‘In This Corner of the World’ Offers a Wrenching Depiction of Hiroshima Bombing
It’s World War II, and the “corner of the world” is Hiroshima. On the 72nd anniversary of the U.S. bombing the city in 1945, the animated film, In This Corner of the World, recounts the event itself and the conflict leading up to it, primarily through the eyes of a young Japanese housewife. It opens…
Candy Thieves Pepper Spray b.a. Sweetie Employees to Make Escape
Last Monday, a couple wandered into b.a. Sweetie Candy Company Inc. in need of candy. But rather than select their sweets and head to a cash register to pay, the man and woman opted to sneak the treats into a purse. Once store employees grew wise to the scheme, a police report stated, they confronted…
La Morenita Restaurant Brings Dominican Fare to Clark-Fulton Neighborhood
When the Fish Shack and Grill packed up and moved across the street to a larger spot, its former home was quickly snatched up by a Dominican restaurant called La Morenita (3156 W. 25th St., 216-350-6633). The cheery little eatery, which has been open for about a month, serves breakfast, lunch and early dinner. A…
In Advance of Their Show at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Todd Rundgren and Yes Drummer Alan White Talk About Their Prog Rock Pasts
For this summer’s YESTIVAL tour, recent Rock Hall inductees YES [pictured above] have teamed up with special guest Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy to present a special night of prog rock. The bands take the stage at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautical where YES will perform a set featuring music…
(At Least) Three More Cleveland Mayoral Forums on Tap Before End of August
As the summer election season draws to its climax, and as early voting has begun, three events have been scheduled for the rest of August that will feature at least some of the candidates for Cleveland Mayor. Tuesday, August 22: A Mayoral Candidates Forum has been scheduled at Angie’s Soul Food Cafe. All nine mayoral…
Canton Man Loses His Mind After His McDonald’s Order Took ‘Too Long’: Video
A Summit County woman captured incredible video of a man creating a fairly dangerous situation after his chicken sandwich order was taking too long at an East Canton McDonald’s. Watch the WEWS report below. The guy began by throwing chairs through multiple windows at the McDonald’s. He then leapt through the shattered glass and climbed…
Rapper Kid Cudi to Perform at the Wolstein Center in October
Despite recent struggles with depression and suicidal urges that forced him to check into rehab, rapper Kid Cudi, a Cleveland native, managed to release a new studio album, Passion, Pain and Demon Slayin’, at the end of last year. The album’s swinging single “Surfin’,” a tune that features horns and a reggae beat, clocked over…
Council President Kevin Kelley Issues Statement Condemning Hate Groups
In the wake of this weekend’s events in Charlottesville, Virginia, Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley has issued a statement condemning white supremacy. Additionally, he offered condolences to the family and friends of Heather Heyer, the 32-year-old woman who was killed Saturday when Ohio man James Alex Fields Jr. drove into a crowd of counter-protesters.…
Local Guitarist Doug Wood Releases a New Solo Album, Announces Guys With Guitars Dates
One of our fair city’s finest guitarists, Doug Wood cites bands such as the Who, King Crimson, Michael Hedges, Pat Metheny and Bela Fleck & the Flecktones as influences. A John Carroll University graduate, he formed the acoustic group Watts Gnu in 1989. After that band broke up, Wood has worked as a solo artist.…
Nickelback Concert at Blossom Suffers From a Lack of Musical Diversity
Once you’ve heard one Nickelback song, you’ve pretty much heard them all. The Canadian hard rock band takes a formulaic approach that pairs straightforward chords with gruff vocals. Singer-guitarist Chad Kroeger will sing a line and guitarist-keyboardist-backing vocalist Ryan Peake will repeat the line and inject a few lines of his own. Very little separates…
Spaces’ Timely Projects Illuminate Experiences of Refugees, Immigrants in Cleveland
