Most Interesting People 2011
- Doug Bahniuk
- Cindy Barber
- Scott Bickel
- Johnine Byrne
- Angelica Campos
- Brandon Chrostowski
- Norris Cole
- The Rev. Jawanza Karriem Colvin
- Brittany Dell'aglio-Mitchell
- Marshall Emerson III
- Roe Green
- Peyton Hillis
- Chris Hodgson
- Cashmere Jackson
- Kasumi
- Erika Lauren
- Dr. James Levine
- Ramon Lugo III
- Valerie Mayen
- Michael McIntyre
- Dr. Steve Nissen
- Grafton Nunes
- Jim Sheeler
- Bella Sin
- Charles E. Smith
- Tricia Springstubb
- Dusty Street
- Maya Thomas-Bey
- Julie Zeilinger
- Matt Zone
Cindy Barber
Co-owner, Beachland Ballroom | 59
Why she's interesting ... After a career in communications and journalism, Barber decided to focus on improving the Collinwood neighborhood where she lived. When the old Croatian Liberty Home was for sale in 2000, Barber stepped up. She bought the building and turned it into the Beachland Ballroom, one of Cleveland's best and most diverse live music venues.
Numbers game ... Barber has always been fascinated by the media and music. She grew up watching TV in the '50s and early '60s and began spinning 45s when she was 8.
Rock of love ... Barber's favorite concert was when the Beachland hosted the band Love, one of the first diverse multigenre rock 'n' roll bands out of Los Angeles in the '60s and '70s. "I saw them when I was little, so it was very special to have them on our stage. Arthur Lee couldn't get it together for the first two songs, and then something happened, and he got it into gear. It turned into pure magic."
Shake your groove thing ... "I'm a really big closet dancer. That's probably something people wouldn't know about me."
Life saver ... "I'm a firm believer that music saves souls, neighborhoods and cities. Music can bring different people together and suspend you in a moment. Sometimes it's pure joy and dancing, and sometimes there's a political or personal message hidden in the music. It can really transform your life."
Plan B ... Farm girl. "I'd really love to go live in the country and raise horses and other animals. It'd be really cool to be self-sufficient."
What's in her CD player ... Street Songs of Love by Alejandro Escovedo. "He wrote the title song after he played the Beachland last January, and it includes the line, It was a Beachland night.' "
