The Butt-Naked Donald Trump Statue Has Been Released Back to the Artist
Update: The artist behind “The Emperor Has No Balls” claimed his naked Donald Trump statue from Cleveland Heights City Hall at 11 a.m. this morning. Cleveland Heights police had earlier whisked it away almost as soon as it was installed in Coventry back in August. The artist, who goes by the name “Ginger” and is from…
Vintage Soul/Garage Rockers Barrence Whitfield & the Savages to Bring Raw Energy to the Beachland
To promote the current tour from garage rockers Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, the band’s record label includes a link to a performance that took place a few years ago on Later with Jools Holland. The band really smokes as Whitfield delivers piercing screams and punctuates the performance with a few well-timed fist pumps. It…
‘Southside With You’ Casts Chicago’s Mean Streets in a Different Light
When members of the national media turn their attention to Chicago’s Southside, it’s often to direct our attention to a shooting or some other tragedy. That section of the Windy City rarely appears in positive light. Southside With You, which opens on Friday at the Cedar Lee Theatre, attempts to cast Chicago’s Southside in a…
Cleveland is First US Market for Reso, Latest Challenger to OpenTable
During the three years since he opened Cork & Cleaver, chef and owner Brian Okin has managed reservations the old-fashioned way: by answering phone calls and emails from customers and jotting the information down in “the book.” But a few months ago he began using Reso, a new online reservation management system that just entered…
Local Garage Rockers Archie & the Bunkers Release New EP
A local garage rock group which consists of teenage brothers Emmett and Cullen O’Connor on keys and vocals, Archie and the Bunkers have made some serious headway since forming in 2013. The two guys initially began recording music in their basement and self-produced their first two EPs (Comrade X and Trade Winds). Last year, the…
Have You Seen This Missing Llama?
The Stark County Humane Society is searching for a llama that went missing on August 15. Jules aka the “llama on the lamb” was last scene on the corner of SR 619 and SR 44. Note: If you find said llama, don’t chase it. Apparently they really hate that.
Accidental Comedy Fest Returns This Weekend
For the fifth year running, Accidental Comedy Fest will bring locals and out-of-towners — from the big names to up-and-comers — to Mahall’s for a weekend of funny. Truth is, comedy is one of the things that Cleveland does best. And if you haven’t noticed yet, know that Accidental Comedy Club is the cream of…
New SPACES Exhibitions Explore Impact of Environment on Society
[image-1]Following its nationally acclaimed RNC-related programming, SPACES is ready to unveil its latest projects. Opening with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26, SPACES presents Hidden Assembly, Public Displays of Data and Moving Anthropologies. As their titles suggest, all three exhibitions explore our impact on our environment and its impact on…
Channel 19 GM Stepping Down, Local TV News in Flux
The announcement of Dee Perry’s retirement from WCPN, last week, arrived as local TV continues to hemorrhage on-air and executive talent left and right. The latest departure from the turbulent landscape: Channel 19 / Channel 43 Vice President and General Manager Dominic Mancuso. Mancuso reportedly told staff last week that he’d be stepping down. His…
Local Rocker Tim “Ripper” Owens to Close his Akron Club in September
As of Sept. 3, Northeast Ohio will lose one of its music venues. Local rocker Tim “Ripper” Owens has announced he’ll close his Akron-based restaurant/rock club, Tim Owens’ Traveler’s Tavern. Last year, Owens, famous for subbing for Judas Priest singer Rob Halford when the British metal act toured and recorded without Halford, transformed the former…
Classic Rock Act Toto to Play Cleveland for the First Time in Over 20 Years
After co-headlining runs the past two summers that found the group sharing the stage with longtime friend Michael McDonald in 2014 and then progressive rockers Yes last summer, Toto is doing its first full-on headlining run of the United States in a long time this summer, and it’s a well-deserved victory for the band, which…
After a Successful 17-Year Run, Kings of the Iron Mic to Host One Last Show
Way back in 1999, artists like Silkk the Shocker, Busta Rhymes, Sporty Thievz, Jay Z, Puff Daddy and JT Money dominated the rap charts. Lauryn Hill won five Grammy awards, and the world was formally introduced to Eminem. Locally, artist George Goins aka Pooh Manchew was looking to make some waves of his own with…
Chagrin Documentary Film Festival to Show 76 Films From 24 Different Countries
Now in its seventh year, the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival has just announced that it will screen 76 films from 24 countries during the annual event that takes place from October 5 to 9 at venues in and around Chagrin Falls. Festival organizers have grouped the movies in several different categories, including one devoted to…
