Warrior Champions

Warrior Champions

Anita Petric

To be quite honest Warrior Champions was my second choice out of the movies I had picked out to see that day. I was running late and the line for the movie I was originally going to see was already filing into the theater just as I was arriving there. And I am so glad it worked out that way.
Warrior Champions is a story about four American soldiers who had either lost limbs or had suffered paralysis while serving their time in Iraq and the journey that follows long after they are home. Instead of giving into the sadness and depression that goes hand in hand with these kind of injuries,all of the soldiers found a sport they were good at and trained until they were good enough to compete for a spot in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. All four of these soldiers were inspiring but Scott Winkler stood out to me more than the rest . He completely lost the use of both of his legs and ended up spending a year in a sports clinic where he discovered shot put and how good he was at it. He might not have the use of his legs but he is in better shape and has a better outlook on life than anybody else I know. He lives his life having fun without any regrets and travels around the globe to visit other young wounded soldiers and helps them get over the shock of their injuries and find a place in the world. That to me is a hero. I never knew the Paralympic Games existed before this movie and now I can't wait to learn more about it and the stories behind all of the people competing.

Rachel Is

Rachel Is
Lauren Kirk

Rachel Is I saw Rachel Is on Saturday afternoon at CIFF and I am so glad that I did. Rachel is a 21 year old developmentally disabled girl living in Pittsburg with her mother, Jane. Her sister, Charlotte directed the piece and the entire film is so intimate as a result. All three invite the camera and essentially the audience into their lives. The focus of the film is essentially on where Rachel will be living after she graduates from school, she wants to move out of her mother's house, yet Jane does not want her to live anywhere but a group home. Shared living options are tested and do not work out, so Jane intensifies the search for a home where Rachel can live with her peers and lead a normal life. Rachel is hilarious and warm, yet I could tell that the demands she unknowingly imposes could be harrowing for a caretaker. Throughout the film, Jane is almost unflinching. Stoic even. Her quiet strength and patience with Rachel was truly inspiring. So was her passion for finding the best care for her daughter in a system that often overlooks developmentally challenged adults. Watching Jane as she remains calm while Rachel screams in the doctor's office can only be described as amazing. Some people lose patience quickly over a minor tear, and here Jane remains strong. You can see the love that all three have for each other and none of it is forced or faked for the camera. Even when it is obvious that Rachel is annoying Jane, I never got the sense of resentment. Charlotte did a great job directing this film, getting her point across, and showcasing her sister. I was particularly struck and moved by a point where she stated: "when I was 16 I realized it was time for me to stop apologizing for Rachel. She was just Rachel." Just because Rachel has a disability, it does not make her a freak, nor is anyone else with one. I think society probably often forgets this. Rachel Is was a great film about love, family, support, and also made me very aware of the limits of services for the disabled.

Ingredients – The Movie

By Vanessa Aron

There is almost too much to say about the movie Ingredients. It really is one of those films that you have to check out for yourself to really grasp the entire concept of what the writer and director are trying to convey.

Ingredients is a film that focuses on the local farming communities, the politics of farming, and the slow food movement. With everything going green and buzz words like ‘sustainable’ and ‘eco’ being tossed around, this movie really gets below the surface and into the mud of the situation. PUN INTENDED.

You know, dirt isn’t a bad thing, however our society has made it out to be something we must avoid, something we need to wash away, something our food does not come from. Well, Ingredients hates to break the news to you, but that’s where pretty much everything comes from; unless it’s coming from an animal. The farmers cultivating said ground are less than 10% of the US population. And this minuscule percentage is responsible for providing the entire nation with food. That’s a lot of food. That’s a lot of pressure.

Americans spend less money on food than they do healthcare and prescriptions each year. Yet, they are quick to complain about the high prices of food, and are also in poor health. It’s a mind-boggling conundrum. Thankfully, there is a slow turn toward more local food, all-natural food and more sustainable practices of food cultivation.

This is one movie that I could go on and on about. It was entertaining and eye-opening. For more information on the film check out http://www.ingredientsfilm.com/.

Turtle: The Incredible Journey

Turtle: The Incredible Journey

Lauren Kirk

I could watch Animal Planet, the Discovery, or the National Geographic for hours. And sometimes I do. Don’t judge. So when I saw that Turtle: The Incredible Journey was being shown at this years CIFF I knew it was a definite must see for me. On Sunday afternoon there wasn’t an empty seat in the theater. Little kids and parents, adults and teens all turned out to see this great documentary. I was lucky enough to get a seat even though it was all the way in the very front row, I was just happy to be in.
Turtle: The Incredible Journey follows a loggerhead turtle from her birth on a Florida beach to her amazing journey down the Gulf Stream and her ultimate return back to the same Florida beach to give birth. I don’t know if it is more amazing that the crew was able to follow this one turtle for so long or that she survived all that she went through. Seeing her pull herself out of a detour, avoid predators and oil slicks, and a fisherman’s hook just amazed me at how resilient these creatures are.
The camera work was amazing and seeing this journey that is so hidden from humans, yet so critical to the survival of this species, makes this documentary truly a treat for animal and science lovers. The underlying message of conservation and protection is clear throughout the film, yet never is it overbearing. The film’s community sponsorship was with the Cleveland Metroparks who also provided some information on protecting Ohio’s turtles. The loggerhead turtle is an incredible animal that goes through so much to ensure her part in keeping her species alive. This documentary shows that protection and conservation is needed so these journeys can continue.

