The Nightlight is one of my top three favorite places in Akron along with Akron Coffee Roasters…read moreright next door and Angel Falls down West Market. You can't go wrong spending a night at the Nightlight. You go to see a movie, something usually a bit more indie, a classic, or arthouse, and as soon as you step through the doors you're transported to a different world or a different time. (At least I am). And yet, it feels like a timeless place. Like this is a place that has always existed and will always exist. If I'm wandering through the post-apocalyptic wasteland and don't stumble upon the Nightlight I would be woefully surprised. It's mystical, know what I mean? They've just completed their ambitious second screen project. In the process, they've completely renovated their other spaces. You can now pick up a themed cocktail (or mocktail), a Norka or a Cheerwine at their extensive and sizable bar. There's plenty of seating at the counter if you'd care to take one and chat it up as if you're at a cocktail lounge. On the left side of the bar is a nice snack collection to choose from. Pick up all kinds of candy before you make your order for drinks and popcorn at the counter. They even have some vintage options that'll bring tears to your grandparents' eyes. The popcorn is everything you'd want from a movie theater, so don't miss out. They've also added a brand new movie library behind the bar. Here, you can take a plush chair by the fireplace and discuss whatever great movie you just got out of. It's the kind of place that makes you want to puff on pipe tobacco. Their bathrooms also got an overhaul! If you're a fan of The Shining, it'll feel like you stepped into the bathroom where Jack chats with Delbert Grady. I won't spoil the library. The second screen is a great addition. Now they can play more movies and host more showings. It's a beautiful theater as well. You'll have to see it and experience it for yourself. I'm obsessed with the red carpet. The whole place, not just the theaters, is dripping with style. They've captured and mastered an aesthetic. Not only do they create this space, they also partner with all kinds of other local venues for unique showings. Like Pulp Fiction at the Civic, The Shining at CVNP's lodge, and other classics at Lock 3 in the summer. You'll also get the chance to meet directors and producers who come to town with their films. As a writer, this is a special and encouraging experience for me. The executive director of the Nightlight, Jenn Kidd, is one of the kindest people you will meet. She makes everyone feel like a valued human being, not just a patron or customer. People are important to her, that's why she's helped create and foster this welcoming community space. And it does feel like that, a community. One that is safe and inclusive. All of the staff are lovely people. I don't tire of seeing them and hearing their thoughts about the movies. You'll meet all kinds of cool strangers as well. One of the best parts about the Nightlight is their membership program. They have varying levels, but honestly the gold tier is the way to go. For $20 a month, you can go to every showing. That's right, $20 a month gets you a ticket to every showing! On Mondays you can also bring a guest for free, along with several extra tickets to use at your discretion throughout the year. You also get free popcorn with every showing. It's a great deal, honestly, if you ask me it's a steal. Jenn, if you're reading this, make physical membership cards! It would be very very cool. I would pay extra for one, I'm so serious! I'm just imaging that bad boy in my wallet and it gives me a sweet feeling. Perhaps I'm just a mawkish sap. I moved back to Akron after living out of state for about 6 years. A lot of my old friends had moved away. Before I found a new group of great people, I didn't have all that much to do besides work, take care of my grandma (Mimi), and hangout around Angel Falls with my childhood bestie. How many times can you go to the Bomb Shelter without going a little crazy? And then the Nightlight showed me its face! I had somewhere to go, that changed a lot for me. Now I go to the Nightlight with so many different friends! I always take my out-of-towners as well. Full circle for me. I still love going alone too, that won't change. I also always meet great strangers there. Thanks for being that place for me for over a year now. It is truly a gem. Thanks for providing it! Check them out on social media and subscribe to their email list, you won't regret it. They're severely lacking in recent reviews, so give them a glowing one!

This theater is adorable and shows a wide variety of unique films. Went here to see a movie called…read moreWicked Little Letters and my fiancé and I absolutely loved it. We will for sure be here numerous more times. Such a nice local place and they even are in the process of adding a second screen to accommodate more guests. 100% should check out a movie here if you want something a little different from your normal movie going experience.

Baxter's Speakeasy was a TOTAL vibe! From the moment we walked in, there was something eye-catching…read moreand beautiful on every wall--seriously, the decor is a masterpiece. The space is filled with amazing art for sale and tons of disco balls, which are completely my style. I couldn't stop taking it all in--I loved every detail! The cocktail we ordered was not only super fun but also absolutely delicious. The bartender was so kind, fun, and really added to the experience. This spot is perfect for a date or a night out with friends. Bonus: I found out there's going to be a DJ every Saturday night for the foreseeable future. If you're looking for a cool, unique place to hang out, Baxter's is definitely worth checking out! There's some pretty cool stuff goin on in Akron

The drinks aren't like amazing, but this place is worth it to go to because the interior is so fun…read moreand unique!!