ICYMI: Public Square Website Now Live
Cleveland’s newest iconic public space now has its very own website, in case you missed the news over the weekend. Check clevelandpublicsquare.com for basic info and updates on daily events. At this point, a steady flow of live music and yoga comprise the weekday happenings on the Square, with an occasional spurt of civic dialogue…
The Scottish Play Holds Forth at Ohio Shakespeare Festival
Theater people are very superstitious. A light is placed center stage in many theaters, appropriately called the “ghost light,” to scare off the demons which inhabit many performance places. The phrase “break a leg” is the traditional well wishing greeting used before a production as it is considered “bad luck” to wish someone “good luck”…
Local Businesses Compete as ‘Cleveland Hustles’ Premieres This Week
It has been a busy summer for Cleveland. First, the Cavaliers made history by defying and overcoming a 3-1 deficit to bring a championship to a city that hasn’t seen one by any professional sports team in 52 years. Then, the RNC came to town and brought Cleveland much-needed national exposure. Finally, in keeping with…
KISS Singer-Guitarist Paul Stanley Reflects on the Band’s Remarkable 40-Year Run
After more than 40 years of being a band, hard as it is to believe, there are still cities that KISS hasn’t played. With its current Freedom To Rock tour, it’s marking some of those places off the list, playing dates in four cities that, prior to this year, had never had a single KISS…
Browns Season Looms — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Our buds Andre and Zac return this weekend with an episode about the Browns season looming in the near future. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Download the episode directly here. Or stream below.
Local Rockers Golden Streets of Paradise Release Full-Length Debut
Cauliflower Audio, the locally based company that provides full-service analog mastering for CD, vinyl, cassette and digital download, keeps local musician and producer Adam Boose plenty busy. But he somehow still found time to finish a new Golden Streets of Paradise album. He plays drums and provides programming in the local group that also features…
NBA Passes on Cleveland to Host the 2017 All-Star Game
Once the NBA announced it would no longer be hosting the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, North Carolina, over the state’s anti-LBGTQ HB2 Bill, the runner up host city seemed to be a toss up. Even Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to remind him about just how awesome Cleveland…
An Ode to Chain Restaurants as Ruby Tuesday Announces Closures
Ruby Tuesday, a national casual dining restaurant chain with several stores in Northeast Ohio, announced that it will be closing 95 locations nationwide by September. This news saddened me, as it is yet another blow in the unfolding chain restaurant-pocalypse. Back when I was 16 years old and had no marketable skills to speak of,…
A Keen Attention to Song Structure Distinguishes the Punk Act Big Eyes
Kait Eldridge, guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the New York-based punk act Big Eyes, is marking out her territory. After more than ten years as working musician (an impressive run for someone who’s only 28), Eldridge hoists her own flag as a sonic and lyric proprietress. Through the group’s often-morphing cast of characters, Eldridge has…
Café Bon Appetit on Coventry Opening Intimate Whiskey Bar
Two years ago, Café Bon Appetite opened a health-focused café on Coventry (2767 Euclid Hts. Blvd., 216-321-1930), joining its successful seven-year-old downtown location (1900 Euclid Ave., 216-563-1619). This weekend, the snug east-side restaurant will be adding a small, after-hours cocktail lounge that specializes in whiskey. “We’ve had our liquor license for a while and have…
Kafeteria, Zack Bruell’s Casual Eatery in 200 Public Square, to Close Today
It’s been two and a half years since Zack Bruell opened Kafeteria, his sprawling 8,500-square-foot cafeteria on the third floor of 200 Public Square. By the end of the week, that space will belong to a different operator. The operation was a boon for the 2,400 employees who work in the building, but also for…
The Sound of Farewell: Dee Perry Signing off at WCPN
The buttered-popcorn lilt of her majesty Dee Perry will, come August 26, no longer waft over the terrestrial radio airwaves of Greater Cleveland. After 40 years in the local biz and 20 years hosting her arts & culture interview show “The Sound of Applause” (originally called “Around Noon”), Dee Perry is taking some time for…
Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque to Participate in Inaugural Art House Theater Day
As if to answer the music industry’s popular Record Store Day, the film business has concocted Art House Theater Day. Organized by the Art House Convergence (a consortium of independent, community-based, mission-driven movie theaters), the event aims to be a nationwide celebration of the country’s small, independently owned specialty film theaters that we’ve come to…
