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Articles by Ti Sumner
TK Blues Opens Up Shop
Whether he’s playing rock, blues, or something in between, stalwart Erie artist Tony Kellogg is known and appreciated for having a skillful sense of musicianship – and for weaving heavy-with-heart tales of life and love (found, lost, and found again) into song. Kellogg’s played before – and very well – with other well-known Erie area artists like his wife, vocalist Amanda Kellogg, bassist Larry Barr (Echo), and drummer Jon Teater (Sonny’s Fugitives).
This Earth Day, Celebrate Our Planet Like It’s The Only One We Have
2017 may well go down as the year of the march. We have marched on Washington, in our hometowns, and on each other’s Main Streets. We have protested, raised awareness, and rallied. Each of these actions has shown why we love this country and want to keep it great.
United Way Wants Erie to “Just Keep Swimming”
Remember the scene in Finding Nemo when Dory is stuck in a fishing net? It’s chaos as all the frantic fish swim in different directions, but Dory and the others break free when little Nemo enters the net, instructing the fish to “swim down.” The United Way of Erie County is doing something similar at its upcoming annual meeting and Self-Sufficiency Summit with the intention of monitoring and promoting self-sufficiency throughout the county.
Erie Faces Erie: February 1, 2017
“French Creek is incredibly unique – unlike any other waterway in the state of Pennsylvania, and much of the United States.” Ed Bernik: You’re a geologist by profession. What insights do you bring to the FCVC director position as opposed to a PR or marketing person, who would typically head an organization like this? Brenda Costa: My undergraduate degree is in geology, and I worked in geologic consulting for 20 years.
Dollar Duck Race and Recycled Sleds at Winterfest ’17
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a squirrel packing its cheeks full of nuts to hide for winter? Want to go ice fishing but don’t know how? At Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park’s (LEAF) Winterfest, you can answer these questions while taking part in outdoor activities everyone can enjoy. If you think February is a time to hunker down, LEAF says: Think again. “Winterfest is our annual family-friendly event showcasing cold weather activities,” explains Catherine Toews, LEAF program manager.
From the Editors: January 4, 2017
As we welcome 2017, let’s prime ourselves for the road ahead. While many factors brought us here, divisive ones at that, we’re in a unique spot. This year will be filled with challenges large and small. It’s our job to rise to the occasion and do what we need to make this the best year it can be. Let’s not shrink from resolutions. There are more than a few that we can glean from this very issue. This year, we resolve to: Get active and stay active.
Seven Ways to Love Outdoor Activity in Winter
It’s cold outside. As northerners, we expect this. We pack kayaking, biking, and festival-going into a few summer months. When the first polar winds bully their way onshore, we seek fireplaces and fleece blankets. For warm-blooded creatures, avoiding the cold is both logical and practical. Except for one fact: Our bodies need activity.
Erie Gems - Erie Reader
I arrive at the trailhead midmorning on a Sunday. Snow blankets the ground and the wind calls out with eerie howls as it whips through long stretches of black oak savanna on the horizon. A low and distant rumbling churns beneath it all. Moments before, I was westbound on Route 5, the sounds of traffic and city all too present. Now I am a lifetime away – solo on the tundra marching forward, I hear only the great roar of something wild ahead.
Hey Girl, Nice Shot: Christine Tells Chilling True Story
If you are not familiar with the very real story of Christine Chubbuck, you’re not alone. In today’s world, Chubbuck’s story would be plastered all over the internet: “TV Star Shoots Herself on Live Television,” or “You’ll Never Guess what This News Reporter Did on Air.” But in 1974, it eventually became yesterday’s news and the story faded out of the spotlight.
Lady Gaga // Joanne
Lady Gaga has been been diversifying her portfolio for the past few years. Between two astoundingly credible performances at the 2015 Oscars and the 2016 Super Bowl, she started acting in American Horror Story. Now the iconic singer is reaching out for an ever-so-slight country flavor. Following the success of 2011’s “You and I,” Gaga tinges her dance pop with a touch of southern affectation.
