WED 11/08
Cleveland Stories Dinner Party
Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is a weekly series that pairs fine food with storytelling. Through it, the folks at Music Box Supper Club hope to raise awareness of the mission of the Western Reserve Historical Society's new Cleveland History Center. The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to "bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland's past — from sports, to rock 'n' roll, to Millionaires' Row," as it's put in a press release. Admission is free, with no cover charge, although a prix fixe dinner, designed to complement the night's theme, is $20. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6, and the storytelling starts at 7. Tonight, journalist Neil Zurcher discusses "strange stories from Ohio history." The menu includes Amish chicken noodle soup, One-Tank pot roast and New Baltimore ice cream. (Jeff Niesel)
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
Simply Three
Glen McDaniel, Nick Villalobos, and Zack Clark — the trio known as Simply Three — dip into various genres during their performances. The trio plays selections from artists ranging from Puccini to Gershwin, along with works by contemporary pop stars such as Adele, Coldplay and Michael Jackson. They perform tonight at 7:30 at the Ohio Theatre. Tickets are $35. (Niesel)
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Wicked
Wicked, the Broadway musical based on The Wizard of Oz, has been through town a few times already. Yet every time it comes back around, it puts up huge numbers. While it might seem better suited to Halloween, the play, which details how the Wicked Witch of the West came to develop her deep-seated hatred for Glenda the Good, appeals to the entire family. So with some free time over the holidays, why not take the whole brood to Playhouse Square to check it out? It opens tonight at 7:30 at the State Theatre; performances continue through Dec. 3. Tickets are $49 to $169. (Niesel)
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Yojimbo
Toshiro Mifune stars in Akira Kurosawa's visually stunning and darkly comic film, Yojimbo. To rid a terror-stricken village of corruption, the masterless samurai Sanjuro takes advantage of a war between two evil clans. Remade by Sergio Leone and Walter Hill, this genre-twister remains an influential film. Draw Hard, a documentary about Gordon Square Arts District artist in residence John G. precedes the screening. Regular admission rates apply. (Niesel)
1390 West 65th St., 216-651-7295, clevelandcinemas.com.
THU 11/09
Matt Braunger
The creator and host of the popular podcast Ding-Donger with Matt Braunger, comedian Matt Braunger shares stories and observations and also doles out advice to people who call in and leave questions on his voicemail. It's a novel approach that showcases Braunger's wacky sense of humor. The comic performs at 8 tonight at Hilarities, where he has shows scheduled through Saturday. Tickets are $23 to $28. (Niesel)
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Jim Florentine
Inspired by loudmouth comics like Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Kinison, comedian Jim Florentine, who starts a four-night stand at the Improv tonight, began doing standup comedy in the early '90s. Florentine's career took off after he released an album of crank phone calls. That led to an appearance on The Howard Stern Show and he became a regular. Florentine has kept plenty busy. He was the co-host of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic. It ran for 14 seasons before VH-1 pulled the plug. And Florentine has had appearances on Girls, Californication and Inside Amy Schumer. He performs tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday. Tickets are $17 to $20. (Niesel)
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-IMPROV, clevelandimprov.com.
