People from all over the region flock to the annual summer street
fairs in Cleveland Heights’ Coventry Village; although low-key and
neighborly, they’re not just for the neighbors. People come for the
food, crafts, wares, performances, book-signings and kids activities,
and even to register to vote. But they’re expensive to organize (police
presence, sound equipment rental, clean-up), and the city isn’t in a
position to help. So the Coventry Village Special Improvement District
is holding a benefit called A Taste of Coventry at 7 p.m. Friday, May
1, at the B-Side Liquor Lounge (under the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid
Heights Blvd., bsideliquorlounge.com). For $25
advance or $30 at the door, you get to sample offerings from the
diverse restaurants on Coventry Road. Tickets are on sale at Coventry
merchants Vidstar Video, Mac’s Backs, the Grog Shop, Fast Eddy’s Chop
Shop, Big Fun and Delphic Books. Or send a check or money order with a
stamped, self-addressed envelope to: CVSID, 2533 Euclid Heights Blvd.,
Cleveland Heights, OH 44106-2709.
— Anastasia Pantsios
Chefs are reaching out to the Obama administration, and not for a
bailout. Chefs Collaborative, a nonprofit advocating for sustainability
policies, sent the president the following letter on Earth Day, April
22:
“Dear President and Mrs. Obama,
“We, the undersigned chefs and food professionals of Chefs
Collaborative, thank you for beginning the critical work of steering
our country onto a more sustainable course. We have read with great
pleasure and pride that you are giving much-needed attention to
sustainable food issues; we write now with a renewed sense of hope that
together we can change the way we think about food in this country.
“Indeed, through the example set by the White House kitchen, you
have the ability to continue to show the country that your staff
prepares and serves food that reflects the important connection between
our food choices and the long-term health of the nation. It is an
opportunity to serve food that celebrates our rich cultural heritage,
our diverse culinary traditions and the historic agricultural backbone
of our nation.”
Read the rest at chefscollaborative.org. Local
signers include Steve Schimoler (Crop Bistro), Michael Symon (Lola) and
Mariann Janosko (Lake Erie Creamery). Visit Crop to try the new Yes We
Can Cocktail. — Frank Lewis
This article appears in Apr 29 – May 5, 2009.
