Cleveland’s Blue Lunch To Play Its Annual Latke Party on Christmas Day at the Beachland
A staple on the local scene, the swing/jazz/blues act Blue Lunch began in 1984 as a five-piece band and has evolved into a larger ensemble with multiple singers and a three-piece horn section. It now plays soul, blues, R&B, swing and jazz. it’s perhaps the longest running blues-based band in the region. “I didn’t even think about…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Nov. 14-17)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 11/14 Shemekia Copeland Blame It on Eve, the latest offering from this singer-songwriter, features 10 new originals, plus covers of tunes by Stevie Wonder and Copeland’s father, Johnny Copeland. Will Kimbrough (who produced her…
Rare Bourbon Tasting Menu Event at The Ritz-Carlton Slated for Nov. 23
Bourbon lovers should set aside Saturday, November 23rd for an exclusive event to be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland. Taking place from 1 to 4 p.m., the Bourbon Tasting Menu Experience will pair a collection of exceptional whiskies with a multi-course tasting menu designed to complement the pours. The event is being presented in partnership with Cleveland-based Western…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: New Subs and Suds
– Pour, a new wine shop in Cedar-Fairmount, has just opened its doors. Related – Regional chain Cozumel has brought a welcome dose of comfrot to Cleveland Heights. Related – New westside sammie options? Edgewater Sub Shop is now open. Related – Coppia is in the midst of building a new home with the chefs…
Ohio Issue 1 Defeat Brings Praise From Conservatives, Concern From Advocates and Dems
Reactions to the defeat of Ohio Issue 1 redistricting reform showed strong feelings on both sides, with supporters expressing frustration with confusion over the ballot language, and those opposed praising voters for rejecting the Citizens Not Politicians proposal. With 100% of precincts reporting, the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office reports an unofficial result of 54.78%…
A Decade After Tanisha Anderson’s Death, Cleveland City Council Proposes New Law to Bolster Crisis Intervention
Ten years after the death of 37-year-old Tanisha Anderson during an incident with two Cleveland police officers, Cleveland City Council is eyeing new legislation that would aim to prevent similar deaths during crisis intervention calls. It’s aptly called Tanisha’s Law, legislation that would create a new Department of Community Crisis Response, while sending behavior health…
The Cleveland Orchestra Continues its Beethoven Concerto Cycle and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
This week’s picks begin with a shakeup of personnel at Severance Music Center, continue with a popular opera at Oberlin, and welcome top-notch visiting ensembles and solo artists to Northeast Ohio. – The Cleveland Orchestra’s seven-concert Beethoven Concerto Cycle, which was to have starred pianist Igor Levit with Franz Welser-Möst at the helm, has been…
What Will Happen to J.D. Vance’s Ohio U.S. Senate Seat?
Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance will become the next vice president, thus creating a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate Vance defeated Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the presidential election that was called Wednesday morning by the Associated Press. Vance will have to…
After Thousands of Complaints and Years of Issues, Will Cuyahoga County Finally Move On to New Jail Food Vendor?
