Aspiring singers may attend open auditions Saturday, 9 a.m. at Canal Park

The Akron Racers (women’s pro softball) and Akron Aeros (Double-A baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) will host open auditions for national anthem singers and instrumentalists at Canal Park this Saturday, March 24, at 9 a.m.

“We felt this was a great opportunity to collaborate with the Aeros,” said Andrew Phillips, director of Marketing Services/PR for the Racers. “We see the Aeros as our big brother of sorts, and being part of something this important to every home game is a special opportunity. Canal Park is a great facility, and it should give us a great gauge on the performers’ talents.”

This is an open tryout and an opportunity for fans to earn a spot in both teams' pre-game ceremonies for games at Firestone Stadium and Canal Park this summer. Those who pass the “judge’s test” will be scheduled to sing prior to Aeros and Racers’ home dates this season. All performers will be required to fill out an information sheet when they arrive.

Artspace VP shares insight for developing live/work spaces for artists

When artists move into struggling urban centers, they often improve the community, but it’s typically to their own detriment. The cost of rent goes up, forcing the artists back out of the spaces they worked so hard to develop.

It’s important to recognize and prevent key populations from being displaced from the community when creative living spaces are built, cautions Wendy Holmes, senior vice president of Artspace, a national nonprofit that develops affordable living and working space for artists.

At a recent event hosted by University Park Alliance, Holmes shared the story of Minneapolis’ warehouse district, which prompted the formation of her organization. “There were a lot of artists in the warehouse district of Minneapolis, and those artists kept getting forced out because they would create a sense of place that other people found desirable, and their rents would go up and they would get kicked out. We call that the Soho effect, and it happens in many communities across the country.”

Downtown Akron has made several transformations in new business development and new University of Akron dormitories. Over time, other sandwich shops have opened in walking distance to Diamond Deli, but University of Akron students seem to walk past those businesses to visit Diamond Deli.

At lunch time, expect a long line, but you may not mind waiting. It's something more than the food and the atmosphere.

The University of Akron Dance Company presents its Spring 2012 Dance Concerts March 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. in E. J. Thomas Hall, 198 Hill St., on the UA campus. The guest choreographers are Tom Evert, co-artistic director of DANCEVERT, and Steven McMahon of Ballet Memphis.

Evert’s "All and All" features contemporary dance set to music by Joe Galdo and Frank Natale. McMahon has choreographed a ballet piece set to music by Dustin O’Halloran called Untitled (The Gift).

Also featured are two modern pieces by UA dance faculty choreographers. Robin Prichard has choreographed her "Cracks" to the music of Clint Mansell and Michael Giacchino. Tom Smith has choreographed his "Insectus Metamorphosis" to music by George Crumb and Philip Glass.