Watch: PBS’s ‘Kent State: The Day the ’60s Died’
The full stunning episode of PBS’s ‘The Day the ’60s Died,’ featuring the tragedy at Kent State on May 4, 1970, is available in its entirety below. You should watch it in general, but today, the 47th anniversary, wouldn’t be a bad day.
Annual Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival Returns Next Month
The yearly Avon Heritage Duck Tape Festival returns to northeast Ohio next month with three days of duct tape-themed festivities, including a duct tape fashion show, a parade, and a variety of live concerts slated to take place throughout the weekend. This year’s live entertainment lineup includes names such as national recording artists the Outlaws and…
Local Singer-songwriter Brent Kirby Embraces ‘Artistic Freedom’
A Wisconsin native, local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby moved around the Midwest before landing in Cleveland 14 years ago and putting out his local debut, The Mean Days, in 2005. Kirby took five long years to follow that album up with Last Song on the Soundtrack. At the time, he ran a guitar repair business out…
Ingenuity’s Bal Ingénieux to Take Place on May 16
Located just west of downtown, Kalman and Pabst Photo Group is a private studio for local photo and media professionals. It’s not regularly open to the public, but it’s the venue for Ingenuity’s 4th Annual Bal Ingénieux, which takes place from 6 p.m to 1 a.m. on Saturday, May 16. With 18,000 square feet of…
Rocket Fizz, a Soda and Sweets Shop, Quietly Opened in Downtown Cleveland
Rocket Fizz, a California-based soda and sweets shop chain, opened quietly in downtown Cleveland’s 5th Street Arcades on Sunday. The 530 Euclid Avenue retail front is the company’s second Ohio location (you can find the other on High Street in Columbus), but the first for northeast Ohio couple Robert and Susan Hale who’ve spent the…
Oddly Named Lakewood Eatery is Serving Up Some Damn Fine BBQ
The Gorilla (12102 Madison Ave., 216-221-0195) is small, seasonal and strictly take-away, but it manages to pack three different concepts under one roof. Set in the former Sugar Bear’s Ice Cream shop in the Birdtown neighborhood of Lakewood, the diminutive operation specializes in hot dogs, barbecue and soft-serve ice cream. In the hot dog category…
Cavs Lose as Bulls Parlay Two Hot Stretches Into a Win
When speaking to dangerously unbalanced individuals it’s good to start with some simple facts to establish a consensual reality. With that in mind, we’re going to talk you down from that ledge with a few important observations. We’ll start with the most obvious one: These are the Cavaliers not the Browns, so there is at…
Veteran Punk Rockers X_X Announce Series of Shows in Advance of New Album
A “no wave” band formed in Cleveland by John D Morton (electric eels, Johnny and the Dicks) back in 1978, X__X has recently picked up a bit of traction. Last year, the band was featured in a New York Times article that chronicled the events leading up to the group’s recent rebirth. What’s been the…
Dozens Walk from Mentor to Cleveland to Urge Immigration Reform
Yesterday, a group led by Elizabeth Perez walked from Mentor to Cleveland to raise awareness of the need for immigration reform and of Elizabeth’s own fight for her broken family. The News Herald has the report on the walk. “I believe in our legislators and I believe that they can help,” Elizabeth told the paper.…
Cleveland World Festival Set to Return in August
As its name implies, the Cleveland World Festival (formerly known as the Cleveland One World Festival) celebrates the ethnically diverse music and art that can be found in Cleveland. The third annual event is slated to return to the Cleveland Cultural Gardens on Sunday, August 2. According to a press release, the event’s mission is…
Funds Raised for Rice Family Get Caught in Legal Morass; New Fundraising Effort Under Way
The Rice family is not OK. Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir, stood on the steps of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center and stared ahead as her attorneys railed against the stalled investigation into her son’s death. The Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office has steadfastly refused to comment. Tamir’s body remains unburied, awaiting any more medical…
