The Kent Barrio Location is Now Officially Open
Update: The newest Barrio location opened near Kent State University earlier this week, with a line out the door. As the goal was to open sometime this summer, the 295 S. Water St. spot did so right in the nick of time (summer hits officially Sept. 23). The taco company also recently announced plans to…
Update: Fat Head’s Brewery to Host a Second Bob Ross Experience Paint Night Fundraiser in May
Update: Tickets for the May 10 Bob Ross Experience, a paint night fundraiser at Fat Head’s that will benefit the Cleveland chapter of A Special Wish Foundation, sold out so quickly that organizers have added a second event. The second event will take place at Fat Head’s at 7 p.m. on May 17. Tickets cost $45. Original…
Hippo Campus Brings Its Trippy Dream-Pop to House of Blues on May 6
Hippo Campus wasn’t supposed to be called Hippo Campus. The name was a temporary place holder, lead guitarist Nathan Stocker says in a recent phone interview. “It came to me in a dream,” says Stocker. “I think it was from God, or maybe Satan. I’m not sure.” The concept was introduced to Stocker in psychology…
5 Hoppin’ Cleveland Easter Egg Hunts For Adults, Kids and Four-Legged Friends
Easter is upon us, which means that many Clevelanders will be setting aside some time this weekend to brunch, take photos with a giant bunny and, of course, scavenge for eggs (and candy). Whether you’re thinking adults-only, family-friendly or dog-owner bonding time, the city has got you covered when it comes to Easter egg hunts.…
5 Cleveland Easter Brunches You Better Get a Reservation for Now
Easter is this weekend, and there’s no better way to celebrate the end of Lent than with a little brunch-based indulgence — especially if it means you don’t have to cook. From the family-friendly to the mimosa-fueled, these Cleveland Easter bunches are certainly worth securing a reservation. Merwin’s Wharf 1785 Merwin Ave.Merwin’s has a great view…
On The Fly Benefit for the Velasquez Family and Half Moon Bakery
“Back in the day, a bunch of us worked at Bar Cento with Gerson Velasquez, and we’ve all kept in touch over the years,” explains Jeff Draeger. “For the last two years he’s been trying to open Half Moon Bakery over by MetroHealth.” Near the end of the process, he adds, the family was dealt…
Melissa Etheridge to Play MGM Northfield Park Center Stage in June
Singer-guitarist Melissa Etheridge likes to recall that when she made her debut way back in 1988, she was often asked where she saw herself in 20 to 30 years. She would tell people she hoped she still had a career. That wish has become a reality, and the raspy-voiced Etheridge continues to tour and record.…
City Council Ignores CLASH Requests, Will Stick to ‘The Timeline,’ Which Suddenly Exists
It’s clear that Cleveland City Council will not voluntarily introduce the lead-safe legislation that Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) wrote and hoped to place on the November ballot through a citizen petition drive. At council’s weekly meeting Monday evening, the legislation itself went unmentioned. So did the petitions, which were rejected by council…
La Fiesta to Relocate from Richmond Heights to Beachwood, Preserving a Cleveland Trailblazer
The year was 1952 when Antonia Valle finally realized her dream of opening a restaurant specializing in the foods from her home state of Michoacán in Mexico. When La Fiesta began serving enchiladas, tostadas, tamales and moles at its modest Ohio City restaurant, located at the corner of W. 25th Street and Walton Avenue, it…
Local Rockers Dark Water Rebellion to Release Their New Album This Week
Local rockers Dark Water Rebellion have just announced that they’ll release their second full-length, Macabre, across all digital platforms on Saturday. Engineered by William DeMarco of Vuture Studios, a studio located in the Superior Sounds complex, the album features guests such as Mario Carmona (DeepDrain), Jessica Murr (Bloodshot216), Jessica Nemeth (the Rubicons) and Chris Jacobs. Originally…
Walter Trout, Who Plays the Beachland Next Week, Takes the Road Less Traveled on His New Album
As we catch up with blues guitarist Walter Trout, he’s working in Robby Krieger’s studio on new music, just “blasting away,” as he puts it. “After the last [album], I thought it was time to write some songs again,” he explains in a phone interview. Trout performs with Kristine Jackson at 8 p.m. on Wednesday,…
La Plaza Taqueria Teams up with Terrestrial Brewing to Provide Food at Battery Park Home
Big changes are in store for Terrestrial Brewing (7524 Father Frascati Dr., 216-465-9999), which will celebrate its second anniversary on April 26. Starting then, a dedicated food provider will take up residence in the Battery Park brewery. “We inked a partnership with La Plaza to be our pop-up food provider starting at the end of this…
Season Fast-Lane Passes Now Available to Cedar Point Visitors — But Only if You’re Rich
