Cinematheque to Host a Special Poverty Row Film Series in Early 2019
Back in the 1930s and 1940s, independent productions flourished on Hollywood’s Poverty Row, a strip of Gower Street between Sunset Boulevard and the Paramount lot. The companies produced low-budget genre films that often had “strange, illusive qualities” not found in major studio movies and tackled taboo subjects like venereal disease and “medical quackery.” The UCLA…
Magician Michael Carbonaro Coming to Hard Rock Live in March
Magician and performance bizarrist Michael Carbonaro has performed more than 500 “comically perplexing” and feats of magic on his hit TV series The Carbonaro Effect. On the show, he fools unsuspecting members of the public who don’t know that he is a magician. In one segment, he makes a car disappear before a security guard,…
Rock Hall Releases the Schedule of Events for Its Martin Luther King Day Celebration
On Jan. 21, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will once again offer a free admission day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout the day, there will be live performances, an art demonstration, education programs and family activities that “highlight how people have used music to find their voice and create…
Cinematheque to Screen the Operatic Films of Luchino Visconti Next Year
During November and December of last year, the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque presented digital restorations or 35mm prints of five films by the late Italian filmmaker Luchino Visconti. Since then, a complete Visconti retrospective put together by Istituto Luce Cinecittà in Rome has come to North America and is traveling to a variety of…
Pepper Pike Businessman Named First Honorary Consul of Japan in Cleveland
The Japanese government recently announced the appointment of its first ever honorary consul of Japan in Cleveland. Pepper Pike’s Hiroyuki “Hiro” Fujita, the founder, president and CEO of Cleveland-based Quality Electrodynamics, which makes medical devices, was named to the position, AP reports. So what do Japan’s honorary consuls do? Fujita will be expected to help…
Urban Community School Severing Ties with Cleveland Catholic Diocese
A private ecumenical school serving primarily low-income children on Cleveland’s near west side will sever ties with the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to preserve a new partnership with MetroHealth. Urban Community School, which was founded in 1968 by the Ursuline nuns in partnership with three Catholic churches on the near west side — St. Wendelin, St.…
Maybe Don’t Ever Eat at the McDonald’s by the Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Department of Public Health is today conducting yet another inspection of the McDonald’s at 8210 Euclid Ave. near the Cleveland Clinic. It is doing so after a string of previous inspections found a litany of violations, almost all of them concerning a rodent infestation, including one report that noted an exterminator had recently…
Want a Career in Weed or Hemp in Ohio? There Are Schools For That
Last week, Congress passed a farm bill that included a provision that makes it legal to grow and make stuff out of hemp. That would be marijuana’s cousin, which has a minuscule amount of THC and is used to make everything from therapeutic cannabidiol (CBD) to fabric and even ethanol. Hell, they can even make…
Comedian Ali Wong Brings Her Milk and Money Tour to Cleveland in May
Comedian Ali Wong — whose outrageous Netflix specials Hard Knock Wife and Baby Cobra pulled back the curtain on the horrors and hilarity of motherhood — is bringing her newest standup show to Cleveland next year. Hitting up the Masonic Cleveland Auditorium May 3, the stop is only one of 13 announced thus far in the new year.…
Thanks to Serial, Weed Possession in Euclid Is Now a Minor Misdemeanor
After the Serial podcast highlighted a police brutality case in Euclid that stemmed, ostensibly, from marijuana possession, the east side suburb has voted to reclassify the crime. Beginning next year, those found with small amounts of marijuana will now only face a maximum $150 fine, as opposed to the $1,000 fine and up to six…
The Final Christmas Holiday Shows of the Season and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch Before 2019 Rolls In
Classical music-making winds down between Christmas and New Year’s, but here are a few performances that should bend your ear during that holiday period. The outdoor music of bells helps define the spirit of Christmas, and the McGaffin Carillon at the Church of the Covenant in University Circle will peal out at 12:15 pm every…
Gregg Williams, Baker Mayfield and More — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac are back! They discuss the Browns, Gregg Williams, Baker Mayfield and wild travel stories. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
I Got Five On It to Celebrate Its 13th Anniversary
One of the country’s longest-running club parties, I Got Five On It will celebrate its 13th anniversary on Dec. 29 at Touch Supper Club. Promoters boast that “the party provides the best in ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s music…from disco to funk to rock, all mixed with classic hip-hop.” DJs Mickey “Mick (Mick Boogie)” Batyske,…
Cheech & Chong Coming to Hard Rock Live in February
Over the course of a career that stretches back to the ’70s, the comedy duo Cheech & Chong recorded six gold comedy albums, including the 1973 Grammy winner Los Cochinos, and starred in several films. Though the duo split up in the 1980s, they reunited in the 2000s for their Light Up America tour. The…
Boston Mills Ski Resort Officially Opens Its Season Wednesday
Just in time for the long Christmas weekend, Boston Mills Ski Resort in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is opening Wednesday. The nearby sister ski resort Brandywine still won’t be ready until later this month. As much as local ski bums and snowboard enthusiasts have been chomping at the bit to get on the hill,…
How Many Cigarettes Did Cuyahoga County Residents Smoke Last Year to Give $12 Million to Arts Organizations?
