Singer-Songwriter Diana Chittester Displays Her Musical Range on Her New EP
A couple of years ago, local singer-songwriter Diana Chittester got wind that Fleming Artists, one of her favorite booking agencies, had sold and purged many of her favorite artists from its roster. Several of those musicians subsequently dropped out of music altogether. Deflated, she thought that it was maybe a sign that she should pursue…
7 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, MAY 4 Odesza/Pluko/Kimbra The electronic dance music act Odesza took a different approach when it began recording its most recent album, last year’s A Moment Apart. It focused on being cinematic and capturing orchestral moments with organic sounds. The album opens with a snippet of dialogue from the sci-fi flick Another Earth that effectively sets the…
WKYC’s Report on Crime at Cleveland Public Libraries Lacked Any and All Nuance or Context
WKYC released an investigative report on Monday night about the criminal behavior of patrons in the Cleveland Public Library system. The story uncovered some concerning statistics that more than justified the CPL’s decision to add more security cameras and patrolling guards across its 27 branches, and WKYC even met with CPL’s executive director, Felton Thomas, to…
‘Tully’ Powerfully Explores the Depths of Motherhood and Mourning Your Twentysomething Years
In the third collaborative effort between director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody (Juno, Young Adult), Charlize Theron returns as Marlo, an overwhelmed New York suburban mother of two with a third ready to arrive at any moment. Her hands full with a pregnancy, a household, a pre-teen and a “quirky” child (showing all of…
CODA to Host a New Monthly Singer-Songwriter Night
CODA, the small Tremont club located on Professor Ave. beneath Dante Next Door, has attracted local and national attention since opening a few years ago. Now, Braxton Taylor of the local band Samfox has announced that he’ll host Therapy Thursdays, a new singer-songwriter night that kicks off at the place at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 10.…
May Day Rally Touts Organized Labor, Social Justice, in “Forgotten Buckeye”
In the parking lot of the former Giant Eagle on Buckeye and E. 116th, members of the Service Employees International Union Local 1, Clevelanders for Public Transit and other area groups celebrated the historic and ongoing importance of organized labor to commemorate May Day. Speakers highlighted the need for transportation equity, food justice and even…
Against Me! Coming to the Agora Theatre in June
Much like the Ramones and the Clash, the punk band Against Me! has left its mark not just because of its unbridled energy but because of the great songs it writes. A few years ago at House of Blues, the group kicked off the Alternative Press Music Awards with an invigorating show that really got…
6 Perfect Places to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Cleveland
Here are some cool Cleveland spots to go grab a Corona, a refreshing margarita and, of course, some Mexican food all in honor of Cinco de Mayo this Saturday. Nuevo Modern Mexican Cinco de Mayo Party 1000 E 9th St., 216-737-1000This Cinco de Mayo party starts Friday with live music, drink and food specials. The festivities…
The Olde Wrestling Speakeasy Spectacular Returns to Mahall’s Friday
Travel through time and immerse yourself in the 1920s wonderland of Olde Wrestling’s annual Speakeasy Spectacular this Friday. Presented by El Carnicero & Beardology, the family-friendly promotion returns for a night elbow smashin’ wrestling. Scene spoke with Olde Wrestling founder Justin Nottke, who (shhh…don’t tell anyone) wrestles as the mustache twirling pugilist Marion Fontaine, about the upcoming show.…
Local Drummer to Celebrate His 44th Birthday By Playing With Four Different Bands
Local drummer Robert Darkmatter (Robert O’Lexa) will celebrate his birthday in a rather unique manner. He’ll host a special 4 FOR 44 show at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 12, at the Happy Dog, where he’ll perform with all four of his current projects. He’ll kick things off with the Dandelion Moon, what he calls his “jazziest…
Hee-Hee: Cavs-Raptors Should Be A Doozy — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the Cavaliers’ survival tactics, defensive issues and LeBron’s greatness. Plus: Baker Mayfield, Alonzo Highsmith and the world famous Baseball Minute. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Here’s How You Can Fish For Free This Weekend in Ohio
