Memorial Day Celebrations

Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer. And this year's holiday is setting up to be nothing short of a scorcher.

Nearly every city in Northeast Ohio is taking part in the holiday by hosting a parade or a memorial service. To find out what's happening near your house, check out the list of Memorial Day events below, courtesy of NewsNet5.


Memorial Day services, parades set for Northeast Ohio 2012

Alive on 185

More than a decade ago, East 185th Street in Cleveland used to come alive every summer. Carnival rides would slowly roll into the Oliver Hazard Perry Elementary School playgrounds and the street would be taken over by street vendors and food carts. The festival was marked each year by a parade down 185th Street, and the week-long event brought hundreds of people to the area.

Although the festival is long gone, the Northeast Shores Development Corporation is working hard to bring that same spirit back to East 185th Street. For its fourth year, Alive on 185 brings back remnants of the old festival tradition and encourages residents to once again become involved in the community.

This year's Alive on 185 celebration will take place on Saturday, May 19. A parade will kick off the festivities at 11 a.m., spanning from Villaview Road to Lakeshore Boulevard. After the parade, restaurants and store owners will set up tables along 185th Street selling a variety of goods. Select restaurants will offer discounts on food items throughout the day.

Volunteers are also needed during the morning of the day of the event to help clean up Euclid Beach State Park. The clean up project lasts from 9-10:30 a.m., with volunteers picking up debris and conducting water quality tests. All volunteers will receive a free taco and a gift card for a free burrito, courtesy of Chili Peppers.

The event is sponsored by Northeast Shores and the East 185th Street Merchants, Professionals and Development Association.

Alive on 185 hours:
Saturday, May 19 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information about the event or Northeast Shores, visit Northeast Shores blog.

Puppypalooza at Progressive Field

Photo courtesy cleveland.indians.mlb.com.

What's better than an old fashioned game of baseball? Baseball and puppies! That's right, tomorrow night pooches will be filling the stands of Progressive Field.

As part of the annual Puppypalooza, the Cleveland Indians are teaming up with the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) to host the event. Owners may bring their pups to the game for an added charge and take part in a special puppy parade during pregame ceremonies. Dogs may sit with their owners through the duration of the game as the Indians take on the Seattle Mariners. A portion of the proceeds from the night will be donated to the APL.

Can't make it to tomorrow night's game? Don't worry! The Indians will be hosting a second Puppypalooza on Wednesday, August 29 at 7:05 p.m.

Puppypalooza hours:
Wednesday, May 16 at 7:05 p.m.


For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit Puppypalooza.

Harvey Pekar's "Cleveland"

Harvey Pekar is a Cleveland legend. As a comic book writer, media personality and music critic, he made a name for himself in Cleveland.

Pekar is best known for his autobiographical "American Splendor" comic series, which inspired a film adaptation in 2003.

Before Pekar passed away in 2010 at age 70, he finished the script for "Cleveland," a graphic narrative. His collaborator and artist Joseph Remnant pushed forward and finished the illustrations for the book.

"Cleveland" follows a similar style to Pekar's previous novels, but weaves in Cleveland history including the Indians winning the 1948 World Series and the burning of the Cuyahoga River in 1968.

The graphic novel is finally being released this week, and Big Dog Theater in Coventry Village is celebrating the release with a launch party Tuesday evening. Remnant and Pekar's wife Joyce will be present at the big night, along with the publisher and editor of the book. The event will include a reception followed by a panel discussion with a brief Q&A session from audience members.

Admission to the event is free, and copies of "Cleveland" will be available to take home for $21.95.

"Cleveland" launch party:
Tuesday, May 1 from 7-9 p.m.


Big Dog Theater is located at 2781 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44106

Rock Hall Induction

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is right around the corner. To celebrate the occasion, the Rock Hall is offering free admission on Saturday, April 13 to all attendees.

The newest exhibit at the Rock Hall is dedicated to the Grateful Dead. Titled "The Long, Strange Trip," the exhibit includes manuscripts, handwritten notes, artifacts and select pieces of clothing from the band.

Other exhibits at the Rock Hall include an expanded Beatles collection, photographs of Cleveland DJ Tommy Edwards, and an exhibit dedicated to Otis Redding.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hours:
10 a.m.-5:30 pm.

For more information about the Rock Hall, or the Induction Ceremony, visit Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Full Moon Hike

Take advantage of the bright night sky created by this month's full moon by venturing on a Full Moon Hike at Squire's Castle.

The hike will begin at Squire's Castle picnic area in the North Chagrin Reservation. This 2-mile hike will allow hikers to spot wildflowers and forest creatures under the night sky. This month's full moon is called the "pink moon," named for the wildflowers that are beginning to bloom.

The Full Moon Hike will take place on April 6 and April 7. The hike begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m.

For more information, call (440)473-3370.

Family Movie Night at CSU

As a student at Cleveland State University, there are always plenty of events happening on campus for me to choose from. Although a majority of the events are catered to CSU students, oftentimes the events are opened up to the community.

One such event is happening this Thursday, April 5 as Campus Activities Board (CAB)  hosts a family movie night. A screening of the 2011 film "The Muppets" will be played on a projection screen in the Student Center ballroom. The event will double as a traditional breakfast night, including pancakes, bacon, eggs and orange juice for all attendees.

CAB is responsible for programming social, recreational and educational co-curricular events and activities on campus.

The movie screening and the meal are free to both students and guests. The event begins at 7 p.m.


For more information, visit the Facebook event page at Family Movie Night.