Around this time of year, the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture group announces its grant recipients. There is always tons of sniping as to who gets what and how much, why them and not me, and the usual “Cleveland is so wonderful because it gives artists money” decree that we often adhere to as the gospel…
Cleveland History Center’s Annual Somewhere in Time Party to Take Place in February
The Cleveland History Center has just announced that its annual Somewhere in Time party, which takes place at 7 p.m. on Feb. 2, will transport Clevelanders back to the year 1969. There will be themed drinks, food, music and more as the event centers on a “critical year of protest, revolution and change” and commemorates…
Federal Threat to SNAP Over, But State Attacks Loom
COLUMBUS, Ohio – There was a sigh of relief from anti-poverty groups in Ohio when the U.S. Congress protected the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2018 Farm Bill. However, they’re holding their breath once again. After more than a year of hard-fought negotiations and debate, the bill is headed to President Donald Trump’s…
BLOCKLAND-LAND: A Dispatch from Cleveland’s New Flagship Conference
THE LASTING IMPRESSION The lasting impression imprinted by the Blockland Solutions Conference, held Dec. 1 – 4 at the Huntington Convention Center downtown, was this: Irrespective of blockchain’s potential as a disruptive, or even legitimate, technology, Cleveland leaders are hellbent on being associated with it. They may get their wish. The momentum and good will…
More Than 1,000 People Already Registered to Buy Medicinal Marijuana in Ohio
About a week after opening the state of Ohio’s Patient and Caregiver Registry, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced that more than 1,000 people had already successfully registered for a card that will allow them to purchase medicinal marijuana. Authorized physicians use the registry, which opened Dec. 3, to recommend other caregivers and…
Jessica Lea Mayfield Talks Jail Time, Finding Inner Strength and Coming Home for a Beachland Ballroom Show
Singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield says she’s not sure why she’s in jail. But she’s currently calling collect from a Davidson County holding facility in Nashville on a pay phone she says smells strongly of barf. “I’m not supposed to be here,” the Kent native says. “I’m here because of insane circumstances. Today is a day…
Three New Restaurant Concepts to Open in Flats East Bank Next Year
The Flats East Bank is getting three new club and restaurant concepts as early as next summer, Cleveland.com’s Michelle Jarboe reported yesterday after the Port of Cleveland’s board of directors voted to help in financing the deal. The trio of restaurants are set to join Flats stalwarts like Thirsty Dog Brewing Company and Coastal Taco…
Ohioans Encouraged to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle During the Holidays
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The “most wonderful time of the year” is also the most wasteful. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Years Day than any other time of the year. Whether you are shopping, decorating, cooking or giving a gift, Hanna Greer-Brown – communications…
‘All Water is Connected:’ Opponents Question Trump’s Proposed Water-Rule Rollback
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Negative reaction from conservation groups was swift to a Trump administration proposal on Tuesday to remove federal clean-water protections from many smaller streams and wetlands. The Environmental Protection Agency announced a replacement for the Waters of the United States rule that would lift federal protections from water sources that are seasonal and…
Study Shows Life Outcome Disparities for Black and White Residents in Cleveland, One of the Most Segregated Cities in America
CLEVELAND, Ohio – A person’s ZIP code can be a determining factor in life outcomes, and a new analysis examines the impacts of structural segregation in one of Ohio’s largest cities. With more than 388,000 residents, Cleveland is Ohio’s second-most populous city. It’s also ranked by Census data as one of the nation’s most segregated.…
6 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, DEC. 14 Dennis DeYoung The Grand Illusion 40th Anniversary Album Tour Though he can’t legally tour and record as Styx, singer Dennis DeYoung, who wrote and sang lead vocals on seven of Styx’s eight Top 10 hits including “Babe,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best of Times,” “Show Me the Way,” “Lady,” “Don’t Let It End,” “Come…
The Ohio City Singers and Boys From the County Hell to Play Special Holiday Shows Next Weekend at House of Blues
Two beloved local acts, the Ohio City Singers and Boys From the County Hell regularly play holiday concerts each year. This year, they’ve aligned so that the concerts fall on the same weekend. The Ohio City Singers, a group that plays original Christmas music (along with a few choice covers), and the Boys From the…
Here’s the Full List of the Leaders Invited to Two-Day Economic Development Session
Nearly 200 people were invited to participate in a two-day session at Cleveland.com HQ that aims to imagine and design an “Economic and Collective Well-Being Summit” for the region. The planning session is being facilitated — even as we speak — by a couple of leadership gurus from Case, who’ve pioneered something called the Appreciative…
Activists Rally for Seat at the Table in Economic Development Discussions
Standing behind a row of symbolic folding chairs on the Plain Dealer Plaza outside 1801 Superior Ave., a group of 20-25 local activists rallied for a seat at the table in current regional economic development discussions. The group, organized as the Coalition for Open Regional Development (CORD), was spawned in part by a letter penned…
A Very ‘M*A*S*H’ Christmas with the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Other Classical Music Events to Catch This Week
Let’s start with Christmas concerts, which are numerous during the next two weeks. Conductor Richard Kaufman is in charge of the Cleveland Orchestra Christmas Concerts this season. There are eleven of them at Severance Hall, beginning on Friday, December 14 and running through Sunday, December 23. The Cleveland Orchestra Chorus will be featured at each…
The Tantalizing Desserts Clevelanders Should be Saving Room for This Year
When the beloved Diner on Clifton was reborn as Dinerbar on Clifton a few hundred feet down the road, the owner set aside some prime interior real estate for sweets. Located by the register, sunk into the horseshoe bar, is an illuminated display case that shines a light on some of Cleveland’s most delectable desserts.…
How Much do Cleveland Restaurants Really Make on a Dish?
