Ohio Woman Legally Changes First Name to “Sexy”
Update: The Ohio woman seeking to legally change her name to Sexy successfully pleaded her case in front of a Licking County judge today. Here’s some footage from the hearing, courtesy of the Columbus Dispatch. “This is the last piece to make my life complete.” Can’t deny that rationale. Sexy’s husband, who looks remarkably like Donald…
Photo of the Day: A Snow Capped Cleveland
kreigscle Instagram If you’re the glass half full kind of person, you could say that Cleveland transformed into a wintery wonderland over the weekend as snow yet again pummeled the region. But one Cleveland Instagrammer, @kreigscle, captured the beauty of our snow-capped downtown via smartphone. Hopefully after all of tonight’s incoming snowstorm, it’ll look this…
Great Lakes Brewing Company Announces Chillwave Release Party
Great Lakes Brewing Company is throwing a pre-release party on Feb. 17 for its newly named Chillwave Double IPA (formerly Alchemy Hour IPA) to give Clevelanders a chance to get hoppy four days early. For 40 bucks, you, too, can get in on that liquid gold action (your friends will have to wait until the…
Thaw Out with Some of Cleveland’s Best Hot Cocoas
It’s snowing, it’s freezing, it’s gray, which means it’s the perfect time to cozy up under a big pile of blankets with a steamy mug of hot cocoa. Rich, creamy and decadently chocolaty, the drink is a delicious dose of much-needed warmth. The ideal cup is made with real chocolate, served piping hot, topped with…
Shelby Police Department May Seek Volunteers to Spend a Night in Jail
The Shelby Police Department wants to know if you would like to spend a night in jail. This message was posted to the PD’s Facebook page earlier this morning: The city, which has been without a jail since 2007, is opening up a new facility this spring and may be looking for some volunteers to…
Scene Podcast: Brothels, Jeopardy, United and Some Sad Passings
In this week’s edition, host Craig Lyndall chats with Doug Brown and Eric Sandy about the week in news including the feature story on the brothel in Bedford that ensnared two public officials, United ditching Cleveland, the tragic deaths of Sean Kilbane and Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Team Arthur on Jeopardy. Do listen in.
United We Fall: Cleveland Hopkins Loses Major Airline Hub, And Hundreds Lose Their Jobs
ERIC SANDY/SCENE Port Control Director Ricky Smith discusses the impact of the United news on Monday morning. ERIC SANDY/SCENE United Airlines flight attendants share their side of the story. United Airlines is pulling the plug on its hub at Cleveland Hopkins, cutting the number of flights out of town along with hundreds of jobs. The…
Pastor Tom Randall Freed From Filipino Jail, Charges Dropped
According to the Free Tom Randall Facebook page, Hudson Pastor Tom Randall, who has been held since January 16 in a Manila detention center for negligence in a sex trafficking case, has been freed and all charges dropped. Hudson’s Christ Community Chapel’s lead pastor Joe Coffey is encouraging all to pray for the welfare of…
Two Cleveland Comic Book Shops Expand to Larger Store Locations
In the Greater Cleveland area, there are over a half dozen comic book store options. Two of those options have expanded into larger store locations. If you’re an East sider, Cleveland Comics has relocated down the street from where it was at. For those on the West side, Kidforce Collectibles is also moving a few…
12 Incredible Cleveland Sports Trading Cards
Most of the trading cards included here are of a particular era — the 90s — during which the collectible industry enjoyed an aesthetic renaissance, capturing players in their Sunday best (Danny Ferry) or splashing them with plumes of exotic colors and textures (Mark Price, pictured right). Enjoy some of our favorite Cleveland trading cards…
Concert Review: The Hold Steady at the Beachland Ballroom
Craig Finn’s voice was more gruff than usual during the Hold Steady’s show at the Beachland Saturday evening, but no one seemed to care that much. After all, a Hold Steady arrival in Cleveland is always welcome news — the band’s been selling out shows here for years — and with their new album, Teeth…
Purell Dirties Hands with Insensitive Super Bowl Browns Tweet, Later Apologizes