Cleveland’s weather is finally improving, and this Saturday and Sunday anglers of all ages can enjoy the outdoors with Ohio’s annual free fishing weekend. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, this free fishing weekend is open to all Ohio residents and includes public waters such as, Lake Erie and the Ohio River. Typically,…
Tremont’s Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ Becomes Sanctuary to Aid Father Facing Deportation
The congregation of the historic Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in Tremont has voted to become the third sanctuary church in Northeast Ohio, hoping to aid an undocumented immigrant who is currently facing deportation. Eulogio Hernandez Box has lived in Ohio for nearly two decades but due to the current administration, Stay of Deportation opportunities are…
Superelectric Pinball Parlor’s Kitchen is Finally Opening May 8
Famished Superelectric Pinball Parlor-goers can soon expect to play games while eating chicken too. After three years in business, the kitchen is finally opening at the 6500 Detroit Ave. space, offering up a compact menu of Korean-style fried chicken, vegetarian spring rolls and mochi ice cream for dessert. “We had intended on having food in the…
Mexican Rock Band Café Tacvba to Play the Agora in September
When the members of Café Tacvba first met nearly 30 years ago in the Mexico City suburb of Satélite, the guys were art and design students at the local university. They quickly discovered that they shared a common interest not only in Mexican regional music but also in rock groups like Rush, the Cure and…
Jackson and Budish, Handcuffed by Business Leaders, Refuse to Release Amazon Bid
Both the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have declined to release the contents of the city’s failed Amazon HQ2 bid in the wake of a decision by the Ohio Court of Claims. That decision, reported Monday, ruled that material prepared by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for the bid does not constitute confidential…
In Advance of His House of Blues Show, Korn’s Jonathan Davis Talks About the Concept Behind His New Solo Album
When we’re patched in for our phone interview with Korn singer Jonathan Davis, he sounds a bit drowsy. “I’m kind of a vampire, bro,” he says cordially. He’s speaking via phone from Eugene, Oregon where he and his band had a day off from his solo tour in support of his forthcoming album, Black Labyrinth.…
Cleveland City Council Learns about Trauma, Debates Counselors at Rec Centers
Representatives from MetroHealth and Frontline Services gave presentations to Cleveland City Council Monday morning in a meeting designed to “frame the conversation” around trauma and toxic stress, and to outline strategies that the nonprofit Frontline Services would undertake in its execution of a proposed $1 million city contract. Duane Deskins, who announced his retirement last…
Solon Man Thought His Dad Was Held Hostage, Paid $900 in Phone Scam
A 22-year-old Solon man who thought his father was being held hostage was duped out of more than $900 in a phone scam earlier this month. On April 18, the man, who was in Pennsylvania at the time, received a call from perpetrators claiming to be holding a gun to his father’s head, a Solon…
Police Have Shut Down Revenge Porn Site Anon-IB, But Ohio Still Has No Protections For Victims
As it stands, Ohio is one of the 12 states left where there is no specific penalty for those posting nude photos online without a subject’s consent. Luckily, after a year long investigation, Dutch Police have seized the servers for anonymous image board Anon-IB, the main source of revenge porn uploads. Anon-IB didn’t just share intimate photos…
The Connect Podcast With Special Guest Dennis Kucinich
The Connect Podcast (previously known as the Authentic Audio Podcast) welcomes gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich this week. Some topics include: · Why Mr. Kucinich lives a vegan lifestyle · His childhood growing up in Cleveland · His inspiration for public service · Convictions he’s risked his life for · His thoughts on the Trump administration…
Watch the Royal Wedding in Style in Downtown Cleveland on May 19
We hate to be those people when we say you most likely were not invited to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel on Saturday, May 19. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the royal affair in style from across the pond. The Ritz-Carlton of Cleveland, extremely proud and excited about its…
There’s a Giant Paddle Ball Sculpture Coming to Gordon Square
The view for those dining on Whoppers and Mac & Cheetos inside the Burger King on Detroit and 75th street is about to get a whole lot more … playful. As part of a collaborative effort between local artists, Cleveland Councilman Matt Zone and various arts and development groups, two new pieces of public art…
