Missouri Man Who Abducted and Raped 15-Year-Old Cleveland Teen Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison
Update: Christopher Schroeder, the Missouri man who lured, kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 15-year-old Brooklyn girl last year, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Schroeder met the girl on Kik, drove to Northeast Ohio, picked her up, removed the SIM card from her cellphone, took her back to Missouri and sexually assaulted…
Update: Here’s What the Scoreboard at Progressive Field Currently Looks Like
Update: The Cleveland Indians tweeted out a pic today of the scoreboard as it stands now at Progressive Field. Things are certainly happening! Here's the latest shot of the scoreboard before installation of the new one begins: pic.twitter.com/WNTIReF8xa — Cleveland Indians (@Indians) December 14, 2015 Originally posted: Dec. 7, 2015 at 8:18 a.m. Good Monday…
Retro Rockers the Chromes to Play CD Release Party at Coda
Chromes singer-guitarist Brian Hager had spent nearly a decade playing with the local glam outfit Vanity Crash when he started to get the itch to play more frequently than the band was capable of performing. So he did what many an ambitious rock ‘n’ roller has done before him. He started his own damn band.…
“Back to the Future” with the Cleveland Orchestra and 4 Other Classical Music Events Not to Miss This Week
Apollo’s Fire reprises its Christmas show “Sacrum Mysterium, a Celtic Christmas” this week with two local performances in Shaker Heights (Saturday, December 12 at 8:00 pm) and Willoughby Hills (Sunday, December 13 at 4:00 pm). Partnering with Montréal’s Ensemble La Nef, Jeannette Sorrell has created a festive mashup of pagan carols, Celtic fiddle tunes and…
More Than 50 Local and Regional Artists Combine for “Juntos,” An Exhibition Benefiting the Museum of Hispanic and Latino Cultures
Taking its title from the Spanish word for “together,” Juntos is a group exhibition of over 100 works of art by more than 50 local and regional artists. The exhibition is a collaborative effort between the Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery at Lorain County Community College and the Museum of Hispanic and Latino Cultures. The…
Drew Carey on the Browns: “You Don’t Have to Buy Shitty Sandwiches Just Because They’re From Cleveland”
Drew Carey talked with fellow Cleveland ex-pat Joe Posnanski while they were both out in Las Vegas. They talked about the Browns, as Clevelanders are wont to do. And like fellow famous Clevelander Michael Symon, who has let his disbelief at the state of the Browns been known in the past, the Price is Right…
Fisher’s, ‘Oldest Restaurant in Mayfield,’ to Close. Next up: BBQ
Last week we broke the news that Giovanni’s owner Carl Quagliata along with his chef of six years Zachary Ladner have plans to open a barbecue restaurant on the East Side. What we did not know for certain at the time was the exact location of that restaurant. Now we do – and it happens…
Cleveland Cinemas to Show Holiday-Themed Films
Tis the season for holiday films. Cleveland Cinemas has just announced a slew of special holiday-themed screenings. While Cleveland Cinemas annually shows A Christmas Story on the big screen, this year’s screenings are even more highly anticipated, and advance tickets are going fast. The film screens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the…
Cleveland City Council Passed Emergency ShopCLE Resolution at Final Meeting of 2015
Monday night, Cleveland City Council passed an emergency resolution “strongly [urging] the Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com to immediately stop littering public property with the ShopCLE weekly circular.” The resolution, sponsored by west side councilman Matt Zone and east side councilman Mike Polensek, requested that the circulars be delivered by mail, as is now the case…
Shuttered Westside Big Fun Location Reopens as Special Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Remember that westside Cleveland/Lakewood Big Fun location? Well, Steve Presser and crew are back just for the holidays. The former Big Fun store has transformed into a special pop-up holiday store. “Big Fun will have the usual great holiday gifts that the award-wining store is known for,” Presser promises. “Ghoulardi and Cleveland souvenirs, including mugs,…
The Scene Podcast with By Light We Loom
By Light We Loom is a duo that sounds much bigger. Shanna Delaney and Eric Ling emerge from the acoustic rock band Bethesda to create By Light We Loom. The results so far are fantastic as they released The Ignition EP earlier in 2015 and now Caught in the Tide in early 2016. You can…
It’s Already Been a Long December, Browns Fans — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
The A to Z Podcast can barely bring itself to talk about the Cleveland Browns. It’s been a long December already and Andre Knott and Zac Jackson seem to do everything they can to talk around the Browns without actually talking about the 2015 Browns. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Android users…
