Metroparks Buys Barge 225 for $1.3 Million, Will Move It to Wildwood Park
The Cleveland Metroparks has bought Barge 225 for $1.3 million and plans to move it to Wildwood Park in the Euclid Creek Reservation. The sale closed on July 6. It most recently served as the offices for LeanDog and Arras Keathley, among other short-term tenants in recent years. LeanDog leased the space beginning in 2009…
The Revivalists Find Catharsis on New Album
Singer-guitarist David Shaw, who grew up in Cincinnati and spent a few years in Columbus, OH, had been in bands prior to forming the Revivalists in 2007, but he says he knew he was onto something from the moment that he met Revivalists co-founder Zack Feinberg, and the two launched the group. “There’s something that…
‘Re-Imagine Euclid Ave.’ Study Focuses on Pedestrian Safety, Congestion on University Circle Corridor
One of the most congested areas on Cleveland’s East Side could see a major road revamp in the next year, a recent study presented Tuesday foretold. “Re-Imagine Euclid Avenue,” a new transportation plan backed by NOACA and the RTA, suggests that the main artery linking Midtown to Uptown is in dire need of a restructuring,…
As Pedestrian Traffic Crash Deaths Continue to Rise Nationally, Ohio Fatalities Drop Slightly
More than 7,500 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States last year — the most fatalities since the 1980s, according to projections from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Although other traffic-related fatalities increased by 25 percent between 2010 and 2021, pedestrian deaths have risen by 77 percent. Between 1980 and 2010,…
Cleveland Officials Tout Promise of Community Benefits Ordinance’s Impact on Underrepresented Groups
Cleveland’s newly passed Community Benefits Ordinance (CBO) will use financial incentives and city support to encourage developers to work with minority-owned, women-owned and Cleveland-based businesses, city officials say. The CBO, which has been in the making for nearly a year, is a legally enforceable agreement between the city and developers. “This renewed community benefits agreement…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 29-July 2)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/29 ARTbar Tonight at 7, the Heights Arts gallery space will transform into ARTbar for a recurring program that blends crafted cocktails with local art and sound. The Theron Brown Trio will perform; band…
Kid Cudi Announces Cancellation of This Year’s Moon Man’s Landing Festival
Kid Cudi yesterday announced that the second year of his Moon Man’s Landing festival in Cleveland is off, citing general fan discontent with the indoor venue which was booked after problems getting approval from Cleveland to host it outdoors. “Instead of cancelling the whole thing I decided to have it at the arena because I…
Rock Hall To Celebrate Hip-Hop Exhibit’s Opening with Star-Studded Party
While it might not be clear exactly when rock ‘n’ roll was born, that’s not the case with hip-hop. As John Goehrke, the Rock Hall’s Director of Fan Engagement & Onstage Experience, explains in a phone interview, hip-hop historians can point to one specific event that launched the musical genre. “[In documenting hip-hop’s origins,] most…
The Cleveland Orchestra Starts Its Blossom Season and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
Independence Day Weekend is teeming with Classical Music events. You can’t miss with any of these. Enjoy! Ohio Light Opera With the opening performance of H.M.S. Pinafore on Thursday at 2, four of OLO’s summer shows will be playing in rotation this week: No, No, Nanette (Wednesday & Saturday at 2), How To Succeed in…
Cedar Point Ranked 15th Most Popular Amusement Park in North America
Cedar Point was the 15th most popular theme park in North America last year by attendance, according to an annual report from Themed Entertainment Association. Roughly 3,444,000 people visited Cedar Point in 2022, up four percent from 2021. Its water park, Cedar Point Shores, also ranked in the report as the 20th most-visited water park…
‘If You Burn One Down, We’re Putting 100 Up’: How a Hudson Family Responded to the Burning of a Pride Flag