Purell, the sanitizing supergiant, dirtied its hands last night at the Super Bowl after serving up a muddied jab at the Browns. Purell higher ups have since deleted the offending tweet and have issued an apology, both on Twitter and on Cleveland.com. #Browns fans @Purell apologize for the insensitive post. We are investigating the source…
Bruno Mars to Play the Q on June 28
Just minutes after Bruno Mars’ Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, Atlantic Records issued a press release announcing the singer-songwriter’s Moonshine Jungle World Tour. The youngest artist to be the sole NFL Super Bowl halftime headliner, Mars collaborated with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as the funky bunch played its hit “Give It Away.” HIs tour…
Browns’ Desmond Bryant is Pissed About His Super Bowl Seats
Browns’ defensive end Desmond Bryant isn’t exactly thrilled about the Super Bowl seats the NFL supplied him. In fact, he recently tweeted out a photo from the nosebleed section, along with some snide commentary. Our friends over at Business Insider grabbed a quick screenshot before Bryant deleted the tweet. [Insert commentary about this being the…
Happy Dog Co-Owner’s Sudden Death Shocks Local Music Community
In 2008, Sean Kilbane and Sean Watterson bought the Happy Dog, a westside bar and concert venue, with the hopes of turning it into a go-to place to hear local music. During the time they’ve owned it, they’ve succeeded. Bands play for the door and are treated fairly. Both local and national acts have developed…
Democrats of Cuyahoga Ditch Tim Russo During Candidate Forum
Russo (Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the Jan. 29 issue of Scene) The three top-tier Democratic candidates for Cuyahoga County executive met for a public forum Jan. 26. Tim Russo, candidate for Cuyahoga County executive, was not invited. “I’ve never seen a supposed ‘frontrunner’ so terrified of an ex-offender on his ballot…
Team Arthur: Local Trivia Buff Highlights the Finer (and Controversial) Side of Jeopardy!
JEOPARDY PRODUCTIONS INC. Arthur Chu has always been a trivia guy. “I mean, I was always a huge nerd,” he says. “In lieu of having actual interesting things to say about my own life, I would usually drop random factoids into conversations, and people would always say, ‘You should be on Jeopardy!'” That’s the short…
Ohio Man Literally Rides Motorcycle into Eternity
An Electra Glide Motorcycle An Ohio motorcyclist’s dying wish was just to be remembered for his love of adventure. That’s why Billy Standley of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, was buried today with his 1967 Electra Glide cruiser. When he passed away from lung cancer on Sunday at the age of 82, his plans had already been in…
Kent-based singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield premieres new single
We’ve been fans of Kent-based singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield since the days when she used to record and tour as Chittlin. A star in the making, she’ll release her new album, Make My Head Sing, on April 15 on ATO Records. She and bassist/husband Jesse Newport recorded it down in Nashville. Rolling Stone has just…
Wickliffe Drunk Driver Uses Pizza Delivery Sign to Avoid Getting Pulled Over
This is not the vehicle Christian was driving. Apparently, pizza delivery drivers are immune to the law. At least, that’s what one off-duty Wickliffe deliveryman thought until he was pulled over on Monday with a blood alcohol level of .295 (or, three and a half times the legal limit). According to The News-Herald, Christian had…
Sawyer’s Kickstarter Campaign for Trentina Starts… Now
We recently told you about Jonathon Sawyer’s plans to open his long-planned Italian eatery Trentina in the old Sergio’s in University Circle space. Well, the Kickstarter campaign to raise $21,999 in 30 days begins today. Donors to the Trentina Kickstarter can earn rewards that range from a dinner party for 20 people and a cooking…
16 of the Best Vegan Eats in Cleveland
The Cleveland food scene is vibrant, with options as diverse as the many cultures represented in our city. With the growing popularity of Vegans, restaurants have adapted to not just satisfy, but to delight the alternative eating craze. Here are some of the best Vegan eats in Cleveland.