The Serial Gamer
On Oct. 20, Nintendo released a concept trailer for their newest home/portable console hybrid, the Switch. The console itself is gorgeous, almost Apple- or Sony-esque. Imagine a powerful, portable gaming system you could dock to your home TV and enjoy your games at home or on the go. The long-rumored system would bridge the gap between Nintendo’s home and portable lines of hardware. That trailer hit all the right notes for me.
Justin Moyar // Reconnect
Erie’s own Justin Moyar offers up 10 toe-tapping tracks for his debut album, Reconnect. Live, Moyar often performs his songs with a loop pedal, adding in percussion parts, along with his own backup vocals. Not unlike these performances, the opening track builds gradually, swinging a steady groove that lures the listener in. It’s three minutes into the eight-minute “Parachute” before Moyar sings a word, but by that time, you’re already paying attention.
Will Allen to Discuss the Future of Urban Farming
Food deserts and the growing global food crisis have become popular topics in recent years, and for good reason. As the amount of agriculturally-available land decreases due to factors such as commercial farming and urban sprawl – plus flooding and droughts due to climate change – population continues to rise. It doesn’t take an economist to figure out that the laws of supply and demand will eventually tilt toward decreased quantities and increased costs for fresh produce.
Charting a New Course Together
You don’t need a passport to see the world. All it takes is a trip around Erie. Aside from the many cultural festivals during the summer, one can see the rich tapestry of human experience with a simple trip to our delis, donut shops, and neighborhood markets, our community centers, and our public schools. Erie has a long and proud history of giving new Erieites a shot at the American dream, and there are no signs of that slowing down.
McClelland Park Trails Offer Residents Urban Green Space
Dogs are the new kids. We buy them sweaters when it’s cold and take them swimming when it’s hot. We get them vaccinated each year and skip work when they’re sick. Some dogs even attend daycare and make friends. In fact, more households have dogs than kids. The demand for establishments to become more pet-friendly is greater than ever. According to the Trust for Public Land, dog parks currently lead urban park growth in most major cities.
Erie Faces Erie: October 26, 2016
“I’m the lens through which people see.” EB: As I came up the elevator to the 11th floor of the Renaissance Building, I noticed your door said “Higherglyphics Visual Public Relations.” Tell me a little bit about what that means. TS: Visual Public Relations are community-based art projects. They combine manufacturing, project management, and installation.
Eerie Horror Film Festival Not Dead Yet
It may not seem obvious from where you’re sitting, but the next big thing in cinema is lurking just around the corner. So step away from that spacious island countertop and the panoramic sightlines of that open floor plan and step into the claustrophobic catacombs of the small-screen underground. At the 13th Annual Eerie Horror Film Festival, you can at least take discomfort in knowing you’ve given yourself a fright’ning chance.
Salam Neighbor Sets Up Shop at a Syrian Refugee Camp
To provide an intimate glimpse of day-to-day life in a Syrian refugee camp, filmmakers Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple did something perfectly obvious but strangely unexpected – they moved in. Their 2016 documentary Salam Neighbor (which means “hello neighbor”) takes us to the deserts of Jordan, where thousands of Syrians have resettled at a place called Za’atari. Since the UN had never allowed a film crew to settle down in a camp like this before, there were plenty of logistics to work out.
Brews, Brats, and Bands at the Peak for the ‘Wurst Party Ever’
Ever find yourself wishing you had a place to wear your lederhosen? On Nov. 5, Peek’n Peak will grant you that wish with the 4th annual Wurst Party Ever. Attendees will receive tickets to swap for such foods as German potato salad, Bavarian pretzels, cheddar soup, and brats and sauerkraut at stations throughout the main lodge. Wash down German dishes with free-flowing brews from more than 40 regional craft breweries and take part in the German keg-tapping ceremony.
The Jefferson Educational Society’s Global Summit VIII
A lot has happened since last year’s Global Summit at the Jefferson Educational Society. Locally, an Innovation District is in the works for our downtown. Our public school system came to the brink of collapse. A comprehensive plan has been drafted to encourage regional prosperity. And a Brig Niagara-sized Rubber Duckie reached our shores for a few days at the end of the summer. Turn to the national stage and things get even weirder.
