Proper Pig Smokehouse to Open its Mentor Shop on June 23
[image-1]Update: It’s your lucky month, east-side barbecue fans. Proper Pig Smokehouse has announced an opening day for its new Mentor location, and it will be June 23rd at 4 p.m. **************************************** (Original story 8/30/16): Almost a year to the day that Shane Vidovic and Ted Dupaski signed the lease for Proper Pig Smokehouse in Lakewood, the pair…
Report: Cavs to Announce Jersey Sponsorship with Goodyear Today
Update: Darren Rovell and Kevin Kleps are reporting that the Cavs will today announce a multi-year jersey patch deal with Goodyear that will begin next season. Yes, ads are coming to NBA jerseys, because: money. Can confirm that today's announcement at The Q is the Cavs and Goodyear have struck a multiyear deal for a…
ACLU Profiles Transgender Ohioans in New Video Series
This week, the ACLU of Ohio launched a video series that spotlights our state’s transgender residents and the legal and personal issues that they confront. The underlying message throughout the series is that Ohio laws do not protect transgender individuals from discrimination. As social awareness grows, the hope is that legislators will listen to the…
Talking with Cleveland Broadcast Legend John Telich — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac rap about the Grammys, Bob Huggins and Kevin Love’s knee issue. Then, they bring on longtime FOX 8 sportscaster John Telich, who talks about Cleveland’s most colorful athletes, the changing business of sports journalism, covering a championship parade and listening to Chance The Rapper. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Listen: Radio Ad Slamming Mayor Frank Jackson Hits Airwaves
You may have heard the above radio spot on WTAM 1100, WERE 1490, 107.3 FM, or 107.9 FM. It’s a political ad, natch, released Monday, slamming Mayor Frank Jackson. It was paid for by the Service Employees International Union, District 1199. The service workers union came out in support of challenger Jeff Johnson, shortly after…
What We’re Reading: Shaker Heights Native and Pulitzer Prize Winner Kathryn Schulz on Loss
[image-1]Every now and then we here at Scene like to point you to other magazines’ fine, fine work. We’re devotees of the longform feature, and we’ve got an incredible piece to pass along today. Kathryn Schulz, Shaker Heights native and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who explored the inevitability of a cataclysmic earthquake in the Pacific Northwest (go…
Love’s Labour Lost
[image-1]Cavaliers vindicated a thousand doubting scribes this week when Kevin Love hurt his knee in pursuit of meaningless regular season wins this weekend. For reasons that remain opaque, Tyron Lue played his Big Three in this past week’s three-games-in-four-nights stretch, which included a road back-to-back in Oklahoma City and a home win over the Nuggets…
Toni Erdmann, Marvelous Foreign-Language Oscar Nom, Opens Friday at Cedar Lee
Toni Erdmann, an Oscar-nominated German film about a no-nonsense businesswoman and her prankster father, premiered at Cannes in 2016 and has been generating buzz ever since. It opens Friday at the Cedar Lee. Ines Conradi (Sandra Hüller) is an overworked business consultant who is currently working through the biggest project of her career. Her father Winfried (Peter Simonischek) is a…
Cleveland Confronts Ongoing Crisis in Aftermath of Alianna DeFreeze’s Murder; Suspect in Court This Week
The discovery of Alianna DeFreeze’s body in an abandoned home on the city’s eastside Jan. 29 staked a brutal end to a days-long search for the missing girl. Somewhere between home and school, she fell victim to a monster. The city reeled in anguish, and, for the umpteenth time, found itself having to confront the…
Transit Group Files Title VI Complaint, Alleges Closing Public Square is Discriminatory
Citing the fact that 70 percent of Cuyahoga County transit users are black, and the fact that blacks are five times more likely than whites to take public transit to work, the local advocacy group Clevelanders for Public Transit has filed a Title VI complaint with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The complaint alleges that the…
Theme of Self-Discovery Emerges on Latest Effort From Scottish Singer-Songwriter KT Tunstall
