Lauren Lanzaretta Releases Soulful New Single
An eclectic singer-songwriter who draws from pop, R&B and soul, locally based Lauren Lanzaretta has just released her new single, “Do You Remember?” The lead single from her upcoming album, Soul Ties, it explores the subject of “finding love, losing love and starting all over again,” as it’s put in a press release. The song…
Chappell Roan Talks About Her Breakthrough Year
To say that Chappell Roan is having a breakthrough year is an understatement. The 26-year-old pop star, who brings the second leg of her Midwest Princess Tour to Jacobs Pavilion on Tuesday, May 28, is fresh off her gig opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS arena tour. The singer-songwriter also played Coachella, delivered an NPR Tiny…
Case Western Reserve University Threatens Protestors With Criminal Violations as Encamped Grow More Defiant
A certain stillness pervaded the new denizens of the Kelvin Smith Library Oval on Tuesday afternoon. The site of 60 or so green Ozark Trail tents, the green space has morphed into a site more resemblant of a close-knit community than a temporary pop-up rally against Israel’s conflict with Palestine. Crates of oranges and tortillas…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Mother’s Day Weekend (May 9-12)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 05/09 Always… Patsy Cline Patsy Cline’s friendship with fan Louise Seger started in 1961 and continued until Cline’s death. This humorous and heartfelt tribute features 27 songs and many of Cline’s unforgettable hits such…
Flight Social to Open in Former Chocolate Bar Space Downtown
The Chocolate Bar was an enduring presence downtown, lasting for 13 years until it closed in the summer of 2022. Since then, the space at the south end of the Arcade (401 Euclid. Ave.) has been vacant, waiting for the next operator to invest in the cavernous restaurant space. A trio of operators has done…
Four Years After Cleveland Was Named the Worst City for Black Women, A Survey Asks If That’s Still the Case
In 2020, Bloomberg CityLab published a report that analyzed the livability for Black women in 42 U.S. cities—based on health, education and economic factors. Cleveland—which has a Black population of nearly 50 percent—was ranked dead last. In response to the report, Enlightened Solutions, a Cleveland-based research and advocacy firm, initiated Project Noir, which surveyed 450…
Dan Deagan, Jackie Ramey to Open Wine Dive in Former El Carnicero Spot in Lakewood
El Carnicero served its last meal on Cinco de Mayo, with Eric Williams leaving the property on a high note after more than a decade. But the space won’t sit idle for long. Dan Deagan and Jackie Ramey, who also run the nearby Lakewood Truck Park (among other spots), will open Wine Dive (16918 Detroit…
A Brownbag Lunch Concert at Trinity Cathedral and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
This week, we’re recommending half a dozen classical music events with interesting twists or content — something a bit different to pique your curiosity. – French composer César Franck’s popular Violin Sonata is sometimes appropriated by cellists, as John Walz will do in collaboration with pianist Elizabeth DeMio on Wednesday at noon on the Brownbag…
Ohio Abortion Law Court Cases Moving Slowly Forward After Amendment
The road toward the November general election will include many more debates about abortion and reproductive rights in Ohio. The conversation is taking shape in the form of campaigning candidates and their stances on upholding the constitutional amendment approved by 57% of voters last November, and the potential for a national abortion ban floated by…
After Two-Year Study, Cleveland Seeks to Cut Lake Avenue Speed Limit By 5 MPH
From 2021 to 2023, the City of Lakewood engaged in close observation of one of its most traveled throughways, Lake Avenue, believing that car traffic was moving too fast for the sake of safety. Earlier this year, that study—which compiled days of traffic and pedestrian counts—concluded what traffic engineers suspected: Lake Ave.’s 35 MPH speed…
First Look: A. J. Rocco’s, Opening This Weekend Downtown
The banner on the back of the building says, “Coming Summer 2021,” but the plans for A.J. Rocco’s have been in motion much longer than that. A. Brendan Walton closed his convivial Gateway District café at the tail end of 2019, but within months he was planning to reinvent the 18-year-old spot a few doors…