The Music of Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman is to Tim Burton as Igor is to Dr. Frankenstein – they complement one another perfectly, churning out successful experiments from their dark spire in the Hollywood Hills for 30 years. The science of pairing Elfman’s whimsical, devious musical imagination with Burton’s whimsical, devious directorial imagination has never really been that weird at all – it’s just common sense. You don’t need the sleuthing skills of Dick Tracy to fit those pieces together.
Adam Ray at Jr’s Last Laugh
Most comedians frequent the universal-themes park for their material, but few were ever on a Universal Theme Parks payroll. Therein lies the difference for comedian Adam Ray. After graduating from USC, Ray spent six years at Universal Theme Parks Hollywood as a tour guide and Marvel Comics character, Wolverine. Those experiences afforded Ray a unique vantage point for surveying humankind, as well as ample opportunity to interact with crowds and improvise.
For Women Only Comes to the Bayfront Convention Center
Dubbed “an expo for today’s woman,” For Women Only combines copious vendors, activities, and health information under the Bayfront Convention Center roof. Part girl’s day/night out and part informational and promotional event, For Women Only features many widely-appealing elements.
Fill Up Your Soul at American Spiritual
For those who are inspired by the cornucopia of aural and intellectual delights music can offer, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem’s American Spiritual will satisfy those corners of the soul. On Friday, Oct. 21, the group takes the stage at Mercyhurst University’s Walker Recital Hall to “administer songs and tales that explore and revive the human spirit,” according to the event website. Don’t be put off by the title: This isn’t your Little House on the Prairie-esque revival show.
Erie Homecoming - Erie Reader
It’s not uncommon to see comparisons between Erie and other Rust Belt cities like Detroit within our pages; nor is it uncommon to hear them being made among the forward-thinking populace working hard to make Erie vibrant and vital. The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership is taking a cue from a popular Detroit idea – the Detroit Homecoming – and starting our own Erie Homecoming.
CineFestAsia at Erie Art Museum
On Oct. 14, 15, and 16, the Erie Asian Pacific American Association (APAA), in conjunction with The Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, will present CineFestAsia. Three films, three days, each viewing offered at matinee prices in the comfortable ambience of the Erie Art Museum. As APAA President Meera Kumar states, “These films showcase the uniqueness of life experiences in Asia and at the same time show how many of these experiences are universal.
Time to Choose Makes Direct Connections between Local Actions and Global Impacts
We’re all consumers. We eat, we drive, we heat our homes. For most of us, our food does not grow in our own backyards, our cars are not powered by clean-burning fuels, and our homes are not warmed in chilly November by rooftop solar panels. We consume to make things go, and that part’s okay – we probably always will.
Erie’s Best Coffee
In these troubled times, there is still some joy in the world. Or at least my morning coffee makes me believe that. In spite of the fact that it is a presidential election year, we can introspectively sip on our coffee and wonder where the world went wrong. And somehow good coffee makes it all better for a brief moment. To invoke such happy feelings and in order to truly overcome the issues of the day, excellent coffee is vital. So how does one go about finding the best cup of coffee around?
LVL Up // Return to Love
It’s impossible to overstate how perfectly Return to Love opens. “Hidden Driver” is one of most severely addicting tracks of the year, filled with a holy radiance brilliantly stolen from the Neutral Milk Hotel and the Thermals. The album shifts gears from guitarist Dave Benton’s Jeff Mangum impression to guitarist Mike Caridi’s excellent Built to Spill flavor (Benton and Caridi also happen to run the label Double Double Whammy). “Spirit Was” showcases bassist Nick Corbo’s J.
