Update: Bonnie Raitt Guitar to Be Featured at Today’s Member and Donor Appreciation Event at the Rock Hall
[image-2] Update: Bonnie Raitt’s resonator guitar won the most votes as the item that will be exhibited today as part of the Rock Hall’s Member & Donor Appreciation Day. The guitar won via an online member vote and beat out a Neil Schon of Journey electric guitar, a Jon Anderson of YES outfit, a Rihanna bustier and…
Data Reveals Cleveland is One of the Least Welcoming Cities For Immigrants
In news that will surprise exactly no one, Cleveland is one of the least welcoming cities in America for immigrants, according to a new study released by advocacy organization the New American Economy. Cleveland ranked at No. 64 (compared to say, Detroit’s No. 10) on NAE’s Cities Index, which measures local policies and socioeconomic outcomes across…
‘Kusama — Infinity’ Director to Appear at Cleveland Museum of Art This Weekend
An Akron native, director Heather Lenz started making her documentary film, Kusama — Infinity way back in January of 2001. “It was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” she jokes in a recent phone interview. The movie screens at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wexner Center in Columbus, at 1:30 p.m.…
The Cleveland Orchestra Opens Its Severance Hall Season and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
It’s back to school time for The Cleveland Orchestra and music director Franz Welser-Möst, who will open the Severance Hall season on Thursday, September 20 at 7:30 pm with a program that’s two parts new and one part old favorite. Assistant principal oboe Jeffrey Rathbun’s Pantheon will receive its world premiere, and Danish composer Hans…
Ohio City and Community Leaders Eye Expansion in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Some Ohio city and community leaders are among dozens around the world putting the pedal to the metal on electric vehicle technology. The Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative was announced at a Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco last week. Mike Foley, director of the Department of Sustainability for Cuyahoga…
Kevin Love Creates Foundation to Prioritize Mental Health
It’s a banner week for Kevin Love. Less than 24 hours after People Magazine announced the Cavs star partnered with Banana Republic to release a collection of menswear named BR/K.LOVE-18, there’s also news that Love has created the Kevin Love Fund to prioritize mental health. Love has been open about his struggles with anxiety and…
Dan Gilbert Claims to Be Spending an Additional $45 Million In Q Arena Upgrades
In a press release Tuesday, the Cavs announced that Dan Gilbert and the Cavs organization are increasing their funding commitment for the Quicken Loans Arena renovation by $45 million to pay for “additional updates and improvements.” This extra private funding, the release claimed, now raises the team’s commitment to more than $115 million. The project’s…
Don’t Miss New World Performance Lab’s Amusing and Engrossing Production of ‘Don Quijote’ in Akron
There are many ways to tell a story, ways that extend far beyond the usual scripted dialogue and blocking that you find in most theaters. For the past 25 years, the folks at the New World Performance Lab have been exploring those off-the-beaten-path ways of storytelling. And now, in their production of Don Quijote, many…
Bob Seger’s Farewell Tour Coming to the Q in December
Yet another classic rocker will embark on a farewell tour before the year’s over. Earlier today, singer Bob Seger announced that he’ll hit the road with his Silver Bullet Band for the very last time. The tour kicks off on Nov. 21 in Grand Rapids and it comes to the Q on Dec. 6. Bob…
Parma Officials Reconsider Pit-Bull Ban, Sparking Public Debate
More than two dozen people descended upon the Parma City Council meeting Monday night to advocate against the city’s ban on owning pit bulls. The current laws, which are more than 30 years old, contain stigma and language about breed definitions that they find concerning and outdated. Under Parma City Ordinance 618.09, pit bulls are…
With Its New Album, the Latin Alternative Band Café Tacvba Goes Back to Basics
When Café Tacvba formed in the late ’80s, the Latin alternative rock scene was still in its early stages. At best, Café Tacvba could hope to play clubs. Arenas seemed out of reach. “There wasn’t a choice for us to play in the club scene,” says bassist Enrique “Quique” Rangel from a Salt Lake City…
Annual Speedbump Fest to Take Place Next Month at the Outpost in Kent
Jaclyn Wright, the organizer of the annual Speedbump Fest, a benefit that began as a memorial concert to friend Garrett Janos, a suicide victim, has said she would like to think of Speedbump Fest as “aimed at not only celebrating his life but also building trust and an openness to our community.” For the third…
‘The Lion King’ Returns to Cleveland Next Summer
The Lion King fans can get their dose of “Hakuna Matata” next summer, when the Tony-award winning musical returns to Playhouse Square after a six-year absence. The third-longest-running show on Broadway, The Lion King features life-size puppets of the classic characters, which earned director and costume designer Julie Taymor her first Tony in 1998, along…
‘Surfer: Teen Confronts Fear’ Director to Appear at the Cinematheque on Saturday
