
🎭 Kevin James brings his comedy to Akron next spring. The "King of Queens" star will perform his "Eat the Frog" stand-up tour at the Akron Civic Theatre on March 6, 2026. Known for movies like "Paul Blart" and "Grown Ups," James released his latest special "Irregardless" on Prime Video last year. He also co-wrote and stars in the upcoming film "Solo Mio" alongside Alyson Hanigan, set for release in February 2026. Presale tickets become available Wednesday before general sales begin Friday at akroncivic.com and kevinjames.com.
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🎨 Akron's hidden artistic genius finally gets his spotlight. The Akron Art Museum is preparing to unveil "Alfred McMoore: All This Luck in My Head," celebrating the self-taught local artist who passed away in 2009. Curator Wendy Earle recently provided a preview of the exhibition, which features McMoore's distinctive pencil drawings, crayon works depicting LeBron James and the Goodyear Blimp, and massive scroll pieces. The late artist's legacy was championed by retired Beacon Journal reporter Jim Carney and supported by The Black Keys, who held a benefit concert after McMoore's death.
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🎓 Akron schools soar while Cleveland drops in new readiness ratings. Akron Public Schools jumped from 2.5 to 3.5 stars thanks to their innovative College and Career Academies program, which earned the highest workforce readiness score among Ohio's urban districts. Meanwhile, Cleveland's overall rating fell from 3 to 2.5 stars due to struggles with college and career preparation. Akron's success stems from 54 career pathways taught by industry professionals and partnerships with 300 businesses providing real-world experience for students. Despite improvements in some areas, both districts continue to battle high chronic absenteeism rates.
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