Take pride in the city, the arts this weekend

Vibrant is sure to be the watchword in and around downtown Youngstown today and Sunday. A perfect weekend storm of fine art, comic art, concerts from pop to jazz to gospel, ethnic foods from every corner of the earth and much, much more will bring tens of thousands to Central Square, Youngstown State University and their immediate environs.

A centerpiece of the dynamic weekend, of course, is the Summer Festival of the Arts on the YSU campus, which began 19 years ago and has been growing in scope and popularity every year since. Today, it has matured into a slew of simultaneous arts and cultural events tucked conveniently within a 1-mile radius.

This year, for example, the festival has expanded to welcome the All American Comic Convention as the latest addition to the cornucopia of entertaining delights.

As YSU President James Tressel wrote in his welcoming address, regionwide cooperation to achieve a mutually benficial goal has paid off handsomely. Key players have included YSU’s Summer Fest team led by the indomitable Lori Factor; Youngstown officials led by the energetic Michael McGiffin, downtown events coordinator; the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Eric Ryan Productions.

“It is yet another example of how, through collaboration, we can do great things at the university, in the city and across the region,” Tressel said.

Speaking of great things born of cooperation, festival-goers who have not ventured into the downtown and campus areas in recent months may be pleasantly surprised by the advances on several key urban development projects.

SIGHTS TO BEHOLD

On Central Square, they cannot help but notice the ongoing transformation of the Stambaugh Building into a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and the multimillion-dollar exterior and interior renovations to the 12-story International Towers.

Around YSU, the finishing touches to the new Barnes & Noble bookstore and cafe next to the new second phase of the massive University Edge apartment complex add a bolder and livelier character to the increasingly bustling Fifth Avenue corridor.

But don’t let those and other construction zones – including the work in progress of rebuilding the closed Wick Avenue – keep you away from the fun and excitement. Youngstown city, Covelli Centre and YSU officials have jointly committed themselves to lessening any potential driving and parking perils. On-street parking throughout downtown will be free, as will parking in university lots along Fifth Avenue and at the Covelli Centre’s 1,000-space lot for Comic Con patrons.

With so much going for it, why not make a day of it by attending multiple events throughout today and Sunday? Here is a rundown:

YSU Festival of the Arts, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday throughout the campus.

All-AmericiCon comic book, toy and art show, Covelli Centre, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Summerfest, 220 N. Walnut St., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

Youngstown Wine and Jazz Festival, Central Square, 6:30 to 11 p.m. today.

2 DE Gospel Fest, Central Square, 2 to 11 p.m. Sunday.