A couple of years ago, Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall announced she would no longer tour and record. Never mind that her debut album, 2004’s Eye to the Telescope, had received a nomination for the Mercury Prize in 2005 or that she’d won the BRIT Award for Best British Live Act and BRIT Award for Best…
Plenty of Lin-Manuel Miranda Magic in Beck Center’s ‘Bring It On’
If you’ve heard all the hoopla about Hamilton and would like to sample some of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical magic, there’s a heaping helping of it in Bring It On, now at the Beck Center in Lakewood. Combining often fast-paced lyrics with driving, percussive music, this show about high school cheerleaders, based on the film of…
Chance the Rapper to Perform at Blossom in May
After delivering a terrific, spiritually charged performance at the Grammy Awards, Chance the Rapper has announced a summer tour that includes a May 19 appearance at Blossom. According to the press release announcing the date, the tour represents Chance’s first headlining tour. The Chicago-based artist’s mixtape, Coloring Book, which won three Grammy awards, became the…
Canadian Indie Band Busty and the Bass to Make Cleveland Debut at the Beachland
The nine members of the jazz/funk/groove act Busty and the Bass initially befriended one another during their first week at McGill University’s jazz school in Montreal and started jamming. “It’s funny — seven of the nine band members starting playing together within that first week,” says trumpet player Scott Bevins in a recent phone interview. The…
Cleveland Orchestra to Host a Special Violins of Hope Encore Presentation and Concert
[image-1]For the past two decades, Amnon Weinstein has restored violins that survived the Holocaust. In 2015, seven local cultural arts organizations worked together to bring the instruments to Cleveland with an array plays, concerts, lectures, exhibitions, films and other public events. A Violins of Hope exhibition featuring the violins and their individual stories at the Maltz…
Punch Drunk Tagalongs Tear Up Happy Dog at the Top of a Really Great Ohio Bill
With a pair of EPs from 2016, Punch Drunk Tagalongs have quickly built an aura of excitement in Cleveland’s indie rock scene. We first caught their show when they opened for Rubblebucket last fall, and, impressed as we were, we decided to check them out again last weekend at Happy Dog. We recommend you keep…
Local James Baldwin Scholar to Introduce ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ at Nightlight
[image-1]Hyper-aware of the extent to which James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House remains relevant, veteran director Raoul Peck creates a compelling documentary with his latest film, I Am Not Your Negro. A personal account of the lives and successive assassinations of three Civil Rights-era activists — Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.…
Community Meeting Set to Discuss Arco Recycling’s Ohio EPA Appeal
With Arco Recycling proceeding with its appeal against the Ohio EPA order to shut down operations, neighbors and other East Cleveland residents will be gathering tomorrow to get up to speed on the news and debate next steps. Former Mayor Eric Brewer, who helped organize a chemical test of the hazardous materials being dispersed from…
Residents Hopeful for Change at Norma Herr Women’s Shelter — But Not Too Hopeful
Cuyahoga County last month opened up the contract for Norma Herr Women’s Shelter for competitive bidding and received a proposal from a second local organization interested in changing the state of affairs for Northeast Ohio’s homeless women. The move signaled a brief window of time in which a new operator might be selected to run…
KKK Leader Says Hate Group Is Looking to Expand in Ohio
Since the November election of President Donald J. Trump, a lot of scary vibes have been set loose on the Republic, none more so than the heightened profile of hate groups cheering the 45th President on from the sidelines. One usual suspect experiencing a shot of energy from the Trump Presidency is the Klu Klux…
Coming Soon: Hook and Hoof New American Kitchen in Willoughby
[image-1]For the past year, partners Hunter Toth and Chaz Bloom have been working diligently to convert the old Fanucce’s pizza shop (4125 Erie St.) in downtown Willoughby into Hook & Hoof, a New American kitchen. The restaurant is on pace to open in about a month. Chef Toth’s name might be familiar to diners in…