We absolutely love coming to Blu Jazz. The space is super cool and I love how intimate it is. Their…read moretalent scouts really do a great job at bringing top notch talent to their stage. This is the only jazz bar I've been to so maybe what I'm about to say is typical for jazz clubs but the only thing I really dislike about coming here is that the audience tends to chit chat the entire time. I find it incredibly rude, not only for those around that came here for a gr at show but so rude to the performers.

We checked out Blue Jazz last Friday. I had been wanting to go for quite a while. What a pleasant…read moresurprise! I was charmed by the quaint but very hip environment. The bar service was friendly and efficient. The waitress downstairs was attentive. It was clean, cozy, and a good venue for an intimate setting for jazz and other performances. My husband, John, enjoyed a burger, which was yummy, and I had a gluten-free beef dish with twice-washed fries and squash. We had sauerkraut balls that were delicious. Actually, everything - the food was delicious. We plan on going back.

This is a small art museum in a beautiful contemporary building that mostly features local artists…read moreto NE Ohio. There are a few recognizable names among the collection such as Mark Rothko and Keith Haring. I visited the museum in March of 2026 and it was my first visit to the museum. My bf and I were done in about 75 minutes. Adult tickets are $12 with some discounts offered to seniors, children, the military, and locals. We saw some impressive pieces, including a gorgeous installation that featured taxidermied peacocks that was definitely the showstopper among every visitor that day. We were bummed that a large section was closed off in preparation for an upcoming exhibit. It meant a lot of non special exhibit art was not viewable to us. A heads up and/or a discount would have been nice. Meanwhile, a viewable exhibit with a gorgeous Tiffany glass window installation was almost missed entirely by us because the doors to get to it were covered up by curtains, giving off the impression that it was closed. Fortunately, we walked through the curtains out of curiosity and saw the glass piece but many others in the museum walked right by it. A sign letting people know that the space was open would be a good idea! The art museum store was closed by the time we were done but from the outside, it looked like a pretty good, if pretty typical, art museum gift shop. It is worth checking out if you are in the Akron downtown area.

Fabulous art, some great classics here and some local artists and quite a few I had never heard of…read more One interesting series in the current photographic exhibit is by Josh Azzarella who "works with historical photographs by removing or abstracting their central imagery." Unique to see the Kent State Shooting without Jeffrey Miller. Lovely to see a Calder and a Magritte here as well. Don't miss the facade of the building which itself is an art piece. I understand that it uses the same steel and glass as was installed in the Louvre. [Review 1351 of 2024 - 270 in Ohio - 22374 overall]

Unique gift for those who enjoy experiences over "stuff". My sister and I took my mom here for…read moreMother's Day this year and I cannot say enough good things about this place! My mom is impossible to shop for, so I was super excited when I came across this Mother's Day special on the Akron Glass Works Facebook page. It is a beautiful old church converted into and art space right off of the University of Akron campus. There were about 12 people total with two instructors for the group. They gave a demonstration and then thoroughly went over all the steps with an emphasis on safety. I was a little nervous working with molten hot glass, but the professionalism of the instructors set me at ease. They're by your side the whole time... but you're actually creating the piece yourself. I have been to other glass blowing studios where the instructors are so hands-on, that you feel like you took no part in the entire process. Not this place. I definitely felt like I was making something and they were just there to make sure I didn't burn my hand off. The whole process took less than an hour and our pieces were available for pickup the next day. We each got to make two glass flowers which all turned out beautifully. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something different to do! We had such a great time!

I received a gift certificate and decided to take a class to make stemless wine glasses. We were…read moreshown all of the steps and watched a glass be made. Then Christian guided me through making my two glasses. I was able to choose from a variety of colors or make my own mix. I chose to mix blue and purple. Christian allowed me to do much of the work while he did the more dangerous parts while reminding me of safety. I was able to to pick up them the next day. I'm really happy with them!

Saw Sun Kil Moon play here on a cold and lonely Monday night in November. The venue was nice, the…read moresound was good, drinks were cheap. I enjoyed it and would return.

Great time at this venue. Very nicely lit, bar was solid and had some really cool lights,…read morebartenders were so kind and efficient, and the quality of the show was solid.

Lock 3 Park is a park in the heart of Akron. It has a cool cascade like steps. I visited the park…read moreon multiple occasions attending yoga fest and most recently Sakura festival. The park is gorgeous, has a very convenient and clean towpath. This is DORA area so you can enjoy beverages from nearby places. There is also a stage for performers. Bring a blanket or a chair for extra comfort during the shows, there is no permanent seating. Only the stage area is covered so bring an umbrella on rainy days. Parking is conveniently located by the Children's museum. Parking rates vary. There are multiple floors of parking in the enclosed garage with convenient elevator or stairs to descend directly to the park.