For those devoted roller coaster fans who hate waiting in ludicrously long lines, Cedar Point has released a new full-season Fast Lane Plus pass … for a cool $849 per person. Current season pass holders are the only people eligible to purchase the Fast Lane Plus season pass beginning April 23, meaning the price of…
Movie Critic Joe Bob Briggs to Speak at the Capitol Theatre in October
Known as “America’s foremost drive-in movie critic,” Joe Bob Briggs has published books such as Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In, A Guide to Western Civilization, or My Story, Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In, The Cosmic Wisdom of Joe Bob Briggs and Iron Joe Bob over a career that dates back decades. The Capitol…
In Advance of This Week’s Music Box Supper Club Show, Kinks Guitarist Dave Davies Talks About His Storied Career
At the time that Kinks guitarist Dave Davies came up with the instrumental song “The Journey,” he saw the track as an intriguing possible gateway to a larger project, one which, as it turns out, he’s still thinking about more than 45 years later. “When I was recording the songs, it kind of dawned on…
BP Funded Smarmy Opposition Ads Against Toledo’s ‘Lake Erie Bill of Rights’ Ballot Initiative
A few weeks before the election in Toledo that eventually made Lake Erie a person, there was much discussion about who was bankrolling those smarmy and scary-sounding radio ads that predicted the evils of the new Lake Erie water monster if the amendment passed. The ads warned a healthier Lake Erie was going to put…
Cleveland City Council Pounces on CLASH Mistake to Subvert Citizen Action (Again)
In 2017, Cleveland City Council rejected petitions seeking referendum on a deal authorizing public funds for the expansion and renovation of the Quicken Loans Arena. Council Clerk Patricia Britt (and the council leaders and lawyers hiding behind her name) argued then that the petitions violated the United States Constitution. That argument, which was a clear…
Rock Hall Looks to Build Enclosed Walkway to Science Center, Make Other Expansions
For those who’ve had to brave the elements walking between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center, the times they could soon be a-changin’. Seeking a lease on the acre of grassy, city-owned land between the two properties right along Lake Erie, the Rock Hall has proposed the building…
Stir Studio Kitchen in Ohio City to Bring Slicing and Dicing to Date Night
It’s Friday night. You and your spouse or date stroll into a lovingly restored Victorian in Ohio City. Built in 1880, the stately building features high ceilings, brick walls and a two-story turret that sets it apart from nearby facades. Positioned around the elegant interior are stainless steel workstations where staffers are busy prepping raw…
Diana Ross to Bring Her Diamond Diana Tour to MGM Northfield Park Center Stage in July
Earlier today, Rock Hall Inductee Diana Ross announced the dates of her Diamond Diana tour, a special year-long jaunt to mark her 75th birthday. The former leader of the Supremes, Ross received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 2012 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Her portrayal of Billie Holiday in…
‘Undesign the Redline’ Exhibit to Open in Three New Cleveland Locations
Cleveland Neighborhood Progress has announced the new three locations that will host the ‘Undesign the Redline’ exhibit, an interactive art installation that tackles the issue of racial inequality and the history of redlining. One of the main purposes of the exhibit is to educate people about discriminatory practices from the 1930s, such as redlining (the process…
Everything You Need to Know About Record Store Day 2019 in Cleveland
For better or worse, t’s no secret that Record Store Day has helped revitalize the sagging sales of independent brick and mortar record stores everywhere over the last decade. Now celebrating its 12th year, the divisive event hits Saturday touting limited-edition titles from artists like Pearl Jam, the Flaming Lips, Rolling Stones, Devo, Aretha Franklin, Notorious…
Patti LaBelle to Perform at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage in June
Soul singer Patti LaBelle has been plenty busy lately. She’s written six books, and she runs Patti’s Good Life, a successful product line that includes a variety of sauces, sweet potato pie, cobblers and cakes. She stars in her own highly rated cooking show, Patti LaBelle’s Place, and released her first jazz album, Bel Hommage,…
Pittsburgh-Based Arsenal Cider to Open Local Cidery in Ohio City
The stretch of Lorain between Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway continues to draw entrepreneurial attention from hospitality-based businesses. In addition to newer additions like the Plum, Herb ‘n Twine, Xinji Noodle Bar and Forest City Shuffleboard, new entries like Cent’s Pizzeria and Stir Studio Kitchen are preparing to open their doors. Now we can add…