Tedeschi Trucks Band Coming to the Akron Civic in November
When Tedeschi Trucks Band played at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica a few years ago, the band put on a terrific performance. With his long hair tied back into a ponytail, guitarist Derek Trucks stood stationary to the right of singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi during the show and feverishly jammed. On the Allman Brothers Band-like “Keep on…
You Can Now Read Cleveland Scene on Apple News
As an avid Cleveland Scene reader you’re already well aware of all the ways to get your Northeast Ohio news through us, whether it be on our actual website, or social media outlets of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. But now, there’s yet another way for you to find our articles — through the Apple News…
May the 4th Be With You: Here’s How To Celebrate ‘Star Wars’ Day in Cleveland
All of you scruffy-looking nerf herders get excited, May the 4th is almost upon us. And the annual and official Star Wars holiday is this Friday, and Cleveland has plenty of awesome opportunities to celebrate. Catch a Movie at the Library From 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., the East Cleveland Library is showing a yet-to-be-announced Star…
Irie Jamaican Kitchen to Open Second Location, This One by the Zoo
A year and a half ago, chef Omar McKay traded in his modest spot at the Richmond Town Square food court for a sunny brick-and-mortar on East 185th Street. At Irie Jamaican Kitchen (621 East 185th St., 216-350-6112), he offers diners heaping plates of fiery jerk chicken, supple braised oxtails and sweet shrimp curry alongside…
Mastodon and Dinosaur Jr. to Play the Agora in September
The Grammy Award-winning hard rock band Mastodon will team up with indie rockers Dinosaur Jr. for a fall tour that includes a Sept. 12 stop at the Agora Theatre. It might seem like an odd pairing but the press release announcing the tour promises, “If you’re looking for a night of heavy guitar riffs and…
Amazon HQ2 Site Should be Public, Says Court, Cleveland.com Triumphant
The Ohio Court of Claims, responding to a complaint filed by Cleveland.com, recommended that all 18 reports created by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for the city’s failed Amazon HQ2 bid should be made public. Those reports will include information related to prospective sites. The court’s special master, Jeffrey Clark, penned an 18-page decision…
Local Rapper Toobe Fresco Seeks to Inspire With His Soulful New Album
“If we have a purpose in life beyond being a cog in the human machine, mine is to help inspire people and that’s pretty cool. I would like to motivate the world.” The quote above is credited to former New Orleans Saints player, Steve Gleason, but it’s a viewpoint that local hip-hop/soul artist Toobe Fresco…
Angie’s Soul Cafe to Open in Renovated Hot Sauce Williams Building on Carnegie
[image-1] “We’re finally moving back to the street where we started,” says Akin Alafin, owner of Soul Republic United Restaurants. “A lot of people don’t know that that’s where Angie started at, in the Carnegie Hotel.” Alafin is referring to Angie’s Soul Cafe originator Angie Jeter, who began her professional cooking career at the Carnegie…
WKNR’s Aaron Goldhammer to Eat Literal Horse Shit in Honor of Baker Mayfield
Draft Day has come and gone and the Cleveland Browns snagged Baker Mayfield with their first round draft pick. There were some who speculated they were going to go with Sam Darnold, and no one was more confident with that prediction than ESPN Cleveland radio host, Aaron Goldhammer. So confident, in fact, he claimed on…
The Baker Mayfield Edition, Plus Where the Cavs Go From Here — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the Browns’ NFL Draft picks, Baker Mayfield’s ceiling, LeBron’s greatness and where the Cavs go from here. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Scorecard Shows Some Ohio Opioid Programs Working, More Access to Available Addiction-Prevention Programs Needed
COLUMBUS, Ohio – New research is assessing the extent of drug addiction in Ohio and how the state is tackling the problem. Of the adults questioned in the 2017 Ohio Health Issues Poll, 27 percent said they had a family member or friend who had problems as the result of using prescription painkillers, and 23…
Cleveland Boutique Robbed by Woman Who Was 80 Cents Short to Buy Jeans
A Cleveland boutique was robbed last Tuesday afternoon by a woman who was attempting to buy two pairs of jeans but found herself 80 cents short. According to police, the woman said she was going to go out to her car to grab change. However, upon realizing that she didn’t have the funds, returned and…