Singer-Songwriter Adam Lambert Delivers Theatrical Performance at Connor Palace
“I’m such a dork,” Adam Lambert exclaimed near the start of his Monday night Connor Palace headlining set, as he sipped a concoction meant to soothe his voice. “I’m a theater kid who became a pop thing.” That was certainly obvious during his highly entertaining hour-long show: The former American Idol contestant’s stage moves (goofy…
Metalcore Act Texas in July Says Farewell with High-Energy Show at the Agora
A long eight-year journey for the metalcore act Texas In July comes to conclusion at the end of this year after the band’s current tour, dubbed “The Final Tour.” While the band was never able to crash through that glass ceiling many bands in the scene struggle to make it past, that’s not to say…
Lakewood City Council Introduces Agreement Between Cleveland Clinic, Lakewood Hospital Association
Lakewood City Council introduced an ordinance Monday night that would close Lakewood Hospital in nearly the same methodical process first forecasted back in January. The measure is expected to be voted upon Dec. 21. Read the ordinance and a trimmed-down version of the master agreement below. In brief, the agreement would “wind down” hospital operations until…
Pastor Darrell Scott Stumps for Trump in Sunday Services
“I got Donald Trump’s ear,” Pastor Darrell Scott told a packed house at New Spirit Revival Center on Sunday morning. “He told me, ‘Bring all the programs that you think will benefit the black community, and I’ll take a look.'” Last month, news broke that Scott had publicly endorsed Trump after organizing a gathering of…
Great Lakes Science Center Kicks Off ‘Winter Week’ with Exploding Fruitcakes
The Great Lakes Science Center is ringing in the holidays in the best way possible: by blowing up fruit cakes, of course. The very scientific demonstration is all in spirit of the “Winter Week” festivities running from Dec. 26 through Jan. 2 at the center. Along with detonating fruitcakes twice a day on the front lawn, there…
College of Wooster Students “Pissed/Shocked” As Bomb Threats Close Campus During Last Week of Classes
The College of Wooster – the leafy liberal arts school parked down in the Wayne County seat – is in freak-out mode today after administrators fielded not one but two bomb threats in the last 12 hours. Classes have been canceled, and academic buildings are on lockdown as law enforcement assesses the situation. The first…
Northeast Ohio Restaurant Owner Writes Open Letter to Haslams, Opts NOT to Broadcast Any More Browns Games
A northeast Ohio restaurant owner announced yesterday in an open letter to Jimmy and Dee Haslam that he’s taking a stance against the Cleveland Browns’ abysmal record by refusing to broadcast any more games this season at his Mayfield Heights restaurant. Darryl Margolis from Play Arcade and Kitchen said he will also put an end to…
Here’s What the New ‘LeBron James’ Typeface Looks Like
As Wired reports, London studio Sawdust recently finished off a project for Nike: creating a new typeface that represents LeBron James. It’s called “LeBron James.” (See above and below.) Jonathan Quainton and Rob Gonzalez of Sawdust came up with a structure for letters and numbers that really captures the dominance of James both on- and off-court.…
‘Kris Kringle, The Musical’ Overloads Simple Christmas Arc with Dense, Distracting Plot
Does the world need a new Christmas stage musical? Hell, why not? The ones we have are getting a little shopworn about now. But does the world need a musical entertainment that, even with all its wonderful and heartfelt intentions, is the theatrical equivalent of The Island of Misfit Toys. Well, probably not. The authors…
Akron Version of Local Singer-Songwriter Showcase 10 x 3 to Launch in January
Local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby models 10 x 3, the weekly singer-songwriter showcase he hosts at Brothers Lounge, after off-night jam sessions he would attend when he lived in Nashville just over a decade ago. One such event was called 12 on 12th, and it featured 12 bands playing the club 12th and Porter. Bands would…
Cavs’ Bi-Polar Play Hits Depressing Cycle
In some cases, the promise of change seems more like a cruel tease or malevolent hoax. Examples include cheaters suddenly embracing monogamy, the Browns’ biennial changing of the coaches, either political parties’ job creation plans, and the Cavaliers’ willingness to play hard defensively all game long. From the beginning of the season, Coach David Blatt…
Video: Mike Polk, “That’s What It’s Like Being a Cleveland Fan”
Here’s Mike Polk’s little tune “That’s What It’s Like Being a Cleveland Fan” from last night’s Baselessly Arrogant CD release show at the Agora. We didn’t catch the full song but you get the point. (Full original version from a few years ago down below too.)