Wholey Cow, a Whole Lotta Beef, a Whole Lotta Fun
Last year’s inaugural Wholey Cow event was such a success that organizing chef Mike Schoen decided to do it again. This year’s “Beef, Brew & Buffet” will be held at Sol Restaurant (38257 Glenn Ave., 440-918-1596) in Willoughby on Sunday, February 26. The event starts at noon. This fundraiser for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank…
Brit Floyd to Bring Its Immersion World Tour to Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
Billed as “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show,” the Liverpool-based act Brit Floyd has sold more than one million tickets over the course of a career that stretches back to 2011. The band’s latest venture, Immersion World Tour 2017, features high-definition sound, a million dollar light show and state of the art video. The group…
Video: LeBron Featured in New Nike Ad, “Equality”
LeBron, Serena Williams, Alicia Keys, Kevin Durant and others are featured in a new Nike ad, appropriately titled “Equality,” that dropped this morning. More on the campaign itself and its social aspects can be found here. Really strong new ad from @Nike called "Equality" with LeBron James, Serena Williams, Kevin Durant. pic.twitter.com/feGVtdE68l — Rachel Nichols…
Cavaliers Rediscover Form, Still Looking for Defense
If you lived with the Cavaliers you might put a keystroke logger on their computer, or a GPS tracker under the bumper: You simply can’t trust them. Not until playoff time. It’s from that wizened perspective that we evaluate the team’s 3-1 record on their recent road trip which included games against actual contenders in…
Downtown Cleveland Alliance Stole All the Missing Scene Boxes, Citing Safety Concerns
The Downtown Cleveland Alliance took the 26 missing Scene boxes. They didn’t use the word “steal” in their communications with us — they said the boxes were picked up due to safety concerns — but we’re failing to see much of a distinction. A DCA operations director admitted that the boxes had been taken over…
White Boy Rick Movie, Starring Matthew McConaughey and Others, Will Film in Cleveland This Spring
[image-1] While no official word from the Cleveland Film Commission has come down, the White Boy Rick biopic will be filming in Cleveland this spring. The movie tells the full life tale of Richard Wershe Jr., who’s been locked up for almost 30 years for a nonviolent drug crime committed when he was a juvenile in…
14 Bands to See at This Year’s Brite Winter
Brite Winter, the annual outdoor winter music and arts festival, began a few years back in the Flats near what is now Merwin’s Wharf. Organizers had to learn a few difficult lessons before they were able to turn the event into the well-oiled machine it has become. “We literally weathered a blizzard our first year and found…
Great Singing, But ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ Falls Short
Who doesn’t love a good love story? Apparently no one, considering the track record of success enjoyed by this property. Originally written as a novel by Robert James Waller, it stayed on the New York Times’ bestseller list for more than three years. Then it went on to more success as a movie starring Meryl…
Trevor Bauer Flipped Out on Twitter Again, Defending Donald Trump and Denying Humans’ Role in Climate Change
[image-1]In a world where there are so many better uses of your time, let’s just hit pause real quick and take note of Indians starter Trevor Bauer’s sprawling Twitter rant against anyone who dares take a jab at his undying devotion to President Donald Trump and other things like having to leave post-season games because…
Fourth Annual Cleveland Animals Bar Crawl to Take Place on April 22
Organizers have announced details for the fourth annual Cleveland Animals Bar Crawl, which takes place on April 22 at seven different animal-named bars in Cleveland. The crawl begins at 4 p.m. and includes stops at Flying Monkey Pub, Fat Cats, Thirsty Parrot, Harry Buffalo, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wild Eagle Saloon and The Velvet Dog. Attendees can actually begin the…
Scene’s Distribution Boxes are Disappearing from Downtown