Singer-Songwriter Iris DeMent Comes to Feed the Souls of Cleveland’s Americana Lovers at the Music Box Supper Club
Iris DeMent is from Arkansas, and that means she and her 13 siblings grew up singing in a classic Bible-belt Pentecostal church. It means she has an affinity for Charles Portis, the famed novelist who also hails from that state. So it makes sense that her haunting version of the classic hymn “Leaning On the…
Dennis Kucinich to Return $20,000 Speaking Fee for “Pro-Assad” Conference
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich has said that he will return a $20,000 fee he received in 2017 to deliver a speech at a conference in London. The conference, organized by the European Center for the Study of Extremism (EuroCSE), was characterized by some prominent members of the UK Syrian community as a “Pro-Assad” Conference.…
WOW Air Wants to Pay You to Move to Iceland, Post on Instagram All Summer
If your dream summer job involves moving to Reykjavik and doing nothing but wandering the city, posting Instagram stories all while getting paid, an Icelandic budget airline has a new listing to check out. WOW Air has cast a wide net looking for an enthusiastic traveler to serve as the company’s first “travel guide.” The job description…
Listen Up, Leather Daddies! CLAW Has Returned For 2018
Cleveland has the distinction of hosting monumental events every year like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions and The Labor Day Air Show, but it’s also the home of one of the biggest annual conferences for gay men in the country. If you’re downtown near The Westin this weekend, be prepared to see…
Four Elyria School Children Charged With Terrorist Threats After Making Hit Lists
Four children from an Elyria middle and elementary school were all arrested less than a week after a large knife and hit lists were discovered. Police are charging the children with aggravated menacing and/or making terrorist threats. Scene obtained the police records stating that on April 19, police arrested a 14-year-old girl who claimed she was…
Joe Cimperman Will Pay $10,000 Fine for Ethics Violations as Part of Deal with State
Former Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman will pay a $10,000 fine as part of a plea deal with the State of Ohio. The penalty amounts to about $385 for each of his 26 counts of “unlawful interest in a public contract,” announced earlier this week by the state auditor. As Ward 3 councilman, serving downtown, Tremont…
Oak and Embers Tavern to Open Third Location, This One at Pinecrest
[image-1] Since opening Oak and Embers Tavern (8003 Mayfield Rd., 440-729-4030) in Chesterland four years ago, Marc and Gretchen Garofoli have been going full tilt. That popular restaurant continues to attract large crowds thanks to a winning formula founded on “barbecue, bourbon and beer.” That restaurant was soon joined by a second location (7774 Darrow…
In Advance of Her Upcoming Show at Hilarities, Comedian Maria Bamford Talks About Finally Finding Happiness
Known for telling jokes about her dysfunctional family and making fun of her battles with depression and anxiety, comedian Maria Bamford is the thinking woman’s comic. She even successfully turned her life story into Lady Dynamite, a terrific Netflix original series that ran for two years. In a recent phone interview from her Los Angeles…
La Cave du Vin on Coventry to Close its Doors After More Than 20 Years
Long before there were wine bars in every neighborhood. Heck, before there were wine bars at all, La Cave du Vin (2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd, 216-932-6411) had carved out a niche separate and distinct from the clubs and beer bars on Coventry – and in Cleveland – thanks to its worldly wine catalog and selection…
Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreak Impacts 19 States, Including Ohio
Checking out one of the local barbecue joints never sounded so good, as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a multi-state outbreak of E. coli stemming from romaine lettuce. The contaminated lettuce likely originated from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region. Somehow, this outbreak has made its way across the country to Ohio, infecting…
Electronic Music Pioneer Gary Numan to Play House of Blues in September
With a career that spans nearly four decades, Gary Numan has persevered even though many initially dismissed him as a one-hit wonder. Pundits now generally regard Numan as an electronic music innovator who’s inspired acts such as Depeche Mode, Prince and Nine Inch Nails. David Bowie once declared that Numan, who’s most famous for his 1979…
Two Years After Piketon Slayings, Still No Arrests