5th Annual Dark Star Jubilee Coming to Legend Valley in May of 2016
The regional Grateful Dead tribute act Dark Star Orchestra has teamed up with All Good Presents to bring the fifth annual Dark Star Jubilee to Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio, on May 27, 28 and 29 of next year. Dark Star Orchestra will headline the event that will feature more than a dozen acts offering…
One Bid — For $6.6 Million — Placed on Severance Town Center
CWCapital Asset Management placed a $6.6-million bid on Severance Town Center during a county sheriff’s sale last month. The group, now actively servicing the mall’s $43 million in debt, was the sole bidder. The transaction must be approved by a judge. Prior to the sheriff’s sale, we wrote: Severance, which opened in 1963 as Ohio’s…
Here’s a Montage of the Browns’ Recent Woes Set to Adele’s ‘Hello’
Adele can’t fix everything, but even the faintest glimmer of her latest album seems to cast the world in a slightly brighter light. One enterprising fan hopes the same will work with the Browns’ current season of doom. Exhibit A is that lovely Monday Night Football “kick-six,” memories of which we’ve been dementedly giggling through…
R.I.P. Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland, one-time Clevelander and all-time rock legend, died while on tour yesterday in Minnesota. He was 48. Weiland founded and fronted Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver at various points, and he had recently embarked on an adventure with his latest group, Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts. We’ve spoken with Weiland before on his…
7 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, DEC. 4 Steve Hackett North American Tour 2015 A year ago, former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett made his long awaited return to the Cleveland area for a show at the Hard Rock Live after a prolonged absence. At the time, he was already several years into touring behind Genesis Revisited II, an impressive effort…
Rock Hall Announces Plans for a New Permanent Outdoor Installation
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Destination Cleveland and LAND studio have announced details regarding ROCK BOX, a permanent outdoor installation that will pay tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The project involves placing multiple clusters of custom speakers throughout downtown Cleveland. Conceived by Cleveland Institute of Art graduate Mark Reigelman,…
You Green Boy: An Essay on the Flats
I worked in Cleveland’s Flats just as they were coming off their peak in the summer of ‘94. I’d just finished my sophomore year in college and didn’t have much of a plan, so I took a job as a busser and dishwasher at a white tablecloth restaurant called the Boat Club. On weekends, hordes…
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band to Play the Q in February
Released in 1980, The River stands as one of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s best, most lyrical albums. Now, the Boss and his long-time backing band have announced The River Tour, a nine-week U.S. trek that commences on January 16 in Pittsburgh. The tour comes to Quicken Loans Arena on Feb. 23. The…
The Razing at University of Akron Must Stop: Guest Editorial
The University of Akron, which has a storied history of razing buildings that are no longer useful to them, has plans to tear down four buildings on the Quaker Square block as well as the former St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Fir Hill and East Market Street. The four buildings in the…
Graeter’s Ice Cream to Plant Flag in Cleveland
Cincinnati-based Graeter’s announced recently its plans to join Cleveland’s growing artisan ice cream scene which includes favorites like Mitchell’s, Mason’s Creamery, Churned, and more: The wait is over Cleveland! See you in Spring 2016. #CLE #Graeters pic.twitter.com/OdFxufLPNC — Graeter's Ice Cream (@graeters) November 20, 2015 “Our first Cleveland scoop shop will allow us to share…
Review: Cleveland Orchestra With Lionel Bringuier & Robert Walters Does “Symphonie Fantastique”
By Nicholas Jones In the closing movements of Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, the full brass section makes a spectacular entrance. In 1830, it must have seemed a sound that had never been heard before. Even in the jaded 21st century, it has a startling sonic complexity — at times as metallic as a locomotive’s firebox, and…
Cavani Quartet Presents Violins of Hope Concert in CIM’s Mixon Hall Tonight