Two weeks ago, Scene distribution boxes began disappearing from downtown Cleveland. As of Wednesday, a total of 26 were unaccounted for. In late-night heists, unknown thieves have absconded with batches of 10, eight and eight. These are the familiar white boxes with red or blue Scene signage (and occasionally other decorative stickers). Those that have…
6 Concerts to Catch This Weeekend
FRIDAY, FEB. 10 Valerie June Singer Valerie June’s career stretches back to the early 2000s when she performed with her then-husband Michael Joyner in the duo Bella Sun. She launched a solo career in 2006 and teamed up with Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys for 2013’s Pushin’ Against a Stone. Now, the soulful singer…
Backstage Pass: An Interview with Country Singer Aubrie Sellers
About five years ago, country singer Aubrie Sellers started writing the songs that would eventually appear on her terrific debut, last year’s New City Blues. Sellers, who turns up the guitars on the record to the point that some critics have described it as “garage country,” came through town last night to play House of…
Now Open: El Puente Viejo Taco and Tequila Bar
It’s almost “taco time” at El Puente Viejo (1220 Huron Rd.), the splashy new taco and tequila bar in Playhouse Square. The 2,800-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor of the Creswell, a high-end residential building, opens tonight (February 9) at 5 p.m. Owner Rogelio Hernandez was born and raised in Central Mexico, but he’s owned Mexican restaurants in…
Second Annual Pride In The CLE Event Slated for June
After the Cleveland Pride Parade was unexpectedly canceled last year, a group of committed advocates rallied and planned a new event: Pride In The CLE. It was a fantastic success, by all accounts. Pride In The CLE will return with a march and festival on June 3, as part of a weeklong celebration from May…
LeCharles Bentley On His New Career, Parenting and His Calling — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Former NFL offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley joins the show to talk about his O-line performance school, his last ride out of the NFL, if his five sons are equipped to play football, how O-line play has changed and a whole lot more. Buckle up — and bring a thesaurus. Subscribe to A to Z on…
Another Group Comes Out Against The Q Transformation “Deal”
The Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus, a local organization that began as a local network of Bernie Sanders supporters, will announce at a press conference tomorrow that it is opposed to the Quicken Loans Arena rehabilitation. That rehab — dubbed the “Q Transformation” by Dan Gilbert’s crew — was initially ballparked at $140 million, about half of which…
Music Box Supper Club to Host Lecture About Local ‘Cranks and Bards’
Over the years, Cleveland has produced a number of irritable authors. Chief among them is the late Harvey Pekar, a graphic novelist, music critic and media personality. A former Scene contributor, Pekar had personality to spare (we still have fond memories from when he would call us from the Medical Records department at the Veteran’s Administration…
Keepers of the Art to Host Their Next Music Showcase in March at EJ Thomas Hall
Founded in 2006 to provide “an annual venue for hip-hop’s pioneers and independent and/or B-side soul artists,” the Keepers of the Art Music Showcase has brought artists as Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, KRS One, Big Daddy Kane, Buckshot, Whodini, Rakim, MC Lyte, EPMD, Masta Ace, J-Live, Asheru, Brand Nubian, Nice & Smooth, Das Eft…
Singer-Songwriter Jack Johnson to Play Blossom in June
Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson’s sparse, often-acoustic songs have lullaby-like qualities to them (and they were even used in the soundtrack to the kids’ flick 2006 Curious George). Despite their seeming simplicity, the songs have caught on with a generation of young listeners that often gravitates toward much flashier stuff. So when Johnson played Blossom back in…
Stout It Out Loud Fest Pairs Ohio Dark Brews with Oyster Bar
On Saturday, February 18, Butcher and the Brewer (2043 E. 4th St., 216-331-0805) will host its second annual Stout It Out Loud festival, a late-winter celebration of oysters and craft beer. More than 25 Ohio breweries will be on site pouring an incredible assortment of stouts, porters, strong ales and other dark brews. The beers will…
