Release Date: Thursday, November 19th 2009
First Night Akron celebrates with new offers, venues
11/19/2009 - West Side Leader
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — First Night® Akron’s 14th year won’t be the same old, same old.
In the spirit of this year’s theme, “A Night of Firsts,” organizers have worked to enhance the annual New Year’s Eve event in Akron with new venues, a more easily navigated footprint and a better deal for revelers so the fun can continue into 2010.
The $10 First Night button, which goes on sale Nov. 27, will allow wearers to take advantage of special offers from local businesses and museums. For example, button holders can get buy-one-get-one admission from the Akron Art Museum and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, discounts at restaurants such as Max and Erma’s and The Barley House, and savings at stores like Rubber City Clothing and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
The discounts, most of which run through the end of January, are just one way this year’s First Night has been improved, according to Lisa Knapp, operations director of the Downtown Akron Partnership (DAP), which oversees First Night.
“You’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said Nov. 13 at a press conference announcing the event.
Knapp said a survey of First Night attendees from last year showed that people enjoy the event but had some suggestions for improvements. One of the biggest concerns respondents had is the unpredictable weather.
While Knapp said there’s not much that can be done to change that, the DAP did work to make First Night more compact so that revelers don’t have to travel as much from venue to venue. This year, there are 10 indoor venues hosting events and activities Dec. 31.
“First Night will look different,” Knapp said. “It’s more compact and easier to navigate.”
A new venue, Greystone Hall, has been added and will host musical acts throughout the night on four different stages. The METRO Regional Transit Center also will feature activities and crafts through 9 p.m.
Also, the event’s two fireworks shows — at 9 p.m. and midnight — will now take place at Lock 3 Park instead of the Maiden Lane alley.
Knapp also said there has been an emphasis placed on newness for the evening, with new artists and musical acts brought in and some old favorites with new shows.
The button art for the 14th First Night Akron also was unveiled during the press conference. This year’s button artist is Julienne Hogarth, a New Franklin resident and longtime Akron Public Schools art teacher.
Hogarth, who said she has attended and participated in First Night just about every year, said she was thrilled to be selected for the honor this year.
“They give us a great place to come,” Hogarth said of the event. “The city of Akron is a beautiful city.”
Hogarth said she used food coloring and fabric dye to create her tropical-infused painting that has been made into the rectangular button. She studied the contrast between warm and cool colors when creating her painting, she said.
Hogarth taught at more than half a dozen Akron schools. She spent 15 years at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts and this year began teaching at the National Inventors Hall of Fame School ... Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Learning.
“I really like to teach at schools with long names,” she joked during the press conference.
Hogarth said her students this year will take part in the Countdown to First Night, a large-scale calendar made up of artistic banners created by local artists and organizations. That banner will be the one unveiled on New Year’s Eve, she said. The countdown banners are hung on the parking deck side facing Lock 3 Park.
First Night Akron buttons are required for admittance to First Night events. Children younger than 10 will be admitted for free with a button-wearing adult. Parking is free, and events will begin at 5 p.m.
Buttons will be on sale at Acme Fresh Markets, some FirstMerit Bank branches, the Akron Art Museum, Akron Beacon Journal customer service desk, Borders Books and Music in Cuyahoga Falls, Carolyn’s Cupboard in Wadsworth, The Library Shop on Main, Lock 3 and the Stage Left Boutique at the Akron Civic Theatre. Buttons also can be purchased at www.firstnightakron.org. The Web site also includes complete schedules of events and other information. For more information, call (330) 762-9550.