This park is in downtown Akron, Ohio. It is located on King James Way (also known as South Main…read moreStreet). It is right on the same lot as the Akron Children's Museum. I visited Lock 3 park over a weekend (20-21 July 2019) for the 38th annual African American Festival & Parade. I was working at a booth at the festival. I wish more advertisement was done for the festival because it wasn't that busy on Saturday but way more people came on Sunday. Apparently though, Saturdays tend to be a quieter day according to one of the festival organizers. There was no rain during the time I was there and so it was a warm day to be outside (it was actually very hot). The festival organisers had my team and another vendor under a big tent so I was happy to be under some shade even though it was still very hot. LOCK 3 PARK -- This is a family friendly outdoor park that hosts events as well. There is a stage where different performers entertain. The park is a medium sized park so it isn't big. There are some benches to sit at around the park. A canal lock is used to raise and lower boats. Lock 3 sots on the Ohio-Erie Canal which is the waterway that flows into to Lake Erie. I don't known if this lock device is used anymore but I have a photo of the canal in my attached pictures. LOCATION -- As I stated earlier, this park is in downtown Akron. There is currently so much construction happening on S. Main Street that parking and finding a way to enter the park can be challenging especially if you don't live in Akron. Thankfully, I was dropped off both on Saturday and Sunday. Overall, this is a nice outdoor space. Swings and maybe a small playground would be a nice addition for kids. Also, a shaded canopy or covering would be great for hot days outside. **** - 98 total reviews in 2019 - 307 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 22 July 2019

Who knew that this place had so many cool things in it?!? I came for the opening of their new…read morerestaurant, Buckets and was pleasantly surprised to see that there was also a Starbucks, cabaret theater, LeBron Jones memorabilia shop, candy store, and grab-and-go beer spot. There's also great lounge and seating nooks. I think there's even more downstairs. I'm not super familiar with the LeBron James Foundation's work in Akron, but this space feels like a great gathering spot for the community.

Visited House 330 on July 19, 2025 for their first ever Farmers Market. I stopped in a shop…read morecontaining a variety of things to purchase. I liked a reusable Tote bag. I asked the cashier how much it was and she stated $17. I decided to look around the Farmers Market first and get the Tote on my way out. I came back and got the Tote, it rang up at $18 this time with tax and asked if I wanted to add a tip. I said No and continued my purchase. When I got home, I looked at the receipt and saw not only was the Tote a dollar more, but a $3.60 tip was added after I said No. I like the Tote but I do not like being ripped off.

First timer at the Ivic. The first C is not illuminated on the outside sign…read more John Legend was so good. Great storytelling and performance. Amazing venue. Historic. Beautiful. Colorful. I would definitely return.

My husband and I caught a holiday show in this theater and thought it was just stunning. The…read moretheater has historic charm as it's nearly 100 years old and an atmospheric starry sky ceiling in the auditorium area. It was also decorated beautifully for Christmas. The ushers working the show were helpful and very friendly. We didn't eat or drink but food and beverage options were available.

My child (3) loves this place! It's nice being able to take him somewhere like this in the winter…read more That said, the ACM is something my nightmares are made of. This place is FILTHY. I am not sure I've ever said that in a review. But I've now been here pre-covid and post. And I still feel this place needs a new cleaning crew, maybe a long weekend to sanitize every surface. My background is in nursing and public health, and I was just appalled at how gross the toys and structures were. I don't mind letting my child play at indoor facilities - it's nothing I have a "rule" against. But after finding layers of visible dirt/grime on almost everything we saw during our December visit, I was disgusted. Then that water table someone else mentioned... it's had this horrible rotting odor for years. I couldn't believe it's still there. But it is, still giving off an offensive stench that's pretty noticeable several yards away. There is a costume area with a stage, and the costumes have seen much better days. I cringed every time my son put on a hat or helmet - every toy/material here had some type of a smell and I wondered if anyone has ever put the costumes in a machine washer or wiped down the helmets? I was pretty surprised I didn't see any staff walking around, perhaps wiping surfaces or helping direct the masses of excited children. It was only $5 to get in, but I'm not sure why they can't charge a few dollars more and make the museum a clean, safer place for children. In December, covid, flu, and RSV were pretty prevalent in our area and I was nauseous thinking what we could have brought home with all of the disgusting things my son touched. I wish I could say we'd be back, especially as my son loves it, but this place is always a hard pass in my book.

Definitely geared towards younger kids. We went here on a random Sunday to kill time. There were a…read morefew birthday parties going on but it wasn't terribly busy. There isn't much to do and what is there is super cramped. The staff was friendly and did come around cleaning while we were there. Comparing it to the other children museums I have been to I don't think I would return. They are adding on though so hopefully it keeps getting better.