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🗞️ Green Parkas Required

🗞️ Green Parkas Required

March 07, 2025

Good Morning, Akron!

One of Akron’s most charming quirks? We like to do things our own way—like throwing a St. Paddy’s Day parade a full nine days early. Why? Who knows! Maybe we just wanted to make sure the Guinness settles before the real day arrives and we can do it again. Oh, and in true Northeast Ohio fashion, expect a high of 35 degrees, so swap out your shamrock t-shirt for a green parka—because nothing says 'Irish pride' like shivering in March.

In this week’s issue:

Akronite brings home an Oscar
Joann’s Final Sale
Book Fest!

…And much more.

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The Digest

Akron to Oscars 🏆

From Buchtel High to Hollywood’s biggest stage—Akron native Paul Tazewell has officially joined the ranks of Oscar winners. The acclaimed costume designer, known for his work on Hamilton and West Side Story, took home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his dazzling work on Wicked. Tazewell’s signature blend of historical authenticity and bold creativity continues to redefine storytelling through fashion. His win isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s an inspiration for every aspiring artist in Akron with dreams of making it big.

Sew Long, Joann 🧵

Joann Fabrics, a longtime haven for crafters, is shutting down all 800 stores by the end of May, leaving customers scrambling to stock up before it's too late. Small business owners, who relies on Joann for her handmade creations, worry about rising costs and delays as they seek alternative suppliers.

Beyond business, the closure is an emotional loss. For decades, Joann was the go-to spot for DIY projects, handmade gifts, and community initiatives like comfort blankets for grieving families. While stores like Michaels and Hobby Lobby remain, many say Joann’s variety and affordability were unmatched.

With brick-and-mortar retail struggling, the shift to online shopping continues—but for many crafters, no website can replace the experience of feeling fabric in person. Joann’s closure marks the end of an era, leaving a hole in the creative community.

Blooming Business 🌱

Spring is in the air, and so is the smell of fresh soil—Petitti Garden Centers is preparing to open its 10th location in Montrose/Bath. The Ohio-based family business, known for its lush nurseries and expert gardening advice, is expanding its green empire. With an ever-growing interest in home gardening, the new store is set to meet demand just in time for planting season. Expect a grand opening packed with plant sales, workshops, and expert tips. Gardening fans, it’s time to get your hands dirty! 🌿

What’s Happening

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

Horn Stars: Genghis Barbie Hits Akron 🎺

Classical music meets rockstar attitude as Genghis Barbie, the all-female horn quartet shaking up the music world, lands in Akron on March 8. Known for blending pop, classical, and everything in between, this NYC-based group brings their genre-bending sound to the Kulas Concert Series at the University of Akron’s Guzzetta Hall.

Whether they’re tackling Beethoven or Britney, Genghis Barbie delivers bold, high-energy performances that defy expectations. Supported by the Cleveland-based Kulas Foundation, this free concert promises an electrifying evening of musical fusion—though donations are welcome to keep the magic alive.

Catch them at Saturday at 7:30 for a show that proves French horns aren’t just for symphonies. Whether you're a classical purist or just love a good horn-powered pop anthem, this is one Akron event you won’t want to miss. Tickets are Free! Info Here.

Akron Book Fest Brings Lit Lovers Together 📕

Calling all bookworms, aspiring writers, and literary lovers—Akron Book Fest returns for its third year on Saturday from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Main Library. With over 75 authors, publishers, and booksellers, plus workshops, panels, and giveaways, it’s a must-attend for anyone looking to dive into the local literary scene.

Attendees can meet and support local authors, grab free advance reader copies (while supplies last), and enjoy kid-friendly activities in the Children’s Library. Panels throughout the day feature industry pros sharing insights on everything from mystery writing and marketing to pop culture and middle-grade fiction. Teens can join a writing workshop, and young artists can draw with Bob Shea in interactive virtual sessions.

Best part? It’s free, and parking in the High St. Deck won’t cost you a dime. Whether you’re a writer, reader, or just book-curious, this fest is your next page-turner. Info Here.

Akron Hosts Screening of ESPN’s False Positive 🥇

Sports, scandal, and redemption take center stage as Akron celebrates one of its own. On Saturday from 3–6 PM at Goodyear Theatre, the Akron Urban League Scholar’s Academy and City of Akron present a special screening of ESPN’s 30 for 30 film False Positive, chronicling the life and career of Butch Reynolds—Olympic gold medalist and former 400-meter world record holder.

The documentary explores Reynolds’ rise to greatness, his controversial doping ban, and the battle to clear his name. After the screening, WAKR’s Ray Horner will moderate a Q&A session featuring Reynolds, director Ismail Al-Amin, and Akron Mayor Shammas Malik.

The event is free and open to the public, but seats are limited—reserve tickets on Eventbrite. Whether you're a track fan, a documentary buff, or just love a good comeback story, this one’s worth the watch. Info Here.

