This curiosity was in Sunday's New York Times, in the City section.

 

Queens Up Close:

A Poet on the Lam

 

By ALEX MINDLIN

Published: June 25, 2006

 

IN Dante's "Divine Comedy," the poet Virgil led Dante through purgatory and hell. In the last several years, a bust of Virgil has taken a less epic, but equally mysterious, journey, from Cleveland to Queens. The bust in question, signed by the Italian sculptor Enrico Martini, is a stern bronze crowned with a laurel wreath, which the Italian government donated to the city of Cleveland in 1930. On Columbus Day of that year, the bust was placed atop a column in the city's newly created Italian Cultural Garden, a sloping, terraced landscape with two fountains and winding double staircases.

 

More below:

www.nytimes.com

 

A bust of Virgil that vanished from Cleveland in the late 60's. A recently discovered trail leads to New York. (Credit: The Cleveland Press Collection)

Poor Virgil.  I hope he makes it home safely some day.

 

Anyone know if there is any programming at any of the Cultural Gardens?  The Italian one in particular seems ripe for hosting some evening or sunday afternoon music.

There's lots of talk of new festivals and other programming, but I don't know of anything definitive yet.  I was at the Italian garden last week and was very impressed with the bi-level fountain and the size of the whole thing.  I rode my bike down East Blvd. and was wowed over and over again by all of the gardens I passed.  People really need to get out there on foot and on their bikes because this place is a remarkable gem crying out for appreciation!

I don't know of any specific programming for the Gardens. I know that they will shut down MLK for a Sunday in August for some sort of festival. From what I can gather, the leaders of this festival aren't the most experienced bunch.

 

Strap,

 

A master plan process for all of Rockefeller Park has just begun.  The plan will take a long look at improved programming as well as capital improvements.

thats a crazy story, itd be great to get that thing back.

 

i remember there being some kind of celebration on MLK on Memorial Day.  Cars everywhere trying to pull out and parked along the curb.  Had to stop 20 times to let people out. Finally i just said screw it and went.  Some lady called me a white bitch for not letting her out, it was quite a pleasant experience heh. 

 

 

Here is the website for the August "Walk and Roll" event.  It doesn't tell you much:

 

http://www.walkandrollcleveland.com/

that isn't a "sure thing" yet, but the process is moving along!

Happy to hear there's a master planning effort for Rock Park, thanks Wim.  I love that stretch and am always sad to see the bike path and cultural gardens so empty even on beautiful days.  I've wandered around a few times but it's a challenge with no easy places to to park and a little creepy when so deserted.  But man, give me a glass of wine and some gentle music on that terrace at the Italian garden I'd be very happy to linger.

 

Not sure what the Walk and Roll event will be but I like the sound of it.  In Cambridge Mass the city shuts down a stretch of Memorial Drive- a major riverfront parkway- to cars on Sundays leaving it open only to bikers, joggers and rollerbladers which is wildly popular.  Would be cool to see something like that for MLK or the new west side lakefront boulevard (with a concerted effort to draw people out to use it) every once in a while.  I know that one thing that keeps me off a bike is my not totally unjustified fear of being doored or mowed down by a clueless or malevolent car driver...

 

Anyone know if there is any programming at any of the Cultural Gardens?  The Italian one in particular seems ripe for hosting some evening or sunday afternoon music.

 

I think that there is a day in September where there is a parade/procession with all of the different gardens/ethnicities represented--some dressed in authentic national costumes.  I believe that there are also cultural programs in some of the gardens that coincide either before or after the parade.  I'm not sure if this is still around, but I was in attendance once about 6 or 7 years ago.

Anyone know where to find a map of the current gardens or if the City puts together some sort of visitor guide?  I've walked around the area several times - but haven't seen all the gardens.  Curious on where certain ones are located at. 

http://www.culturalgardens.org/