By Mike Telin Composer Erwin Schulhoff, who perished in the Holocaust, wrote in his 1919 avant-garde music manifesto: The idea of revolution in art has evolved for decades…This is particularly true in music, because this art form is the liveliest, and as a result reflects the revolution most strongly and deeply — the complete escape…
60-Year-Old Mansfield Pastor Marries Teen Despite Already Being Married
Mansfield’s Thom Miller already had an interesting life story. A former Mafia enforcer and current pastor, the 60-year-old has had a journey Lifetime writes movies about. Now, he’s gaining even more attention for marrying a pregnant 19-year-old, with his current wife’s blessing of course. Teenage Reba and 44-year-old Belinda are now Miller’s sister wives,…
Cleveland Film Gets Picked for Sundance
The Land, a locally filmed movie written and directed by Cleveland- native Steven Caple Jr., has been selected to appear at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. The movie centers on four teenage boys who attempt to break free from “the streets of Cleveland” by becoming professional skateboarders. “But when they get caught in the web…
This Is How Relieved a Player Looks and Sounds When He Doesn’t Have to Sign With the Browns
Via Bleacher Report, Bart Scott talking about his near miss with the Browns, in which he hid in the bathroom while in Berea and signed with the Ravens instead. Bart Scott reveals he hid in a bathroom to avoid signing with the Browns 😂 https://t.co/Ixu7Ar133B — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 3, 2015
RTA Fare Hike One Step Closer to Reality
Tuesday, the finance committee of the RTA Board of Trustees met to discuss the proposed 2016 budget, which includes a fare increase and service cuts. Though RTA continues to say that no final decision on a fare hike will be made until public hearings are held — “likely in February or March of 2016” —…
LeBron, Kobe, Superstars and the Glory Days — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
No guest for the second show this week, so Andre and Zac get into some basketball — LeBron, Kobe in his hilarious twilight, superstars and the glory days. Subscribe to the A to Z Podcast on iTunes here. Android users can find the RSS feed here. Download the episode directly here. Or stream below.
The Scene Podcast With Mike Polk Before His Special CD Release Show at the Agora Friday Night
Mike Polk Jr. is releasing a comedy album. That album is called Baselessly Arrogant. It’s a fitting name given the venue he’s chosen for the show Friday night: The Agora. The main room. Man’s got balls. Anyway, buy your tickets for the show. Do it. Go. (You get a free copy of the CD with…
A Special Exhibition Honoring the Late, Great Local Artist Roy Bigler at Gallery East
Local artist Roy Bigler passed away in March 2014 at the age of 58. To honor his life, legacy and influence, Gallery East at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus hosts a very special exhibition — Good Things to Life: The Art of Roy Bigler — which opens with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. this Tuesday,…
No One Has Signed Up for Cleveland’s Gun Registry Yet
The city’s gun offender registry went into effect one month ago, though no one has signed onto its database yet. In short, the registry requires all gun owners convicted of a gun-related crime to register with the city’s Safety Department. It puts the onus on the offender. But this is a requirement, per city ordinance.…
Cleveland Chamber Choir Makes Impressive Debut at First Baptist, Shaker Heights
By Daniel Hathaway On the eve of St. Cecilia’s Day — but obviously blessed in advance by the patron saint of music — the Cleveland Chamber Choir sang a splendid inaugural concert at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights. Under the direction of its founder, Scott MacPherson, the new ensemble’s performance on Saturday, November 21…
Preview: Cleveland Opera Presents “A Streetcar Named Desire”
By Mike Telin Steeped in desire, passion, and deceit, it’s no wonder that Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play A Streetcar Named Desire eventually found its place on the opera stage. On Friday, December 4 at 7:30 pm in Masonic Auditorium, Cleveland Opera Theater will present the Ohio premiere of composer André Previn’s and librettist Philip…
“Off the Wall” Arts Shopping This Weekend at Cleveland Print Room and Zygote Press