Police in Hudson have confirmed that they are investigating the burning of a rainbow Pride flag at a resident’s home earlier this June. One of the first to share the story was Ohio representative Casey Weinstein, who represents this northeast Ohio area. Hudson Mayor Jeffrey Anzevino and Hudson City Council released a statement condemning the…
Now Open: Chatty’s Tavern in Grafton Township
When Matt Harlan, owner of the two-year-old Chatty’s Pizzeria (28611 Lake Rd., 440-471-4485) in Bay Village, heard of a property for sale in Grafton Township, he and his wife Melanie decided to make the 40-minute drive south to check it out. “We said, let’s go look at it as an opportunity and not as a…
Only Two Weeks Left to Register to Vote in Ohio’s August 8 Election
Deadlines are coming up quick for Ohio voters participating in the Aug. 8 special election over State Issue 1, which seeks to make it harder for voters to amend the Ohio Constitution by raising the threshold from 50% to 60%, and increases the number of counties ballot signatures for citizen initiatives must be collected, from…
E. 99th and St. Clair Intersection to Be Named in Honor of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
The intersection of E. 99th Street and St. Clair Ave. will be renamed Bone Thugs-n-Harmony Way to honor the Cleveland-grown hip-hop group. “Growing up on that street was crazy,” Krayzie Bone told Rock the Bells. “We had many, many adventures on that street. We got in so much trouble. Our street was 99th and St.…
Nominations for Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2023 Are Now Open
Nominations for Scene’s Best of Cleveland 2023 awards are now open. Our annual celebration of all the very best things the city has to offer is coming in September, but first we need to hear from you. After all, you know Cleveland the best — where to eat, what to listen to, what to see,…
Weekend Open House of Veterans Memorial Bridge’s Streetcar Level Previews What the ‘Low Line’ Might Be
In Jasper Wood’s 1953 documentary, “Streetcar,” the Cleveland-born, self-taught photographer depicts the daily motion of the pale-yellow light rail trains that roared on the lower level of the Veterans Memorial bridge. Set to a solemn Western instrumental, Wood’s poetic capture of the Downtown-Ohio City connector is, with its porkpie-hatted men and West Side Market-bound women,…
Tartine Bistro Team to Open Slate of French-Themed Restaurants and Bars in City Club Apartments Complex
Last week, the Detroit-based City Club Apartments (776 Euclid Ave.) hosted a “Topping Off” event in downtown Cleveland attended by Mayor Justin Bibb, City Club Apartments Chairman and CEO Jonathan Holtzman and others. “It is so exciting to see the evolution of downtown Cleveland’s skyline,” said Mayor Bibb. “Our city is open for business and…
Gathering Signatures to Put Abortion Amendment on November Ballot is ‘Going Very Well’
Less than two weeks until the deadline, Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights is saying abortion right advocates will get the signatures needed to put a measure on the November ballot that would enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution. Abortion advocates attempting to get the amendment on the ballot need to collect 413,000 signatures by July…
Cleveland Shakespeare Festival’s Production of ‘As You Like It’ is a Joyous Gender Clusterfest
If the Presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis wanders through greater Cleveland in the next couple weeks, one can only hope he stops long enough to catch the production of As You Like It by the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. This traveling troupe performs outdoors in parks all around the area, glorying in the words of Old…
What Ohio Abortion Patients’ Stories Can Tell Us About Life After Dobbs
After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization effectively overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, Scene writers joined forces with Cincinnati CityBeat reporters to forecast the future for abortion patients in Ohio. At the time, abortion providers feared a reality in which patients sought pregnancy-ending drugs on the…
Ohio Nursing Home Workers Say They’re Pushed Past Their Limit
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199 nursing home workers are calling on Gov. Mike DeWine to address what they say is a crisis. “I simply don’t have enough hours in the day to do what I’m supposed to do. I’m routinely picking up duties of the aides and people get their showers and answering call…