Ohio College Republicans Apologize for Calling Congresswoman ‘Domestic Terrorist’ in Fundraising Email
[image-1] An email sent by the Ohio College Republican Federation yesterday called a Democratic congresswoman a “domestic terrorist,” a label often used to describe mass shooters and perpetrators of other violent acts. The fundraising missive signed by OCRF Chairman and University of Dayton student Tom Ferrall begins with the subject line “AOC is a Domestic…
Cleveland Heights to Celebrate Bike Month With Inaugural Bike the Heights Weekend
To celebrate Bike Month, the Cedar Fairmount, Cedar Lee and Coventry Special Improvement Districts will introduce their first collaborative Bike the Heights weekend from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5. In addition to rides, there will be special offers at select merchants in each of the districts. Heights Bicycle Coalition will host a family-friendly…
GroundWorks DanceTheater’s Annual Gala It Takes Two! To Take Place on April 27
Earlier today, the folks at GroundWorks DanceTheater announced that their annual gala, It Takes Two!, will take place at 7 p.m. on April 27 at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets are on sale now. Now in its 11th year, the event will showcase local celebrities who’ll be partnered with GroundWorks company members to perform…
USMNST To Play Gold Cup Game in Cleveland This Summer
The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team is facing an old foe in Cleveland this June. Taking on Trinidad and Tobago, the team that stopped the USMNST from advancing to the World Cup last year, the game takes place on First Energy Stadium on June 22. It is the second game in the Confederation of North, Central…
6 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 Travis Haddix Blues Band (in the Supper Club) A staple in the Cleveland blues scene — and in the American music circuit writ large — Travis “Moonchild” Haddix has always brought the heat to the stage. He also surrounds himself with great musicians — like a tight, tight brass section. What he…
Cleveland Has Its Own Pickle Festival Coming This Summer
It was only a matter of time before Cleveland got its very own pickle festival. We already celebrate all manner of glorious food items, like pizza, tacos, donuts, barbecue and chocolate. Now, come Aug. 24, the first-ever Cleveland Pickle Fest heads to the North Coast Harbor. From sweet and spicy to dill, all shapes, sizes…
Zuzu’s Meals in Rockefeller Building Offers Homemade Middle Eastern Food
Tucked into the Rockefeller Building downtown, Zuzu’s Meals (614 W. Superior Ave.) is a small Middle Eastern restaurant with a big heart. The café was opened in honor of Zuhair “Zuzu” Jallad, who died last year in a car accident. Zuzu’s mother Kholoud Jallad, with help from family, opened the restaurant last month to honor…
New B. Free Bridal Boutique Brings Quality Second-Hand Wedding Dresses to Lakewood
When Rebecca Ciamacco got married a few years ago, she was overwhelmed by the cost of wedding dresses. That experience helped shape a business idea. “I wanted to come up with a way to kind of help ease the burden for future brides as the price of things just continues to go up,” Ciamacco tells…
Subjectivity and Friendship Are at the Heart of Blank Canvas Theatre’s Entertaining Production of ‘Art’
Ever find yourself on the verge of unfriending people on social media because, no matter how many posts you seem to like from them, you just can’t stand their views on one seemingly insignificant subject? Well, Blank Canvas Theatre has captured that feeling with its production of the critically acclaimed Art, which, while it was…
City of Cleveland Issues a Written Warning to EMS Worker Who Played Circle Game After Elementary School Marijuana Incident
[image-1] The city of Cleveland issued a written warning to the EMS worker who in February was captured on video playing the circle game in the aftermath of the incident where an elementary student brought marijuana-laced gummies to school, sickening some classmates. That discipline was probably unnecessary, but the city found, “You acknowledged to ‘playing a…
Ohio House Passes ‘Heartbeat Bill’
The Ohio House of Representatives today passed one of the nation’s tightest laws regulating abortion after the so-called “heartbeat bill” prevailed by a 56-40, mostly party-line vote. Opponents protested and demonstrated as the proceedings dragged on toward these depressing conclusions. This is the scene outside the House chamber. Protesters are shouting “my body, my choice”.…
It’s Almost Taco Time at La Casita, the Seasonal, Alfresco Eatery in Painseville
[image-1] Painesville is home to some of the best tacos in the tri-state area, but some of our favorites are griddled up in a makeshift kitchen behind a Latin butcher shop and grocery that operates only from spring through fall. La Casita (read full review here) has announced that this year’s opening day will be…