With the holiday shopping season in full force, nearby neighbors the Cleveland Print Room and Zygote Press are hoping to help local artists cash in by hosting “Off the Wall” collections of local artwork. In celebration of its members, the Cleveland Print Room hosts an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Dec.…
Nothing’s As Good As the Original Movie, But “The Wizard of Oz” at Playhouse Square is Damn Close
First of all, let’s be clear: It isn’t as good as the movie. Nothing is as good as the original flick with Judy Garland as Dorothy and Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West. That said, this touring production, with new music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, is a total delight…
Here’s a List of the Best Hikes to Take in Ohio This Winter
Our pals at Trek Ohio reached out recently to let us know they’ve updated their list of Ohio winter hiking trails, many of which happen to be located in the greater Cleveland area. They’ve also included a bunch of helpful information on their website, like the hike intensity level and duration, as well as a…
Drummer Jason Bonham Enjoys Playing Led Zep Faves for the Fans
Drummer Jason Bonham can keep time with the best of them when he’s behind the kit. But if you’ve got a scheduled appointment with Bonham, you might want to bring a magazine to catch up on some reading while you’re waiting for him to show up. Chances are good that you’ll be hanging out for…
Walk All Over Waterloo Presents New Exhibitions, Holiday Shopping Opportunities
In addition to Waterloo Arts’ DayGlo IV, December’s Walk All Over Waterloo includes a number of opening receptions for new exhibitions. Most events take place from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 4. Praxis Fiber Workshop presents Rust Never Sleeps, a cross-disciplinary show featuring garments by Krista Tomorowitz created using textiles altered by 13…
“Moderate” Kasich Has Imposed “Radical” Abortion Views on Ohioans
John Kasich’s “quiet campaign” to cut abortion access in Ohio was exposed in a piece published Tuesday on FiveThirtyEight.com by Detroit Metro-Times staff writer Allie Gross. Since his gubernatorial reign began in 2011, Gross writes, “Kasich has signed every abortion and women’s reproductive health provision that has landed on his desk.” Sixteen proposals, in total,…
Acclaimed New York-Based Jazz Trio to Play Two Shows in Cleveland This Weekend
The guys in the New York-based jazz act, the Daniel Bennett Group, describe their sound as “modern jazz, mixed with elements of American folk, world music and experimental classical music.” The Boston Globe calls the music a groovy “mix of jazz, folk, and minimalism.” Notable media outlets such as NPR, First Coast Living (NBC), Yahoo Voices, Timeout…
Local Pop/Rock Act the Fifth Wheel to Play First Show in 15 Years
When the Fifth Wheel, a local pop rock outfit that took a hiatus way back in 2000, announced it would play its first show in 15 years, guitarist Jeff Koval wrote us an email explaining what he hoped for the band’s rebirth. “In the ’90s we had the Fifth Wheel rocking, playing big shows from…
Cleveland Comedian Jim Tews Talks Cats and New Book ‘Felines of New York’ on MSNBC
Comedian, cat enthusiast, and Cleveland lover Jim Tews took to MSNBC’s “The Book Report” to talk about his new masterpiece, “Felines of New York.” Tews’ inspiration for the book started with him photographing friends’ cats for a playful spin on the popular series Humans of New York. The idea has since turned into an internet phenomenon. He now…
New Eastside Barbecue Joint from Giovanni’s Owner Carl Quagliata and Chef
Dating back to the famed White House restaurant in Mentor, which closed after 20 years in the late-‘80s, the name Carl Quagliata has always signaled quality food and quality service. Of course, Quagliata’s most notable successes are the game-changing Piccolo Mondo and the enduring Giovanni’s Ristorante, still going strong in Beachwood after 40 years. So…
CLE Clothing Co. to Launch Uptown Location on Saturday
We Clevelanders are known for wearing our pride on our sleeves, and we mean that literally. Now, east siders won’t have quite so far to travel to get their local apparel fix. CLE Clothing Co. announced today on several social media outlets that a brand new uptown location is set to open on Saturday at…
‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ Opera and 5 More Classical Music Events You Shouldn’t Miss This Week
George Frideric Handel’s famous oratorio Messiah was first performed in Dublin at Eastertime, and European audiences still expect to hear the work in the spring every year. In America, Messiah has become a Christmas standard, and The Cleveland Orchestra will usher in the season on Thursday, December 3 at 7:30 pm, and Friday and Saturday,…