State Investigating a String of Fatal Encounters With Canton Police
The Ohio Attorney General’s Office is investigating a third fatal confrontation with Canton police. Frank E. Tyson, 53, died face down and handcuffed while being arrested April 18. Tyson, according to 911 callers, walked into a bar following a car crash. Patrons told police to “get him out of here.” Tyson knocked over a barstool…
‘I Say Go For It’: Brook Parkers Cautiously Optimistic About a Potential Browns Stadium in Their Backyards
When Georgia Panian first caught the news that Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam were showing interest in building a stadium a few blocks up the road from her house on Richard Drive, her ears perked up. After all, the potential relocation of the team a few miles south and the possible mega development project…
Cleveland Rapper Shawn Poe To Headline Upcoming Live at the Montreaux Local Showcase
A prominent figure on the local music scene for years, rapper Shawn Poe, aka Karate P, begins each day by working out of his garage, a space he’s turned into a streaming center and videography station to help promote local artists. “We noticed that the No. 1 kind of artist in the industry is the…
Ohio Student Protestors Say Their Movement is Gaining Momentum
After hundreds of Ohio students gathered at Kent State University over the weekend to protest the conflict in Gaza, on the 54th anniversary of Vietnam War protests that left four students dead there, student organizers say their movement is gaining momentum. Rachael Collyer – program director with the Ohio Student Association – said students condemn…
Evelyn Restaurant Project from Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison is Not Happening
Two years ago, partners Jill Vedaa and Jessica Parkison announced that they were taking over the former Spice Kitchen property at the corner of Detroit and W. 58th Street in Gordon Square. A few months later they had a name and concept for the property: Evelyn, named after Vedaa’s mother, would offer an “elevated tapas” experience.…
David Glenny of Bricco Fame to Open Stirling, a Fine-Dining Restaurant in the Merriman Valley
David Glenny, who founded the Bricco restaurant group in 2003, is opening his first new restaurant in decades. (He no longer operates any of the Bricco locations.) Before the end of the month he will open Stirling, a fine-dining eatery at Liberty Commons in the Merriman Valley. “I’ve always wanted to get back to my…
Company at the Connor Palace Theatre is an Absolute Treat (with Mixed Results)
These days, there are a number of plays, shown in this area and elsewhere, in which the lead male role is gender-switched leading to insightful and successful productions. And until that casting practice is banned by the Ohio legislature (after they have made sure gender guards are posted at all the public restrooms) we can…
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Agrees to Coat Glass to Prevent Bird Collisions
Birders can rejoice: one of the most lethal buildings to our feathered friends will not be as deadly anymore. Well, at least come this fall, when Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse plans to coat the majority of its surrounding glass facade with a bird-protective film, which would save tens of thousands from smacking into it in the…
First Look: Oliva, an Italian-Themed Steakhouse, Opening ‘Any Day’ in the Warehouse District
Lola Jacaj, formerly Sema, is days away from opening her third restaurant, Oliva. The new Warehouse District eatery joins its immediate neighbor Acqua di Dea (formerly Acqua di Luca) and Casa La Luna (formerly Luca Italian Cuisine). Following a split with chef-partner Luca Sema, the names of the restaurants were changed. Oliva (408 W. St. Clair…
Broadview Heights Pride Fest Moves Forward in Spite of Resident Hostility
On April 15, about 60 or so Broadview Heights residents showed up to their City Council chambers, some heated, some empathetic. All were focused on what they perceived to be a subject of prime importance: whether or not the town’s second Pride Fest should or should not happen on city property. Most present, the Plain…
The Rebel Reserve to Bring Coffee, Tea and Vintage Vibes to Old Brooklyn
After living in Denver, Jessica Moore and Riley Ralmuto moved to Old Brooklyn to be closer to family. Before long, however, they found themselves pining for the great coffee shops of their previous home. “Moving here from Denver, my partner and I haven’t been able to find a coffee shop that we love,” says Moore.…