Peek’n Peak’s Fall Fest Fills the Summer Festival Void
If you’re already missing the many outdoor concerts and weekend festivals Erie offers residents throughout the summer months, Peek’n Peak Resort’s annual Fall Fest may be just what you’re looking for. Set in the foothills of western New York, the resort is the ideal location for a family fun day trip. Spanning the two weekends of Oct. 8-9 and 15-16, Fall Fest is geared as a family-friendly event, with activities running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
A Day in the Life of an Erie City Firefighter
Even in this age of transforming autobots and X-wing Starfighters, kids still become excited at the sight of a fire engine. In fact, most adults do, too. As much of the population swoons over the release of iPhone 7 and tech geeks continue their ascent into “cool guy” territory, there remains an undeniable affinity for the big, red truck.
Concentrated Poverty in Erie
I live on the lower west side of Erie, and I like my neighborhood a lot. I can walk my dogs to Gridley Park in the afternoon, and take a stroll to the Lavery Brewing Company in the evening. If I’m in the mood for an epic sunset, Bayview Park always delivers. If I need to head downtown, I can get there on foot. I rent an apartment, but I can probably afford to buy one of the handsome, turn-of-the-century structures along Eighth, Ninth, or 10th Street.
From the Editors: September 28, 2016
“I live on the lower west side of Erie, and I like my neighborhood a lot.” That’s how Dan Schank begins his feature on concentrated poverty in this issue. Schank’s opening immediately undermines the generalization that young professionals don’t want to live here. The reality, as usual, is far more nuanced than the supposition. As Schank explains, “the problem isn’t that I wouldn’t be happy in Frontier or Fairview. The problem is that I’m already happy where I am.
Livetweeting the First Presidential Debate
The first presidential debate of 2016 is now in the books. "Surreal" was a word that kept being repeated during the post-debate coverage, and for good reason. Moderator and NBC anchor Lester Holt tried his best to hold it together, but it wasn't long before things went slightly off the rails. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was his usual blustery self, often interupting Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Clinton got in a few good jabs of her own as well.
Police Musicality: Erie Philharmonic, Jeans N’ Classics Take on the Music of Sting and the Police
With one band, with one show, you will know, Symphonicity. Conductor Daniel Meyer and the Erie Philharmonic teams with Ontario’s Jeans N’ Classics for Every Breath You Take: The Music of Sting and the Police at the Warner Theatre, opening the 2016-17 Hanes Erie Pop Series. Classical music is generally not the younger generation’s cup of tea, in the Sahara or otherwise.
Brooklyn-based Guitarist Mary Halvorson Brings Compelling Soundscapes to PACA
Mary Halvorson seems to be riding a wave of critical acclaim. She’s garnered it for a range of recent projects, from solo guitar to a 19-piece ensemble, and just about everything in between. Hailed in Jazziz as “one of the most original and arresting jazz guitarists to emerge in the first decade of the century,” Halvorson’s recent performances have included clubs and concert stages in Spain, France, Slovenia, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Italy, Finland, and Switzerland. On Sept.
Vegging Out Takes on New Meaning with Erie’s First Ever VegFest
Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m Whether you are the gung-ho vegan, the reluctant vegetarian (because the spouse is), or the curious carnivore, Erie’s first ever VegFest will have something for everyone to eat, experience, or learn. With hula-hoop and karate demonstrations, activities at VegFest will be as varied as the reasons for eating plant-based diets. “We originally went vegan for health reasons,” said Lisa Casler, co-founder of Erie Vegan and Vegetarian Society.
Pop Out and Pop Up at Parking Lot Palooza
New York City has them. Cleveland’s got a few. They’re probably out in Los Angeles as well, and now Erie has its own. Mod Apothecary owner Stacey Skala Orr and Pointe Foure Vintage Boutique owner Emily George came together to plan and execute Parking Lot Palooza: Sunday Market Pop-Up, which will transform the Colony Plaza parking lot into an outdoor shopping and socializing event on Sept.
Speaker Series is Living Testimony
When Sister Helen Prejean came to Mount Saint Benedict last spring to talk about her prison ministry and decades-long fight against the death penalty, I told her Bryan Stevenson would be speaking in Erie on Sept. 13. A broad smile spread across her face.