The Gordon Square Review Launch Party
Literary Cleveland, the non-profit literary organization that brings together Northeast Ohio writers, will host a launch party for the inaugural issue of its online magazine, The Gordon Square Review, tonight at 6:30 at Happy Dog. Literary Cleveland began back in August 2015, following a one-day event called Cleveland Inkubator. Today, the org boasts 300 members, an office and a full-time executive director in journalist and writer Lee Chilcote. Gordon Square Review began accepting submissions in August and went live last week, after receiving more than 800 entries for its inaugural issue. The content will focus on Northeast Ohio writers, with the intention to publish twice a year. Tickets for tonight's launch party are $8 for the public, and free for members of the organization. The evening will feature readings from this issue's contributors and contest winners. There will also be a raffle for Lit Cleveland swag. (Brett Zelman)
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, litcleveland.org
Mendelssohn's Scottish
Tonight at 7:30 at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra plays a program of music that reflects the drama and grandeur of the Scottish landscape. The orchestra will perform pieces by Mendelssohn, Haydn and Vivaldi. Guest speaker Timothy Cutler, a professor of music theory at the Cleveland Institute of Music, will give the pre-concert lecture, "Naked Knees and Nebulous Nicknames," an hour before the performance. The orchestra performs again at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets start at $21. (Niesel)
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man
A straight woman, a gay man and a "hunky" male model offer tips on how to properly get it on in Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. The comedy aims to "take the audience on a hilarious and wild ride where no topic is taboo and the insider tips come straight from the source: a gay man." Broadway World calls it "a night of laughter that makes you feel good in all the wrong places." Tonight's performance takes place at 8 at the Hanna Theatre, where the show goes on through Saturday. Tickets are $35 to $45. (Niesel)
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 11/10
The Exterminating Angel
A group of dinner party guests find they're unable to leave the room in The Exterminating Angle, a surrealist classic from director Luis Bunuel. The movie screens at 7 tonight at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets are $10, or $7 for CMA members. (Niesel)
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Kids Film It Festival
When 14-year-old Ryan Levine decided to start a film festival for kids, he chose to partner with the Michael J. Fox Foundation because his grandmother has Parkinson's disease. The resulting film festival has become a big hit; it comes to the Rock Hall at 7 tonight. While this is only its second year, the festival has received more than 100 submissions from around the country, from kids ages 8 to 18. This year's selections are grouped into three categories (animation, music and film), and have been submitted by three age groups. Winners in each category and age group will be announced tonight. Judges are Todd Lieberman, who produced the films Wonder and Stronger; Marc Buckland, an Emmy Award-winning producer and director; and Cleveland's own Ivan Schwarz, president of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. Tickets can be purchased through the festival website, below, and 100 percent of proceeds go to the MJFF. And don't forget to check out the DeLorean on the plaza, a not-so-subtle nod to Michael J. Fox's ride in the timeless Back to the Future. (Niesel)
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, kidsfilmitfestival.com.
Rock/Roll Perspective
Rock/Roll Perspective, a new photography exhibit at AsiaTown's Loftworks Gallery, will feature the work of two veteran local music photographers, Joe Kleon and Anastasia Pantsios. Each photographer has an impressive history of shooting concerts in Cleveland. Pantsios actively shot concerts from 1975 to 1989, and Kleon, a contributor to Scene, has shot concerts for the past 15 years. Pantsios' perspective centers on the classic era when Cleveland put stars like Rush and Bruce Springsteen on the map. Kleon captures today's colorful pop stars and rock groups such as Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, the Dave Matthews Band and Britney Spears. The exhibit features a visual history of hundreds of concerts, and more than 100 photos will be on display, with additional prints available for sale in the biggest offering yet from these two photographers. The show opens today with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Gallery hours are 2 to 8 p.m. tomorrow and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. (Niesel)
1667 East 40th Street #1A, 440-991-7097, loftworksgallery.com.
Whiskey Business
This year's Whiskey Business, an annual party put on by Scene, promises to be the best yet. In addition to all the great whiskey, there will be Tito's and craft beer for those non-whiskey drinkers, and gourmet whiskey-paired appetizers from Lago Custom Events. (That includes things like salted popcorn with sweet and spicy nuts.) Local bluesman Austin "Walkin'" Cane will perform and DJ Flaco Flash will man the wheels of steel. Plus, a bagpiper will be playing intermittently throughout the event, and there will be a gaming lounge for foosball, pingpong and darts. Anthony's Men's Salon will offer grooming services like hot-towel shaves. Balani Custom Clothiers will be on hand to help guests find their perfect fit, and Jo Vann's Tobacco Shop will help you choose the right stogie to pair with your favorite whiskey. Tickets are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. (Niesel)