NASA Glenn Scientists are Leading the Way to Future Surface Missions on Venus
Using a simulated Venus atmosphere right here in Cleveland, NASA Glenn scientists have been testing ways to keep electronic devices functional in such harsh conditions. With recent experiments lasting 521 hours, the hope is that NASA can sustain longer, more involved surface lander missions on our planet’s mysterious next-door neighbor. The surface temperature on Venus is…
Rock Hall Inductees Cheap Trick to Headline Toledo’s Rock the Arena II Festival
Now in its second year, Rock the Arena II returns to the University of Toledo’s Savage Arena on March 25 with a lineup that caters to the classic rock crowd. Recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick headline the all-day concert that features Lou Gramm — the Original Voice of Foreigner, Cinderella’s Tom…
Rock Hall to Host Simulcast Party for 2017 Induction Ceremony
If you’re like us, you can’t afford to jetset off to New York to see the sold-out Rock Hall Inductions that take place at Barclays Center on April 7. To accommodate locals who either didn’t get tickets or can’t afford the trek east, the Rock Hall will stream a live broadcast of the 32nd Annual Rock…
Indie Rock Act the Japanese House to Make Its Cleveland Debut at the Grog Shop
Besides a trip to Los Angeles, the Japanese House – the solo project of English singer-songwriter Amber Bain – had never been to the states before last year. But starting this week, she begins her third North American tour of the last ten months, tacking onto an arena tour last spring opening for labelmates The…
Ohio: You’ve Been Googling A Lot About Donald Trump ‘Gaslighting America’
The most Googled search term in Ohio compared to the rest of America since the 2016 presidential election is: “Donald Trump is gaslighting America.” That’s according to a handy data-backed map produced by Estately. (Also in the top three: What happens if Obamacare is repealed? and Where is Somalia?) “Gaslighting” has become an increasingly popular way…
Public Square: The Heart of Darkness
Let’s imagine the following: Some time ago, the beloved Cleveland Metroparks Zoo successfully rallied the city’s corporate and philanthropic communities to co-fund, along with taxpayers, a massive project. Let’s pretend this project is the Zoo’s new centerpiece, an interactive Safari-inspired excursion- and play-zone, complete with state-of-the-art habitats, plush bar and restaurant-slash-wedding-venue resplendent with Serengeti decor,…
LeBron on Trump’s Immigration Orders: They “Don’t Represent What the United States Is All About”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in the aftermath of receiving the NAACP’s Jackie Robinson Award (given in person on Feb. 1 at the Q; part of the NAACP’s Image Awards broadcast on Feb. 11) LeBron James discussed Donald Trump’s immigration orders, advocating generally for peaceful demonstrations and saying specifically that he doesn’t support the policies.…
Pyro De Mayo Will Return to Nelson Ledges May 5-7
Pyro De Mayo will return to Nelson Ledges for its second incarnation May 5-7. We highly recommend you attend. Last year’s debut was an incredible trip through great performances — musical and otherwise. On the bill: Nahko and Medicine for the People, Rising Appalachia, The Werks, Dustin Thomas, Gipsy Moon, Dixon’s Violin, Heady Ruxpin, Space…
Arco Recycling Will Appeal Ohio EPA’s Order to Shut Down Operations
Arco Recycling, which is operating a dump on Noble Road in East Cleveland, was ordered by the Ohio EPA to stop taking in anymore housing demolition materials and to cease operations completely. The dump owners did not comply in time, and the case was sent over to the Ohio Attorney General for further oversight. Now,…
Darrell Scott’s Cleveland Heights Church Backed Out of the Funeral for 14-Year-Old Alianna DeFreeze
Adam Ferrise reports on an unexpected setback in the funeral for Alianna DeFreeze, the 14-year-old who was found murdered in an abandoned home on Cleveland’s eastside. New Spirit Revival Center in Cleveland Heights backed out of the funeral plans, citing insufficient staffing and, according to DeFreeze’s cousin, a “hiccup” in transferring GoFundMe money. The family…
Tenants Announced for Stark Development nuCLEus (Spoiler Alert: Shake Shack!)
