Bad Tom Smith Brewing to Open Monday, Dec. 4, in Ohio City
Update: After a series of setbacks and delays, including a string of break-ins, Bad Tom Smith is ready to open its doors in Ohio City. That will happen on Dec. 4, a week from this coming Monday. The taproom, located in the former Weenie a Go Go space, will feature a range of options including…
Update: Alternative Press Music Awards Ceremony Moves to the State Theatre
[image-1]Update: Earlier today, Alternative Press announced that “logistical issues” have forced it to the move its annual music awards scheduled to take place on Monday at the Q to the State Theatre. “The move to KeyBank State Theatre will allow 2017’s main event to shine in an authentic award show atmosphere,” reads the press release…
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Blends Music with the Natural World
The lodge is tucked among a stand of trees along Route 303 in Peninsula, right in the heart of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Visitors deposit their cars on the other side of the road, walk through an underground tunnel and emerge at Happy Days Lodge, where the park’s Conservancy has been booking bucolic shows for…
The Best Writing From and About Northeast Ohio From 2016
We’ll forgo a lengthy and unnecessary introduction here and simply get to the point: Here is some of our favorite writing from and about Northeast Ohio from the past year. It is by no means a comprehensive list — we’ve almost certainly overlooked or simply forgotten worthy inclusions — so feel free to leave additional…
Update: Cleveland Still Very Poor and Increasingly Violent
[image-1]Lest we get too carried away with the year-end adulations — The RNC! The Cavs! The Indians! All of which are worth celebrating — let us not forget that by traditional metrics used to measure a city’s health, unlike “narrative,” Cleveland is still struggling mightily. With a murder on the city’s west side Tuesday morning,…
Renewable Energy Standards May Return to Ohio as Gov. John Kasich Vetoes Latest Freeze
[image-1]Wrapping up a busy end-of-the-year legislative free-for-all, Gov. John Kasich pulled out the veto stamp for a bill that would have kept Ohio on the path toward deeper fossil fuel reliance and, invariably, an unhealthy environment from the lake up north to the river down south. HB 554 is canned (though the Statehouse legislators could…
Mom Spots Son on Surveillance Video of Robbery on News
While watching Channel 5’s evening newscast recently a woman saw someone familiar. Sometimes that’s good news — a friend or relative doing something nice for the community, for example. In this case it wasn’t. That’s because the station was covering a story of a robbery and the woman recognized one of the suspects. It was…
A 16-Foot-Long Boa Constrictor Was Found in the Chagrin River
Sam Lincoln and a friend were fishing in the Chagrin River recently, prior to this weekend’s thaw, and pulled a huge catch: a 16-foot-long boa constrictor, frozen and coiled around river debris. The fisherman wrote on Instagram that he and his buddy were “fishing a run and looked up and saw it wrapped around a…
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested for Third DUI
[image-1]Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department deputy David Miller was arrested on Christmas Eve day by North Olmsted police on an OVI charge after a crash. He attempted to illegally pass a vehicle on Gessner Rd. The other vehicle made a left hand turn and struck Miller’s car. Miller failed a field sobriety test and refused a…
“How to Use Sports to Talk to Guys” Event Canceled at TownHall
A scheduled event at TownHall Tuesday evening marketed as a workshop to teach women “how to use sports to talk to guys” has been canceled. A spokesperson for TownHall confirmed Tuesday to Scene that the $50 ticketed event was scratched by its organizers, Sports-ish. Tara Killmer, a co-founder of Sports-ish, told Scene via Facebook that…
The Browns Won and Scott Sabol Finally Got to Shave
Fox 8 meteorologist Scott Sabol learned the hard way that you can’t count on the Browns for just about anything. Before this weekend, the intrepid and dashing weatherman had been growing a (quite gnarly) beard, though not entirely by his choice. The original decision, of course, was his, as he promised to not shave until…
Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive Draws Record Crowd to Beachland
[image-1]An annual tradition that generates some serious cash and donations for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Friends of the Cleveland Kennel, the Cleveland Metal Holiday Food Drive that took place on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern featured 12 original bands, burlesque performers, a Metallica tribute act, a raffle with 43…
Ohio City’s Bonbon Pastry to Become Aladdin’s Eatery Spinoff Boaz Café
[image-1]Courtney Bonning has sold Bonbon Pastry & Cafe, her five-year-old Ohio City business, to Fady Chamoun of Aladdin’s Eatery. Bonbon will close its doors after New Year’s Eve and Chamoun will reopen the space as Boaz Café by Aladdin’s Eatery as quickly as the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th of the year, depending on what needs…
Coming Soon: Sammich Sandwich Shop in North Collinwood
Randy Carter, chef-owner of Jack Flaps in Ohio City and Jack Flaps Luncheonette in 5th Street Arcades, will open a quality-driven sandwich shop in the North Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland. Sammich (651 E 185th St., 216-350-6888, sammich.co) is taking over the property previously occupied by Old World Meats, which closed a couple years back following…
Happy Holidays, Cleveland
We’ll see you back here next week as we turn the page on 2016 with strident hope for and work toward better times.