Medical Examiner: Carfentanil Has Entered Cuyahoga County Opiate Circuit
One of the more eyebrow-raising developments in the opiate crisis has landed closer to home. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner warned today that carfentanil — the “elephant sedative” that’s been introduced to heroin supplies across the state — found its way onto his turf. For those who’ve missed the headlines, Dr. Thomas Gilson reiterated that…
Video: LeBron James Talks About ‘Cleveland Hustles’ and Cavs on ‘The Daily Show’
LeBron James has had a very, very busy summer. The Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Championship and, of course, he’s debuting his new show Cleveland Hustles. Watch James talk about being from Northeast Ohio and his latest venture on The Daily Show.
Backstage Pass: An Interview with Blue October’s Justin Furstenfeld
Led by singer-guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, the alt-rock act Blue October has experienced extreme ups and downs since forming just over 20 years ago in Houston. Furstenfeld chronicles that rollercoaster ride in Crazy Making — The Words and Lyrics of Justin Furstenfeld, a collection of annotated lyrics for the songs in the band’s discography. Recently, he’s…
Cedar Point Announces Soak City Expansion and Renaming, New Water Attractions
It’s official! Cedar Point has announced the park is expanding Soak City and renaming it Cedar Point Shores for the 2017 season. Expect to see a brand new water park entrance, new six-story water slide Point Plummet that can accommodate four riders, Lakeslide Landing, Starboard Surge and Portside Plunge. Lakeslide Landing is a family-friendly water…
Oldest Great Lakes Commercial Shipwreck Discovered in Lake Ontario
Your shipwreck sleuths at Scene are tickled to report that a team of underwater explorers has discovered what is believed to be the oldest commercial Great Lakes Shipwreck: the intact wreckage of sloop Washington — crusty pipe-smoking mariners like us still refer to her as Lady Washington — lost at sea during a bitter gale in…
Paul McCartney Treats Capacity Crowd at the Q to Captivating Career Retrospective
Early in last night’s nearly three-hour set at Quicken Loans Arena, former Beatle Paul McCartney, playing in Cleveland for the first time in more than a decade, took off his bluish gray blazer, rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his white, collarless button-down shirt, suggesting the workman-like attitude he was about to bring to the…
8 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, AUG. 19 Baroness When Baroness singer John Baizley and guitarist Peter Adams sat down to the write the songs for last year’s Purple, they took a different approach. The two hadn’t written together but Baizley has plenty of “stage time” with Adams, who joined the band back in 2008. The demos became “hugely orchestrated…
Utah Resident Plans Cross-Country Cavs Parade
Weston Wride is a top-five Cleveland Cavaliers fan without a doubt. On June 23, the day after the massive, official parade in downtown Cleveland, Wride, originally from Westlake, OH, threw a 19-person parade (perhaps the smallest parade ever if you don’t count New Orleans’ second lines) in Provo, Utah, nearly 1,800 miles away. Though Wride’s…
Local Harpist to Pay Tribute to Pink Floyd at Special Concert at the Alex Theatre
Local harpist Kristy Kline has logged some serious hours on the instrument. She started formal studies at age 12 with Laura Erb, a famous harpist and teacher who worked on the musical arrangements for films such as The Godfather, Love Story and Fiddler on the Roof. Shortly after that, Kline, who attended Ohio University and…
Cleveland-Akron Area Ranks Third in the U.S. for Bed Bug Services
Cleveland is #winning this year, but unfortunately that includes a new cringe-worthy list from Terminix. The Cleveland-Akron area ranks third in the country for bed bug pest control services. Terminix looked at how many times universities contacted the pest control company, and several Ohio cities made the cut. Detroit and Philadelphia came in first and second,…
Music Box Supper Club to Host New Singer-Songwriter Series
A few years back, singer-songwriter Diana Chittester moved to Cleveland from Pittsburgh and started playing open mic nights at places like the now-closed Winchester. She released her first EP in 2008 and followed that with 2012’s In This Skin, which features local Cleveland blues musicians. Now, she’s spearheading Traveling Troubadours, a new singer-songwriter series that…
Talking the Business Side of Sports — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Notes on being offensive on-air (or not), wealth in pro sports (“When a guy’s a shithead, giving him $17 million doesn’t make him any less of a shithead”) and, in spite of that, the thrill of the game. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Download the episode directly here. Or stream below.