The Cleveland Women’s March Returns Saturday, One Year After Roe Fell
A year after Roe v. Wade, the 40-year-old legal decision ensuring a constitutional right to abortion access, was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, a hundred cities throughout the country will be hosting a Women’s March to remind the public of the loss of individual rights.And that includes Cleveland.From noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday,…
Affordable Housing Is a Big Problem in Ohio, Report Finds
In a state where the minimum wage is just $10.10 an hour, full-time workers in the greater Cleveland area need to make an hourly wage of $13.83 to afford a studio, $15.77 to afford a one-bedroom rental and $19.19 to afford a typical two-bedroom rental, says a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition…
City Club Apartments Reveals Food and Beverage Concepts at Topping Off Event
Yesterday, the Detroit-based City Club Apartments (776 Euclid Ave.) hosted a “Topping Off” event in downtown Cleveland attended by Mayor Justin Bibb, City Club Apartments Chairman and CEO Jonathan Holtzman and others. “It is so exciting to see the evolution of downtown Cleveland’s skyline,” said Mayor Bibb. “Our city is open for business and we…
Cleveland Vows to End AIDS/HIV by 2030 in Landmark Summit
In a rare meeting of city, county and board of health officials, Cleveland signed a commitment to cease HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 2030.The agreement, which was signed by eight persons, including Mayor Bibb and County Executive Chris Ronayne, is an offshoot of the 2014 Paris Declaration, a global movement aiming to eliminate the…
How Ohio Lawmakers and Religious Lobbyists Coordinated on Anti-Trans Legislation
Text messages obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal through public records requests show Ohio lawmakers and religious lobbyists from the Center for Christian Virtue coordinating on anti-trans legislation moving through the Ohio Statehouse. Brought forward on Feb. 16, House Bill 6 — otherwise known as the Save Women’s Sports Act — has become one of…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Say Hello to La Playa Fresh Seafood and Tripi
– Detroit-Shoreway will soon welcome La Playa Fresh Seafood, from the owner of Blue Habanero, in the former Boiler 65 spot. Related – Chef Anthony Zappola debuted his Italian-American deli and market in Ohio City this week. Related – Scene Ale Fest tickets are now on sale, if you need a nudge. Related – Drama down…
Pepper Pike Resident Responds to Scene’s Ranking of the Worst Suburbs
A couple of weeks ago, Scene ranked the worst of Cleveland Magazine’s best suburbs. Pepper Pike, which took home the No. 1 spot in the monthly mag’s tabulations, fared a little worse in ours, tying for dead last with 19 others. Related That didn’t sit well with Mike, a resident who wrote in to let…
CMA’s City Stages Returns With Two July Concerts
The Cleveland Museum of Art’s City Stages concert series is back to bring global music, outdoor fun and dancing to Cleveland for the summer. The free block parties take place in front of Transformer Station in Ohio City Wednesday July 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. “We are thrilled to present two acclaimed bands known…
Chef, Owner Lay Blame on Each Other as Alejandro Najar Departs Blue Door Café
Just months after arriving at the Blue Door Café (1970 State Rd., 330-926-9774) in Cuyahoga Falls with great fanfare, chef Alejandro Najar has departed, making harsh claims about management on his way out the door. Najar, a local chef who gained national repute from his recent success on “Hell’s Kitchen,” announced on social media his…
Ohio House Passes Bill Blocking Gender-Affirming Care and Trans Athletes
The Ohio House of Representatives passed a controversial bill that would prevent doctors from providing gender-affirming care to trans youth and prevents trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports. Wednesday’s 64-28 vote comes a week after House Bill 6, dubbed the “Save Women’s Sports Act”, was added to House Bill 68, also known as…
Downtown Cleveland Inc. Revamped its Summer Busker Program. Will More Artists Show Up?