Cuyahoga County Council has reluctantly extended contracts with Trinity Services Group as the food vendor for the county jail for years despite long-standing complaints from inmates and officials about the quality of the food. Maggots, cold meat, undercooked meat, bland flavors, slop. Asked for records of complaints about Trinity, a Cuyahoga County public records official…
Livewire: 15 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in November
THU 11/07 Jimmy WebbFamous for having written tunes such as “Up, Up and Away” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” in the ’60s, singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb comes to the Kent Stage tonight at 6:30. Expect to hear the stories behind the songs as well; Webb has even written a memoir about his lengthy…
‘I See a Lot of Red’: Takeaways From Ohio’s 2024 Election
Leading to Election Day, there wasn’t much doubt about where Ohio would land in the presidential race, but Tuesday’s results still had plenty of surprises. The once and future president, Donald Trump, wasn’t hampered by the January 6 riot, 34 felony convictions, or his own increasingly vitriolic rhetoric — including the demonization of Haitian migrants…
Man Who Plastered Hundreds of Chief Wahoo Stickers Around Aurora Charged With Criminal Mischief
Over the past year, hundreds of Chief Wahoo stickers have popped up around Aurora, on signs and businesses around town, on public and private property. The Chief Wahoo bandit was on the loose. And police were on the case After receiving complaints and investigating, authorities have now identified a suspect, a 66-year-old Aurora resident who…
Pour Brings Fine Wines, Gourmet Gifts and More to Cedar-Fairmount
The Cedar-Fairmount district of Cleveland Heights has been without a dedicated wine shop since the Grapevine closed in 2011 after 23 years in business. That ends today, November 7, when Ann Winings Lavelle and Walt Wirth open the doors to Pour Wine (12427 Cedar Rd., 216-860-9702). “I was envisioning a store where I would like…
Cozumel Brings a Welcome Dose of Comfort and Traditional Mexican to Cleveland Heights
When a property as prominent as the former Mojo/Lopez spot in Cleveland Heights comes on the market, talk rapidly shifts to possibilities. In the days and weeks that followed the closure of that restaurant, the chatter in local coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants up and down Lee Road was dominated by the “wishing game.” Punters…
Now Open: Edgewater Sub Shop in Cleveland’s Edgewater Neighborhood
Last week, Edgewater Sub Shop (8605 Detroit Ave., 216-965-0011) opened in Cleveland’s Edgewater neighborhood. The brother-run business offers hot and cold sandwiches, fries, chips and drinks seven days a week. House specialties include a corned beef and Swiss on rye, gyro with lettuce, tomato, onion and sauce, and a falafel wrap with creamy feta, tahini…
Cleveland Schools Levy Passes With Strong Support
Clevelanders decided Tuesday that the health of Cleveland schools was worth more tax dollars. About 66 percent of Cleveland voters opted to pass Issue 49, a levy increase that will cost your average homeowner here roughly $193 a year to bolster the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “Our members have worked really hard to talk to…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Nov. 7-10)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 11/07 Beethoven Triple Concerto & Third Concerto Cleveland native Orion Weiss shares the stage with violinist Augustin Hadelich and cellist Julia Hagen for this special concert with the Cleveland Orchestra. The concert begins tonight…
Cuyahoga County Passes Issue 55, the Cigarette Tax to Continue Funding the Arts
Residents on Tuesday passed Issue 55 by a wide margin, with about 72% supporting a tax hike on cigarettes and tobacco products to continue to fund the arts through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. The independent government entity will now receive more money from the revised tax—three-and-a-half cents more per smoke, up from its current tax…
Republicans Win All Three Ohio Supreme Court Races, Increasing Hold Over Court to 6-1
Ohio Republicans have tightened their grip on the Ohio Supreme Court from 4-3 to 6-1 by ousting two incumbent Democratic justices and winning a third, open seat, the Associated Press projects based on unofficial results. Results remain unofficial until they are certified by local county boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State. The…
Ohio Voters Reject Issue 1, Leaving Politicians in Control Over Map-Making Process
Elected officials will continue to draw Ohio Statehouse and U.S. Congressional district maps now that voters have rejected Issue 1, which proposed to replace politicians with a citizens redistricting commission, according to projections by the Associated Press based on unofficial results. Results remain unofficial until they are certified by local county boards of elections and…
Republican Bernie Moreno Defeats Incumbent Sherrod Brown for Ohio U.S. Senate Seat