Born in New Jersey, Douglas Burke took up surfing after his family relocated to California when he was a teenager. After living in the South Pacific and then moving back to California, he started a family and taught his son to surf. When his son started taking on some of the bigger waves, he began…
U.S. Senator Michael Bennett Will Speak Friday Morning at Blockland Update Meeting
[image-1] U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett (D-Col.) will speak Friday morning at a Blockland Cleveland meeting. A spokesperson in the Senator’s Denver office said she was not authorized to comment on Bennett’s itinerary, but Blockland leader Bernie Moreno has posted in the initiative’s Facebook group that Bennett will be speaking. “Colorado Senator Michael Bennett will share…
Here’s The Full Schedule for Flaming River Con, the Midwest’s First Queer Geek Convention Debuting Saturday
Brittney Orcutt founded Flaming River Arts in 2017 to “foster, showcase and celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices and the community, and combat bigotry by increasing the visibility of queer and marginalized persons within geek culture.” Providing Cleveland queer-friendly events like dance parties, prom, trivia, cosplay contests, photos with Santa and even bake-offs, Orcutt and her team are prepping…
White Women Making More than $50K Want Better Public Transit, More Leadership Opportunities
Respondents to an inaugural survey designed to capture the state of Northeast Ohio’s young professional community identified “public transportation” as the region’s top challenge. The 650 young pros who participated, 86 percent of whom were white and 75 percent of whom were women, noted that they wanted to be more involved in civic leadership but…
Cleveland Will Pay $1 Million to Families of Six Anthony Sowell Victims
In 2011, Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell was convicted of raping and murdering at least 11 women. Now the families of six of his victims have settled with the city of Cleveland, sharing $1 million worth of damages. According to the firms representing the families, the money is being split evenly between relatives of Nancy Cobbs,…
Principal Trombonist with Cleveland Orchestra Suspended After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Less than two months after allegations of sexual misconduct against Cleveland Orchestra’s concertmaster William Preucil were given national spotlight, a continuing investigation by an outside law firm has resulted in the suspension of its principal trombone player, Massimo La Rosa. La Rosa has been with the Cleveland Orchestra since 2007, and has presented recitals and masterclasses…
Ozzy Osbourne Brings Blossom’s Season to an End With a Bang
When singer Ozzy Osbourne announced the dates for his No More Tours 2, his PR firm issued a press release that emphasized it was simply “the end of global touring” for the Prince of Darkness. In other words, he might not tour the world anymore, but he’d still play “select live shows.” Performing last night…
Study Shows Obesity Still a Growing Problem in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Obesity is a crisis that continues to plague Ohio and the rest of the country, according to an annual report released Wednesday on the state of obesity in America. The report from Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows the Buckeye State is ranked 11th nationally for the…
Extra Humid, Extra Baseball Talk — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the Browns’ chances Sunday in New Orleans and the importance of Game 3. They also discuss coaches throwing their players under the bus via the media and preview the Indians’ homestand. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
Cedar Point Turns Up the Fall Theme With HalloWeekends Starting Today
The lingering summer heat isn’t stopping Halloween from rapidly approaching, and, starting today, Cedar Point is helping sweaty Ohioans adjust to the spooky season with HalloWeekends. A Cedar Point tradition since 1997, HalloWeekends offer frights and festivities every September through October. During the day, families can partake in the Great Pumpkin Fest, trick-or-treating with the…
White Dudes are Actually Suing Over Who Has Legal Right To Appropriate Day of the Dead Checklist Taco Restaurants
The owners of Barrio, the extremely popular Northeast Ohio chain of build-your-own taco restaurants, are taking a former business partner to court for gimmick infringement. Barrio’s “Day of the Dead” (or Día de Muertos for those that actually practice the sacred holiday and don’t appropriate it as a quirky design choice) aesthetic and the use-a-checklist-to-design-a-taco ordering…
Cleveland-Filmed Horror Flick to Premiere Next Week at Atlas Cinemas Lakeshore 7 in Euclid
Locally based horror filmmaker, Eddie Lengyel regularly releases movies on his Fright Teck Pictures. The latest such flick, American Poltergeist: The Curse of Lilith Ratchet, centers on a woman and her friend who put a curse into motion after they acquire a shrunken head. They take the thing to a paranormal podcast host who helps…
Bob Evans Farms is Recalling Almost 47,000 Pounds of Sausage Containing Hard Plastic
Bob Evans Farms has issued a recall on nearly 47,000 pounds of pork sausage links thanks to a potential hard plastic contamination, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reported on Thursday. The items have establishment number “EST 6785” and were sold in Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North…
