Eat, drink, shop
Hardesty Park in West Akron turns into a cultural center this week.
Four days of activities kick off Thursday with Taste of Akron, when local restaurants will serve sample-size appetizers, entrees and desserts from 6 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $2 each, and samples cost one, two or three tickets.
From 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, the park is the site of the 16th annual Wine Tasting & Silent Auction, when guests will enjoy wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres while having the opportunity to bid on silent auction items. Tickets are $40 each or two for $75. They can be purchased by calling 330-375-2836.
Then more than 160 artists move in for the Akron Arts Expo, a juried fine arts and crafts show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday. Admission is free, and free parking is available on the grounds or at Firestone High School.
Hardesty Park is at 1615 W. Market St. Event details are at http://www.akronartsexpo.org.
Sweet Baby James
Sit under the stars and hear classics like Fire and Rain, You’ve Got a Friend and Steamroller Blues when James Taylor and his All-Star Band come to Blossom Music Center, 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, at 8 p.m. Friday. Pavilion tickets are $45, $75 and $99.50; lawn tickets are $25 at 330-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Python performing
Monty Python Live (mostly) reunites the surviving members of the comedy troupe for a special performance live from London, and showing in area theaters at 2:30 p.m. today. Local venues include Regal Montrose, Cinemark 15 in Macedonia and Cinemark Tinseltown in North Canton. Tickets are $18 for the live show and for replays at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. See www.montypythonlive.com/cinema.html for tickets and information.
The show is being billed as the entertainment legends’ “last stage show together (probably)” — since what previously appeared to be their last gig proved not to be — and a show with “some of their greatest hits, with modern, topical, Python-esque twists.” Participating are John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin; the other original Python, Graham Chapman, died in 1989.
Party like an Italian
Cuyahoga Falls’ Festa Italiana 2014 continues noon to 9 p.m. today in Falls River Square. It features a Mass at 11 a.m., grape stomping at 1 p.m., and Italian food, music, bocce and morra tournaments, and children’s games all day. For information, go to www.FestaItalianacf.com.