With 43 cities and 20,000 miles driven in their RV (“The Hoose”) in the rearview, Daniel and Kellie Clark decided this spring to spend their summer of busking in Cleveland. Quite literally, it’s their job. In August of last year, the Clarks flew with their three children to the U.S. from Dundee, Scotland, where they’re…
In ‘Past Lives,’ Writer-Director Celine Song Explores the Pull of Lost Loves and Lives Unlived
Writer-director Celine Song’s melancholic romantic drama Past Lives opens with a heck of a shot. The camera slowly zooms in on an Asian woman and two men — one Asian, one white — chatting at a bar. Their conversation is muffled by ambient sound, but a pair of offscreen observers can be heard, attempting to…
MetroHealth Hosts Annual Transgender Job Fair This Weekend
MetroHealth will hold its eighth annual transgender job fair Saturday, June 24 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Studio West 117 in Lakewood. Roughly 20 employers will be at the fair, including MetroHealth and local businesses and organizations. According to organizers, positions range from entry-level to skilled and some employers will conduct interviews on-site…
Tripi, an Italian American Deli and Market in Ohio City, Opens Tomorrow, June 22
Tomorrow, June 22, chef Anthony Zappola will open the doors to Tripi, an Italian American deli and market in Ohio City. The restaurant takes its cues from the city of that name in Sicily, which is where Zappola’s grandmother was born. The spiffy storefront is located at 41 West, a mixed-use development at the corner…
Bibb Names Interim Director of Economic Development for Cleveland
Mayor Justin Bibb appointed Cleveland native Terri Hamilton Brown as the city’s interim director of economic development. The appointment comes less than a week after former director of economic development Tessa Jackson departed. Officials have refused to clarify whether Jackson resigned or was fired. Jackson this week responded on Twitter to a Crain’s article about…
The Tri-C JazzFest and the Classical Music to Catch This Week in Cleveland
Time for classical music fans to clone themselves — or to sit down for a serious talk with their personal calendars. Ready, set, go! – Ohio Light Opera has three of its six shows up and running: No, No, Nanette (Opening Matinee) on Thursday, June 22 at 2 and Saturday, June 24 at 2, How…
“A Great Step Forward,” Senate’s Budget Restores Proposed Affordable Housing Tax Credit Program
In a positive turn of events, the Senate’s version of the two-year operating budget restores a new affordable housing tax credit program that was originally nowhere to be seen in the Senate’s proposed budget. The program would attract developers to build low-income housing by making state tax credits accessible to projects receiving federal aid. Ohio…
City Club Public Square Talk Asks: What Is Downtown Cleveland and What Could It Be?
The summer of Downtown’s booster tour continued Tuesday afternoon on a sunlit Public Square, where stakeholders in Cleveland’s core’s future weighed in on its progress into neighborhood status.DCI President Michael Deemer, City Planning Chief Joyce Pan Huang and Freddy Collier, Sr. Vice President of Strategy & New Initiatives at Greater Cleveland Partnership, convened for a midday City…
First Look: La Playa Fresh Seafood, Opening Early July in Gordon Square
Since 2018, Rafael Ayala has welcomed Mexican food fans into his popular Gordon Square restaurant Blue Habanero (6416 Detroit Ave.). In early July, he will unveil his latest concept in the same neighborhood when La Playa Fresh Seafood (6410 Detroit Ave.) opens next door. For the past six months, Ayala has been converting the former Boiler 65 space into a…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 22-25)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/22 Angélique Kidjo and Richard Bona These two musical acts kick off the 44th annual Tri-C Jazz Festival with a performance that takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Mimi Ohio Theatre. A five-time…
In ‘Asteroid City,’ Wes Anderson Stages an Alien Invasion as Only Wes Anderson Can
Insistently eccentric, involuted and reflexive, Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City will likely only reinforce his detractors’ animus toward the filmmaker’s elaborate but undeniably insular world-building, but admirers — and I’m among them — will delight in the dizzying variations he works on signature themes and tropes. Although Asteroid City sometimes comes perilously close to the Rube…
X’s Cleveland Show at the House of Blues on July 5 Postponed
X has postponed dates on the first leg of its summer tour, including the Cleveland stop at the House of Blues on July 5. “Due to a band member recovering from an emergency surgery, X is forced to postpone the following dates,” the band announced in a statement. “We’ll have postponed dates ASAP. All tickets…