Voters have elected Republican Bernie Moreno to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate according to projections from the Associated Press based on unofficial results. Moreno defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who has held the office since 2006. Results remain unofficial until they are certified by local county boards of elections and the Ohio…
Cleveland Voters Surprised at Long Lines Tuesday Morning on Election Day
Ninety minutes in Mayfield. An hour and forty-five minutes downtown. Lines down the Euclid Avenue at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections after early voting days that saw hours-long waits. Cleveland voters across the city are reporting supposedly higher-than-normal poll turnouts Tuesday morning, as a turbulent and many times mind-numbing election heads into its final…
Ohio Recreational Marijuana Sales Top $131 Million
Ohio recreational marijuana sales have topped $131 million in less than three months. The state’s total recreational marijuana sales were $131,813,130 as of Oct. 26, according to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis Control. Ohio has a 10% tax at the point of sales for every non-medical marijuana transaction. Ohioans voted to legalize…
It’s Officially Ramen Season at Mason’s Creamery
Ten years ago, Mason’s Creamery swung the doors open for its first pop-up ramen series at the Ohio City ice cream shop. Winters were slower, after all, with demand for ice cream waning as the temps dipped, and both Jesse Mason and Helen Qin love cooking in general, not just delicious desserts. The chilly season…
Nearly a Third of Registered Ohio Voters Cast Their Ballots Early in the 2024 Election
More than 2.53 million Ohioans voted early in the election, according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State as of Monday afternoon. This is a combination of in person early voting and returned absentee ballots, totaling 2,532,260. Early voting ended Sunday. There are more than 8 million registered voters in Ohio — meaning almost…
Music Box To Host Annual Music & Friends Garage Sale on November 30
The Music Box has just announced that it’ll host the fifth annual Music & Friends Garage Sale Holiday Edition on Saturday, Nov. 30. It’ll run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Vendors will sell concert photos, vinyl, music memorabilia, biographies, vintage concert T-shirts, music icon fridge magnets, upcycled music instruments, cassettes, tour programs, album cover…
Bill Squire, Mary Santora Let Go From Alan Cox Show as iHeartRadio Completes Wave of Layoffs
Bill Squire, Cleveland’s bearded, raucous flannel-wearing comedian, will no longer be joining Alan Cox on his regular radio show. In an announcement this morning on Instagram, Squire said he was the victim of a company-wide layoff by iHeartRadio, the owner of 100.7 WMMS, where the 42-year-old comedian has worked since 2013. “It’s just a bummer,”…
Literary Cleveland’s New Anthology of Work by Northeast Ohio Veterans Publishes This Week
Since 2022, Literary Cleveland – the local nonprofit organization and creative writing center that offers resources for the development of writers in underrepresented communities – has partnered with the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare system in providing free creative writing workshops to Northeast Ohio military service members and veterans. Through an expanding roster of multi-level classes,…
Coppia Moving to New Location to Expand Fine-Dining Offerings
Over the past three years, Chefs Hedy and Talia Trovato have built Coppia, their fine-dining restaurant in Chesterland, into an east-side favorite and destination for diners coming from all across Northeast Ohio. Come early next year, it will have a new home as they finish construction that they say will allow them to more effectively…
University of Akron Poll Shows Comfortable Lead for Trump in Ohio, Dead Heat in U.S. Senate Race
A University of Akron Bliss Institute poll released Thursday found Donald Trump running ahead of Kamala Harris in Ohio by seven points, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown holding a slight advantage against his Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. The findings are part of the school’s 2024 Buckeye Poll conducted from Sept. 12 to Oct. 24. The…
As Some Ohioans Make Confused Votes on Issue 1, Critics Say That’s By Republican Design
What is gerrymandering and how do we stop it? That question is at the heart of Issue 1, the state constitutional amendment Ohioans will decide on this election, either leaving the method of drawing state and congressional districts in the hands of the current system of officials or handing the power over to a new…
Comedian Jim Tews To Tape Upcoming Shows at Imposters Theatre
A veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, comedian Jim Tews, who now lives in New York, studied film at Cleveland State University while launching a standup career here in the early 2000s. He regularly returns to Cleveland to perform, and he’s just announced that he’ll bring his new standup hour to Cleveland. Jim Tews will…
Federal Judge Allows Proof of Citizenship Requirement for Naturalized Ohioans Challenged at Polls