Ballot Box Project Develops Young Photographers in Collinwood
Last March, we told you about Collinwood’s Ballot Box Project, a $120,000 grant initiative designed to allow residents of the North Shore Collinwood neighborhood to directly decide which projects would be implemented and assisted through public funding. Several projects were selected from the categories of Collinwood History, Vacancy, Healthy Eating and Youth Engagement. One project…
Band of the Week: Horse Lords
Meet the Band: Andrew Bernstein (saxophone, percussion), Owen Gardner (guitar), Max Eilbacher (bass), Sam Haberman (drums) A CAN-DO ATTITUDE: The band formed in 2010 in Baltimore, about six years ago this summer. It started as a trio with guitarist Owen Gardner who was asked to play a concert and put the band together to play…
Coastal Taco Improves Its Game, Slowly but Surely
Nothing harshes one’s vibe faster than crappy service, but that’s precisely what awaited early visitors to Coastal Taco. The flashy Flats East Bank eatery prides itself on being the perfect host — “Our vibe is chill. We’re always ready to throw a party,” the brand literature promises — but initial experiences demonstrated otherwise. Our first…
Wine and Dine For a Good Cause
The Hildebrandt Building, at 3619 Walton Ave. in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, has always been about the meats. Originally established as a meat-processing plant in the late 1800s, the complex has experienced a renaissance over the past six years. After a period of heavy industrial use, the compound returned to its food-based roots focusing on startups like…
The Origins and Evolution of the Cleveland Accent (Yes, You Have an Accent, Cleveland)
Until Bridget VanDenHaute started college, no one had ever told her she sounded funny when she talked. Growing up near Medina in Hinckley Township, she’d rarely been around anyone who spoke any differently than she did. But in 2011, she moved to Athens to attend Ohio University and noticed the accents immediately. She heard the…
Film Spotlight: Hell or High Water
For the past decade or so, film exec Franklin Leonard has published something he calls the Black List, a list of 10 of the best scripts that have yet to see the light of day. Back in 2012, Taylor Sheridan’s script, then called Comancheria, topped his list. Shot last year in eastern New Mexico, the resulting…
Film Spotlight: Eat That Question
When an interviewer in Eat That Question, a new documentary about musician and composer Frank Zappa, asks Zappa if he considers himself a genius, he scoffs at the notion. And yet, Zappa certainly brought something unique to the table with his avant-garde compositions and decidedly bizarre lyrics. The movie, which opens Friday at the…
Savage Love: All I Ever Wanted
DEAR READERS: I’m on vacation for three weeks — but you won’t be reading old columns in my absence, and you won’t be reading columns by anyone who isn’t Dan Savage. You’ll be reading new columns, all of them written by Dan Savage, none of them written by me. Our second guest Dan Savage is…
‘Sans Merci’ is Unsettling and Haunting at None Too Fragile Theater
When the lights went off to signal the ending of None Too Fragile’s production of Johnna Adams’ unsettling, haunting, thought-provoking Sans Merci, my immediate reaction was, “Oh, please fellow audience members, don’t clap! “Please don’t! This experience needs a respectful silence.” Applauding at the end of this play was like cheering at the end of…