Bill Would Help Get Ohio Farm Lands into New Hands
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Accessing land is one of the biggest hurdles for farmers who are just starting out, and a new bill in Ohio aims to help. An estimated 100 million acres of current land used to grow our food is expected to be up for grabs in coming years as the current generation of…
The CIM Orchestra’s Free Severance Hall Concert and the Rest of the Classical Music to See This Week
Avi and Omer Avital (who are friends, but not related) will highlight the next Cleveland Museum of Art Performing Arts Series concert in Gartner Auditorium on Wednesday, April 10 at 7:30 pm. Avi (who plays mandolin) and Omer (bass and oud) will join pianist Yonathan Avishai and percussionist Itamar Doari in a program that merges…
Singer-Songwriter Ani DiFranco to Perform at Cain Park in June
Next month, singer/songwriter/feminist/activist Ani DiFranco will release her memoir, No Walls and the Recurring Dream. In conjunction with the book’s release, she’ll embark on a summer tour. She performs with Lucy Wainwright Roche on June 13 at Cain Park. Next month, DiFranco will also release a No Walls Mixtape, her current take on the songs…
Here’s What Happens at a Local DSA Chapter Meeting, or: Despite National Stereotypes, Cleveland’s Democratic Socialists are Organized and Mobilized
It’s 6:30 on a Thursday evening and I’m wandering through a library in Cleveland Heights, following the young man with the rose pin on his shirt. I know that if I follow him — follow the rose — I’ll likely end up in the right place. Sure enough, he’s not only attending the same meeting…
Rush’s ‘Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland’ To Be Available on Vinyl For the First Time Ever
In 2010, the prog rock act Rush took a break from recording its final studio album to launch its Time Machine Tour. During that tour, the group recorded its April 15, 2011 performance in Cleveland as a tribute to the city, the first place to play Rush’s music on the radio. You can read our…
Cleveland Needs More Than Painted Bike Lanes to Create Safe Streets for Pedestrians and Cyclists
Two years ago, Ashley Shaw suffered a tragic accident when a distracted driver turned into her as she was heading west on Lorain at Fulton, a notoriously confusing and crash-prone intersection for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. She fell off her bike, which landed on her back and gave her a concussion. Although Shaw didn’t…
Rood Food Turns the Humble Slider Into a Star, and Nails Those Pies Too
Gimmicky, unoriginal, doomed to fail. These were a few of the car-seat conclusions uttered en route to Rood Food, a restaurant that obediently devotes itself to sliders. In a long, often tedious-to-the-point-of-tears line of single-purpose concepts, sliders engender about as much culinary anticipation as an all-day cereal cafe. But color us converts of the highest…
Band of the Week: Integrity
MEET THE BAND: Dwid Hellion (vocals), Dom Romeo (guitar), Lord Long Cape (bass), Sean Garwood (drums), Justin “Sexman” Ethem (rhythm guitar) METALCORE BEFORE IT WAS COOL TO BE METALCORE: When Integrity formed in 1988, the term “metalcore” had yet to be coined. The band would come to be seen as one of the earliest acts…
Savage Love: Overfished
I’m a heteroflexible married cis woman in my 40s. I’m also a POS cheater and a catfish. I really fucked up. One year ago, I met an older man in an online fetish forum. He sent me an unsolicited PM, and we have talked for hours every day since then. My husband, whom I’ve been…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Week (April 10-16)
WED 04/10 Avi Avital with Omer Avital Mandolinist Avi Avital comes from a classical tradition while bass and oud player Omer Avital is an acclaimed jazz performer and composer. When the two perform together tonight at 7:30 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, pianist Omer Klein and percussionist Itamer Doari will join them to deliver…
HUMP! Erotic Film Festival Returns to the Capitol Theatre
In the intervening months since last year’s HUMP! Festival came to town, the film festival promoters tell us that Facebook has deactivated their business page for “explicit content” even though they show nothing explicit in their advertising. That has made it very challenging to bring HUMP! to new markets, and to grow the festival in…
‘A Dark Place’ is No ‘Winter’s Bone,’ Even Though It Tries Hard
Opening at Tower City Friday and destined to hit the road after a limited engagement, A Dark Place is an undistinguished murder mystery that can’t quite do for the Alleghenies what Winter’s Bone did for the Ozarks. Though it’s clearly trying. Just take a look at the posters. The bewhiskered face of Andrew Scott (Moriarty,…