Jekyll’s Kitchen in Chagrin Falls Nears the Finish Line, Opening Soon
It’s been a long 20 months since a fire completely destroyed Jekyll’s Kitchen in Chagrin Falls. The restaurant, part of the Hyde Park restaurant group, opened in the former home of Blake’s Seafood Grill in spring of 2009. Co-owner Joe Saccone said that a perfect storm of challenges combined to delay the opening for as…
Before You Tweet It, Samaria Rice Is No Longer Living in a Homeless Shelter
Though the Washington Post and other national media outlets reported yesterday, with due outrage, that Samaria Rice has been living in a homeless shelter as the investigation into the death of her son drags on, that’s not currently the case. Rice’s attorney Walter Madison told Scene Monday evening that Tamir’s mother has now found a small place…
Five Classical Music Events to Check Out This Week
The Collegium Musicum Oberliniense, an Oberlin College-wide chorus that sings masterworks of (mostly) Renaissance music under the direction of Steven Plank, repeats last weekend’s on-campus programs of English music on the Wednesday Noon Brownbag Concert Series at Trinity Cathedral on May 6 at 12:15. “Musica Anglicana” features sacred music from the golden age of English…
Clark-Fulton Residents Debate Fate of Lincoln West High School
Amid the Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s sprawling $200-million construction and renovation plans lie a few question marks. Chief among them is Lincoln West High School and whether the district will rebuild or rehab — and, more specifically, whether the job can accommodate a pool and an auditorium. “We are committed to doing something significant here,”…
No Sleep in the CLE Podcast with Justin Markert and Welshly Arms
On this episode of No Sleep in the CLE, Justin Markert interviews Sam Getz and Jimmy Weaver from the Cleveland band Welshly Arms, who are releasing their debut album this week and will be performing at the House of Blues in Cleveland on Saturday May 9. They talk about how the band got started, the…
Review: War Puzzles in ‘Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo’ From Ensemble Theatre
So, exactly how does one whack off with a prosthetic hand? This is certainly not one of the more profound questions raised by this complex and compelling play by Cleveland Heights High grad Rajiv Joseph. But it does represent the absurd situations that abound, amidst all the blood and tragedy, in this theatrical expedition into…
Chef Jonathon Sawyer Nabs James Beard Award
The fourth time apparently is a charm for Cleveland chef Jonathon Sawyer as he bested a talented group of chefs to claim Best Chef: Great Lakes in the 2015 James Beard Awards, which is taking place tonight in Chicago. The chef-owner of Greenhouse Tavern, Trentina and Noodlecat restaurants beat out chefs Andrew Zimmerman, Curtis Duffy,…
Amidst Social Media Snafu, Blaine Griffin Wins FBI’s Community Leadership Award
On Friday, Cleveland Community Relations Board Director Blaine Griffin received the FBI’s “prestigious” Community Leadership Award. It’s an annual recognition, presented by the Director of the FBI, “to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America.” Griffin’s award, for his commitment to improving Cleveland “through so many…
Basketball Writer Gets Backstory of Viral “LeBron James” Vine
If you’re unaware of the “LeBron James” vine that’s been viewed more than 35 million times since it was posted last summer, view it below, and keep it looping to get the full effect. It’s a kid oddly saying “LeBron James” five different times, and it’s simply hypnotizing (click the speaker icon on the bottom…
Pink Martini to Play CMA’s Gartner Auditorium in July
Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale originally thought he’d enter politics and run for mayor of his hometown, Portland, Oregon. But as he started going to fundraisers, he realized that the music most politicians played at their events was crap. He figured he could come up with something better, and he put together a self-described “little…
“Epic Twitter Fail”: The Brief, Bumbling Life of @CRBcleveland