A federal district judge in Ohio has given the green light to a requirement that naturalized Ohio U.S. citizens show proof of citizenship to cast a ballot. In 2006, the same judge determined a statute requiring challenged voters provide proof was unconstitutional because it “subjects naturalized citizens to disparate treatment,” and permanently enjoined the law.…
Cleveland Musician Sammy Haig Collaborates with National Acts from his Kitchen Countertop
As if to prove that you can write and record music from just about anywhere these days, local musician Sammy Haig has laid out a laptop, keyboard and trumpet on his downtown Cleveland kitchen’s countertop. The seemingly primitive setup has begun reaping significant dividends. Acts such as Tyler, the Creator, DJ Drama, Gunna, Kaliii and…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Two Sports Bars Debuting Downtown, Plus Pizza, Pizza, Pizza
– The old Winking Lizard Spot in the Gateway District has finally been claimed as Urban Meyer’s Pint House, a Columbus-import now owned by Saucy Brew Works, will open in the space. Related – Another sports bar? Another sports bar. Say hello to Tom’s Watch Bar, a national chain with locations in L.A. and Vegas…
A Look at the Money Being Spent on the Campaigns For and Against Ohio Issue 1
Ohio Issue 1 seeks to replace politicians on the Ohio Redistricting Commission with a commission made up of citizens. Campaign finance filings detail the many millions being spent in the fight over the proposed anti-gerrymandering reform. Issue 1 would replace the current Ohio Redistricting Commission made up of four lawmakers and three statewide elected officials with…
Ohio City Car Crash Shuts Down Jaja and Pioneer ‘Until Further Notice’
Two of Ohio City’s newest restaurants will be closed until “further notice” as they undergo repairs following a fiery car crash Thursday morning. Around 3 a.m. on October 31, a black Audi speeding west on Abbey Road lost control, hit a fire hydrant and slammed straight into the main entrance of Jajaon the eastern side…
Republican Voters Speak Out Against Trump Even as Ohio’s Outcome Seems Pretty Certain
Republican Donald Trump was a controversial political figure even before he launched his first presidential campaign. He carries a laundry list of well-publicized racist, sexist and bigoted remarks not to mention a track record of abusing the power of his office. His unfiltered approach has been central to Trump’s appeal. Even when supporters don’t fully…
The Cleveland Orchestra Does ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
This week’s picks single out classical concerts that feature interesting and unusual repertoire. – On Thursday at 7:30 at Severance Music Center, Chinese-born American composer Tan Dun leads The Cleveland Orchestra in original works — his Water Concerto & Concerto for Orchestra — plus Igor Stravinsky’s Fireworks, and Benjamin Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from Peter…
‘Mean Girls’ Musical, Now at Playhouse Square, Is Out of Tune
Sometimes you see a show and wonder how good it might have been if different people were involved in its creation. Because the version you saw felt lame and limp in virtually every respect. So it is with Mean Girls, the musical version of the iconic and super-sassy film that is now making a brief…
Lakewood Nears Final Approval for Development on Former Lakewood Hospital Site
The six-acre site formerly occupied by the Lakewood Hospital—known affectionately as “The Pit” to Lakewooders—is set to be developed with the help of tax-increment financing, to the chagrin of residents watching the project move along. On Tuesday evening, Lakewood City Council met with the Lakewood Board of Education to present the latest of Casto and…
As Anti-Trans Ads Rage On, There’s a Final Push to Motivate LGBTQ+ Ohioans to Go Vote
The election is only a few days away and LGBTQ+ issues are featuring prominently in some very important outcomes. At this point, commercials demonizing trans Ohioans are inescapable, with an estimated $120 million spent on anti-trans ads nationally. “They create fear and divide us as a community,” Equality Ohio said Monday in a statement. Although…
Study: Immigrants Contribute Billions to Ohio Economy, Bolster Workforce
Immigrants have contributed billions of dollars to the Ohio economy over the years, according to a new national study. The study conducted by immigrant workforce development group Upwardly Global and the American Immigration Council, showed in taxes alone immigrant households in Ohio paid $7 billion in 2022, with $2.4 billion of those in state and…
County Jail Architects Make Case for Low-Rise, Four-Story Campus Design in Garfield Heights
Architects and consultants hired by Cuyahoga County argued to council members Tuesday that a four-story building on a 40-acre site in a Garfield Heights industrial park would be the most efficient case for the area’s new, $1 billion-plus jail. That design case, led by the county’s longtime consultant for all things jail, Jeff Applebaum, has…
Cleveland’s Mud Whale To Play Release Party at Grog Shop in November