For more information go to: http://www.saveourseas.org/

Issue 6! Yes, it is finally here!

As always, THANK YOU to everyone who submitted works for this issue! We couldn't do it without you!

Reminder!! Issue 6 Submissions due December 4th

happy post thanksgiving messy magazine readers!

now that you're stuffed with all sorts of deliciousness, when would be a better time to give you a lovely reminder that submissions for NO THEME Issue 6 are due in 1 WEEK!! december 4th to be exact. time really does fly when the holidays are upon us.

like we said before, we think you've jumped through enough of our hoops this year and now we want to see what kind of stuff you can bring to the table without a prompt. we also want you to take a look back at your own year in review and tell us about it. What was your favorite album? what was your new obsession? best night out? favorite new restaurant? concert? movie? festival? theater performance? shall we keep going? what did you do in 2009? tell us!

or, just send us something dear to you- something expressive and uniquely yours that you want to share. It's like an end of the year potluck- bring your own side dish and we'll provide the space and distribution!

we also encourage you to look through out past issues and select some of your favorite pieces. Let us know what you liked and we'll highlight some of our readers' favorites. We will be sharing our ultimate faves and we can all sit back and marvel at what we've made together in 2009.

Submissions will be due December 4^th

and look for Issue 6 before the end of the year.

new folks- be sure to check the site for submission info- everyone else should know the drill!

email us if you have questions.

and while you're not preparing your submissions for Issue 6, we hope to see you at the events below! made in the 216 is still going on for a few more days!! and be sure to check out bazaar bizarre happening in two locations the year. details are below. please say hello- and support our friends!

hugs,

[the two thousand and] fine editors of messy magazine

Genna :: Lauren :: Vanessa :: Michael

messymagazine.org

MADE IN THE 216 HOLIDAY SHOPPE November 6-29

The next iteration of the MADE IN THE 216 will be a (near) month long HOLIDAY SHOPPE held in the

GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT.

We will be activating the empty storefront directly to the right of the entrance to the Capitol Theater and filling it with amazing goods MADE RIGHT HERE IN THE 216, including 15 new designers bringing the total of designers to nearly 50!

The Holiday Shoppe, which will be open daily from 5-9pm (later nights on Fridays) will be kicked off on Friday November 6 with a party featuring beer and (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) specialty HOT CHOCOLATE and CIDER created by RYAN SANTOS and music provided by DJ Doc. The party and shopping will be open until 10pm with an after party featuring Cleveland bands, The Buried Wires and Filmstrip to be held directly after at THE HAPPY DOG located at W.58^th and Detroit Ave. Each Friday of the shoppe, we will host several Cleveland bands to play in basement shows in the Shoppe space....BYOB is welcome for these weekly celebrations!

For more info visit: http://roomservicecleveland.com

Bazaar Bizarre

Mark your calendars! Buy DIY for the holidays and support local artists! Bazaar Bizarre, Cleveland's fabulous original indie craft show will be taking place TWICE for your holiday shopping pleasure. In addition to our main west side show, we've added a second, east side show during the Larchmere Holiday Stroll. Each show features different artists, so don't miss both!

Bazaar Bizarre East:

12635 Larchmere (across from Vine & Bean) during the Larchmere Holiday Stroll. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Show starts on BLACK FRIDAY! Those of you in retail know what we mean. The day after Thanksgiving, or Friday 27 November and Saturday 28 November. 50 vendors.

Bazaar Bizarre West

(The larger show, with 75+ vendors)

Same location as last year: 78th Street Studios: 1300 W. 78th St to 1305 W. 80th St., north parking lot, north entrance (behind the building) -- accessible from W. 78th OR W 80th St.

Saturday December 12th from noon to 9:00 p.m., and Sunday December 13th from noon to 6:00 p.m.

Bazaar Bizarre began in 2001 in Boston as a hodge-podge of friends and acquaintances cobbling together their handcrafted DIY wares to sell while staging an offbeat entertainment extravaganza. In 2004 the Bazaar Bizarre spread to Los Angeles and Cleveland, and in 2006 Make magazine began to include Bazaar Bizarre as part of the Maker Faire in San Francisco and Austin. Bazaar Bizarre's main shows take place every year during peak holiday shopping season in December and attract thousands of shoppers as well as positive media attention.