According to Stark Enterprises, Cleveland Live!, a 47,780-square-foot multi-concept entertainment venue, will be the primary tenant of the nuCLEus project currently in development. The concept would be created by the Cordish Companies, which has crafted similar entertainment, gaming and hotel destinations such as Charleston Place in Charleston, Power & Light District in Kansas City, and…
Classic Rock Act Chicago to Play E.J. Thomas Hall in May
Just over two years ago, classic rockers Chicago played a blistering set before a sold-out crowd at Hard Rock Live. The group delivered hits such as “Saturday In the Park,” “If You Leave Me Now” and “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” as well as deep tracks like “Street Player,” a cut from Chicago…
Spotlight: “I Am Not Your Negro”
Hyper-aware of the extent to which James Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript Remember This House remains relevant, veteran director Raoul Peck creates a compelling documentary with his latest film, I Am Not Your Negro. The Oscar-nominated film opens on Friday at the Cedar Lee. A personal account of the lives and successive assassinations of three Civil Rights-era activists — Medgar Evers, Malcolm…
Savage Love: Quickies
Last week, I spoke at the Wilbur Theater in Boston and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Audience members submitted their questions on tiny cards, allowing them to remain anonymous while forcing them to be succinct. Here are some questions I didn’t get to at both events. Dear Dan, My girlfriend wants to…
Delicious Performances, Empty Calories in “The Whale”
We’ve all seen the photos of those people who are morbidly obese. They pop up on the internet and in tabloid newspapers now and then, and we all gaze in ghastly wonder at how someone can live within so many mounds of flesh — and what caused them to become so overweight. These are the…
Akron Art Museum Exhibit Pays Homage to Iconic Art Magazine
Founded by artists Attaboy and Annie Owens 12 years ago, Hi-Fructose is arguably one of the most popular quarterly art magazines in print. Today, Hi-Fructose is well known as a reliable source for discovering new, emerging artists, as well as showcasing the latest works by renowned contemporary artists. Rather than focusing on a specific genre,…
The Latest Installment of “The Lake Erie Monster” Comic Debuts This Weekend
Hosted by Weird Realms (11508 Lorain Ave.), Shiner Comics officially unveils the highly anticipated sixth issue of The Lake Erie Monster with a release party from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 10. Created by John G., Jake Kelly and Liz Valasco, the sixth issue is designed to be enjoyed by both new and…
Band of the Week: Kristine Jackson
MEET THE BAND: Kristine Jackson (vocals, guitars, bass, beat-box) STRAIGHT OUTTA ELYRIA: Well-known on the local blues circuit for years as a trumpet player, Jackson switched to guitar and vocals in 2004. “I had been writing some music and I wanted to play my own music instead of just playing trumpet in some of the…
The Joys and Flavors of Ethiopian Cuisine Are on Full Display at Zoma
Food cravings can be intense, debilitating even. Once you get that sushi fixation, for example, it’s not going away until you demolish a platter of tuna, yellowtail, salmon roe and uni. Same goes for fried chicken, pho, barbecue brisket and spicy Szechuan shrimp. Well, in my case anyway. Here’s one that I never thought would…
Rising Star: Emma Scheer, Pastry Chef at the Union Club
While studying for her undergrad degree in political science, Emma Scheer got into a heated argument with a professor over anti-feminist remarks. “I wound up storming out, went home and started baking,” Scheer says. “I baked all weekend, and at the end I realized I was using it to make myself feel better. That day…
East Cleveland Residents Have Complained About the Health Hazards of the Noble Road Dump For Years. Is Anyone Listening?
A cold drizzle covers East Cleveland on a January afternoon, and that’s a blessing for Willie Morrow: Rain helps tamp down the fumes oozing out of the dump across the street. “It’s gonna be hell when the weather gets nice,” he says with a gentle drawl. From behind a pair of bifocals, Morrow’s glance indicts…
LEGO Batman Movie Falls to Pieces
The LEGO Batman Movie is an interminable onslaught of pop-culture references and indecipherable action. Broadly, it betokens a dark future of branded film franchises, endless (Brand Name) (Subject) movies modeled after this putative trailblazer, a nerd-tastic exercise that tends to rely on the wit of its creative team to disguise the fact that the whole…