Cavs Soil Bed and Turn Weaselly Wizards into Voldemort
The Cavaliers were beaten worse than soufflé eggs by the Washington Wizards on Tuesday and it’s a solid bet they had quiche the night before. We’re not critiquing, just stating facts: Martin Prince would have a better chance knocking Nelson Mundt out than the Cavaliers did of overcoming the Wizards with their lethargic, one-eighth-assed effort.…
A 15-Year-Old from Copley Is Collecting Heartbreaking Messages on Tumblr from People Across the Country
15-year-old Emily Trunko from Copley, Ohio was named “Tumblr’s Secret Keeper” this week in a short New York Times piece after launching a super successful — though certainly heartwrenching — Tumblr account earlier this month called The Last Message Received. The premise of Trunko’s page is simple: anyone from around the country can submit the last…
Acoustic Squeeze Show at Beachland is Anything But Perfunctory
Although last night’s sold-out Beachland Ballroom show was dubbed “The At Odds Couple: An Evening Of Acoustic Squeeze,” the concert was anything but a perfunctory stripped-down gig. For starters, Squeeze principal members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford began the show with a delightful gag: As a recording of “It’s A Beautiful Day” played over the…
The Monday Night Debacle, Johnny Manziel, Being 22 Years Old, and More — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the state of the Browns after losing on Monday Night Football. They discuss their own histories being young and learning from mistakes. They talk about being 22 and what Johnny Manziel won’t learn while also talking about the latest LeBron James story by Lee Jenkins in Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to A…
Band of the Week: Rocket from the Tombs
Meet the Band: Crocus Behemoth (vocals),Gary Siperko (guitar, vocals), Buddy Akita (guitar), Craig Bell (bass, vocals), Steve Mehlman (drums, vocals) Blast from the past: Even though the proto-punk act Rocket from the Tombs only played around Cleveland for about a year in the ’70s before dissolving and then essentially spawning Pere Ubu and the Dead…
Fangirl
I didn’t know a lot about the Cleveland Cavaliers before this year. If I tried to Google the word “Cavalier” I would get distracted by all the pictures of King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. Prior to binge-watching the playoffs and Finals, all I knew was LeBron was a big deal. I kept hearing the name Kyrie…
How the GOP Candidates Will Be Spending Their Time in Cleveland During the RNC
Chris Christie I’m going to walk into my hotel room alone, light a few candles, turn on some soft music, and then take off all of my clothes as I slowly submerge myself in a bathtub filled with Slyman’s corned beef. Once completely covered, I will not get out until my meat flaps become one…
‘Chi-Raq’ is Berserk Adaptation
Last year, director Spike Lee made Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, a “stylized thriller” about a man infected by an ancient African tribal weapon and cursed with a thirst for blood. It was an adaptation of the 1973 film Ganja & Hess and attempted to meditate on “the very nature of love, addiction, sex and…
Gen-tee-fication
A recent study by Destination Cleveland shows that nearly 80 percent of the city’s economy comes from the Cleveland-themed novelty T-shirt industry. The study shows it’s local T-shirt shops—CLE Clothing Co., Fresh Brewed Tees, GV Artwork, Big Fun, The Social Dept., Homage, This Is Our Year, Cleveland Pride Company, Only in Clev, that shady Cleveland…
DayGlo Lights Up the Wintry North Shore with Unique Paint Project
For the past three years, the Cleveland-based DayGlo Color Corporation has teamed up with Tremont’s Doubting Thomas Gallery and local artists to annually light up Cleveland’s dark winter months with ultraviolet (black) light and a full spectrum of glowing, fluorescent paint. Each year, DayGlo donates gallons of its unique paint to artists throughout Northeast Ohio.…
Bombs Away
In comedy, there’s a term that a lot of comedians use — “bombing” or “to bomb.” This isn’t an act of terrorism or a threat to national security. Although the definition of bombing is different to every comic, we all have our own degree of failure to classify bombing. Some comics look at it like…
Two Drunk, Sex-Crazed Broads and One Gay Elf. Where’s Frosty the Snowman When You Need Him?