2400 Superior Ave., Facebook.com/REDSPACEEVENTS/.
SAT 11/11
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Choreographer Paul Taylor continues to win public and critical acclaim for the "vibrancy, relevance and power" of the dance pieces he creates. Critics hail his work for the "movement invention, athleticism, cultural commentary and intricate musicality." DanceCleveland and Playhouse Square present tonight's performance of Taylor's company. It takes place at 7:30 at the Ohio Theatre. Tickets are $25 to $70. (Niesel)
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Sebastian Maniscalco
Sebastian Maniscalco puts a second-generation twist on everything he talks about, and it's pretty funny. He observes how 50 years ago, his Italian mom would save a cake "just for visitors" and leave the crap muffins for the family to eat. Nowadays, his mother cusses and pulls out a sword every time the doorbell rings. You won't ever catch this guy playing basketball because Italians "don't play sports" in America. Give him a meatball sandwich instead, and he'll paint your whole ceiling. You'll feel right at home if you happen to come from an Italian family; but even if you don't, this guy's observations are hilariously spot-on. He performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 at Connor Palace in Playhouse Square. Tickets are $42.75 to $253. (Liz Trenholme)
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000,
Snow Day Bar Crawl
Celebrate opening day at Breckenridge with this spirited Snow Day Bar Crawl brought to you by Breckenridge Brewery. Grab your lift ticket and ride with us through all the great bars at Flats East Bank including Lago East Bank, Bold Food and Drink, Flipside, the Big Bang Cleveland, Beerhead Bar, Coastal Taco, WXYZ Bar at Aloft, Magnolia Cleveland, Alley Cat Oyster Bar, Dante's Inferno Flats/Backyard Bocce Flats, Thirsty Dog East Bank, Margaritaville Cleveland and Punch Bowl Social, where the Breakfast Club will perform. Price includes drink specials at all 13 participating bars, light appetizers during check-in from each of the participating restaurants/bars, a surprise gift bag and chances to win prizes throughout the crawl. The grand prizes include a two-night stay at Shanty Creek Resort with two lift passes and a Snowtrooper All Mountain Snowboard. Advance tickets cost $15 on the website, below, or $25 at the door. (Niesel)
SUN 11/12
Baby Face and Employees' Entrance
As a tie-in with its Jazz Age art exhibit, the Cleveland Museum of Art will screen two pre-code films, Baby Face and Employees' Entrance, today at 1:30 p.m. Barbara Stanwyck stars as a woman who works at a speakeasy in Baby Face, and Employees' Entrance centers on a store manager who mistreats his female employees. The films also screen at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $10, or $7 for CMA members. (Niesel)
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Casablanca 75th Anniversary
In the classic film Casbalanca, Humphrey Bogart stars as Rick Blaine, a nightclub owner in Vichy-controlled Casablanca that's frequented by refugees desperate to escape German domination. He manages to remain netural, but all that changes when an attractive young woman (Ingrid Bergman) walks through the front door of his club. The movie screens today at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Cedar Lee Theatre. Tickets are $12.50. (Niesel)
2163 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights, 440-717-4696, clevelandcinemas.com.
Northeast Ohio Vinyl Swap & Spin Social
Once considered obsolete, vinyl sales are on the rise. Today at noon at 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. (Niesel)
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
MON 11/13
Science Cafe
The second Monday of each month, Music Box Supper Club hosts Science Cafe, an informal lecture series that brings scientists from throughout the region to the club to talk about science topics. Tonight at 7, Emily B. Pentzer, a Frank Hovorka Assistant Professor of Chemistry at CWRU, will discuss how "chemical-based memory devices" can be used for large-scale data storage. Admission is free. (Niesel)
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
TUE 11/14
Lazer Team 2
Nichole Bloom and Colton Dunn star in Lazer Team 2, the sequel to the 2015 science fiction action comedy directed, produced and co-written by Matt Hullum. The movie screens tonight at 7:30 at the Capitol Theatre. Tickets are $12.50. (Niesel)
1390 West 65th St., 216-651-7295, clevelandcinemas.com.
Open Turntable Tuesday
Tonight from 6 to 9, the Winchester hosts its weekly Open Turntable Tuesday. DJ Kris Koch offers 20-minute slots to people who want to bring their own vinyl and spin their favorite songs or deep tracks. Turntables are provided; you can play three to five songs during your time slot; and a mic is available to talk about the selections. (Niesel)
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338.