Cleveland Homicides Rose Again in 2016, Highest Number in Years
Cleveland’s year-to-date homicide total stands at 128, according to the Cleveland Police. With two Holiday weekends remaining, that’s already seven more than last year and represents the highest total since 2007, when there were 134 homicides in the calendar year. After homicides fell from 98 in 2012 to 88 in 2013, there has been a…
LEGO Enthusiast and Daughter Build LEGO Version of “A Christmas Story” House
[image-1]A New York dad and his 8-year-old daughter spent a considerable amount of time building what would become a true-to-life replica of the house made famous by A Christmas Story and now they’re searching for supporters to help make the project an official LEGO creative building kit. According to the Genesee Sun, it took Jason…
Christmas Cheer With Andre, Brody Jackson’s Brother, and Brody Jackson Himself — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac spread a little Christmas cheer and share some Christmas stories as they’re joined by Zac’s brother, University of Mount Union basketball assistant coach Brody Jackson. Tune in for stories of family traditions, favoritism, flat tires and learning from legends. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Singer-Guitarist Melissa Etheridge Explores Her Soulful Side on Her New Album
Husky voiced singer-guitarist Melissa Etheridge, who grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas, likes to say that her voice always had a raspy quality. “I remember my choir teacher used to put me in the back row of the choir because I had such a strange voice,” she told us in a 2014 interview. Her experience in…
FBI Getting Involved in Search for Missing Lafayette Township Trustee Bryon Macron
Lafayette Township trustee Bryon Macron has been missing since the morning of Dec. 16. With new developments and “suspicious circumstances” prompting more questions than answers, the FBI is getting involved in the case. The story began in earnest around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 16 when a township employee discovered that Macron’s office was unlocked and appeared to…
6 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, DEC. 23 Boys From the County Hell: Tribute to the Pogues When the Boys from the County Hell first got together in 2000 as a Pogues cover band, it was supposed to be just a one-night stand. But after selling out their first show at the Euclid Tavern, the group’s popularity escalated. As you…
As Expected, Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman Just Got his 4% Raise
At a meeting Thursday morning, Metroparks Board President Debra Berry announced that CEO Brian Zimmerman would indeed be receiving a 3.95 percent raise, the maximum allowable amount prescribed in his three-year contract. The raise will bring Zimmerman’s total compensation to $228,700. The three-member board of commissioners, which meets every two weeks, adjourned to a private…
Former PD Movie Critic Clint O’Connor Resurfaces in Akron
Clint O’Connor need not change his Twitter handle. The former Plain Dealer movie critic, @clintomovies, has joined the Akron Beacon-Journal as a pop culture writer and an editor of the weekly entertainment magazine, Enjoy!. “I’ve come to Akron to commit random acts of journalism,” writes O’Connor in an introductory post on Ohio.com, the online home…
Athens-Based Collective to Release New Compilation Featuring Ohio Indie Rock Bands
A website and music collective that formed in 2004 in Athens, Aquabear Legion has put out a number of compilations over its decade-long existence. Dubbed Volume 5, last year’s release included acts from Cleveland, Columbus, Athens, Cincinnati, Dayton and Yellow Springs. Now, the Aquabear folks have just announced they’ll release Volume 6, which will be…
Try Not Smiling While Watching Matthew Dellevedova Get His Championship Ring Last Night
Need a pick-me-up this morning? This is pure joy. His former teammates, by the way, weren’t the only ones super happy to see Delly.
Dave Zastudil on His Career, the Browns, and Phil Dawson — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Former Browns punter Dave Zastudil joins the podcast to talk about his time in the NFL, his initial foray into the media, the “good” years with the Browns and of course some Phil Dawson stories. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker Double Bill to Make Local Debut at the Music Box
After beloved indie rockers Camper van Beethoven [pictured] broke up in the late ’80s, singer-guitarist David Lowery approached childhood friend Johnny Hickman about starting a new band. The duo began writing songs together and even played a few shows as the David Lowery Group before forming the alt-rock act Cracker with drummer Greg Weatherford (since…
New Electronic Music Series Launches at CODA in February
Christopher Bissonnette, a Canadian musician/sound artist/designer who lives and works in Detroit/Windsor, has released four full-length albums for the Chicago-based label Kranky. A founding member of Thinkbox, a “project-based collective that has explored art, sound and video in a variety of contexts ranging from art galleries to music venues,” he makes use of elements of…
Red Wanting Blue Strides Into the Next Chapter as a Fully Realized Dream
If ever there was a turning point in the narrative of Ohio’s own Red Wanting Blue, it might be right now. The band has fulfilled its three-album deal with Fanatic Records — assembling a mighty trio of rock ‘n’ roll — and now they’re packing up the car and hitting the indie circuit again. For…
Ohio Supreme Court Rules Death Row Inmate Tyrone Noling Can Appeal Denial of DNA Testing of Evidence in 1990 Murder