That Garfield Heights IKEA Ain’t Happening
Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova gracefully told Scene that he and residents of his small Cleveland suburb were “highly disappointed” that the retail furniture giant IKEA had declined to pursue a location there after nearly two years of planning. “We pulled out the red carpet for them and everything,” Collova said in a phone interview.…
In Advance of Their Upcoming House of Blues Concert, Matt and Kim Talk About Their Unhinged Live Shows
Known for their off-the-rails live show, Matt & Kim — singer-keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino — had to take a break from touring last year after Schifino tour her ACL. But now that Schifino has healed, the group has hit the road in support of its new album, Almost Everyday. Guest vocalists Mark…
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day to Take Place in Cleveland on Nov. 12
Billed as “a global movement that celebrates, empowers and supports women in business to alleviate poverty,” Women’s Entrepreneurship Day comes to Cleveland for the first time on Nov. 12. The event, which takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Linsalata Alumni Center of Case Western Reserve University, will feature founder, social entrepreneur…
Parade of Ignorant Idiots Show Up to Cuyahoga County Council to Oppose LGBTQ+ Protection Ordinance
EDIT:: This article now contains the full audio of the Cuyahoga County Council meeting, if you’d like to rage-listen for yourself, including the public comments of opposer Tony George, the Cleveland restauranteur who “owns 37 restaurants and bars.” See at the bottom of the page. Cuyahoga County Council is currently considering a charter amendment and an…
Fat Head’s Brewery to Launch Whole Hog Sundays
Going whole hog, apart from being a blast, is no easy feat. That might be why no barbecue restaurants in town offer it on a regular – or irregular, for that matter – basis. But starting this weekend, whole hog barbecue fans can have their piggy dreams fulfilled at Fat Head’s Brewery (17450 Engle Lake…
Detroit-Shoreway’s Giant Paddle Ball Sculpture Has Been Installed
A giant paddle ball sculpture was installed on Cleveland’s west side last night, on Lake Road, just past the Detroit Avenue intersection. The scultpure is the brainchild of Ben Haehn, Nathaniel Murray, and David Spasic of Superelectric pinball parlor. It was erected with the support of the City of Cleveland’s public art program and managed by…
10th Annual Lakewood Chocolate Walk Returns Oct. 25
[image-1] Slated to take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, the 10th Annual Lakewood Chocolate Walk will provide participants with the opportunity to visit more than 20 shops and eateries in downtown Lakewood. Each “sweet stop” provides visitors with a unique chocolate treat. Here’s the details on how to get tickets. A…
CHA Spirits and Pizza in Ohio City Will Close for Good This Saturday
The second iteration of Cha Spirits and Pizza, which opened in Ohio City last December, will close for good this coming Saturday, Sept. 15. Owner Susan Walters had hoped for more after the move from Battery Park, but a disagreement on new lease terms at the Whitman Ave. space means the end of business. That…
Dinosaur Jr. Delivers ‘Intimate,’ Earth-Shattering Show at Grog Shop
Following the abrupt and unfortunate cancellation of Mastodon’s fall tour (and their show at the Agora), Dinosaur Jr., slated as the opener, announced the following day that they would be presenting “some special intimate performances” in mid-September. For Cleveland heads, that meant a surprise booking at the Grog Shop. It was immediately noted among the…
Northeast Ohio Native Spence Reed Beginning to Make a Name for Himself in Nashville
Born and raised around Ravenna, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Spence Reed developed a passion for music when he was in eighth grade. At the time, he hung out with a youth pastor who had a band. “He was really into music, so I figured if I wanted to keep hanging out him, I should learn to play,”…
Ohio is Now the 11th Most Obese State in the Nation, New Report Finds
This year’s just-released “State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America” report, produced by the Trust for America’s Health, delivered the troubling news that the Buckeye state has gone from a ranking of 19th most obese state in the country to 11th. Now 33.8 percent of Ohio adults are considered obese. Even more troubling…
Tropidelic to Host Special New Year’s Eve Party at the Beachland
Last year, local rockers Tropidelic successfully launched their two-day Freakstomp Music Festival in Medina. The inaugural festival featured acts such as Vibe & Direct, Bumpin’ Uglies, Sun-Dried Vibes, Pasadena, Elementree Livity Project, Drunken Sunday and Derlei, and this year’s lineup included Afroman, Bumpin’ Uglies, Broccoli Samurai, Sun-Dried Vibes, Roots of a Rebellion, Little Stranger, the…
Old Guy in MAGA Hat Who LeBron Owned During Playoff Game Will Be Appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ireland
Remember that earnest octogenarian in the MAGA hat sitting courtside during a Cavs playoff game this year whom LeBron trolled by tossing a sweaty towel just out of his reach? If not, check out the video above. It was a minor owning, but an owning nonetheless, and in keeping with LeBron’s outspoken critiques of President…