Ohio Redistricting Slated for Later This Summer
Once the Ohio two-year budget cycle is finished by June 30, Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman expects work to begin again on redistricting for Statehouse maps, with September as a likely date for them, he told reporters last week. Both Ohio’s U.S. Congressional district maps and Statehouse maps were declared unconstitutional gerrymanders multiple times by…
Loren Naji, Harbor Bay and Panzica Reach Agreement in Lawsuit Over “Destroyed” Public Art
After a months-long mediation, the parties in Loren Naji’s lawsuit over his piece of public art that once sat outside of the RTA Red Line station in Ohio City across from Intro that was mistakenly disposed of have reached an amicable agreement. On Monday, a very apologetic joint statement from Naji, Panzica Construction Co., and…
Sidetrack Tavern on the Cleveland/Lakewood Border to Close on July 2
Sidetrack Tavern (13429 Lakewood Heights Blvd.), a popular neighborhood watering hole on the Cleveland/Lakewood border, will close on July 2. The move, announced in a social media post, surprised many of of the bar’s clientele given the fact that the owners completely remodeled the property two years ago. Here’s the statement: “With bittersweet emotion, we…
Cleveland Housing Survey Confirms Properties Owned by Out-of-State Investors Are in the Worst Shape
A new survey of Cleveland’s entire housing stock released by the city and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy has confirmed sneaking suspicions held by property watchdogs: properties owned by out-of-state persons are in rougher conditions than those with in-state tax addresses.The study, released Wednesday in a data map-heavy, digestible webpage, is the culmination of seven…
Ohio Prison System Bans Java Computer Manual, But Allows Hitler’s Mein Kampf
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) has a host of policies controlling which books people can have in prisons, how they can get them, and what they can do with them. Incarcerated people in Ohio have been denied access to books like a U.S. Army survival manual, “The Witches’ Bible,” several computer programming…
Child Care Crisis a Barrier to Economic Mobility for Ohio Families
Ohio ranks 29th among states in overall child well-being, according to the latest Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. Child care continues to pose challenges for working parents, and the new data showed average child care costs for one child in 2021 topped $10,000 per year. Kelly Vyzral, senior health policy associate for…
7 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Week
TUE 06/20 Illenium Said the Sky and Imanu share the bill with Illenium at this electronic music showcase. Headliner Illenium just released a self-titled album that features everything from pulsating house numbers (“Starfall”) to somber ballads (“All That Really Matters”). The concert begins at 6 p.m. at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. 2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080,…
Higher Education Bills Added to Ohio Senate’s Version of the State’s Operating Budget
A massive higher education overhaul is one step closer to happening as the Ohio Senate voted to pass their budget Thursday. Numerous bills, including Senate Bill 83, were added to the Senate’s version of the budget during Wednesday’s Senate Finance Committee meeting and the budget passed during Thursday’s Senate Session by a 24-7 party line…
In Split Decision, Ohio Supreme Court Allows Aug. 8 Election to Go Forward
Along party lines, the Ohio Supreme Court on Friday gave the green light to an attempt by Republican leaders of the state’s gerrymandered legislature to make it much harder for voters to amend the state Constitution. The court ruled in a 4-3 decision that it’s OK for the issue to be placed on the Aug.…
Cleveland Names Rhonda K. Brown as City’s First Arts Strategist
Mayor Justin Bibb announced Thursday the appointment of Rhonda K. Brown as Cleveland’s first senior strategist for arts, culture and the creative economy. Brown’s appointment comes after the Mayor’s Office and Cleveland City Council finalized plans in April to create a committee and the senior strategist position to advise the mayor and help navigate Cleveland’s fractured…
HB 6 Coal Plant Charges Mount Up Again in Ohio
Ohio ratepayers will again shell out money for two 1950s-era coal plants next month, following a year of cents-per-month credits. Meanwhile, regulators have yet to rule on years-old challenges to millions of dollars of spending for the plants. Critics have called the charges a bailout and have tried multiple times to repeal the coal plant…
Downtown Cleveland Alliance Rebrands as Downtown Cleveland, Inc.