Mud Whale singer-guitarist Michael Morris says he didn’t plan on starting a band after moving to Cleveland from Cincinnati a few years ago. But he started playing with coworkers in 2019, and that group blossomed in Mud Whale, a terrific local post hardcore band that will celebrate the release of its second album, Humans Pretending…
Ways Cleveland Residents Can Stay Safe in 2024
According to a recent poll, residents of Cleveland, Ohio, have a one-in-17 chance of becoming victims of violent or property crime. The city ranks pretty poorly in home and security safety, natural disaster risk, and financial safety, but it’s the first of these factors that concerns people the most. While sociologists and elected officials examine…
Livewire: 7 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Week
WED 10/30 Mondo Cozmo After successful runs in indie rock acts Laguardia and Eastern Conference Champions, singer-songwriter Josh Ostrander formed the indie group Mondo Cozmo. Now, he counts the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Butch Vig as fans. He comes to Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood tonight at 7 in support of It’s PRINCIPLE!, a…
Cleveland Pizza Week Returns Nov. 11 With $9 Specials All Across Town
Love pizza and pizza deals? We’ve got good news for you. Cleveland Pizza Week is back from Nov. 11-17 with $9 pies over seven days at some of your favorite Cleveland restaurants. From signature pizzas to secret menu specialties, chefs are baking up their own spins across Northeast Ohio. Proudly sponsored by Gallucci’s and Peroni,…
Great Lakes Brewing Co.: No, Christmas Ale Isn’t Different Every Year
A little more nutmeg than last year. Not as malty. More cinnamon? Is it me or is it stronger? Whether you enjoy your first Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale of the season at the annual first pour event at the brewpub in Ohio City or surrounded by family and friends during the holidays, you…
Ohio Election Chief’s Own Numbers Say Voter Fraud is Extremely Rare. He Says That’s a ‘Bogus Narrative’
When Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s latest effort to prosecute voter fraud last week showed once again that voter fraud is vanishingly rare in the Buckeye State — turning up a handful of indictments out of hundreds of case recommendations, representing a minuscule percentage of the millions upon millions of votes cast in recent…
Clevelanders for Public Transit Say RTA HealthLine is Falling Short of Promise
In 2008, RTA debuted its new bus rapid transit line connecting Downtown with East Cleveland. The HealthLine would run every five minutes during rush hour. You could enter through any door. And with dedicated lanes and traffic signals, it would get you from Public Square to University Circle in “20 minutes flat,” its website said…
Good Pizza to Open on East 4th Street
For the past year or so, Charlie Anderson has been hosting pizza pop-ups under the name Good Pizza at places like Bookhouse Brewing, Tapster and Edda Coffee. Come January, he will begin operating under the same name but in a brick-and-mortar shop of his own. Today, Anderson gets the keys to the former Citizen Pie Roman Café storefront on E.…
Last-Minute Lawsuits Are Flying as Ohioans Head to the Polls
As of Friday morning, almost 1.4 million Ohioans had already cast their ballot in this November’s election. But with Election Day drawing close, Ohio’s Secretary of State and watch dog organizations have filed new lawsuits tied to voting. Secretary Frank LaRose’s case related to his ability to investigate supposed noncitizen registrations and has no real…
Yum Village Relocates Downtown as New Retail Heading to Langston Building Near CSU
Cleveland State will be getting news of fresh retail in the next couple of weeks. Three storefronts—The Pita Place, Downtown Nutrition and Yum Village—in The Langston building off Chester Avenue, on the north side of CSU’s campus, have been vacant since late September. Carasai Ihentuge, the Yum Village owner who will be reopening his Afro-Carribean…
Ohio: It’s “Spectacular Peak Condition” for Fall Foliage Right Now
Red, yellow and orange are speckled throughout the trees and this weekend is the best time to enjoy nature’s beauty, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ final fall foliage update for the year. “We are in the home stretch for fall color in Ohio, with mostly peak conditions throughout the state,” said ODNR…
Ohio’s Six-Week Abortion Ban Overturned by Hamilton County Judge
A Hamilton County judge has permanently overturned Ohio’s six-week abortion ban that had been tied up in court since its inception in 2019, but was put into effect for several months after Roe. v. Wade was overturned. Hamilton County Judge Christian A. Jenkins had already temporarily stopped enforcement of the law when the case entered…
Ohio Spent Nearly a Billion Dollars on Private School Voucher Scholarships in 2024
Ohio spent nearly a billion dollars on private school scholarship programs for the 2024 fiscal year, the first full year with near-universal school vouchers. The total scholarship amount for Ohio’s five private school scholarship programs was $970.7 million, according to final data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Well more than a third…
