iconic tracks from The Wall, Wish You Were Here, and Dark Side of the Moon, all performed with the kind of obsessive detail that even hardcore Floyd fans will appreciate. The sound is stadium-worthy, but the Civic keeps it intimate enough to feel personal. It’s a perfect fusion of nostalgia and craftsmanship. Whether you're a diehard Floyd devotee or just tagging along, prepare for an evening that’s equal parts art, atmosphere, and rock. Info Here

The Rat Pack Returns (Sorta) 🎙️

If your soul belongs to swing, The Rat Pack: One More Time is your ticket to time travel. On Saturday at 7:30 PM, E.J. Thomas Hall becomes a retro hotspot as tribute artists channel Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. with uncanny charm. Expect tuxedos, on-stage banter, and golden-era classics like “That’s Amore” and “Luck Be a Lady.” The show blends music, comedy, and timeless cool in one polished performance. Perfect for date night or a classy night out with friends, it’s more than a concert—it’s a celebration of Old Vegas vibes with modern-day flair. You may enter in jeans, but don’t be surprised if you leave feeling like you’ve just exited the Sands Hotel in 1961. Info Here

Spirit Meets Sax 🎷

Jazz Vespers returns Tonight at 7:00 PM with smooth sounds and soul at St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Akron. The featured act? Hubbs Groove, an award-winning group from Cleveland that “provides a wonderful mix of Soul, Jazz, R&B and a splash Of Gospel.” But this isn’t just another concert. Jazz Vespers is a spiritual experience set in a stunning, stained-glass-lit sanctuary. It’s the kind of event where the energy is both chill and electric. Come as you are—just be ready to feel something. Info Here

Dancing, Live and Sparkly 💃

If you’ve ever judged a rumba from your couch, now’s your chance to see it up close. Dancing with the Stars: Live! is pirouetting into the Akron Civic Theatre, Tonight at 7:30, bringing the drama, sequins, and score-worthy routines of the hit TV show to the stage. Professional dancers and special guests will perform fan-favorite numbers and new choreography, with all the sparkle and showmanship you expect. From passionate tangos to high-energy salsas, every dance is a showstopper. The best part? No commercials—just nonstop rhythm and razzle-dazzle. Whether you're a ballroom buff or just in it for the spectacle, this show offers glamor and groove in perfect sync. Info Here

@AkronDigest330

Akron Weekend Movie Action 🎬️ 🎥 

Nightlight Theatre

• The Luckiest Man In America
  1984, Michael Larson, an unemployed ice-cream truck driver from Ohio, steps onto the game show "Press Your Luck" harboring a secret: the key to endless amounts of money. But his winning streak gets threatened when the executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
  Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

  Showtimes

• We Were Dangerous
  Nellie, Daisy and Lou attend an institution for delinquent girls on an isolated island in 1954. The trio rail against the system, finding strength in their friendship but this is challenged when the school's matron divides them.
  Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

  Showtimes

• Art For Everybody
  Thomas Kinkade’s pastoral landscapes made him the most collected and despised painter of all time. After his shocking death, his family discovers a vault of unseen paintings that reveal a complex artist whose life and work embody our divided America.
  Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

  Showtimes

• Thank You Very Much
  Andy Kaufman's provocative comedy often outraged audiences, challenging them to confront their own presumptions. Through never-before-seen footage and intimate recollections, filmmaker Alex Braverman explores Kaufman’s brief but impactful life and career. As the lines between performance and reality blur in our present age, Kaufman’s genius resonates more than ever.
  Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

  Showtimes

Highland Theatre

• A Minecraft Movie
  ​"A Minecraft Movie" is a 2025 fantasy adventure comedy directed by Jared Hess, featuring Jason Momoa as Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison and Jack Black as Steve. The plot follows four misfits—Garrett, Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—who are transported through a mysterious portal into the Overworld, a cubic realm thriving on imagination. To return home, they must master this blocky world and embark on a quest with the expert crafter Steve, confronting various challenges and adversaries along the way.
  Rotten Tomatoes: 52%

  Showtimes

Live Music Breakdown

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

Friday

Jilly’s Music Room | Bufflehead | 8:00
Musica | Shut Up & Dance! Alt Dance Night by DJ Spell Bound | 9:00
BLU Jazz+ | Abstract Sounds ft. Chirp | 8:00
Goodyear Theatre | Under the Streetlamp | 7:30
Mustard Seed Highland Squre | Mo’ Mojo | 8:30
Rialto Theatre | Run Red Casette | 5:00
Rialto Theatre | Freez-R-Burn / The Twanglers / Dave Rich and his Enablers | 7:00

Saturday

Jilly’s Music Room | Jimmy & Den Zon’s Annual Birthday Blues Extravaganza | 8:00
Musica | Aristotle Jones / Katy Robinson / Megan Paullet, hand + noise | 6:00
BLU Jazz+ | The FM Project "A Steely Dan Tribute" | 8:00
Mustard Seed Highland Squre | Chevy Smooth | 8:30

Weather

Today

43 🌡️ 36 | ☁️ | 17% 🌨️ 

Saturday

50 🌡️ 34 | ☁️ | 8% 🌧️ 

Sunday

55 🌡️ 46 | ⛅️ | 4% 🌧️

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Talk to you next Friday!