Debuting this weekend, Spaces’ latest projects share themes of identity, displacement and otherness. These new exhibitions include José Carlos Teixeira’s On Exile, the United Re:Public of the African Diaspora (URe:AD) Press’ URe:AD TV and a series of video works in Spaces’ Vault curated by Spaces’ own Marilyn Ladd-Simmons. In celebration of its new projects and…
Woofstock 2017 to Take Place in September at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field
[image-1]Wooftstock, Geauga Humane Society’s annual outdoor dog and family friendly festival and fundraiser, will move to a new venue this year. The annual event will now take place at 10 a.m. on Sept. 10 at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Field. Local musicians Bill March, Amanda and Rick, All is Harvest, North Coast Goats and Matt…
Reed, Polensek Urge Kelley to Call Special Meeting, Get Q Deal Referendum on November Ballot
Cleveland City Councilmen Zack Reed and Mike Polensek were in Polensek’s office Monday afternoon, drafting a letter that they intended to send to Council President Kevin Kelley and the rest of their colleagues. They want a special meeting called before the council’s regularly scheduled Sep. 18 meeting. They view this as the only available method…
Euclid Police Officer Seen on Video Beating Man in Street After Traffic Stop
Precisely as the world turned its eyes to the violence in Charlottesville, Va., this weekend, a Northeast Ohio woman posted video of a Euclid police officer beating a black man’s head against the street. Dash cam footage of the incident was released soon after. Cleveland resident Richard Hubbard III, 25, was pulled over Saturday morning…
Cedar Point Reveals New 2018 Attractions Wednesday
Cedar Point started this summer with a bang, opening their new water park at the end of May. And the park intends to go out with a bang as well. Wednesday, National Roller Coaster Day, the Sandusky theme park will announce new attractions for 2018, specifically the anticipated plans for the former Mean Streak. The…
Prayer Rally Against Hate and Racism Planned for Steps of City Hall Today
[image-1]Last week, the Anti-Defamation League warned the country that the Charlottesville, Va., “Unite the Right” rally could be the “largest white supremacist gathering in a decade.” It was. And the Aug. 12 event, as we saw, collapsed into street skirmishes, beatings, racial harassment and a violent act of domestic terrorism that killed a 32-year-old advocate…
Artist John G. Compiling His Melt Bar & Grilled Posters into New Book
Although it’s still months away, plans for this year’s Halloween just got a hell of a lot more awesome. Cleveland-based 1984 Publishing has announced a Halloween release date for Sandwich Anarchy, the first book showcasing more than 200 of Cleveland-based illustrator John G.’s Melt Bar & Grilled sandwich posters. Sandwich Anarchy collects ten years’ worth…
Notes on the 2017 Browns’ QB Competition— The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
The main story this week is the anointment of DeShone Kizer, whose four throws in last week’s 20-14 victory over the Saints have given Cleveland over to a conniption fit. Dre and Zac analyze the annual preseason ritual of cycling through quarterback prospects. While there’s always going to be a quarterback competition in Cleveland, the…
Today’s Banana Bar Crawl to Hit Six Popular Local Watering Holes
If you’ve ever wanted to walk around downtown Cleveland from bar to bar wearing a banana suit, then you’ll have your chance tonight during the Banana Bar Crawl. The crawl includes six bar stops, where you can enjoy classic favorites, banana-flavored creations and Cleveland-themed drinks, all at special prices. And yes, banana suits will be…
UK Dance Duo AlunaGeorge to Open for Coldplay at the Q
After touring with singer-songwriter and producer Sia last fall, the London-based duo AlunaGeorge — singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid — has nabbed another prime opening spot. The band will open for Coldplay when it performs at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Quicken Loans Arena. A second opener, Izzy Bizu, will start the show off. “It’s…
Op-Ed: Will Dan Gilbert’s Greed Cost Cleveland an NBA All-Star Game?