Gates Mills’ Carbon Footprint is Basically in Shaq Territory
The illustrious, sandal-wearing scientists at Berkeley have published a new study which identifies the carbon footprints of municipalities all across the United States. The scientists have assembled all sorts of economic research to triangulate the average household demand for energy, transportation, food, goods and services. The map is really cool and intricately color-coded. Not like…
Califone at Beachland Tavern: Concert Review
ERIC SANDY/SCENE Califone at Beachland Tavern Tim Rutili began the show by describing the memories and sentiments behind “Don’t Let Me Die Nervous” – namely, how he really wanted to have sex with his brother’s girlfriend years ago. “And there are some things you want to touch but you can’t touch…” He riffed on that…
Reddit Co-Founder to Speak at Case
Photo via Facebook Next month, tech-savvy Clevelanders can take a break from Internet trolling to see the man who made “redditing” an actual thing. On Feb. 10, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian will stop by CWRU to talk about his book, Without Their Permission. (If you’re one of the few people who don’t know what reddit…
Clever Cleveland Junkyard Worker Uses Forklift to Foil Thief’s Getaway
A junkyard thief was thwarted earlier this week after a savvy employee used a forklift to raise the rear end of his getaway vehicle into the air while police were summoned. According to Cleveland.com, here’s how it all went down: On Wednesday afternoon an employee at McMahan’s Wrecking on Cleveland’s West Side said he spotted…
10 Things Going on in Cleveland this Weekend (January 31 – February 2)
As temperatures creep to a balmy 30 degrees this weekend, you may want to venture out for a little mid-winter fun. On tap is the Cleveland Winter Beerfest, as well as performances by the legendary Elton John and the widely acclaimed Chinese dance troop Shen Yun, as well as a screening or two and a…
Analysis: The Cleveland.com Column Calling For More Journey, Less Dawg Pound To Fix The Browns And Our Negative Emotions Holding The City Back
This is an actual thing that was written. It’s not quite on par with the great peanut butter and jelly debate, but this post on cleveland.com is full of fantastic silliness that makes it a fun hate-read (this time it’s a guest column, so maybe they’re in it). “The negativity in Northeast Ohio surrounding the…
“Draft Day” Trailer Slated to Air During Super Bowl
As Slash Film points out, “If ever a movie was made with the sole purpose to be sold at the Super Bowl, it’s Ivan Reitman‘s Draft Day.” And that’s exactly what’s slated to happen. “Draft Day,” the Browns-focused feature length film starring Kevin Costner, has been given a 0:43 slot to air its movie trailer…
Singer James Durbin embraces a poppier sound
Diagnosed with Tourette syndrome and Asperberger syndrome as a youth, singer James Durbin left high school before graduating and never looked back. Durbin, who finished fourth in Season 10 of American Idol, now has a recording contract and his catchy new single “Parachute” is generating some anticipation for this forthcoming album, Celebrate. His current tour…
Shop Local: Cedar Green Wine & Cheese
If you’re an East Sider, you likely already know about Cedar Green Wine & Cheese (2179 Green Rd., 216-381-5350, cedargreenwine.com), which has been on the scene for almost 23 years. Regardless one’s zip code, this place is worth checking out. The unassuming strip mall setting might cause some to overlook the shop, but the large,…
Chagrin Falls Filmmaker Honored at Sundance Film Festival
A local filmmaker is receiving international attention after his short film, “Fishing Without Nets,” made its world debut last week at Sundance Film Festival and claimed the U.S. Dramatic Directing Award. Producer and Chagrin Falls native Brian Glazen said his film was one of 200 selected from a pool of 10,000 to be shown at…
Broadview Heights Man Returns to ‘Jeopardy!’ Tonight
JEOPARDY PRODUCTIONS INC. Trebek and Chu Two-day champion Arthur Chu, a Broadview Heights resident, will compete once again on tonight’s episode of ‘Jeopardy!’ According to Chu’s Twitter account, he’s garnered both a robust fanbase and at least a handful of detractors during his two-day stint on the show thus far. Reading through some of the…
Kelly Zullo plays Scene Session