A City of Cleveland spokesman told Scene Monday that after the Community Relations Board’s recent social media debacle, the “only Twitter account related to the city’s messaging” will be @CityofCleveland. Blaine Griffin, director of the city’s Community Relations Board, made headlines last week when he asked the internet, from the Twitter handle @CRBcleveland, if Cleveland should…
Local Musician on Quest to Sell Out Grog Shop Show
For nearly a decade, local singer-guitarist Bobby Vaughn has gigged around town with his indie rock band the Promise Hero. His favorite venue is the Grog Shop and he’s on a campaign to sell the place out when he performs there on May 9. He’s dubbed the show #selloutthegrog and has put together a clever…
Rice Family, Attorneys Call Out City and County for Lack of Action Since Tamir’s Death
“How long?” The question — framed by a family’s unconsoled pain, a city’s unanswered concerns, an administration’s public dithering, an investigation into the Nov. 22, 2014, shooting of Tamir Rice, and more — was posed on the steps of the Justice Center this afternoon as the Rice family and their attorneys called out city and…
State Task Force Publishes Report on Community-Police Relations
In December, Gov. John Kasich commissioned a task force to “address the fractured relationships that exist between some communities and the police dedicated to serving them.” In short, the task force’s recommendations, published this past week, urge a greater emphasis on training, accountability and oversight. Read the executive summary: The 692-page report goes into detail…
What We’re Reading: Pacific Standard’s Profile of Arthur Chu
“How a game-show champion became the embattled conscience of American male geekdom,” claims Pacific Standard atop its newly published profile of Northeast Ohioan/Jeopardy! champion/noted social polemicist Arthur Chu. Following Chu’s game show ascent, you see, he became something of a magnetic figure in the ongoing #Gamergate discourse and within what he calls “general unpleasantness in the…
Melt Celebrates Star Wars Day with Themed Sandwich, Drinks
Shouts of “May the fourth be with you!” will likely be heard throughout parts of Cleveland today, as fanatics take part in various Star Wars Day festivities, including a meal at Melt Bar and Grilled where locals will find the appropriately themed “Vader’s Thai Fighter Melt.” This festive sandwich features rice noodles, scrambled egg, bean…
A Froth of Theatrical Meringue in ‘Superior Donuts’ at Dobama Theatre: Review
There’s a simple reason why most of us Americans are overweight. We love sugar, fat and salt, and when we get enough of those staples mixed into our meals, we turn out fat…and happy. The same rule holds true for theatrical entertainments, as is shown in Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts, now at Dobama Theatre.…
19 Action News Mailed a Dead Mouse to the Station’s Landlord
The K&D Group might be one of the more well known developers around Northeast Ohio, with pricey and prominent addresses in all the right spots, but it also doesn’t have, um, the best of reputations in town. Our fine friends over at WOIO Channel 19 would probably agree about the Reserve Square Building, where the Honest,…
8 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRI 05/01 Mushroomhead When the local metal act Mushroomhead first formed in 1993, few critics imagined the group would still be going at it in 2015. And yet the masked band is now more popular than ever. Last year was particularly productive as the band toured Australia, where it played as part of the…
Beachland to Host ‘Send-off’ for the Late Ken Janssen
Local musician Ken Janssen was a catalyst in the Cleveland scene when he booked bands at the Beachland and played around town with his bands It*Men (pictured), Vista Cruisers and Hot Rails. He passed away earlier this year, and there was a memorial service for him at the time. But his former bandmates, his wife…
Cavs Still the Team to Beat in the Eastern Conference
The Cavaliers have assumed their more rightful place, not as the favorites, but the underdogs. It’s funny. James seemed loose and relaxed as he leaned against the wall after Wednesday’s practice and answered questions, then later as he played a modified around-the-world from behind the 3-point line with Kryie Irving, complaining as Irving lapped him…
Xavier Rudd Brings Along a Band for a Different Sort of Musical Journey
