Focus on: Made in the 216 event

As mentioned a couple days ago in my weekly cultural foreshadowing digest, Danielle DeBoe of Room Service is putting on the third iteration of her popular and impressive MADE IN THE 216. She created the MADE IN THE 216 event to highlight just how many talented designers are choosing to stay and build their businesses in Cleveland

In my opinion, the coolest thing about the MADE IN THE 216 event, as I learned about it the from Danielle the other day, is that it isn't like Bazaar Bizarre or an indie crafts fair where all the different sellers have their little booths set up individually from one another. Instead, Danielle takes in all the merchandise and then arrays the various goods in a way that blends the different designers and producers together, integrating them with items she purchases from designers based in all the cities you'd expect (i.e., NYC, London, San Fran, Paris, etc.) and integrating them in the same creative, narrative-driven way that RS merchandises their products year round.

One difference regular Room Service customers will see during the two-day event, however, is in the diversity of the products being offered at the show. The show features a wide range of creations from men and women’s apparel, jewelry, t-shirts, totes and personal accessories; to stationary, photography, screen-prints, household goods, furniture and music. For loyal readers, there are gonna be some Cleveland Bachelor favorites are in the mix. Be sure to check out Oddball Press stationary, Wrath Arcane clothing, Small Screen Designs t-shirts, and photography by Michelle Murphy.



What makes me determined to check this event out (after being out of town the previous two times) is the festival atmosphere. At the same time you can be scoring awesome products from NEO's finest, you can also listen to some solid live music and check out some baked goods and prepared foods vendors. I go to a lot of shows in this town and I gotta tell you - Danielle did an AWESOME job booking bands for the two-day extravaganza, especially for the after-hours shows going down at the Happy Dog. In fact, I'm a little ticked about that, since on Saturday I, too, was trying to book bands to play at an event I am sponsoring, and more than one of the bands I approached was already booked for the 216 event. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? So I'll be taking my happy little ass right on over to Detroit-Shoreway on Friday to get my 216 on. Saturday I'll be at the CLEVELAND BACHELOR-SPONSORED LOW LIFE CLOSING PARTY, though, and I hope you come out, too.


On Friday June 26, the event goes down from 4-9 PM, and you can catch live music outside from the likes of Blake Miller and Jukebox Value outside between the two sales spaces from 6-8 PM. (Note: I caught Jukebox Value at the last Music Saves Alley Cat Friday and he absolutely ruled.) Friday night, Stereo Workers Union, The Dreadful Yawns, and Mystery of Two are rocking the post-party at the Happy Dog after 9. On Saturday, the event goes all day (11 AM to 9 PM), with Bryan Straw and Blake Miller (again) playing outside from 6-8, while JJ Magazine, The Very Knees, and Hot Cha Cha are hosting the post-party. Between the music, the sweet deals, all the other excitement going on in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood that day, and THE BAKED GOODS, this is the place to be. Check it out.