View the 650 items on display at Cleveland State's History of Contraception, and you'll discover that women once used crocodile poop to prevent knocked-up-edness. "People will try any number of things to control fertility," says curator James Edmonson. "The diversity is impressive."
Artifacts include IUDs and condoms of an earlier time, as well as literature that puts it all in perspective. "You can see how far we've come," Edmonson says. "There are social and ethical issues that envelop contraception. We're hoping to address them directly." It's at CSU's Allen Memorial Medical Library (11000 Euclid Avenue) through March 31 and open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free; call 216-368-3648. . -- Michael Gallucci
Soul Food
House of Blues dishes up waffles and gospel.
SUN 1/2
If Jesus's presence can ever truly be detected at a rock club, it's at House of Blues' World Famous Gospel Brunch (sorry, disciples of Creed). Every Sunday morning, a lively gutful of comfort food and musical sustenance for the soul is served. In the very same music hall that's hosted Marilyn "Antichrist Superstar" Manson, the Christian Brothers, a local quintet, preside over an ongoing exorcism, accompanied by savory aromas from the buffet (which includes hickory-smoked bacon, peel-and-eat shrimp, and crawfish cheesecake). Audiences can't help but clap, sing, and stomp their feet to the originals and spirit-on-fire gospel standards -- they have plenty of fresh calories to burn. Testify at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday at House of Blues, 308 Euclid Avenue. Admission is $29; call 216-523-2683 for more information. . -- D.X. Ferris
RTA on Display
12/30-1/29
Did you know that it's illegal to take pictures on New York and Chicago transit lines? Many other cities' transportation systems, including Cleveland's, also frown on shutterbugs. Following freshly released covert-photography books like The Subway Pictures comes Rapid Stasis: Time and Space on Cleveland's Transit Lines, an exhibition by Greg Ruffing, Samara Peddle, and Marie B. Ho, who recently rode the rails from dawn to dusk, armed with hidden cameras. The work is on view through January 29 at the Gallery of Photographic Arts, 2512 Church Avenue. It's open from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and by appointment. Admission is free; call 216-861-3062. -- Michael Gallucci
