Thursday | 23
When Institutes Collide
The Planetarium Project Takes Off
The impetus behind tonight's Planetarium Project at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History came nearly two years ago. That's when Keith Fitch of the Cleveland Institute of Music approached his colleagues at the Cleveland Institute of Art with a suggestion: How about a collaboration between his composition students and the CIA's young filmmakers — all designed to take advantage of the museum's state-of-the-art planetarium? "The result is truly wonderful," says Fitch about tonight's debut of five original short films on the planetarium's domed screen. "Each one has been made by a CIA student filmmaker, and each is set to an electronic score by one of our young composers." Fitch says the films range from traditional narratives to the dreamily abstract, while the scores include everything from hard-driving rock to moody ambient sounds. "There's really a very wide variety — and because they have all been designed for the 360-degree screen, it has given the students a really unique learning experience." The five films will be shown tonight at 8:15 and again at 9:15 p.m.; then, they'll become part of the planetarium's regular program rotation. Fitch hopes the pieces will go on to find a national audience as part of upcoming "dome fests," featuring similar 360-degree films. Admission is $10. Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required at the number below. — Cicora
1 Wade Oval Dr., 216-231-4600, cmnh.org or cim.edu.
The Classy Glass
A Bordeaux Dinner at Moxie
While we firmly believe that the best wine is whatever we have sitting on the kitchen counter, sometimes it's fun to get a little chichi. Sommelier Cyrus Davarpanah makes that easy with tonight's five-course wine dinner at Moxie. Beginning at 6 p.m., Davarpanah will be pouring a host of true French beauties: fine Bordeaux from Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, a hilltop estate in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Haut-Medoc. How chichi is it? Just last year, an 18-liter bottle of their 2009 Croix de Beaucaillou sold for more than $13K! You won't be chugging from that jug tonight, but rest assured that whatever Davarpanah pours will be primo. To go with, executive chef Jonathan Bennett has crafted an equally upscale menu: oysters on the half shell, duck confit, a foie gras terrine, butter-poached langoustine and braised short ribs, and for dessert, a bittersweet chocolate pot de crème. The dinner bell chimes at 7 p.m. Cost is $99 per person, plus tax and tip. Reservations are required at the number below. — Cicora
3355 Richmond Road. Beachwood, 216-831-5599, moxietherestaurant.com.
Friday | 24
Keep on Truckin'
Monster Jam Roaaaaars Into the Q
Former Clevelander Bari Musawwir is living the dream, roaring through arenas behind the wheel of Spider-Man, his 10,000-pound, 1,500-horsepower monster truck. Discovered by Monster Jam producers in North Carolina back in 2006, Musawwir admits the ginormous machines are a mighty change from the radio-controlled trucks he'd been racing up till then. But after four years of training, he finally earned a spot on the Monster Jam tour in 2010. "I haven't yet found a word to describe it," says the 1998 Cleveland Heights High School grad. "It's amazing, powerful ... like a dream come true." Plus, it helps him score with chicks, right? "I'm a happily married man!" Musawwir protests. "But yes, the chicks do dig a monster truck." The 2011 Monster Jam Rookie of the Year will make his Cleveland debut at the Q today through Sunday, where he'll be joined by the drivers of Grave Digger, Samson, War Wizard, and others. Tonight's show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $55 at the Quicken Loans Arena box office, online, and at all Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Marts. Check out the website for additional showtimes and other details. — Elaine T. Cicora
1 Center Court, 888-894-9424, theqarena.com.
Classic Albums Live
Thinking Pink at Playhouse Square
Break out the LSD: Dark Side of the Moon is going down live tonight at the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square. No, Pink Floyd will not be in attendance. Instead, the phantasmagorical fun is brought to you by Classic Albums Live, a vast cadre of Toronto-based musicians who roam the universe playing legendary albums — "note for note, cut for cut" — without what founder Craig Martin calls "the gimmickry and cheesy impersonations" of other classic-rock cover bands. You can see (and hear) what that's all about tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $35 by phone, online, or at the box office. If tonight's show leaves you hungry for more, check out the Monday, February 27 appearance by Brit Floyd at the Akron Civic Theatre. Read on for more information. — Cicora
1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Dining on a Dime
Mardi Gras Continues in Euclid
Fat Tuesday is over and we're well into Lent. But for those still jonesing for jambalaya and King Cake, chef Robin Blair is happy to hit rewind. The personal chef and educator is dishing up a traditional Mardi Gras dinner tonight at the Shore Cultural Centre; it's also the launch of a series of monthly cultural dinners at the Euclid nonprofit. "We wanted to create a time for community and fellowship," says Chef Robin, a Shaker Heights High School grad who honed her culinary chops at Tri C. Also on the menu: music, activities for the kids, and a cooking demonstration. But best of all, it's really inexpensive: "Only $10 for adults or $25 for a family of four." Other dishes on tonight's table include vegan black beans and rice, Cajun-style collard greens, gumbo, and beignets. Pay at the door, although Blair asks that you preregister by emailing [email protected]. It all begins at 6:30 p.m. — Cicora
291 East 222nd St., Euclid, 216-577-6981, cookingwithcareonline.com.