[image-1] The grisly execution of eight family members in the southern Ohio town of Piketon is now two years old. And public information from state and local investigators remains scarce, though the investigation has become the largest in the state’s history. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer and its conversation with Pike County Prosecutor Rob Junk,…
Cleveland Commuters Who Spend 90 Minutes or More Getting to Work Each Day Are Disproportionately Public Transit Users
About 12,445 Clevelanders spent 90 minutes or more getting to work each day in 2016, according to a study released this week by Apartment List. It qualifies them as “super commuters,” and while the overall number dipped slightly from 2015, and while other cities have far more residents in that category, it’s a subset of…
Ohio Senate Candidate Mike Gibbons Plans to Have Mexico Pay for Border Wall
Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons prides himself on being a “conservative outsider.” In an attempt to appease to the anti-Washington D.C./Trump crowd, Gibbons recently put out a release regarding his plans for the Mexican border wall and how to ensure Mexico pays for it. According to the release, Gibbons’ plan takes into account legal border crossing,…
Rascal Flatts’ Country-Themed Restaurant Finally Gets Opening Date in the Flats
Country music fans have something to cheer about in Cleveland, as Rascal Flatts are permanently coming to the Flats East Bank sometime this summer … in the form of a restaurant. That’s right, not too far from the Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville in the Flats, the country trio (two of whom hail from from Columbus) officially…
Cleveland Cavaliers Get Kanye West to Finally Shut the Hell Up
Kanye West spent almost the entirety of Wednesday going on an oddly-constructed tirade on Twitter. The megalomaniacal rapper touched on topics ranging from criticizing Barack Obama, praising Donald Trump (an odd endorsement from the man who famously stated “George W. Bush doesn’t care about black people”, going as far as to post a picture of…
With a New Album on the Horizon, the Chuck Auerbach Band to Perform at the Beachland Next Week
Chuck Auerbach was always a bit of a “rocker dad” to his singer-guitarist son, Dan Auerbach, encouraging him to write original music and devote his life to music. The emotional investment paid off. A former Akronite, Dan Auerbach has gone on to win numerous awards as a producer and solo artist and as a member…
Former City Councilman Joe Cimperman Charged with 26 Misdemeanors
Former Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman has been charged with 26 misdemeanors as a result of an Ohio Ethics Commission investigation into his conduct involving city contracts with LAND Studio, formerly known as ParkWorks, where his wife Nora Romanoff serves as Associate Director. Cimperman resigned from City Council in January, 2o16, at a time when…
Amazon Introduces In-Car Package Delivery in 37 Cities, Including Cleveland, For Super Lazy People
Since we already live in a world where we allow our Amazon delivery people to enter our actual homes even while we’re not there, the company is now offering an option that allows packages to delivered directly into your car. In-car delivery services are now available to (extremely trusting) Amazon Prime subscribers in 37 cities…
Why Cleveland is the Best Non-Chicago City in the World to be a Cubs Fan
Last night, the Cubs returned to the place of their first World Series win in 107 years for the first time with a 10-3 win against the Cleveland Indians. Not-so-friendly rivalries between my friends and I sparked back up again from the 2016 slumber, and I was quickly reminded why Cleveland is the best non-Chicago…
Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square Holds Media Day to Show Off Its New Look
[image-1] Yesterday, Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square (formerly the Wyndham) held a media day to show off its recent renovations. Members of the media were treated to a videotaped presentation about the $200 million Crowne Plaza brand transformation initiative before getting a tour of the new rooms, lobby and restaurant. After a $6 million…
First Look: Cedar Point’s New Steel Vengeance is Best at the Park
This morning, despite the gray, misty weather, all area media outlets had the opportunity to test out Cedar Point’s newest addition, the Steel Vengeance. Scene’s roller coaster correspondent was on hand to take in the spectacle. Here’s what he experienced: From start to finish, the so-called “tallest, fastest and wildest hybrid coaster in the world”…
Bowling Green Owns Toledo After Shrek Mascot Hoax Backfires