SSJNN Gardens Deliver Food, Tie Communities Together
For the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network (SSJNN) and the nearly 70 volunteers who plant, maintain, and harvest fruits and vegetables at five community and urban gardens, growing produce within the city limits is about more than just adding water to seeds. The work SSJNN has done reaches beyond the goal of bringing fresh food to one of Erie County’s 10 food deserts (four of which exist within the city of Erie).
Erie’s New Deal - Erie Reader
According to the city of Erie’s recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, our primary hurdle is in making Erie a “community of choice” by tackling blight and restoring a sense of belonging in our neighborhoods.
Get Your Phil at Noon with the Erie Philharmonic Wind Quintet
Huffing and puffing feebly to get over the hump? Blow off some of that tension with the Erie Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet in the penultimate installment of the Erie Art Museum’s Mid-day Art Break music series. You may not be a nobleman standing in a Viennese courtyard, but you can still feel like a Wiener as these accomplished players draw from a rich tradition of Western music.
Night Lights Music Festival Brightly Rounds Out the Summer Season
To put it simply, the good people behind the Night Lights Music Festival have damn good taste in music – and they know how to put on a spectacular get-down. All those out-of-this-world musicians are just a small bit of the sweet lineup at this year’s Night Lights, which has grown over the last six years into a completely unique, not-to-be-missed annual addition to the region’s already very cool live music festival scene.
Traditional Folk Way Out in the Garden
Goodell Gardens & Homestead’s Summer Music Series continues on Aug. 26 with Tiger Maple String Band: Edinboro natives who have been playing together since 1999.
Holy Trinity Parish Honors Polish Heritage with Zabawa
Holy Trinity Parish of Erie will celebrate Polish heritage with a three-day festival held from Aug. 26 to 28. The 23rd annual Zabawa – Polish for fun – will be complete with games, food, and live entertainment, in the form of traditional Polish Polka music, of course. While you won’t likely come across anyone in a wedding gown, Zabawa has the same party-like atmosphere you might find at a wedding reception or family reunion.
Unite and Celebrate at the 24th Annual Erie Pride Parade and Festival
The NWPA Pride Alliance will bring the community together for the 24th annual Erie Pridefest on Aug. 27 with a parade and march followed by the festival itself. Participants will assemble at the Zone Dance Club at noon, and the parade will start at 1 p.m. and move down to the festival at Griswold Park.
7th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta Set to Sail Saturday, August 20
Ever look at your Amazon delivery box and think, “I should make a boat out of that?” If so, you’re in luck. Richard Eisenberg, executive director of the Bayfront Maritime Center (BMC), had the same idea just over seven years ago after attending a cardboard boat regatta at Watkins Glen in New York. “We held our first regatta in 2010,” said Amy Eisenberg, BMC executive assistant, via email.
Mercyhurst’s Dracula Promises to be a Bloody Good Show
Count Dracula holds the distinction of the second-most frequently portrayed character in all of literature, behind Sherlock Holmes. On both the stage and the silver screen, there aren’t too many veins left to tap into where Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel is concerned. But the young and talented thespians of Mercyhurst University promise to infuse some fresh blood into the time-honored classic just the same.
ER Sports: The Future of the Erie Otters
The “Sherry Bassin Era” for Erie Hockey is coming to an end very soon. I have my opinion – make that a very strong opinion – but I’ll let you form your own, based on various facts and figures. First off, let’s take a peek at his 19-year tenure in Erie. Maybe I was a bit too optimistic when I was first introduced to Bassin and the Otters, as it seems like it was just yesterday I attended a news conference at a local hotel for the announcement about hockey returning to Erie.
Erie at Large: An Island Unto Itself
When the Puritans arrived at the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630, their future governor, John Winthrop, declared the fledgling port “a city on a hill.” Winthrop believed that the eyes of the world would be upon the colonists, who gained strength and confidence for their work from an other-worldly belief in predestination ordained by an omnipotent God. That Puritan spirit became the founding ethos of most cities that followed.
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