Ohio's Best Dance Crew

 

Based off of the success of MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," Black Rose Entertainment is putting together its own competition to crown the best dance crew in Ohio.

This Friday, teams from across Ohio will compete against each other at the Agora to prove that they have what it takes to be named Ohio's Best Dance Crew. A panel of judges will lend their comments and critiques, but the audience has the ultimate vote as to who will be the winner.

Not only does the title come with bragging rights, but the winning team will receive a $1000 cash prize.

All are welcome to attend the competition and cheer on their favorite team. Tickets range from $15-$30 and can be purchased online. A free after party will follow inside the Agora (18+).

Ohio's Best Dance Crew hours:
Friday, Sept. 23 from 7-10 p.m.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit
Ohio's Best Dance Crew.

Days of Youth: NYC Edition

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel and spend the weekend in New York. Since I had such a good time, and am still wishing that I'm in NYC instead of rainy, gloomy Cleveland, I'm bringing you a special edition of "Days of Youth" highlighting some of the wonderful things the city has to offer.

Hard Rock Cafe 

For fans of rock 'n' roll, the Hard rock Cafe in Times Square is a must. Memorabilia from The Beatles, The Ramones, Billy Joel and Elvis line the walls of the cafe. Outfits worn by Gwen Stefani and Madonna are also on display. Stop by the gift shop after you grab a bite to eat to snag your own hard rock t-shirt and pin.





Monuments in Central Park
Central Park has long been an icon of New York City. Within this park, you can find street performers, bicyclists and horse drawn carriages. Besides being filled with NYC inhabitants, Central Park is also home to a myriad of monuments. Two of the most popular monuments are the Balto Statue and the Imagine memorial.

The Balto statue is dedicated to the Alaskan sled dog who led his musher and a team of sled dogs to deliver medicine to the sick during a blizzard. His statue has been in Central Park for over 85 years.



The Imagine Memorial is located within the Strawberry Fields portion of the park. Dedicated to John Lennon, who was killed at the Dakota Hotel just across the street, the memorial is often covered in flowers, peace signs and photos left in tribute by fans.



Garment District
A staple among aspiring fashion designers, the Garment District is home to stores filled floor to ceiling with fabric, trim, beads and buttons. These stores contain everything you need to create your own masterpiece, whether it's a glitzy night-out-on-the-town dress or a subdued vintage-inspired ensemble.





Times Square at Night
Although this destination is cliche, you just can't deny the beauty of Times Square lit up at night. With flashing signs and neon lights, the city comes to life as the sun sets.

Music Monday

Cleveland has long been known as the capital of rock and roll. This week the city lives up to its name by bringing a plethora of musicians to its concert venues. Below are my recommendations for the week.

Two Door Cinema Club

Hailing from Ireland, this trio combines indie rock with electronic beats to create catchy hooks that will immediately grab your attention. The band will grace the stage of the Beachland Ballroom Monday night at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). Pre-sale tickets are $18; tickets at the door are $20. Give them a listen at Two Door Cinema Club.

Blink 182/My Chemical Romance/Matt & Kim

Fans of punk rock will race to Blossom this Tuesday and crowd surf to the guitar riffs and drum solos of the bands on this year's Honda Civic Tour. After coming back from hiatus in 2009, Blink 182 is stronger than ever with a newly released record under their belts. Not to be outdone, My Chemical Romance has steadfastly toured and recorded music since 2001. Openers Matt & Kim will offer a change of pace with their dance punk songs. The concert kicks off at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20 lawn seats to $80 pavilion seats.


The Zombies

If you're into retro, or wish to relive the 1960s, you'll want to stop by the Beachland Ballroom on Tuesday and watch The Zombies take the stage. Vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the band. The Zombies music has remained popular up until today, so don't miss out on the chance to see them perform live. The show starts at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Tickets are $50.

Willoughby Hills Fall Corn Fest

Continuing the trend of autumn themed festivals, Willoughby Hills is celebrating this weekend with its 3rd annual Corn Fest.

The community festival was started in 2008, after the "Community Days" festival was retired. Growing bigger each year, this fall's edition of the festival is sure to bring entertainment for the entire family.

The fest kicks off on Saturday at 11 a.m. with a parade along Chardon Road. Several corn themed activities will take place throughout the weekend including corn hole tournaments, corn bingo and a roasted corn dinner.

Face painting, magic shows and games will be available for children, while live music and a beer garden will present for adults.

Fireworks will light up the sky at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, and a tenth anniversary salute to 9/11 will take place on Sunday at noon.

Visitors will also have the chance to enter a raffle to win a 2011 Chevy Cruze. Proceeds from the raffle help keep the Corn Fest alive and thriving.

Other events at the fest include an arts and crafts fair, a Madden NFL tournament, a historic bus tour and a chinese raffle.

Willoughby Hills Fall Corn Fest hours:
Saturday, Sept. 10 from 11 a.m.-midnight
Sunday, Sept. 11 from noon-6 p.m.

For more information, or directions to the festival, visit
Willoughby Hills Fall Corn Fest.

Autumn Fest in Asia Town

To usher in the fall season, Asia Town in downtown Cleveland is hosting an Autumn Festival. Complete with Asian cuisine and music, the event celebrates the culture of Asia and the Fall Equinox.

The streets of Asia Town will be lined with live entertainment: Chinese dancers, Japanese drummers and Korean hip-hop artists. The myriad of Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Korean restaurants located in Asia Town will be open for business and offer delectable meals for visitors.

The end of the fest is marked with a lantern release, during which visitors will release hundreds of paper lanterns up into the skies.

The best part of the event? Completely free.

Autumn Fest in Asia Town hours: 
Saturday, Sept. 10 from noon-5 p.m.

Asia Town is located at 3820 Superior Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115

Playhouse Square Block Party

As the month of September rolls in, the summertime rolls out. To mark the end of summer, Playhouse Square is putting together its 12th annual block party for Friday, Sept. 9.

The soiree will be held on Star Plaza. The PopTarts will perform hits from the 60s, followed by Britton Roberts and The Jones who will pump out 80s tunes.

Food from Playhouse Square restaurants will be available for visitors, along with a cash bar.

A cornhole championship game will be played on the plaza. The game is a grand finale between 41 competitive teams. Prizes will be awarded to the overall winning team, runner-up team and the team with the best name.

Patrons who participate in the "Take A Hike" walking tour will catch a glimpse of the newly re-designed Allen Theatre and view a dance performance inside the Palace Theatre.

Tickets for the party cost $25. Tickets can be purchased online or via phone.

Playhouse Square Block Party hours:
Friday, Sept. 9 from 5-9 p.m.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit
www.playhousesquare.org/default.asp?playhousesquare=58&objId=1906.