44th Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival
Fri., March 18
Seasonal Special Happenings
Now in its 44th year, the annual Lakeland Jazz Festival regularly brigns some of jazz’s biggest stars to town. Grammy Award-winning jazz sax player Kenny Garrett starts things off tonight at 6 with a free workshop. Then, at 8 p.m., internationally acclaimed B3 organ sensation Tony Monaco and local guitarist Dan Wilson perform. The festival, which will also feature saxophonist Kenny Garrett and Big Band Matinee with two big bands, the Lakeland Civic Jazz Orchestra and the Youngstown State University Jazz Ensemble, continues through Sunday. The weekend is also a highlight for the jazz education community in Northeast Ohio and features performance and adjudication of high school and regional jazz ensembles. All performances are held in the Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center (in Building D) at Lakeland Community College. For tickets and information, go to the festival website lakelandcc.edu/web/about/jazz-festival.Ian Karmel
Thu., March 17
Comedy
Most famous as a writer and roundtable regular on Chelsea Lately, comedian Ian Karmel likes to joke that he didn’t know he was sad one day until he went to a Jack in the Box and the woman working the drive thru window asked him if he was going to be okay. “It’s not like I put in a concerning order and said, ‘Give me tacos until my dad is proud of me.'” The loud-mouthed comic relies on observational humor during his routines. He performs tonight at 8 at Hilarities, where he has shows scheduled through Saturday. Tickets are $22 to $25.7th Day Sweat Sundays Seasonal Special Happenings The “seventh day” tends to be a day of rest for many folks. But not for the party hearty people who run B-Side Liquor Lounge, the popular dance club located underneath the Grog Shop. Dubbed 7th Day Sweat, their weekly Sunday night soiree features DJ White Rims spinning “today’s hottest dance hits,” so you can “sweat it out” every Sunday. Admission is free but you must be 21 or older. It all starts at 7 p.m.Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Sat., March 19
Film
Whether a movie made big money at the box office or bombed has little to do with whether it becomes a cult classic. In fact, many cult classics were commercial failures. Cleveland Cinemas acknowledges as much each year with Late Shift, its cult film series. Tonight at midnight at the Capitol Theatre, it screens Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, the spy spoof starring Mike Myers, Elizabeth Hurley and Robert Wagner. Tickets are $6.MYCincinnati Ambassador Ensemble
Sat., March 19
Seasonal Special Happenings
A self-described “radical youth septet committed to social justice and collective action through avant performance and experimental collaborations,” the MYCincinnati Ambassador Ensemble, will perform a free concert and host a documentary film screening tonight from 6 to 9 at the Near West Theatre. Co-hosted by the Social Justice Institute at Case Western Reserve University, the event will feature music composed and led by MYCincinnati director Eddy Kwon. The performance is accompanied by Michael and Henry Wilson’s documentary film about the Ambassador’s yearlong project. The Social Justice Institute will moderate a discussion with the student ensemble after the performance, followed by a reception. MYCincinnati (Music for Youth in Cincinnati) is a free youth orchestra program in the Cincinnati area. The event is free, but registration is required. Tickets may be reserved through a link on the Social Justice Institute website: case.edu/socialjustice.Nerdlesque
Fri., March 18
Seasonal Special Happenings
The local burlesque outfit Le Femme Mystique celebrates its 12th anniversary tonight at the Beachland Ballroom with Nerdlesque, a special show that will feature performances by burlesque dancers who will dress up as your favorite characters from movies, television, comic books and arcade games. Dubbed “Canada’s Sexiest Nerdy Burly Star,” Red Herring will be on hand as will Miranda Tempest, an aerial circus artist from Toronto. The show begins at 8:30. Tickets range from $17 to 35, with reserved and VIP options available.Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy
Fri., March 18
Seasonal Special Happenings
Earlier this year, self-professed redneck comics Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy hit the road for their We’ve Been Thinking tour. Our guess is that by “thinking,” these guys mean they’ve come up with new ways to act like Hillbillies. Each comic will perform a set and then the two will hit the stage together for a special encore. They perform tonight at 7 and 9:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre. Tickets start at $54.50.Ripley’s Game
Sun., March 20
Film
In the wake of the success of the Todd Haynes film Carol, which is based on a novel by American crime writer Patricia Highsmith, the Cleveland Museum of Art presents The Talented Ms. Highsmith, a series devoted to film adaptations of her novels. The series continues today with a screening of the 2002 flick Ripley’s Game, a movie about a con man and art dealer who live in Italy. The movie screens at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $9.Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club
Sun., March 20
Fairs/Festivals
While sales of compact discs continue to decline, sales of vinyl, the format once considered obsolete, are on the rise. Today at 1 p.m. at the Happy Dog, vinyl aficionados can potentially add to their collections as the Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club descends upon the place for a “social, swap, sell and spin.” Admission is free.Yoga & Music
Sat., March 19
Seasonal Special Happenings
The Music Box Supper Club has had great success pairing music with yoga. That’s right — we said yoga. At tonight’s “workout,” your favorite Cleveland yogi Shari Carroll leads a Vinyasa Flow session while guitarist Thom Pope provides the tunes. Afterwards enjoy $5 off a specially chosen wine flight and complimentary admission to see Bossa Nova Night with Luca Mundaca. The event starts at 5:30, and tickets are $15.