[image-1] The Ohio Supreme Court ruled today in a 4-3 vote that Tyrone Noling can appeal the denial of his request to have shell casings from the scene of a 1990 murder he’s spent 20 years on death row for tested for DNA evidence. Noling has maintained his innocence fervently over two decades and many…
Shudder to Think’s Craig Wedren to Present His ‘Sabbath Session’ at the Beachland
Back in the late ’80s and throughout the ’90s, indie rockers Shudder to Think emerged as one of the more interesting bands on the underground circuit. Singer Craig Wedren’s distinctive voice and the music’s atmospheric textures worked to set the group apart from other post-punk acts circulating at the time. Wedren will bring his special…
Singer-Songwriter Madeleine Peyroux to Perform at the Kent Stage in March
Singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux emerged some 16 years ago when she issued her acclaimed debut, Dreamland, a jazzy affair that features elegant covers of tunes such as “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Reckless Blues.” In 2004, she attained mainstream recognition with Careless Love, an album that launched a collaboration with producer Larry Klein. She continues to regularly…
Winter Guide: Riding Your Bike in Winter Is No Big Deal, and UH Bikes is Here to Help
“Just go outside,” says Alex Baca, managing director of UH Bikes, Cleveland’s bikeshare program that launched in September. “I think Clevelanders need to do a better job, in general, of getting outside in winter.” The thinking is that once you’re outside more often, riding your bike in the cold might not seem like such an…
Winter Guide: 10 of the Best Books of 2016 to Cuddle Up With This Winter
Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett A beautifully written novel exploring mental illness, Imagine Me Gone addresses not only those who suffer, but also the family members around them. Haslett’s story of a father and son both dealing with severe anxiety and depression is at times a difficult read given the emotional topics involved, but a…
Scene at the Movies: A Look at What’s Opening This Week
La La Land With the most electric opening sequence of the year — topping even the slow-motion car-crash credit sequence of Deadpool — La La Land informs you immediately that it’s here to party, and ought to be taken seriously. Currently one of three buzzy favorites for the top Oscars (along with Moonlight and Manchester…
Savage Love: The Intern
Dear Dan, I’m having an issue with my boyfriend, and I don’t know if I am the crazy, paranoid, controlling party here. We have been together for more than a year and a half. We had troubles early on because he has a low sex drive. It made me very insecure, and I think that’s…
Mermaid and Man Find Each Other But Miss Some Fun in ‘The Little Mermaid’ at Beck Center
“Too many notes!” When Emperor Joseph says that to Mozart in the movie Amadeus, it is understood to be a vapid criticism of the work of a genius. As the emperor elucidates further, “There are, in fact, only so many notes the ear can hear in the course of an evening.” At the risk of…
Band of the Week: The Librarians
MEET THE BAND: Sharon Yoo (vocals, guitar), Carol Yachanin (bass), Barb Eckles (drums) A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED POWER TRIO: The band first came together in 1999 when members decided to jam together and see what happened. “We all knew each other from playing in other bands, and Carol and Barb had played together in another band,” says…
Pizza (216) Might Aim to Be More Than Just Pizza, But Pies Are Where It Really Excels
A diner could be excused for thinking that Pizza (216) is baking its pies in a genuine wood-burning oven. Watching from seats at the long bar, or any number of tables near the front of the restaurant, one can observe the occasional log being added to a fiery chamber in the revolving brick oven. Though…
Around the World In a Cookie Tray
Every year for the holidays, my family indulges in kolachki, poppy seed rolls and rogaliki. It’s the one time of year I feel connected to my Eastern European heritage, enjoying as many Christmas cookies as my stomach can handle (don’t judge, my ancestors did it too). This time of year, there is no shortage of…
Winter Guide: Kick the Winter Blues With These Local Summer-flavored Activities
KALAHARI RESORTS Unless you’ve got an indoor pool or a very large tub — or if, on an off chance, you do laps with the seniors at the Y — you rarely get a chance to go swimming in winter. Let’s face it: The lake’s frozen. But for the water-loving adventurers or families with young,…
Winter Guide: 7 Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Cleveland
Cleveland might not have made WalletHub’s list of 2016’s Best Places for New Year’s Eve Celebrations but then the determining data, which includes criteria such as “legality of fireworks” and “forecasted precipitation for Dec. 31,” didn’t really skew in our favor. Given those parameters, no wonder Orlando ended up on top of the list. Still,…
Winter Guide: Lake Erie is Fun Year-round, Even When It’s a Desolate Frozen Landscape
Remember two years ago, when nearly every inch of Lake Erie water froze? It was delightful, and the phenomenon spurred plenty of Instagram photos from adventurous treks onto the ice. For better or worse, it’s looking more and more like a revival this winter: Things aren’t so bad right now, and January should be a…
Winter Guide: 13 Local Winter Beers to Soothe Your Cold Body
Whether it’s a traditional Christmas ale brewed with honey, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, like Great Lakes Brewing Company’s well-known original — bottled for the first time in 1992, and what many think of when they think of winter beer in Cleveland — or something a little more edgy, like Buckeye Brewing Company’s Christmas Girl Belgian…
