Solstice is the event of the summer. An energy-filled night June 22 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Solstice will probably be more popular than ever this year. Expect huge crowds, one-of-a-kind performances and plenty of amazing art. To get an atrium-level guide to the summer’s swankiest get-together, we talked to Jennifer Rome, a three-year attendee and blogger. Rome gave us three tips to get the most out of what will be an incredible night. “It breaks you out of that mentality of, like, that old Cleveland thought — 'Oh we're Midwest, and we're sleepy, and we're not cosmopolitan,’” she says. “No we are.”
Choose your footwear carefully. You don’t want wear a pair of 6-inch heels, since you will be doing a lot of walking. “Some of the bars you have to cross the grass to get to, so you just don't want to be, like, sinking,” Rome says. Think wedges or flats for women, and something with arch support for the guys. Clothing-wise, Rome suggests swanky but casual party attire. Linen pants, a button down and a summery eye-catching sports jacket for the guys, and bright and vibrant colors for women. But you’re going to be surrounded by challenging art anyway, so dressing creatively is encouraged.
Find a meet-up spot. As soon as you step into the museum, you will be instantly thrown into a sea of extravagantly dressed people. You’ll want to set a rendezvous spot for your group, says Rome. “It's just packed,” says Rome, “and then you're sort of like this salmon just moving with the current.” Luckily there are many pieces of gorgeous, eye-catching art to choose from.
Be ready for something new. The event kicks off at 8 p.m., so you will get to see a rarity — CMA after dark. After you grab a glass of white wine and check out the Shinto: Discovery of the Divine in Japanese Art, head outside and dance to Rafiq Bhatia, an international guitarist. As you twirl in the lights, you’ll see CMA’s architecture as never before. “My absolute favorite is the light projections on the base of museum,” Rome says. “Go outside right away and just see the light shows that they do 'cause it's really incredible.”