Updated: Nov 4, 2018

On Dec. 1, kick off the holiday season with a daylong game of Pokemon GO and a seasonal sing-along on Kenmore Boulevard.

In celebration of the event’s 20th anniversary, Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance and the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau are teaming up to bring Pokemon GO trainers to this year’s Kenmore Holiday Celebration. Holiday Hunt players will have chances to win prizes by participating in a Pokemon scavenger hunt.

You can pick up their Pokemon GO map at the Live Music Now Courtyard from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then, enjoy free admission to the Holiday Hootenanny at the Rialto Theatre from 3 to 5 p.m., featuring the high-energy honkytonk and country sounds of Shooter Sharp & the Shootouts along with Rubber City Ukes. Expect an afternoon of hand-clapping, toe-tapping entertainment and singalongs. This will be a free all-ages show.

Shooter Sharp & the Shootouts will headline the Holiday Hootenanny at the Rialto Theatre Dec. 1

“I’ve seen a lot of positive things happening in Kenmore recently,” said Roger Riddle, the marketing and social media manager for the Akron/Summit Convention & Visitors Bureau. “When you see a neighborhood trying its best to become a better place to live work and play, you want to help out whatever way you can. This fellowship with Niantic and Knight gave me an opportunity to bring people who may not be familiar with Kenmore to the neighborhood so they can see the good things that are happening.”

For more information about this and other events, visit the KNA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/KNACares.

Kai Wick Studios and The Rialto Theatre are partnering to bring top-notch art to Kenmore Boulevard, and they’re starting by featuring the work of talented residents in the Akron Soul Train program.

Project Three Gallery, a project of Kenmore Better Block veteran Kai Wick, is a new gallery space at 998 Kenmore Blvd. that will feature local, regional and national artists to create and display original works. The space will operate as a work area, gallery, small store front and teaching space, Wick said. It will also provide an accessible, affordable space for Kent State University, University of Akron Students and Kenmore-Garfield art students to feature their work.

“The goal is to create an education exchange between the community, art world and students,”

said Wick said. “We will hold demo classes, artist talks, and, possibly a pop-up shop so artists

can sell their wares.”

The gallery will make its debut Dec. 1 during the 20th Annual Kenmore Holiday Celebration and

will feature the work of Akron Soul Train September and October residents Joshua Eiskamp of

Seven HIlls and Charisse Mae Harris, a Columbus resident and daughter of So Fresh Used Auto Sales owner Jacqueline Harris. Joshua specializes in abstract painting and Charisse in mixed media. Their work will be on view through Dec. 20. Then, on January 10 an opening reception will be held for Christi Birchfield, a print and sculpture artist from Cleveland who was Akron Soul Train’s November artist in residence. It will be on display throughout the month.

Akron Soul Train is an artist residency village connecting and empowering the community and

artists by granting fellowships that provide resources for all creative disciplines, thereby

fostering a more vibrant Akron. Since its inception in 2016, Akron Soul Train has supported

seven local artists with fellowships. Most recently, out of 70 applicants for 2018-2019

residencies, the committee selected 13 local and regional artists for residency. For more

information visit https://www.akronsoultrain.org.

Learn more bout the Dec. 1 opening event

Updated: Nov 4, 2018

Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance has invited a team from Main Street Ohio to our community, Nov. 7-8, to explore the possibility of becoming an official Main Street affiliate. The Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, works with communities across the state to revitalize their historic or traditional downtown areas. It is designed to improve all aspects of the business district, producing both tangible and intangible benefits such as: recruiting new businesses, rehabilitating buildings, strengthening community participation, elevating public perception and making the business district a fun place for residents and visitors.

Throughout Main Street Ohio’s two-day visit to our community, they will be touring Kenmore Boulevard, providing information to residents about the Main Street program and meeting with residents and stakeholders in small groups to identify opportunities and issues to be addressed.

In the beginning of 2019, Main Street Ohio will deliver a plan to the Kenmore community with specific recommendations to address all concerns and create clear strategies for a thriving neighborhood business district.

“As a Main Street Ohio affiliate, we will gain the direction and focus needed to accomplish our revitalization goals over the long term while more robustly engaging the community,” said Jeffrey Vujevich, president of the Kenmore Neighborhood Alliance.

On Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. at Sam Salem Community Learning Center, residents are invited to engage with Main Street Ohio’s team, which is made up of downtown revitalization veterans from around the state. Community members will hear about Main Street Ohio’s work in other communities, learn about proven strategies for revitalization, as well as provide input to help guide the plan for Kenmore’s Boulevard District.

For more information about Main Street America program, visit www.mainstreet.org. Or, for details about the Nov. 7 community session, visit the event page..