Beautiful things, chalk art
The Art-A-Palooza fine arts festival in Green runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Boettler Park, on Massillon Road. More than 60 artists will be peddling wares and entertainment will run all day.
There will be a children’s chalk art contest from 9 to 10 a.m. for ages 5-16. Chalk will be provided, though artists are encouraged to bring their own. Prizes will be awarded to the best chalk drawings in four age categories.
Community garden tour
See how more than a dozen gardens grow during the Akron Community Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Participants will be transported by trolley from Northside Station, 27 Ridge St., to more than 15 community food gardens around Akron. Or you can drive the tour yourself using a map available at the host gardens: the Y-Bridge Memorial Garden on East Lods Street; First Congregational Church, 292 E. Market St.; Eden’s Blessing, 841 Stadelman Ave.; or Let’s Grow Akron, 411 Ira Ave.
The tour is sponsored by the NeighborFood community gardening group. Admission is free.
You can stick around for a potluck from 3-5 p.m. at Pure Intentions, 156 W. North St. Bring a healthful dish to share.
Redford-letter day
Today is Robert Redford’s birthday. His 77th, in fact. Baby boomers, take a moment to let that sink in. Then maybe celebrate Redford the actor, and the director, with a dip into your DVD and Blu-ray collection, a video store, library or streaming service.
There’s plenty of Redford to see. One critic’s list of his best films included Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting (both with Cleveland’s own Paul Newman), Downhill Racer, Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here, The Candidate, Three Days of the Condor, The Great Waldo Pepper and All the President’s Men.
Redford is also on admirable display in Brubaker, The Way We Were, Sneakers, The Natural, The Electric Horseman and others.
He received his lone best-actor Oscar nomination for The Sting. He has two nominations as a director, for Quiz Show and Ordinary People, and won for Ordinary People. (He also has an honorary Oscar for his creation of the Sundance festival, “inspiration to independent and innovative filmmakers everywhere.”)
He still directs and acts, taking on both tasks in the thriller The Company You Keep, now on DVD, Blu-ray and streaming video.
Go peach picking
August is National Peach Month.
Here in Ohio, it is perfectly timed, as local orchards are brimming with peaches.
Some offer pick-your-own, others have done the picking for you and are selling them in markets. For a list of orchards in the area, visit www.pickyourown.org/OHcleveland.htm.
Salsa the night away
There is a growing community of folks who love the hip-swiveling, joyous sound of Latin music and dances such as the salsa, bachata and merengue.
On Thursday night from 8 p.m. to midnight, downtown Akron’s Uncorked Wine Bar (22 N. High St.) will play host to a free night of salsa music.
If you have two or more left feet, lessons are offered from 8-9 p.m. by Dominique Lambert.
There will also be free appetizers.