Akron’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Rolls Out Early ☘️

Akron is getting a head start on St. Paddy’s Day with its 42nd annual parade set for Saturday, March 8 at noon on Main Street. Rain or shine, the city will be decked out in green as floats, marching bands, local businesses, and nonprofits make their way through downtown.

Leading the charge as Honorary Grand Marshal is Mark Owens, Ohio’s first Irish Honorary Consul. Want to fuel up before the festivities? The Hibernian Club on Brown Street will be serving a parade day breakfast.

With St. Patrick’s Day still more than a week away, Akron’s parade is just the warm-up—plenty of bar crawls and celebrations are planned across Northeast Ohio. Check out parking details and event info online, then grab your green and get ready to celebrate early!

Burton Cummings Brings 60 Years of Rock to Akron 🎸

Canadian rock royalty is rolling into town. Tonight at 7:30 PM at Goodyear Theatre, Burton Cummings and His Band take the stage for a 60th Anniversary Tour that celebrates a legendary career spanning six decades.

As the lead singer and songwriter for The Guess Who, Cummings co-wrote and recorded classics like American Woman, These Eyes, No Time, and Share the Land. His solo career took off with hits like Stand Tall and My Own Way to Rock, earning him 80 platinum and gold records along the way.

Still at the top of his game, Cummings delivers a live performance packed with nostalgia, powerhouse vocals, and timeless rock anthems—just as they were meant to be heard. Get ready for a night of classics from a true legend. Info and Tickets Here.

Akron Bites 🍔

Dean Martin would approve. Lanning’s, the legendary fine-dining steakhouse in Bath, is rolling out the red carpet for bourbon lovers with a New Riff Distilling Dinner. The exclusive event pairs a multi-course meal with expertly curated pours from the Kentucky-based distillery, known for its bold, unfiltered whiskeys. With Lanning’s old-school charm and top-tier steaks, it’s set to be an evening of smooth sips and classic elegance.

Akron’s iconic Swensons Drive-In is making waves beyond Ohio—its legendary Galley Boy burger is featured in the "Hamburger America" pop-up in New York City. The double-patty, double-sauced burger, famous for its toothpick olive topper, will be part of a rotating lineup of America’s best burgers. Meanwhile, Swensons is keeping things fresh at home with a new monthly burger special (Spicy Mac-Cheesy Burger), giving fans another reason to hit the curbside service.

After a brief hiatus, Isaly's II has reopened its doors at 3310 Kent Rd in Stow, rekindling fond memories for long-time patrons. The beloved eatery, known for its classic diner fare and friendly atmosphere, continues to serve hearty breakfasts and lunches that harken back to simpler times. Whether you're craving a stack of pancakes or a comforting bowl of soup, Isaly's II offers a warm welcome and a trip down memory lane.

Speaking of Stow—Wayback Burgers will be opening a location in Fishcreek Plaza on Kent Road, serving up its signature smashburgers, hand-dipped milkshakes, and all-American diner vibes. The fast-casual joint, known for its juicy patties and creative toppings, is bringing another solid burger option to the Akron area.

Akron Weekend Movie Action 🎬️ 🎥

Nightlight Theatre

Panic at Hanging Rock
In the early 1900s, Miranda attends a girls boarding school in Australia. One Valentine's Day, the school's typically strict headmistress treats the girls to a picnic field trip to an unusual but scenic volcanic formation called Hanging Rock. Despite rules against it, Miranda and several other girls venture off. It's not until the end of the day that the faculty realizes the girls and one of the teachers have disappeared mysteriously.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Showtimes
The Substance
A fading celebrity decides to use a black market drug, a cell-replicating substance that temporarily creates a younger, better version of herself.
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
Showtimes
Seven Veils
Jeanine, an earnest theatre director, has been given the task of remounting her former mentor’s most famous work, the opera Salome. Haunted by dark and disturbing memories from her past, she allows her repressed trauma to color the present as she re-enters the opera world after so many years away.
Rotten Tomatoes: 71%
Showtimes
Grand Theft Hamlet
Two unemployed friends have a fresh idea: they want to stage Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in Grand Theft Auto. But even in a virtual world, reality intrudes in a wild and trippy film shot entirely inside the ultra-violent video game.
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Showtimes
No Other Land
This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
Showtimes

Highland Theatre

Mickey 17
Mickey 17, known as an "expendable," goes on a dangerous journey to colonize an ice planet. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
Showtimes

Live Music Breakdown

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

Friday

Saturday

Weather

Today

41 🌡️ 27 | 🌨️ | 67% 🌨️

Saturday

38 🌡️ 26 | ⛅️ | 2% 🌧️

Sunday

43 🌡️ 33 | ⛅️ | 3% 🌧️

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Talk to you next Friday!