Last week, singer-guitarist Kelly Zullo stopped by our office to play a few tunes. The Columbus-based musician is one helluva guitarist; she plans to release a new EP sometime this year. Check out previous Scene Sessions with the Promise Hero, Zach, Stephanie Trivison, Diana Chittester, One Day’s Notice, Taylor Lamborn, Unsaid Fate, Hey Monea!, Joshua…
And the Wrecking Ball Swings: Partial Demolition of Parmatown Mall Begins Today
The Shoppes at Parma (formerly Parmatown Mall) met the wrecking ball earlier this morning while crowds looked on as the partial demolition of their beloved shopping center began. The project, which involves tearing down the old Macy’s store, is slated to take approximately 30 days. Here’s a video of this morning’s happenings (first swing happens…
Cavs Confirm that Austin Carr’s Retired Jersey is Missing, Stolen During RAW?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have confirmed that the banner with Austin Carr’s retired #34 has been stolen from the rafters of the Quicken Loans Arena. They are currently “investigating,” per comments made to 19 Action News and the Associated Press’ Tom Withers. Withers first tweeted the news early in last night’s home loss to the Pelicans:…
“Cleveland” Marathon Cutting East Side, New Route Will Include Lakewood, Rocky River
In a press release yesterday, the director of the Cleveland Marathon announced some significant changes to this year’s race route. In addition to a new, yet-to-be-determined start/finish line due to FirstEnergy Stadium repairs, the major alteration is that the city’s East Side will no longer figure into the route at all. Based on runner feedback,…
Some States Considering Firing Squads in Wake of Botched Ohio Execution
In the wake of Ohio’s ghastly, 26-minute botched lethal injection two weeks ago, lawmakers continue to search for humane (but also economical!) methods for executing prisoners. At least two states, according to the Wall Street Journal, have introduced legislation to permit firing squads — firing squads! — as an alternative option when lethal injection isn’t…
Film Spotlight: Oscar Shorts Program
Every year, but every single year, the success of your Oscar predictions is severely handicapped by your inability to predict — or even root for —nominees in the categories of live-action, animated, and documentary shorts. Right? If you’re like me, you often pick the title that sounds most exotic or controversial and wait for the…
Local Pastor Detained in the Philippines: Orphanage Alleged to be Front for Sex Trafficking Operation
As of Tuesday, Tom Randall, a pastor at Hudson’s non-denominational megachurch Christ Community Chapel, was awaiting trial or dismissal from a holding cell in Manila, Philippines, where he has been detained since January 16 on charges related to sex trafficking. Randall, a former professional basketball player in the Philippines and longtime missionary there, returned to…
Your Complete Guide to Cleveland Concerts (January 30 – February 5)
THURSDAY JAN 30 Bad Boys Jam: 9 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Black Puddle Noise/Appleseeds: The thick and volatile sound of Black Puddle Noise explodes with such force that it’s probable tonight’s show will register on the Richter scale. The trio of hard rockers plays its songs with an unstoppable velocity. Dense guitar riffs accompany lightening fast…
Back on Track: A Short Hiatus Helped the Hold Steady Focus for Their New Album
After the release of 2008’s Stay Positive, the Hold Steady became critics’ darlings and made the move from small clubs to slightly larger clubs. In fact, the group even played the 1,200-capacity House of Blues here in 2011 when it came through town as part of a high-profile tour sponsored by Jim Beam. But to…
Where to Shop: Market at the Fig
Chef Karen Small’s approach to local belongs on a t-shirt: “Don’t mess with us. We’re from Cleveland,” she says. Small’s 15-year-old Ohio City bistro Flying Fig is well known and widely appreciated. But Market at the Fig (2523 Market Ave., 216-241-4243, theflyingfig.com), the next-door market the chef opened in 2010, is perhaps one of the…
Read Local: 10 Great Food Reads by Cleveland Authors
Cleveland is fortunate to have many great chefs. But the region also is home to dozens of food scribes who are passionate about food both in and out of our town, as well as the bounty our local farm community provides. While the list below does include cookbooks, others take a broader and more insightful…
40 Love: Bonds of Friendship Have Kept Air Supply Together for Four Decades