For more information check out: http://www.bazaarbizarre.org/cleveland.html


Cleveland Handmade Events!!


Check out these two events put on by Cleveland Handmade to make shopping locally and buying handmade extra easy. Come see us!

Saturday, December 5, 2009
The Cleveland Handmade Market at Wooltex
The Wooltex Gallery in The Tower Press Building
1900 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 10am-6pm

Saturday, December 19, 2009
The Cleveland Handmade Last Minute Market
Lake Erie Building (aka The Screw Factory)
at the Templar Industrial Park
13000 Athens, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 10am-6pm

For more information check out: http://www.clevelandhandmade.com/market/


If, for some reason, you do not want to be a part of this fabulous thing we are doing here, click this link to (*sniff, sniff*...sadface) unsubscribe.

what will make YOU stay? what IS making you stay? your answers matter.

(photo credit: 'why pittsburgh?!' an IWSI event that took place in september. we are the third city after detroit and pittsburgh to host an IWSI event)


From GP:

to all of my friends who think this is some sort of a joke- or that we are implying that everyone is leaving... please take a minute to think about the work we have put into an event that is different from anything you have ever been to.

love cleveland? yeah. so do i. how much? let's not get into that. my chances of finding what i think i really want are getting slimmer by the minute, but i'm here because i like it. i actually love it. everything about it. and i hope we realize that we are at a critical point in our city's history... and i don't want us to screw it up.

i have watched friends leave and never look back. i listen to constant negativity about the city and work day in and day out to turn this around. i am part of a network of midwestern cities that supports my work, sometimes more than my neighbors support my work. i am asking for your support because the event we are hosting tomorrow has a lot of potential.

you're staying in cleveland? i am too. and i'm going to write it on a piece of paper and have someone take a picture of me with it so i can send it downtown so people can stop TELLING me what i want and know what i actually want. that's what's behind this.

i am including copy from my news release. please try to open your mind to the possibilities instead of keeping it 'business as usual'...

what will make you stay? what IS making you stay? it's all part of it.

gp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“I Will Stay If...” CLEVELAND Edition
A local event connected with GLUE’s “I Will Stay If…” campaign.

On Wednesday, November 18th, 2009, GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchange) invites you to join community members and leaders in a conversation about what makes a city sustainable, the continuing issues and challenges facing our city, and the new developments that are putting Cleveland on the map. What will make YOU stay? What IS making you stay? We want to know!

We invite all Clevelanders to join us for an evening of networking and idea-sharing. Co-sponsored by Cleveland365.com, this unique and high energy event will feature dynamic speakers and an interesting forum for young professionals and community members to talk about new and exciting happenings in Cleveland. Participants in the program include Matt Zone, Ward 17 Councilman and driving force behind the new Gordon Square Arts District; Randell McShepard, VP of Public Affairs at RPM International, Inc., co-founder and chairman of PolicyBridge; and Lillian A. Kuri, Program Director for Architecture, Urban Design and Sustainable Development for the Cleveland Foundation and key player in the Greater University Circle initiative.

The Great Lakes Urban Exchange (GLUE) was founded by a Pittsburgher and a Detroiter to catalyze conversations across Rust Belt communities about (among other things) the loss of population and sustainable economic activity. After two years of hosting multi-state conferences, building networks online, and creating opportunities for urbanists across the region to connect with a variety of policy and organizing experts, GLUE launched its “I Will Stay If…” (IWSI) campaign in Detroit earlier this summer. Pittsburgh’s event “Why Pittsburgh?” was held in September. (http://rustwire.com/2009/09/14/i-will-stay-if-comes-to-pittsburgh/) Cleveland is the third GLUE city to host an event and plans for similar parties in Buffalo and Milwaukee are in the works.

IWSI parties aim to bring together a diverse crowd of people in a GLUE city to participate in this vital conversation. In Cleveland, we want to know not only what will make you stay, but what is working for you already. Why are you here? How can we attract others like you? We are documenting the answers you give through a photographic exhibit that will travel our region. Eventually, GLUE will use the photographs as a non-traditional data set to share with policymakers. In the meantime, this event is an opportunity to celebrate everything that makes our city special, and the reasons we live here.

Cleveland’s own IWSI party, “I Will Stay If…” Cleveland Edition will take place at Speakeasy (1948 W. 25th Street-under the Bier Markt, 44113, http://speakeasy216.com) on Wednesday November 18 from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Please join us and participate in the IWSI documentary project with acclaimed local photographers Bryon Miller and Suzanne Cofer. Food and drink specials are available to event participants. $5 suggested donations are welcome at the door. For more information about GLUE, please visit http://gluespace.org. To learn more about what’s behind IWSI, please visit http://iwillstayif.org. For donor, organization and event information please visit our website http://iwsicleveland.blogspot.com or contact iwsicleveland@gmail.com.