Inaugural Akron-Canton Passport Brew Tour Cancelled After Organizer Posts Sexist Beer Meme on Facebook
EDIT:: A previous version of this article listed ‘Visit Canton’ as one of the co-organizers. Visit Canton along with Tuscarawas CVB and Wayne County CVB, were a promotional partner agreeing to promote the tour in consideration of Stark County tourism industry partners that were included on it. None of these groups organized, managed, or oversaw any…
6 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, SEPT. 14 An Acoustic Evening with Keb Mo Four years ago, Keb’ Mo’ dropped Bluesamericana, notching a new chapter for his career and merging the traditional scene from which he grows with the finger-pickin’ uber-popular world of indie Americana music (a la the Lumineers, etc.). “I only make albums when I’m inspired to, and…
75-Year-Old Cleveland Man Survives Being Trapped in Hot Cadillac for 14 Hours
With cold weather just around the corner, 75-year-old Peter Pyros of Cleveland wanted to take one last spin around the neighborhood in his 2006 Cadillac XLR roadster. Pyros got in his vehicle, shut the door and hit the push-start button. Nothing. He tried putting the key fob into a slot to start it, but the engine wouldn’t…
First Look: Bookhouse Brewing, Opening this Weekend in Ohio City
Partners Luke Brevoort and Vaughn Stewart are putting the finishing touches on Bookhouse Brewing (1526 W. 25th St.), a neighborhood brewery and taproom located on the ground floor of the W. 25th Streets Lofts in Ohio City. The longtime friends announced this past winter their plans to transform a 19th-century space, once home to Baehr…
Same Contractor That Caused Traffic Gridlock Two Weeks Ago Responsible for This Morning’s Backups
Two weeks ago, an overnight construction crew didn’t finish work on the Inner Belt bridge before morning rush hour, causing a snaggling backup that touched every major highway running into downtown, as well as just about every side street as frenzied and stressed commuters sought alternate routes. That same crew — the Burton Scot contracting…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Week (Sept. 12-18)
WED 09/12 Che Apalache A four-man string band based in Buenos Aires, Che Apalache features members from Argentina, Mexico and the United States. A North Carolinian multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and composer, founder Joe Troop formed the group after he moved to Argentina in 2010 and taught himself to play bluegrass and old-time music and started teaching…
Mary-Francis Miller’s Standout Performance Gives ‘Sunset Baby’ an Enduring Glow at Dobama Theatre
It’s hard enough to be the child of a celebrity who is praised for their talents in any of the various arts. But when both your parents were black civil rights activists, spending all their time working for change while fighting enormous opposing pressures, that has to distort your life. Such is the situation facing…
Glenn Close Delivers an Oscar-Worthy Performance in ‘The Wife’
With a mouthful of vodka and lips around her first cigarette in decades, Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) tells biographer Nathaniel Bone (Christian Slater), “Please don’t paint me as a victim, I am much more interesting than that.” Based on the Meg Wolitzer novel of the same name and directed with a sensation of strangling intimacy…
‘The Basement’ is Preposterous Even by Horror Standards
In the opening scene of The Basement, a horror film that opens on Friday at Tower City Cinemas and also arrives on VOD that same day, a guy wields a blow torch while a topless woman screams while strapped to a chair. It’s a gruesome start to a movie that aspires to be a cult…
Koko Cafe is One of the Best Additions to Cleveland’s Asian Dining Scene
In a single day I devoured lamb kidney kebabs in University Circle, beef curry dumplings in Asiatown, and leftover Singapore noodles that had been lingering in the back of my fridge at home. The past couple of weeks has been a dizzying discovery tour filled not only with kebabs, dumplings and noodles, but also buns,…
Band of the Week: Superchunk
MEET THE BAND: Mac McCaughan (guitar, vocals), Jim Wilbur (guitar, backing vocals), Jon Wurster (drums, backing vocals) and Laura Ballance (bass, backing vocals) THE MERGE MINDSET: When the band first started in Chapel Hill, NC, in 1989, singer-guitarist Mac McCaughan formed Merge Records at about that same time. Some of the early Sub Pop bands…
Savage Love: Gay and Lonely
I am a gay man in my late 50s and have never been in a relationship. I am so lonely, and the painful emptiness I feel is becoming absolutely unbearable. In my early 20s, I hooked up off and on, but it never developed into anything. I have always told myself that’s okay; I’m not…
Meet Nico Walker, Cleveland Boy Turned Army Medic Turned Heroin Addict Turned Serial Bank Robber Turned Celebrated Debut Novelist
Nico Walker’s newly released debut novel Cherry, written while in federal prison in Kentucky where he’ll be until 2020 and based on the author’s own experiences, is this year’s literary Cinderella story. Since debuting in mid-August, it has garnered praise from highbrow critics and a million-dollar film deal with the Russo brothers. It’s both an…
