Nate’s North Coast Notes • Cleveland Public Library presents lawyer/activist Bryan Stevenson | Holiday presentation at Karamu | Free Concert at Bop Stop | Crocker Park Holiday Lights

By Nathan E. Paige

Virtual Discussion with Lawyer/Author Bryan Stevenson – December 5 at Noon

Activist attorney Bryan Stevenson, who wrote the book-turned-movie “Just Mercy”, will speak at a Cleveland Public Library virtual program on Saturday, December 5.

As part of its Authors and Democracy literary series, the Cleveland Public Library presents Civil Rights Lawyer/Author Bryan Stevenson for an in-depth virtual discussion of his more than 30 years of fighting injustice and inequality Saturday, December 5 from noon – 1PM. Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.  He is a graduate of the Harvard Law School and the Harvard School of Government and the author of the award-winning New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which was made into a major motion picture starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.  Both actors went on to win NAACP Image Awards for their performances.  This is a free event; please register through Eventbrite.

 

Debbie Gifford Quartet Streaming Concert at BOP STOP – December 5 at 7:30 PM

The Debbie Gifford Quartet, consisting of vocalist Gifford; pianist Ed Ridley; bassist Aiden Plank and drummer Ricky Exton, will perform via livestream on the BOP STOP’s Facebook page Saturday, December 5 from 7:30-8:45 PM, providing an evening of jazzed-up holiday favorites.  In addition to being nominated for Vocalist of the Year, Jazz Musician of the Year and Jazz Band of the Year in the Annual Free Times Music Awards, Debbie Gifford is the only woman singer to ever perform with the Birdland Big Band. Accessing the stream is free, but donations will be appreciated.

 

The Crocker Park Holiday Light display can be viewed daily through January 1. A choreographed light show takes place nightly at 6PM through December 24.  (Photo by Nate Paige)

Crocker Park Holiday Lights – Through January 1

Now that Northeast Ohio has been blanketed in more snow in a 24-hour period than we really wanted, the festiveness of holiday lighting displays around town, including the Holiday Lights at Crocker Park, is that much more vibrant.  The choreographed light show, set to some of your favorite Christmas songs, kicks off nightly at 6 p.m. through Dec. 24.  The holiday lights will continue through January 1, 2021. Other highlights include the 13-foot Walk Through Ornament; Toy Train Town; a pop-up Holiday Market; and the Cleveland Monsters Real Ice Rink. Train rides on Santa’s Holiday Express are available in Santa’s Village from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays and noon to 5 p.m. Dec 24. $4.

‘Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration’ (Available on YouTube December 10-January 10)

Karamu House presents the virtual holiday production, “Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration” on its YouTube channel Dec. 10-Jan. 10.

On the heels of its virtual Juneteenth series, Karamu gets into the spirit of the season with ”Joyful, A Karamu House Celebration,” featuring an evening of song and dance, representing cultures from around the world.  The cast includes Darelle Hill, Elizabeth Edwards, Jacob Hill, Lexy Lattimore, Joshua McElroy and Mary Frances R. Miller, and many others. This hour-long production can be viewed on Karamu’s YouTube page beginning December 10.  The purchase of a ticket, $24.99, allows the viewer 48 hours to watch the production. 

Is there an upcoming event you’d like included in this column? Please send the details, along with a high-resolution photo/graphic, to northcoastnotes@therealdealpress.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

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