Will Dan Gilbert’s greed cost Cleveland an NBA All-Star Game? This is a question that seems to be getting lost in the debate over the Q-deal referendum, which will now be moving forward thanks to yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court of Ohio. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and his surrogates, both in their legal briefing…
Weapons of Mass Creation Moves to Mahall’s for Eighth Iteration
Although it may feel like just yesterday, it was eight years ago that Cleveland-based design firm Go Media debuted Weapons of Mass Creation Fest. Since its inception, the weekend-long, late summer festival has grown, evolved and become the region’s premier design conference. Moving this year to Mahall’s in Lakewood, WMC Fest brings artists, designers, illustrators,…
Nearly 160 Applebee’s and IHOP Locations Closing, Unclear How Northeast Ohio Will Be Affected
You may soon have to find a new place to meet your grandparents (or parents) for lunch. While it’s unclear whether Northeast Ohio’s 10 Applebee’s and five IHOP locations will be affected, parent company DineEquity Inc. has said in a release that they’re planning to shut down 105 to 135 Applebee’s locations and 20 to…
Man Attempts To Fondle Edgewater Beach Lifeguard While Touching Himself
Earlier this week, Cleveland resident Ibrahim Shamsadeen, 29, reportedly attempted to fondle a lifeguard at the very public Edgewater Beach while groping himself. The Tuesday incident began with Shamsadeen masturbating on the beach, before he decided the next logical step was to climb up the lifeguard’s chair. He made sexual comments towards her and reached…
Medical Marijuana Licenses Likely Won’t Be Issued Until November, Potentially Stalling Ohio’s Weed Crop
Thanks to relatively new medical marijuana laws, Ohio plans to issue 24 cultivator licenses across the state (half for small growers and half for larger ones). So far the Ohio Department of Commerce has received 185 applications for licenses, but they likely won’t distribute them until November, which could hinder the state’s intention to launch the…
Three Massillon Nurses Needed to be Revived with Narcan After Treating Overdose Patient
Three nurses at Affinity Medical Center in Massillon (near Canton) were revived with Narcan doses earlier this week after treating an overdose victim and cleaning the patient’s room. The nurses came into contact with an unknown substance, though police suspect that it may have been something like fentanyl or a related chemical analogue. The New…
Lago to Host Cheese Fest Cleveland Tonight
Start the weekend off right at Cheese Fest Cleveland, featuring more than 70 cheeses from all parts of the world. As we all know, cheese and wine make a perfect pair, so there will be 30 wines for you to enjoy as well. Also on the agenda: a macaroni and cheese competition and live entertainment.…
Annual Feast of the Assumption Returns to Little Italy This Weekend
The annual Feast of the Assumption, running tomorrow through Tuesday, brings fresh food and worship to Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood once again. In its 119th year, this Feast includes Mass at Holy Rosary Church, a shrine to the Virgin Mary and, best of all, a street fair packed with vendors. The event certainly earns the…
Perseids Meteor Shower Provides Stellar Opening Act for Eclipse Main Event
We’re closing in on that historic solar eclipse, just 10 days away, but another spectacular show in the cosmos will light up the night sky this weekend, providing a flashy opening act. On Friday and Saturday night, we’ll get a great glimpse of the annual Perseids Meteor shower at its peak. With a chance of…
Singer-Songwriter Gavin DeGraw Embraces an Improvisational Approach
Growing up outside of Bethel, New York, the site of the original Woodstock concert, had a profound impact on singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw. As a result of his upbringing, he absorbed a good mix of music from the ’60s. “I’ve always like the same kind of music,” says DeGraw in a recent phone interview. He performs…
Chef Sawyer Comments on Downtown Noodlecat Closure
Yesterday, Team Sawyer announced to its followers on Facebook that Noodlecat would be closing its downtown location (234 Euclid Ave., 216-589-0007) on Saturday, August 12th. It was mighty short notice for fans of the noodle shop, which opened almost six years ago. In late fall, chef Jonathon Sawyer announced that Noodlecat would be opening a…
Ohio Supreme Court Sides with Q Deal Referendum Backers, Says Petitions Must Be Accepted
The Ohio Supreme Court has sided with referendum backers in the Quicken Loans Arena renovation deal case, ruling that City Council Clerk Pat Britt had no authority to reject 20,000+ signatures that sought a referendum on the city of Cleveland’s legislation related to the deal. In its 4-3 ruling, released Thursday, the majority found that…
LeBron James to Co-Produce New Sneaker Comedy For HBO