Xavier Rudd’s latest album, Nanna, opens with a steady two-four rhythm on gentle keys. It’s a different breed than the laid-back acoustic strumming that’s become his calling card in the past decade or so, but it’s still that stripped-down musical attitude that listeners come to him to hear. And then, 30 seconds in, the clouds…
Pristine Setting Suits Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter
Part of the joy of seeing Mary Chapin Carpenter live is getting the chance to hear the stories behind the stories in her songs. And last night at Trinity Cathedral, there was no shortage of those tales and anecdotes from Carpenter. There was a good amount of humor — she relayed the recent experience of…
Ohio Turnpike Sued Because of Toll Increase to Help Fund Opportunity Corridor, Other Projects
The Ohio Turnpike’s 2014 rate increase to help fund the Opportunity Corridor and other infrastructure projects is unlawful, according to a recent lawsuit filed by a Cleveland woman. The suit, first filed to the county common pleas court and then bumped to federal court this week, says the toll hike violate the constitution’s commerce and…
Here’s the 2015 Wade Oval Wednesdays Lineup
One of Cleveland’s favorite ongoing summer event series, Wade Oval Wednesdays, returns for its eighth year, promising locals an electric lineup of free performances every week from June through August. In anticipation of the June 17 kickoff, WOW! organizers have released the following band schedule: June 17: Councilman Kevin Conwell & The Footprints Motown Jazz…
Review: Cleveland Women’s Orchestra’s 80th Anniversary Concert at Severance Hall
By Daniel Hathaway Violinist Michael Ferri, who played the Bruch concerto with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra in 2012, returned to help celebrate the 80th anniversary of that ensemble with the Tchaikovsky concerto on Sunday, April 26 in Severance Hall. Under the direction of Robert Cronquist, Ferri, only one-quarter as old as the CWO, gave a…
All Systems (Almost) Go for Bruell’s DYNOMITE in University Circle
In addition to his seasonal burger restaurant at U.S. Bank Plaza in Playhouse Square, and the quick-serve version in the new Right Field District at Progressive Field, Zack Bruell is gearing up for the opening of his third DYNOMITE location, this one at Uptown in University Circle. Unlike the other locations, this one will be…
An Open Letter to Dan Shaughnessy
Some choice words that deserve to be published here, even if we’re a few days out from the news cycle of Mr. Shaughnessy’s column. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy objects to the confetti that fell after the Cavs’ first win against the Celtics this playoffs. With all the championships Boston has to celebrate, Dan explains,…
Review: No Exit at Drinko Hall at Cleveland State University
By Daniel Hathaway No Exit’s third performance of its 2015 spring program on Monday, April 20 at Cleveland State University’s Drinko Recital Hall included a wide range of contemporary sounds and video, ranging from an almost elderly work (dating from 1994) to the first performances of newly-minted pieces. The emphasis was on electronic music, either…
Can Mozgov & Thompson Create Enough Offense to Share the Floor?
For the next five days the guessing game continues. How will the Cavaliers respond to the loss of Kevin Love? Mostly what you’ll get is unsubstantiated guesswork, which is pretty much par for the press corps course. We’re not so presumptuous here. So we talked to some people beyond the typically cagey Coach David Blatt…
State Looking Into New Funding Opportunities for Elder Abuse Protection
The decision to enter into a guardianship contract for an elderly family member is a heavy one, no matter the circumstances. Professional guardianship programs — wherein an attorney, rather than a family member, is appointed as guardian — are common across the U.S. An elderly person can land in a courtroom, be deemed “incompetent” and…
Happy Draft Day, Browns Fans
It’s Cleveland’s Super Bowl tonight and there’s enough rumor and innuendo out there regarding the Browns’ plans to last the whole afternoon. Let’s take a minute and think about what really matters: If anyone’s found Jimmy Haslam’s mythical homeless friend from last year and asked him what the Browns should do.