“Downtown Cleveland is the place.” “Downtown Cleveland is where the work gets done.” “Downtown Cleveland is clean and safe.” Such positive affirmations are the stars of Downtown Cleveland, Inc.’s rebranding and restructuring announcement and promotional video, a sort of “We Are Family”-tinged boost of fanfare for the non-profit cheerleader, which has changed its name from the Downtown…
Scene’s Ale Fest Returns on July 15, Tickets on Sale Now
Raise your glasses, beer lovers! Benefiting A Special Wish Foundation, the 12th annual Cleveland Ale Fest is back for another round. Join us at the city’s original ale fest on Saturday, July 15th, from 12 – 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park in Tremont to sample from 100+ craft and premium beers from 50+ local, regional,…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Fahrenheit Tremont Closes, Hard Rock Cafe Space Claimed and More
– You have two more days to visit Fahrenheit in Tremont before it closes its doors after 21 years in advance of the move to the new, expansive digs on Public Square in July. We talked to Rocco Whalen about his mixed feelings. Related – The massive and long-vacant Hard Rock Cafe space in Tower…
New Bias Complaints Continue to Target Top Cuyahoga County Judge
This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. The controversy around Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court has grown amid additional complaints of potential biases lodged with the Ohio Supreme Court. New affidavits of disqualification filed by a…
Bill Banning Trans Athletes Added to Bill to Limit Health Care for Ohio LGBTQ Youth
A bill that would prevent trans athletes from participating in Ohio women’s sports was woven into a bill that would limit health care for LGBTQ+ youth, and passed the Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee — all in the same meeting. House Bill 6, dubbed the “Save Women’s Sports Act”, was added to House Bill…
All Cleveland Rec Centers Now Have Social Workers on Staff to Address Youth Trauma, Mental Health Issues
Social workers are now staffed at all 22 recreation centers in Cleveland, Mayor Justin Bibb said this week. “To prevent violence before it starts, our youth need to have positive role models and adults they can turn to for help,” he shared on social media. The announcement comes as researchers from Case Western Reserve University published…
Irie Jamaican Kitchen Now Open in Shaker Heights
Irie Jamaican Kitchen opened its latest outpost in Shaker Heights (16600 Chagrin Blvd.) this week. It’s the fourth location for Omar McKay’s fast-casual eatery dishing up jerk chicken, curry chicken, curry shrimp, braised oxtails, as well as vegetarian options, all served in bowls, wraps or traditional style with warm cabbage, rice and peas, and plantains. New for…
Newburgh Heights Mayor Gigi Traore Will Run for Re-Election, Challenging Ousted Ex-Mayor Trevor Elkins
Gigi Traore, who as city council’s president pro tempore took over as mayor of Newburgh Heights when Trevor Elkins resigned last year following his conviction on campaign finance violations, announced this week she’ll be running for re-election against Elkins, who recently announced his candidacy to return to his post. In April of 2022, Elkins was sentenced to…
One Toledo Law Professor is Helping Drive Two of This Year’s Most Controversial Proposals in Ohio
Since introducing a plan last year to make it harder to amend the Ohio Constitution, supporters have insisted their proposal was an issue-neutral effort to protect the state’s founding document. But advocates for a new 60% threshold for constitutional amendments have repeatedly hewed toward a variety of very specific issues: Firearms groups worried about future…
Ohio Ballot Board Approves Language for 60% Amendment Proposal Along Party Lines, Again
One day after an Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the Ohio Ballot Board revised the language for State Issue 1, the Aug. 8 proposal asking voters to require future constitutional amendments clear a 60% supermajority for passage. The court ordered board members to fix inaccuracies in the ballot language they adopted about a month ago. And…
Ohio Teachers Union Requests Inquiry Into Alleged Charter School ‘Union-Busting’
One of Ohio’s biggest teachers unions is asking the Auditor of State to look into charter school funding allegedly used for “anti-union tactics.” In a letter to Auditor Keith Faber, the Ohio Federation of Teachers first fired back at reports of an auditor’s office investigation into school districts named in litigation challenging the state’s private…
