Jeri Mills swears she can treat animals with Reiki, that New Age-y form of healing by touching. "I've used it on dogs, cats, and horses," she says. Her new book, Tapestry of Healing: Where Reiki and Medicine Intertwine, offers a balance between traditional Western medicine and a more spiritually inclined remedy. But Mills, a licensed physician, cautions people not to confuse healing with curing. "Curing is about fixing the moving parts," she explains. "Healing affects the body, mind, and the spirit. Sometimes we can't fix the parts, but we can comfort the spirit." Mills will talk about her book at noon at the Cleveland Clinic (9500 Euclid Avenue; free, 216-444-2200) and at 7 p.m. at the Ursuline Sophia Center (2600 Lander Road in Pepper Pike; $20, 440-442-4160).
Friday, May 7
Kelly McLane's seemingly simple paintings at first appear to be new-millennium takes on Roger Dean's old Yes album covers. Ice-filled wastelands and glimpses of looming, forbidding planets fill the frames. But look a little closer, and the 10 works that make up the art museum's Kelly McLane: My Blue-Green Algae reveal themselves as dawn-of-man portraits seeped in natural ingredients. Close to the edge, indeed. The exhibit is at the Cleveland Museum of Art (11150 East Boulevard) through August 22. It's open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Monday, when it's closed). Admission is free; call 216-421-7340.
Saturday, May 8
Every year, Cedar Point ups its game. Last season's unveiling of the Top Thrill Dragster netted the amusement park records in the world's tallest (420 feet) and fastest (120 miles per hour) roller coaster categories. This year's big news is an expansion to its resort side (which includes the Lighthouse Point campsite and the Soak City waterpark). And of course, the 16 puke-inducing roller coasters will be primed and geared for action when the park (One Cedar Point Drive in Sandusky) opens its gates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. the rest of the week). Admission is $43.95, $24.95 for kids; call 419-627-2350.
The eight artists participating in tonight's Forms art show -- including glass blower Matt Kucharski, creepy-puppet-maker Scott Radke, and photographer Russ Seligman -- are only part of the draw. While folks groove to live music and nosh inside Asterisk Gallery, a graffiti competition will be taking place outside. The winning design goes to a New-York-based clothier, who will slap it onto a mass-produced, ready-to-wear T-shirt. It all happens from 6 to midnight at Asterisk Gallery, 2393 Professor Street. Admission is free; call 440-582-8586.
Sunday, May 9
Today is Mother's Day, and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo sure knows how to commemorate the occasion. In addition to free admission for Mom, the first 1,000 mothers get a carnation. Free massages, aromatherapy sessions, and soap-making workshops are planned, as are scrapbooking tips and information about animal moms. All this, plus close encounters with the zoo's residents and their babies. Awww . . . It all happens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way. Moms get in free; it costs everyone else $9 (or $4 if you're a kid); call 216-661-6500.
Lady linksters can take advantage of the Metroparks' Treat Mom to Golf program today, where mothers can play for free. Only catch is, Mom's gotta be accompanied by a fee-paying family member. The greens -- Little Met (18599 Old Lorain Road), Mastick Woods (19900 Puritas Road), Manakiki (35501 Eddy Road in Willoughby Hills), Sleepy Hollow (9445 Brecksville Road in Brecksville), Shawnee Hills (18753 Egbert Road in Bedford), and Big Met (4811 Valley Parkway in Fairview Park) -- are open 1 p.m. to dusk; call 440-232-7247.
Twenty-four-year-old singer-songwriter Josh Kelley is buzzing these days. "Amazing," the first single from his major-label debut, For the Ride Home, is a meaty slab of American folk-pop in the Dave Matthews vein. He's connected with listeners too. Kelley plays the Odeon (1295 Old River Road) at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $10.50; call 216-241-5555.
Monday, May 10
We're finally gonna get a chance to show off our mad mixing skills at Open Turntable Night. All styles of electronic music are welcome, but wannabe DJs gotta bring their own headphones and needles. Get ready for some wikki-wikki action at 9 p.m. at B-Side Liquor Lounge, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights. Admission is free; call 216-650-4425.
Tuesday, May 11
"The After Dinner Payback," the first song on Long Island rockers From Autumn to Ashes' latest album, Fiction We Live, was included on the Freddie Vs. Jason soundtrack last year. That should give you a pretty good idea where these emo-metalheads stand. And like most emo-metalheads, FATA isn't quite sure what kind of band it wants to be. One minute, it's all tough and tarnished, howling like a caged beast. The next, it gets all sensitive on your ass, brooding in a dark corner. Having two singers does that. At least the rest of the group walks a pretty straight line. From Autumn to Ashes co-headlines with Atreyu at the Odeon (1295 Old River Road) at 7:30 tonight. Tickets are $13 and $14; call 216-241-5555.
Wednesday, May 12
In his new exhibit, . . . and no one had anything to say, painter Craig Kucia taps into his childhood, works in some recent memories, and blends them onto canvases that obscure both reality and fantasy. If you ask Kucia, he'll tell you that his pieces are metaphorical. When you look at them, they reveal an intimate, personal artist who's just beginning to hit his stride. They're on view at Shaheen Modern and Contemporary Art (740 West Superior Avenue, Suite 101) through June 4. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and by appointment; call 216-830-8888.