New Name, New Theme, New Chef for Sunset Grille at Whiskey Island
On May 1st, Sunset Grille on Whiskey Island will usher in the summer season with its annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. But that’s about the only consistent feature from the previous year for this lakefront property, which includes a marina, park and restaurant. “We have new ownership, a new management company and new name for…
Singer-songwriters Freedy Johnston and Pat McGee Share the Secrets of Their Craft
Singer-songwriters Freedy Johnston and Pat McGee came to songwriting rather late (at least if you compare them to someone like Bob Dylan, who was writing classic tunes at age 20). But they’ve both now accumulated a catalog of great songs. Johnston issued his first album in 1990 and McGee put out his debut in 1995.…
Backstage Pass: An Interview with the Veronicas
Australian synth-pop duo the Veronicas stopped at the Aloft hotel yesterday to play an hour-long acoustic set that included several tracks from their new self-titled album as well as some of their biggest hits (including “4Ever”). Afterward, the two posed for photos for fans during a meet and greet session that lasted just about as…
Loud in Cleveland with By Light We Loom
Today, we’re happy to share the new episode of Loud in Cleveland. In this podcast episode, hosts Drew Maziasz and Michael Cornacchione talk music with By Light We Loom. From Mike and Drew: These two began the band Bethesda a few years back and this past summer, after that project ended, they refocused their efforts…
One of the Last Exhibitions at Current William Busta Gallery Opens This Weekend
From 6 to 9 p.m., this Friday, May 1, William Busta Gallery presents an opening reception for its latest exhibitions of Stephen Yusko’s sculptures, photo-based mixed media works by Bellamy Printz and paintings by Andrea Joki, Enid Williams and Jason K. Milburn. Yusko earned his BFA in Sculpture from the University of Akron, before receiving his…
Treetop Adventure Course Go Ape Hosts Grand Opening in Strongsville this Weekend
Go Ape, a national treetop and outdoor adventure course company, quietly opened its first Ohio outlet in Strongsville earlier this month, and is now planning to host its official grand opening ceremony this weekend. On Saturday, May 2, folks can head down to Mill Stream Run Reservation of Cleveland Metroparks for a day of tree-swinging fun,…
Preview: A Conversation With Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra Cellist Henry Shapard
By Mike Telin “It’s more that the piece came my way rather than me actively looking for it,” cellist Henry Shapard said during a telephone conversation. “Back in the fall I sat down with my great teacher Richard Weiss and asked him what he would like me to play. I had just played Tchaikovsky’s Rococo…
Chef Jam Returns to Rock Hall in June
Chef Jam, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s annual rock-related food event that pairs local musicians with Cleveland’s top chefs, will take place at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, at the Rock Hall. Local acts Tropidelic and the Cream of the Crop All Stars are slated to perform. Restaurants slated to…
Classic Rockers Kansas Find a Way to ‘Carry On’
Like many bands that are just starting out, Kansas faced its share of obstacles as it was on the way to eventual success. But for guitarist Richard Williams, it came down to teamwork and sharing a common goal when it came to accomplishing the things necessary to get to where it wanted to go as…
Local Rapper C-Ro Del-Fresco Inspired by Lifelong Passion for Hip-hop
Cleveland rapper C-Ro Del Fresco is one of the more prolific local artists. He even admits he’s not sure how many singles and mixtapes he’s released over the past few years. His new album, The Loudness War, shows off his ability to veer from rapid-fire rhymes to smooth grooves, sometimes within the same song. At…
Barbara Stanford’s Work Will Be on Public Display for the First Time at Her Solo Exhibition at the Maria Neil Art Project
From 5 to 10 p.m. this Friday, May 1, the Maria Neil Art Project debuts the first solo exhibition by Barbara Stanford, as part of May’s Walk All Over Waterloo. This will be the first commercial gallery exhibition for an artist relatively unknown in the art community. Despite creating work for herself and selected juried…
A Chat With Cleveland Orchestra Guest Pianist Marc-André Hamelin
By Mike Telin It’s all about “the Father of the Symphony” this week at Severance Hall when British conductor Matthew Halls leads The Cleveland Orchestra in three all-Haydn programs that include the Overture to L’isola disabitata, the Concerto for Two Horns, featuring TCO horn players Richard King and Jesse McCormick, and the Symphony No. 101…
This One Thing Could Solve Cleveland’s Pothole Problem
Cleveland is notorious for its god-awful, car-eating pothole problem, one that causes a wide range of responses from weary drivers, including blind rage, absolute resign, and, most recently, cutthroat reporting, exposing pothole patching crews taking lavishly long lunches, etcetera, etcetera. But maybe our reactions are misplaced, or at least could use some outside consultation. Take, for example, this…