There was a time when theater during the holidays was inviolate territory; nobody messed with everybody’s favorite Christmas shows. Of course, some folks eventually got bored with all that sincere Christmastime crap and decided to go with some more unconventional ideas. Two of those kind of shows opened last weekend. And while they are both…
“A Disgrace To Comedy”
What’s funny to one person can be offensive to another but I often find someone that is offended by something that is meant to be funny to be an insufferable human being…until I thought about it a little deeper. On Saturday night I was performing at Bonkerz Comedy Club inside the Hofbrauhaus. It was a…
Welcome to the 2015 Comedy Issue
Dear reader, Can you even believe that it’s the holiday season already? It feels like just yesterday we were pulling lukewarm beers out of our backpack at Edgewater, and now we’re pulling swigs of whiskey from a flask at empty Browns Stadium. Oh how time flies! The holiday season means a couple of things around…
Starbucks Ditches Cups Altogether, Now Throwing Coffee Directly Into Customers’ Faces
Starbucks stirred up quite the controversy earlier this holiday season when they released this year’s iteration of their annual holiday coffee cups. Already cranky morning customers everywhere were outraged when they discovered the holiday cups were simply solid red, adorned with the usual fan-favorite green Siren logo. The new design was seen as a mere…
On Sundays Our Men Drink and Weep: 6 Tips for Women Who Date Browns Fans
To be a woman raised on the lapping waters of Lake Erie is to be charged with a mysterious, sacred role. As mothers of this tribe we are placed at the crossroads of a tumultuous history, our inheritance the responsibilities of safeguarding fresh water for future generations, and nurturing children who must be strong, clever,…
Why I Became a Comedian
Hey Cleveland, The City That Always Sleeps, how’s it going? It’s me, Chad Weaver. You know, Chad Weaver? I’m your boy Chad Weaver, A.K.A. Chaddy Daddy, A.K.A. Rad Beaver, A.K.A. The Kid from Akron, A.K.A. LeBron James. Anyway, you probably don’t know me but I’m Chad Weaver, I’m a 20-year-old comedian from Akron, and I’m…
State of the Scene
Greetings, Cleveland. This is standup comedian and eminent Latino Ramon Rivas II. I’m writing you from New York City. I’ve been sleeping on couches and floors of friends and peers all of November because I was selected as one of COMEDY CENTRAL’S COMICS TO WATCH. By the time you read this, I’ll be back home…
Teach Your Cat to Sit, Stay, and Fetch
You want to train your cat, don’t you? Of course. What good is a cat if it’s just living according to its own wants and desires? Training your cat is not impossible! This guide will help you get started. Author’s note: this article was originally titled “15 Things You Can Teach Your Cat To Do”…
Yes, I Moved to Cleveland and You Should Too
Wait – you moved to Cleveland? Six months ago my husband and I packed up our house, our son, our cat, our hopes, our dreams, and our 28 houseplants that would die outside somewhere on the Ohio Turnpike, and moved from Chicago to Cleveland. When I told people in Chicago that I was moving to…
I’m Just Trying to Get to Work, Stop Looking at My Butt and Asking for Spare Change
Cleveland, Ohio: land of the Cavaliers, comedy, rock-n-roll, and high poverty rate. Maybe I should have ended on something happier. Uh, Melt Bar and Grilled. There, that’s better. I love Cleveland. I was born and raised here. (OK, I was born and raised in the suburbs, but who’s counting?) Cleveland is the place that has…
Portage County’s Main Street Grille and Brewing Company Debuts New Chef, Locally Sourced Menu
These days, a single restaurant can change an entire neighborhood by planting its roots and encouraging new growth around it. The same could have been said for the Hopkins Old Water Mill, the water-powered grist mill constructed in 1804 in what’s now the village of Garrettsville. A steady stream of farmers from within a 20-mile…
Banter—a Beer and Wine Shop, and a Whole Lot More—Finally Opens This Week
“We wanted to modernize the dusty old wine shop,” says Matt Stipe. “If you go to any other major city, you can buy your beer and wine from these great boutique stores where people are hanging out, drinking and having a great time.” Banter, he hopes, will be that kind of place. In fact, he…