Hunter Toth is excited. “I’ve got to tell you, I’m so happy you’re writing this story because it’s a struggle to get these points across to people who don’t understand what goes into the cost of a menu item,” says the chef and owner of Hook and Hoof restaurant in Willoughby. “I don’t think a…
When it Comes to ‘Cursed’ Addresses in Cleveland’s Restaurant Scene, the Street Number is Rarely at Fault
It’s easy to look at an address like 2391 West 11th St. and designate the location as “cursed.” After all, for the past 20 years the building has been a revolving door for restaurants. Since Miracles closed for good, for the second time, in the late-1990s, this iconic Tremont property has hosted Oz Bar &…
Food Delivery Services Are Killing Your Favorite Cleveland Restaurant
Elie Chamoun does not mince words. “The food delivery services are absolutely killing us,” he says. As the owner of the 10-year-old Burgers 2 Beer in Highland Heights, as well as newer outposts in Solon, Concord and downtown Cleveland, Chamoun has watched as companies like GrubHub, DoorDash, Uber Eats and, to a lesser extent, Deliver…
The Best Things We Ate in Cleveland in 2018
Like most years, 2018 was filled with highs, lows and what-the-hecks?! But we managed to sidestep most duds to land upon some truly epic eats. After flipping through our Instagram feed, digesting a full calendar year of dining reviews, and searching our memories for tasty morsels, these are the dishes that we most fondly recall.…
To the Cleveland Dining Scene, Turn, Turn, Turn
This past year, more than any other in very recent history, has been one of dizzying highs and lows. For every thrilling new restaurant opening, it seemed, we were dealt a sad blow by the loss of an icon or two. While it’s always painful to say goodbye to an old friend, we can find…
The Cleveland Dining Trends we Love, Hate, and Wish Would Finally Arrive Already
Remember, like, way back in 2016 when every single restaurant gave diners the option to “put an egg on it”? Well, you can thank this very column for slamming the brakes on that crazy train before things really went off the rails. As 2018 grinds to a halt, we take a few minutes out of…
The Instagram Influencers Have Arrived on Cleveland’s Food Scene
Janey Schafer and Aubrey Johansen are in the back of Asiatown’s LJ Shanghai, hovering over baskets of wobbly soup dumplings fresh from the kitchen. But it isn’t time for lunch quite yet. Schafer, better known as @foodsofjane to the more than 58,000 people who follow her on Instagram, and Johansen, who 130,000 people may recognize…
Cleveland’s Best Fast-Casual Eateries on the Recipe for Success
There’s a popular saying that goes something like, when it comes to “fast,” “good” and “cheap,” you only get to pick two. While that certainly holds true with respect to fine carpentry and web design, it is no longer the case when it comes to dinner. Over the past few years we’ve seen the emergence…
The Fried Chicken Sandwich had a Big Year, Here are the Six You Shouldn’t Miss in Cleveland
You can’t beat perfect. But you can pound it flat and fry it and put it in a bun. Steaming hot, armored in seasoned batter, fried chicken is elementally delicious — a boulder of fat and crunch that speaks to the heart as much as it does the belly. It’s a perfect American dish. The…
From Kitchen 101 and One-Off Meal Tutorials, Cleveland’s Got a Cooking Class for You
Kevin O’Neill spent three hours on his feet in a very bright, very cold room with five of his pals dismembering a large hog. Admittedly, the experience is not for everyone. But for O’Neill, a fresh-food fanatic, it was a highlight of his entire summer. He and his mates took part in the whole-hog butchery…
The Natural Wine Trend Lands in Cleveland
I’m no sommelier, but I know enough about wine to not ruin a meal. But when I picked up the list at a trendy French bistro in New York City recently, I felt like an uncouth rube on his first day out in the Big City. Filled with obscure all-natural bottles, the roster might as…