It appears as though the University Of Toledo has deleted its promise to change its mascot to Shrek if it got 500K retweets. Was getting roughly 1,000 retweets a minute towards the end. pic.twitter.com/fqrQPUItkv — Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 24, 2018 The University of Toledo deleted the above tweet (visible in the Darren Rovell screenshot)…
Eat Ice Cream and Fall in Love with Adoptable City Dogs at Tremont Scoops This Sunday
Ice cream is already the most perfect dessert ever invented, but Tremont Scoops has figured out a way to make one of your first cones of the season even better, as painfully adorable City Dogs will be on site this Sunday from 2-5 p.m. City Dogs Cleveland is a program of the City of Cleveland’s…
MetroHealth Hosting Annual Free Transgender Job Fair
For the fourth year in a row, MetroHealth is hosting a job fair for individuals that identify as transgender or gender non-conforming. Resources and workshops to aid in career development and job placement are available, in addition to workshops regarding social and professional networking. As noted in the Human Rights Campaign’s research paper A Broken Bargain…
5 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, APRIL 27 Jimmy Webb — The Glenn Campbell Years An Oklahoma native, singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb can thank the late Glen Campbell for turning two of this songs — “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Wichita Lineman” — into hits. Tonight’s show at Nightgown will even serve as a tribute to Campbell. The…
Polpetta Moves Up and Out of Porco Lounge to Brick and Mortar in Rocky River
“We’re moving the Polpetta concept out of Porco and to a brick and mortar, which has been the goal all along,” says chef Brian Okin. “We used Porco as a means to present the concept to the city and for us to work out the recipes.” Polpetta is a joint venture from the folks at…
The Decemberists Deliver a Colorful Performance at the Agora
In support of their eighth studio album, the Decemberists took the Agora Theatre stage last night for the latest stop on their Your Girl/Your Ghost tour. Singer Colin Meloy, who was dressed in dark denim and sported a scruffy 5 o’clock shadow, and his troupe of Oregonian misfits started the night off with the happy…
In Streetsboro Slaying, 13-Year-Old Killed His 11-Year-Old Brother with Grandfather’s Gun
Monday night, a 13-year-old boy in Streetsboro shot and killed his 11-year-old brother with a handgun he’d stolen from his grandfather’s home, according to police. No motive has been ascribed in the killing, though Cleveland.com has now reported that the 13-year-old had behavioral problems and had attempted to hurt himself four days before the shooting.…
The E Street Band’s Max Weinberg Brings His Jukebox Show to the Winchester
Max Weinberg’s first rock ’n’ roll jukebox, figuratively, came straight out of the speakers of the radio when he was growing up. As he recalls now, his favorite thing was learning the songs that were on the Top 40 charts, and he took that acquired knowledge and played with a lot of different bands as…
Fleetwood Mac to Perform at the Q in October
About five years ago, classic rockers Fleetwood Mac launched a 50-date reunion tour with a performance at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, the site of the first date of the band’s 50-date reunion tour. Playing together for the first time in three years, the band delivered a flawless two-and-a-half hour set that showed it hadn’t lost…
People and Places
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Radio Station 100.7 WMMS Best College Radio Station WCSB 89.3 FM, Cleveland State University Best Radio Show The Jen & Tim Show (Editor’s note: The Alan Cox Show was mistakenly listed in the print edition as the winner of this category. While…
Arts & Entertainment
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Band Front Porch Lights Best Male Vocalist Matthew Roads Best Female Vocalist Madeline Finn Best Comedian Mike Polk Best Cover Band Tricky Dick’s and the Cover-Ups Best Dance Party Emo Night CLE Best Concert Venue East: Blossom Music Center West: Mahall’s Best…
Bars & Clubs
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Games East: Punch Bowl Social Club West: 16-Bit Bar+Arcade Best Dive Bar East: Becky’s West: ABC Tavern Best Taproom East: BottleHouse West: Platform Brewery Best Place for Local Music East: Beachland Ballroom West: Mahall’s Best Bar for a Tinder Date East: La…
Get Out: Everything You Should Do This Week in Cleveland (April 25-May 1)
WED 04/25 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee All hell breaks loose when six middle school students (played by adults) compete in a spelling bee, all in the hopes of getting their shot at the “nationals,” in the Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Cleveland Play House production opens…