In Advance of Upcoming Agora Show, Kathy Griffin Talks About Kicking Cancer and Overcoming PTSD
Back on the road for the first time in more than six years with her new standup tour dubbed My Life on the PTSD List, comedian Kathy Griffin has been through so many trials and tribulations, she now has plenty of new material. She recently beat lung cancer that was so severe that it resulted in…
Cleveland Orchestra + Karamu House and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
This week we’ll start with the busiest venues and institutions and work our way down our list of classical music recommendations. – Members of The Cleveland Orchestra will join Karamu Artists for a special “Legacy: Past, Present, and Future” concert at Karamu House on Wednesday at 7 curated by Allison Loggins-Hull. Then the Orchestra will…
Cleveland Loses Points on This Year’s City Clean Energy Scorecard
While the region eyes its future amid climate change, Cleveland lost a few points in its clean energy credibility this year, according to a report released Monday by the verbosely-named American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or the ACEEE. The Washington D.C.-based climate advocacy think tank ranked Cleveland 46th on its 2024 City Clean Energy…
How to Get $25 Tickets to Cleveland’s Biggest Summer Concerts
If you, like everyone else, has spent the last few years complaining that concert ticket prices have gone from simply outrageously expensive to out-of-this-world stupid, Live Nation’s Concert Week deals will be a balm to your soul. The concert giant is offering $25 all-in tickets from May 8 to 14 to hundreds of shows this…
New York-Based Musician Re-Records Regional 1980s Hit ‘I Need a Freak’
Jonathan Hay, a musician and producer based in New York, has re-recorded “I Need a Freak,” a tune that was a hit for Cleveland’s Lynn Tolliver in 1983. “Over the last several years, I would frequently hear Tolliver’s version playing in house music parties and clubs in both Brooklyn and Manhattan,” says Hayes in an…
Old Brooklyn Mustard, Fuego Fermentations Take Top Prizes in Prestigious Good Food Awards
As of last night, one production kitchen in Old Brooklyn has become home to three Good Food Award-winning products. Now in its 14th year, the Good Food Awards – the “Oscars of the food movement” – were held yesterday in Portland, Oregon, and both Old Brooklyn Mustards and Fuego Fermentations walked away with top honors.…
Athens Co. Fracking Leak, Inaction Show the Dire Public Health Dangers of Ohio Regulatory Capture
Let’s say you, like roughly 45% of Ohioans, rely on groundwater wells to provide a constant supply of clean, safe drinking water. Now suppose, unbeknownst to you, an exceptionally toxic cocktail of radioactive wastewater has been leaking underground and possibly contaminating the water you and your family drink. As your alarm and outrage builds with…
You Truly Must See ‘Funny, Like an Abortion’ at Cleveland Public Theatre
Sometimes you see a play listed and wonder what the title is all about. That’s not the case with Funny, Like an Abortion, the play now at Cleveland Public Theatre that you must see—emphasis on must. While the title is direct and easily understood, it belies the subtlety of the funny script by Rachel Bublitz…
Ohio City Bridgeworks Project Eyes Fall Groundbreaking After Last Year’s Redesign
One of Ohio City’s most malleable apartment projects in recent years was awarded $2 million on Monday, in an effort by Cuyahoga County to push the complex closer to its groundbreaking later this fall. Set to rise on the western edge of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, Bridgeworks, in its latest phase, comprises 140 units of…
Chefs Quagliata and Ladner to Open Fast-Casual BBQ Spot Next Door to Village Butcher in Mayfield
Carl Quagliata and Zach Ladner opened the doors to The Village Butcher (818 S.O.M. Center Rd., 440-565-7330) in Mayfield nearly two years ago. The neighborhood butcher shop has quickly become a destination for shoppers in search of imported pantry items, deli meats and cheeses, high-quality steaks and chops, and built-to-order sandwiches. When the adjacent storefront…
An Early Review of Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point: It Exceeds Expectations