Cleveland Museum of Art Announces Summer Solstice Lineup
Now in its seventh year, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Solstice party, which takes place from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, is usually one of the summer’s hottest tickets. The museum has just announced this year’s lineup and it includes Colombian tropical-psychedelia (Meridian Brothers), modern disco (Escort), Afrobeat (Seun Kuti &…
Two New State-of-the-Art Ceramics Studios Open on Cleveland’s East and West Sides
As schools like Cleveland State University close their ceramics programs, access to crucial tools and resources is becoming scarce. Thankfully that’s all about to change. This Friday, two new state-of-the-art ceramics studios are hosting grand opening ribbon cutting ceremonies on opposite ends of the “East/West” spectrum. In Bay Village, BAYarts opens its Karen Ryel Ceramic…
City Braces for Brelo Verdict
Images of riots in Baltimore are how the rest of the country is viewing that city’s reaction to Freddie Gray’s death at the hands of police officers. Here in Cleveland, leaders are vocally concerned about the impending verdict in Officer Michael Brelo’s trial, wherein he faces charges of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the deadly…
VIDEO: Determined Indians Fan Ditches Everything to Nab Foul Ball
An Indians fan who can only be described an one of the most determined spectators we’ve seen this season, walked away with a foul ball at Tuesday’s Indians vs. Royals game after he ditched everything he was holding, including his cell phone and a full cup of beer to go after his prize in a…
A Cookie and a Cupcake Expands to the East
It’s the midweek calm before the weekend wedding storm and SynDee Bergen seems at ease in the cotton-candy pink chairs arranged in A Cookie and a Cupcake’s new South Euclid storefront (13953 Cedar Rd., 216-344-9433, acookieandacupcake.com). Bergen laughs while adjusting her bone-white cat-eye glasses that match the powder on her black apron and says that…
Band of the Week: By Light We Loom
Meet the Band: Shanna Delaney (vocals, loops) and Eric Ling (guitars, vocals) A Good Run: With their previous band Bethesda, which called it quits last year, Delaney and Ling had a good run in the ’00s. The indie-folk group toured throughout the Midwest and even played big festivals such as Bonnaroo, CMJ, Bunbury and MidPoint.…
Intestinal Upset Is Just One of the Problems in God of Carnage
If you like a play that doesn’t beat around the bush getting to the conflict at hand, then you’re bound to appreciate God of Carnage, now at None Too Fragile Theater in Akron. As the lights come up, two couples are sharing a casually elegant suburban living room where a vase of yellow tulips occupies…
Was An 81-Year-Old Wife, Mother and Grandmother Abducted By Her Own Daughter or Rescued From a Bad Situation?
Fourough Bakhtiar is wearing a magenta cardigan and a beige springtime hat in the Lorain County Justice Center in early April. Looking across the courtroom from behind big, thick-framed glasses, the 81-year-old wife, mother and grandmother is the center of her family’s universe, though none of them, except her son-in-law Phillip Presutto, are here this…
Film Spotlight: Dior and I
When asked about how he first came up with the concept for Dior and I, his new documentary film that provides a behind-the-scenes look at Raf Simons’ first haute couture collection as Christine Dior’s new artistic director, director Frédéric Tcheng simply says “it was a matter of good timing and a chance encounter.” The movie…
Cleveland Native and Senior Editor at The New Republic Jamil Smith Talks About His New Job, the New New Republic, and How the Media Should be Covering Race
Jamil Smith is a few months into his new gig at The New Republic after working as a producer for Rachel Maddow and then Melissa Harris-Perry at MSNBC. Much of his new gig is focused on covering race in America in a way that many magazines, let alone the New Republic, haven’t in recent memory.…
Free Comic Book Day Finds an Exciting Annual Home at Carol and John’s
It’s a big weekend for comic book fans. Not only does Avengers 2: Age of Ultron debut in theaters on Friday, but comic book shops around the country are celebrating Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) on Saturday, May 2. Carol and John’s Comic Book Shop has been celebrating Free Comic Book Day for 14 years.…
Beloved Eastside Bakery Will Soon Feature a Larger Menu and More
By his own account, Adam Gidlow is a prudent, patient man. When he opened On the Rise bakery in Cleveland Heights 14 years ago, he did so only after thoroughly vetting other potential neighborhoods. The new shopkeeper didn’t even attempt to pursue wholesale restaurant accounts until his retail business was soundly in place. And it…
10 Blockbusters You Won’t Want to Miss
Summer doesn’t officially start until June but with the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, which opens this week, the summer movie season officially launches. Here’s a look at 10 must-see movies looming on the horizon. Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 1) Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo,…