Soft rock balladeers Air Supply celebrate their 40th anniversary as a performing unit this year. Although you might think they would have had a few disagreements along the way, they say it’s actually been smooth sailing. The pair describe themselves as “best friends,” which is probably a good thing, since they still perform between 150…
Digital Geography: (216)BASS Offers Local and Global Exposure for Cleveland DJs
Electronic dance music can mean any number of things. The dizzying list of genres and sub-genres is nearly impossible to understand or define. But to local DJ and podcast host Adam Wilson, what matters more is location. (216)BASS, a twice-monthly podcast put together by Wilson, features Cleveland electronic DJs. It can be heard at 216bass.com…
Gong Show: The Nakatani Gong Orchestra Emphasizes the Instrument’s Ceremonial Side
When the average person thinks of gongs, the swell of a loud bang probably comes to mind. The Nakatani Gong Orchestra doesn’t sound like that. Since Tatsuya Nakatani makes most of the instruments by hand, the sound that’s created is truly one of a kind. “It’s a very interesting subject, [the gong],” he says. “Everybody…
Band of the Week: Jeff Powers
Meet the Band: Jeff Powers (vocals, three-string cigar box guitar, kick and tambourine) Guitar Hero: Powers says he’s played guitar all his life and he “studied” the blues on his own before earning a classical guitar degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. “I was sick of it by then,” he says of playing classical…
The Brothel of Bedford: The Prostitution Bust and the Corrupt Officials Who Went Down with It
A behind-closed-doors look at a corrupt network of prostitution customers – and the investigation that brought them down
Regional Beat: Mechanics of Things
Murder of Crows (self-released) facebook.com/motclev Local stoner rockers Mechanics of Things come out of the gates hard and heavy on this new album with “Black Highway,” the gritty opening track that will blow your speakers if you’re not careful. The song’s hoarse vocals and distorted guitar riffs draw equally from old-school doom rockers like Black…
Belting It Out: Talking Journalism with the Founder of BeltMag
Anne Trubek calls the Phoenix Coffee on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights her “home office.” She’s an inveterate multi-tasker who teaches courses in rhetoric and English at Oberlin College and writes books with offbeat cultural thrusts like the future of handwriting. Perhaps most notably, Trubek has founded a unique media outlet stemming from an anthology…
Savage Love: Working the Kinks Out
Dear Dan, I’m what was once quaintly called a “woman of a certain age” who started reading your column to broaden my horizons. As a result, some curiosities peeped their heads over the boundaries of my once happily repressed existence. I summoned the courage to join an online BDSM dating site. I got a response…
Aliens All: Three Lonely Men Pontificate Amid Cigarette Smoke in this Crazy Universe
In a grungy little courtyard behind a Vermont coffee shop, littered with trash cans, an old picnic table, milk crates, empty drywall buckets and the dead remnants of a little flower plot, accessible only by climbing a wooden fence, a couple of thirty something star-gazers pass their days. KJ and Jasper banter inarticulately, get high,…
Not Your Standard Bistro: The Standard Brings Hip Neighborhood Dining to Collinwood
As neighborhoods like Ohio City, Tremont, Detroit Shoreway, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights reach their respective restaurant saturation points, chefs and owners increasingly are staking claims on less fashionable zip codes. As one chef recently stated it, “Why fight the competition in Tremont when I can be a big shot in the ‘burbs?” Call it low-hanging…
Film Review of the Week: Labor Day
A fantastic actress who’s still at the tom of her game, Kate Winslet has the ability to turn a bad movie into a good one. But even she can’t redeem Jason Reitman’s new film Labor Day. The film opens areawide on Friday. Okay, so Winslet was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role here…
Now Hear This: A roundup of the week’s new albums
The Autumn Defense The week after the Grammys is always hard for music lovers. Trying to hold faith in new music despite a night of celebrity mash-ups and ill-deserved awards can prove nearly impossible. Times are bleak. But here’s group of empathetic records that whisper condolences while reminding you the Grammys are irrelevant. Fittingly, so…