Nearly three years after the original Top Thrill Dragster concluded its run, Cedar Point last week introduced its eagerly anticipated successor, Top Thrill 2. Braving thirty-degree weather, riders starting as early as 5 a.m. were launched forwards, backwards, and then forwards again 420 feet into the sky up the original tower and a new vertical…
Livewire: 11 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Week
TUE 04/30 The Struts Known for his Freddie Mercury-style moves and onstage bravado, frontman Luke Spiller brings his glam rock band the Struts to House of Blues tonight. The current tour supports last year’s Pretty Vicious, an album that features Aerosmith-inspired rockers such as “Too Good at Raising Hell” and modern pop songs such as…
Marcia Fudge Withdraws as Shaker Heights Commencement Speaker
Former HUD Secretary and United States Congresswoman Marcia Fudge on Friday afternoon notified the Shaker Height school district that she would withdraw as speaker for the high school’s commencement on June 5. The Shakerite, the school’s student-run newspaper, first reported the news. While district officials had lauded the chance to finally welcome the Northeast Ohio political…
‘Always… Patsy Cline’ at Great Lakes Theater is a Fitting and Fun Tribute to the Artist
Who doesn’t love a play about obsession, especially when it’s highlighted with more than 25 songs made famous by the one and only Patsy Cline? If you agree, you should make your way to the Hanna Theatre where Always…Patsy Cline is now playing in a production by the Great Lakes Theater. The obsession in this…
Ohio Gov. DeWine Said He Didn’t Know of Millions in FirstEnergy Support. Is It Plausible?
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s claim to not know about the millions an Akron utility spent supporting his 2018 campaign for governor simply isn’t credible, an Ohio political scientist said in a recent interview. A spokesperson for DeWine pushed back. FirstEnergy provided that support, then spent more than $60 million to pass and protect a $1.3…
Loneliness, Love and Too Much of One Character in ‘Significant Other’ at Dobama Theatre
It’s not unusual for a play to be centered around one character, but it’s rare for that person to be the least interesting character in the piece. Yet that is what happens in Significant Other, now at Dobama Theatre. Playwright Joshua Harmon places the 29-ish gay man Jordan in every scene even though there are…
Maybe Don’t Invite Someone Who Vouched for the Man Who Killed a Beloved Teacher in Your District to Speak at Commencement
Shaker Heights High School students have started a petition, which has as of Friday gathered more than 750 signatures, demanding the school not welcome Marcia Fudge to speak at the 2024 commencement festivities on June 5. Fudge, the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and United States Congresswoman, in 2015 was among friends of former Cuyahoga…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: The Kraken Room Cocktail Lounge in Willoughby, Food Trucks and More
– Changes are afoot again in Willoughby as Juan Vergara and company are set to debut The Kraken Room upstairs from Pulpo Beer Co. The move follows the success of Amazonia in Lakewood. Related – Looking for lunch in downtown Cleveland this summer? There’s a food truck gathering every weekday beginning May 1. Related -…
Court Issues Restraining Order Against Ohio Fracking Waste-Storage Facility
Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people’s health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary restraining order against Austin Master Services, a fracking waste-storage facility in Martin’s Ferry, at the request of Ohio Attorney General David Yost. Ohio has some of the least-restrictive rules on fracking waste,…
Ohio Near Bottom in Preschool Spending Compared to Other States
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine used his recent State of the State speech to proclaim the importance of child care and education, but a national report released last week ranks Ohio near the bottom of the country in preschool spending. The National Institute for Early Education Research’s annual “state of preschool” report showed nationwide disparities in…
A Contest to Design a New Flag for the City of Cleveland Launches Monday
After months of planning, a volunteer group of Northeast Ohioans will on Monday launch a public contest to design and select a new flag for the city of Cleveland. CLE Flag, started by a handful of friends and likewise interested folks, aims to find a new civic emblem, one that better represents Cleveland’s current ethos,…