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and business partner Maverick Carter have been busy in the entertainment world in recent years. And now, with their company SpringHill Entertainment, James and Carter are developing a new comedy for HBO about the obsessive world of sneaker culture — something James, one of Nike’s signature athletes, is quite familiar.…
Chain Reaction Announces Which Slavic Village Businesses Will Receive $1 Million Investment
Cleveland Chain Reaction recently announced which Slavic Village businesses would benefit from its $1 million investment. The economic development program, which paired up local investors with Slavic Village businesses, is an offshoot of the LeBron James/Maverick Carter-produced Cleveland Hustles reality show that helped grow businesses like Cleveland Bagel and Fount in Detroit Shoreway. The businesses receiving…
First Look: Barroco Arepa Bar, Opening August 21 on Larchmere
“We’re almost done,” says Juan Vergara. “We’re really, really happy with how things turned out.” Back in May, we reported that Vergara was planning to open an east-side location of his popular Colombian-themed restaurant Barroco Arepa Bar (12906 Madison Ave., 216-221-8127), which has been going strong in Lakewood since 2011. Since taking possession in June…
Stark County Officer Won’t Face Charges for Shooting, Killing Dog
When Alliance police officer Joshua Tenney shot and killed a dog last month, he said he had no choice; the dog’s owners felt differently. Tenney shot the 3-year-old pitbull, China, after the dog “aggressively charged” him, according to a report from Alliance police. At the time of the shooting, Tenney was on the lookout for…
‘An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power’ Revisits the Worsening Climate Crisis
When the producers at Participant Productions, the company behind the 1996 documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, began considering a sequel to the movie about the dangers of climate change, they reached out to directors/producers Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, veteran filmmakers who would be capable of following up on the Oscar-winning original. “The original director,…
7 Concerts to Catch This Weekend in Cleveland
FRIDAY, AUG. 11 Toronzo Cannon On the hard-driving “Strength to Survive,” one of many highlights on singer-guitarist Toronzo Cannon’s latest album, The Chicago Way, Cannon sings about how “real life” is getting in the way of his dreams. He describes himself as a “broken man” who can’t look at himself in the mirror. It’s heavy,…
James Taylor ‘Goes for Cute’ to the Delight of a Capacity Crowd at Blossom
“When you run out of sexy, you have to go for cute,” singer-songwriter James Taylor told the capacity crowd at Blossom last night as he justified showing pictures of an adorable pug on the video monitor behind him as he played the folk-y, whimsical “Sunny Skies.” That statement accurately summed up his approach to the…
“IT’S TIME FOR A PURGE”: Fringe Mayoral Candidate Dyrone Smith Goes on Tirade, Articulates Platform
Tuesday afternoon and evening, fringe Mayoral Candidate Dyrone Smith published a series of hostile posts on his campaign Facebook page. At last month’s east side mayoral forum, we determined quickly that Smith wasn’t worth considering in the upcoming election: “It’s safe to say that neither [Bill] Patmon nor Smith could capably serve as Mayor and deserve…
Molto Bene Brings Fresh Italian Flavors to Lakewood’s West End
[image-1]Whether you’re aware of the fact or not, the cool, creamy gelato that you’ve been enjoying for dessert at your favorite Italian eateries likely was handcrafted by Gonzalo Egozcue. For more than 20 years – both in Italy and here in the States – Egozcue has been making the product for other people, including Valerio…
Maggie Rose, Who Opens for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw at the Q, Is One of Nashville’s New Voices
Up-and-coming country singer Maggie Rose got her first gig singing with the B Street Band, a Jersey-based Springsteen tribute act. While she had sung at her church, she hadn’t sung in public prior to joining the group. “It was my first opportunity to cut my teeth as a performer,” she says via phone from Nashville,…
Woman Must Pay Back $30,000 She Embezzled From Springfield Booster Club
An Akron-area woman will not go to prison for swiping $30,000 from the Springfield Local Schools Athletic Booster Club, though she did receive five years of probation and an order to repay the money in monthly $350 increments. It will take former booster club treasurer for the school district, Mia Balazowich, seven years to complete the…
Open Letter Calls for Cleveland Clinic to Cut Ties with President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago
An open letter is being circulated by a handful of progressive groups urging the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Clinic to reconsider plans to hold next year’s annual fundraiser at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla. The letter, posted on the open writing platform Medium, links to a Google form that…
One Grandma’s Reaction to Yan Gomes’ Walk-Off Home Run is the Cutest Thing
Last night, Indians catcher Yan Gomes proved once again why spectators should never leave a game before the ninth inning is over — with a three-run walk-off home run. One Tribe fan in particular took the moment to heart, and her stunned reaction at Progressive Field was caught on camera (and subsequently Twitter) by her grandson…
Charlotte-Based Sinners & Saints to Play Special Happy Hour Set at Wilbert’s
A Charlotte-baed duo, Sinners & Saints — singer-songwriter Perry Fowler on acoustic guitar and harmonica and Mark Baran on upright bass, banjo and harmonies — plays old-timey music like Louvin Bros. The band’s harmony vocals sound especially sharp on its latest album, On the Other Side. The sparse opening tune, “Up Like the Sun, Down…
Savage Love: Commit to Something
Dear Dan, My boyfriend of eight months, K, and I are polyamorous. We started the relationship on that foot, and for a while I was the partner he spent the most time with. There have been ups and downs, but overall our relationship is solid and loving. However, recently we both started dating the same…
Get Out: The Things To Do This Week (Aug. 9-15)
WED 08/09 Indians vs. Colorado Rockies The Indians didn’t fare well against the offensive-minded Colorado Rockies when the two teams faced each other in Denver earlier this year. Look for the Tribe to try to get some revenge as the interleague series comes to Progressive Field for a two-game series that wraps up with today’s…
Erin R. Miller Unveils Return to Sender at Praxis
At Praxis Fiber Workshop we have a bit of a meta moment, as Erin R. Miller’s artwork gets unpacked. You see, Miller’s solo exhibition, Return to Sender, is a study of packing peanuts, shredded paper and bubble wrap recreated in textiles. The inception for this show did not unfold as one might have expected. Miller’s…
A New Book Shines Light on How Black Women and White Women See One Another
After Zumba proved too strenuous, Cleveland Heights photographer Jane Critchlow looked around for another place to dance her way to fitness. She found her way to a line dance class at Bedford Recreation Center. When she showed up she immediately realized she was out of step, but it wasn’t because she was a novice and…
‘Once Upon a Time’ Offers An Alternative to the Stereotypical Fairytale
While Disney dominates most of the U.S. fairytale market, the Chinese film Once Upon a Time (directed by Anthony LaMolinara and Xiaoding Zhao), which opens on Friday at Cinemark Valley View, offers a welcome entry into the genre. It’s refreshing to see any kind of fairytale-oriented story that’s not a live (and unnecessary) reincarnation of…
‘Harmonium,’ playing at Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, is Anything But Harmonious
With The Dark Tower in the top spot, last weekend was the summer’s worst weekend yet at the box office. This weekend doesn’t look like it’ll fare much better. The two widest releases are franchise installments that nobody asked for: the tired horror flick Annabelle: Creation, and the animated family film Nut Job 2: Nutty…
Big Hair and Big Tunes Power the Fun in ‘Hairspray’ at the Mercury Theatre Company
Oh, for the days when you could put a person in special education classes just because of her hairdo. That’s what happens to Tracy Turnblad, the bouffant-haired focus of the musical Hairspray, now at the Mercury Theatre Company. If that had happened to Donald Trump many years ago, maybe we wouldn’t be enduring a bizarrely…
For Nearly Two Decades, Scooter’s Dawg House Has Fed Hungry Lake County Beachgoers
For 17 years, Mentor Headlands beachgoers have been dusting themselves off, shaking out their blankets, and heading directly to Scooter’s Dawg House, which is all but impossible to sidestep on the journey home. One of those longtime fans is Mike Blauman, who, like so many Lake County residents, never lets a summer slip away without…
LockKeepers’ Mission to Spread Love for Bitter Spirits
About a year and a half ago, I had my first shot of Fernet Branca, an especially astringent member of a bitter family of spirits called amaro. It was powerful, herbaceous and bracing. I absolutely hated it. Apparently, my initial reaction is a typical one. “A lot of people don’t like them at first,” says…
Band of the Week: New Pope
MEET THE BAND: Robertson Thacher (synthesizers), Michael Gallope (organ, pocket piano), Clara Latham (vocals), Jordyn Bonds (drums) BORN IN A BASEMENT: In January 2015, Robertson Thacher (Oneida, People of the North) and Clara Latham (Starring, the Fancy) wound up living a few miles apart in Roslindale, Massachusetts. They began meeting weekly in a basement studio…