Steve Cup’s Breaking Point at Waterloo Arts Delves into the Fraught State of Our Political Affairs
The immediate takeaway from Steve Cup’s Breaking Point, on view through May 13 at Waterloo Arts, is how easily he illustrates what many of us are feeling about the current state of affairs. This is one of two shows signaling the return of the Maria Neal Art Project, liberated from its bricks and mortar by…
An Uneven Examination of Human Curiosity and Empathy in ‘Side Show’ at Blank Canvas Theatre
Freaks have always been with us, from the old days when there were traveling freak shows to today, when we are all invited to, “Let our freak flags fly!” Yes, humans who exhibit physical oddities of one sort or another seem to be endlessly fascinating. And that human curiosity about those who are different from…
Ohio City BBQ is On Its Way to Carving Out a Niche in Cleveland’s Smoked-Meat Market
You could spend an entire day poring over the cultural memorabilia that covers nearly every square inch of the walls at Ohio City BBQ. There must be hundreds of individually framed and mounted pieces mostly depicting rock icons like Elvis and Jimmy and Jagger and Johnny, but also luminaries like Marilyn, years of Life magazine…
Band of the Week: Project /Object
MEET THE BAND: Andre Cholmondeley (guitar, vocals, samples), Napoleon Murphy Brock (vocals, saxophone), Denny Walley (guitar), Kendall Scott (synthesizers, keyboards), Jerry Cuccurullo (drums), Andrew Walley (bass) KEEPING THE LEGACY ALIVE: Project/Object bills itself as the longest continually touring, alumni-based Frank Zappa tribute band in the world. The group has toured for more than 25 years…
Sports and Recreation
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Yoga Studio East: Cleveland Yoga West: Inner Bliss Best Gym East: GrooveRyde West: Tremont Athletic Club Best Hiking Trail East: North Chagrin Reservation West: Rocky River Reservation Best Bowling Alley East: Corner Alley West: Mahall’s Best Billiards East: Fox and Hound West:…
Savage Love: Crushed
I’m a straight male in my 30s. I’ve been with my wife for 12 years. I have had several affairs. Not one-night-stand scenarios, but longer-term connections. I didn’t pursue any of these relationships. Instead, women who knew I was in an “exclusive” relationship have approached me. These have included what turned into a one-year affair…
Food & Drink
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Restaurant East: L’Albatros West: TownHall Best New Restaurant East: Marble Room West: Astoria Best Chef Michael Symon Best French Fries East: B Spot West: Bar Cento Best German Restaurant Der Braumeister Best Mexican Restaurant East: Barrio West: Momocho Best Jamaican Restaurant Taste…
Shops and Services
In categories with two finalists, the overall winner is highlighted in bold. Best Pet-Related Business Pet People Best Salon East: Quintana’s West: Wise Guys Best Thrift Store East: Avalon Exchange West: Common Threads Best Record Store East: Record Revolution West: My Mind’s Eye Best Bicycle Shop East: Eddy’s West: Century Cycles Best Wine Store East:…
Best of Cleveland 2018 Staff Picks
BEST TRIVIA SPOT The Side Quest (West) This geek haven hosts two forms of trivia each week, but the Wednesday Side Quest Challenge is in a league of its own. Hosted by the incomparable Harmony Moon, each week features a specialty theme. Cartoons, wrestling, Harry Potter, sex, Star Trek, Pokemon, Neil Gaiman, RuPaul’s Drag Race,…
Welcome to the Best Of Cleveland 2018
It’s a debate that’s raged since time immemorial in Cleveland, since Lorenzo Carter set up shop as others fled. East side or west side? It’s a debate that continues today and one that Best of Cleveland 2018 hopes to settle, at least for the time being. Along with celebrating the best and brightest that the…
Boring, Compassionate ‘Lean on Pete’ Captures Hardscrabble Life in Pacific Northwest
Is actor Charlie Plummer a “major talent,” as early reviews for Andrew Haigh’s new drama Lean on Pete, adapted from the novel of the same name, would have us believe? The young waifish star also appeared in the 2017 Ridley Scott snoozer All the Money in the World and remains, in this critic’s estimation, Hollywood’s…
Feel-Good ‘Adventures in Public School’ Gets Adolescence Right
Coming of age films are often plagued by adult screenwriters taking the adolescence experience way too seriously, rather than embracing the benign moments that contribute to the teenage years. Kyle Rideout’s delightfully charming Adventures in Public School dives headfirst into the feel-good aspects of growing up without a hint of sarcasm or cynicism. Daniel Doheny…
