Update: Reissue of ‘Cleveland Rocks’ Compilation Due Out on April 5
Update: Relaunched earlier this year, Cleveland International has announced that the reissue of Cleveland Rocks, a compilation that first came out in the 1970s, will arrive on LP and CD on April 5. The album is available for pre-order on Amazon. In addition to Meat Loaf’s “Paradise By the Dashboard Light,” the 13-track collection includes…
Scene’s Extremely Authoritative Top 10 Movie List for 2018
As I do every year, I’ve assembled my ten favorite films, a task that’s extremely labor-intensive, but which I nevertheless enjoy. For whatever reason, it became fashionable this year — on Twitter, anyhow — to trash-talk year-end lists. (Evidently no one likes them anymore.) But I’m here to represent the position that year-end lists are…
A Look Back at 34 of the Year’s Best Concerts
During a year characterized by an inordinate number of farewell tours, acts such as Bob Seger, Slayer, Ozzy Osbourne and Elton John came through Cleveland on what they’ve said will be their final tours. Unsurprisingly, those shows drew capacity crowds. On the club/theater level, there were plenty of notable performances too. Local rockers the Choir…
Chef Jonathon Sawyer’s Trentina to Close on Jan. 13
On the first day of 2019, chef Jonathon Sawyer announced via Instagram that Trentina (1903 Ford Dr., 216-421-2900) would be calling it quits after five steady years in University Circle. One year after opening the ambitious tasting menu restaurant in the former Sergio’s space near Glidden House, Sawyer won the James Beard Award for Best Chef…
Scene’s Most-Read Cleveland Food Reviews in 2018
There were plenty of our Cleveland food-related stories that caught the attention of our readers — including restaurant openings, closings, mouse infestations and even a story about an Ohio City bistro that used the c-word in reference to some Facebook commentors. But through all of the industry drama, our food editor Douglas Trattner managed to…
On the Browns Coaching Search — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac wrap up 2018 and play a little Glory Days, presented by American Fireworks. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
The Top 10 Biggest Cleveland Stories of 2018
In the waning days of 2018, we wanted to look back at the stories that mattered most to our readers over the year. Scrolling through the list of the stories that garnered the most attention, they run the gamut from silly to serious and everything in between. Some took months to report and write and…
With Spotlight on County Jail, Another Suicide Attempt
[image-1] Fox 8 reports that Thursday night, an inmate at the Cuyahoga County Jail was rushed to the hospital after a suicide attempt. As of Friday morning, the inmate was still alive. This latest news comes after seven recent deaths at the county jail facility, which was the subject of a scathing U.S. Marshals report…
Plain Dealer Busts Union, Moves Forward With Plan to Cut 29 Local Journalism Jobs
Plain Dealer editor George Rodrigue has announced that the paper will lay off nearly half of its unionized workforce in early 2019 as it transitions to a “centralized production hub.” The announcement came only days after the Plain Dealer News Guild, fighting for its survival, presented a counter proposal to the outsourcing plan that Advance…
Watch Market Garden Brewery Get Featured on Michael Symon’s ‘Burgers, Brews, and ‘Que’ Jan. 8
One great thing about having an Iron Chef hail from Cleveland is that, the chances of one of our restaurants getting featured on the Food Network/Cooking Channel seems to go up exponentially. Tuesday, Jan. 8, Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City is hosting a watch party for a special episode of Iron Chef Michael Symon’s…
Hard Rock Live to Host a World Fighting Championship Match in February
For the first time in nearly five years, mixed martial arts will return to Hard Rock Live. World Fighting Championships 99 will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. In one of the main fights, Cleveland’s JT Miller will take on Chicago native PJ Cajigas. “The fans are really in for a treat,…
5 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, DEC. 28 Ouster/Soft Copy/Nah Nah During the past two years, singer-guitarist Desarae Petersen and singer-bassist Matt Meinke recorded their first LP, Muted Window/Hollow Dive, at Upper Room Recordings in Elyria. One of the tracks, “You Don’t Want Out,” was the first song that they co-wrote and the first song they recorded straight to 7-inch…
Acclaimed Indie Rockers T-Rextasy Come to the Beachland Tavern Next Weekend
On Prehysteria, the forthcoming follow-up to its debut album, Jurassic Punk, the New York-based indie rock act T-Rextasy lets its freak flag fly. The band — singer Lyris Faron, bassist Annie Fidoten, drummer Ebun Nazon-Power and guitarist Vera Kahn — writes about serious topics such as anxiety and peer pressure but in a jubilant manner.…
The 10 Most-Borrowed Books at the Cuyahoga County Public Library System of 2018
Lists! Books! Christmas! New Year’s! It’s the confluence of a bunch of things that go into making #content in that lovely little sliver of the calendar between Dec. 25 and Jan. 2. when nothing much else happens. This edition is brought to you by the Cuyahoga County Public Library, which helpfully included its 10 most-borrowed…
The Cavs Used to Be an Elite Shot-Blocking Team. Now They Might as Well Have No Arms
It is the height of irony that the most famous play in Cleveland Cavaliers history is a blocked shot. The play has been exalted, as infamous individual plays in Cleveland often are, with capital letters and a definite article. We now refer to it as “The Block.” You know of which I speak. LeBron James’…
High Hopes for National Park Maintenance Fund in Next Congress
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A bipartisan push in Congress to pay for a multi-billion-dollar maintenance backlog at national parks in Ohio and across America fell short this session, but backers are optimistic it will pass next year. Parks and national monuments need money to maintain buildings, trails and equipment that have fallen into disrepair. Backers of…
New Soft Shoe to Kick Off a New Residency at Forest City Brewery in January
Nine years ago on what local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby calls a drunken dare, a group of Cleveland friends and musicians showed up at the Happy Dog to play a couple sets of tunes by the late, great Gram Parsons. Dubbed the New Soft Shoe, the group has been at it ever since, spreading the gospel…
Wanda Jones, Who Ran Against Daniel Gaul (the Serial Judge), Appointed to County Bench
[image-1] When Judge Michael Donnelly vacates his seat on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in January to become an Ohio Supreme Court Justice, he will be replaced by Wanda C. Jones, Gov. John Kasich announced Wednesday. Kasich said he would appoint the 46-year-old Republican lawyer for the remainder of Donnelly’s term, which means…
Silverspot Cinema Employee Stole $17,000 from New Pinecrest Movie Theater
An 18-year-old Euclid man was charged earlier this month with stealing $17,000 via fictitious credit card transactions at the new Silverspot Cinema in Orange’s Pinecrest Shopping Center, “where East meets Best.” Fox 8 first reported that Antonio Rice, who was hired by the theater in September, was arrested and taken to the Solon City Jail. Rice’s…
Ohio Minimum Wage will Increase to $8.55 on January 1
Ohio’s minimum hourly wage will increase to $8.55 from its current rate of $8.30 on January 1. In 2006, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment — Sacré bleu! — that tied minimum wage to inflation, so this year’s 25-cent increase corresponds with increases in the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers. This…
Local Singer-Songwriter Michelle Romary Releases a New Music Video
Local singer-songwriter Michelle Romary has some deep ties to Ohio. Before moving to Northeast Ohio, she lived in Dayton. She also attended Ohio University. As a Catholic cantor and soloist, she regularly sings at wedding ceremonies and funeral/memorial masses, singing both traditional and contemporary pieces. After releasing an album of faith-based songs in 2014, she…
The Tremont Cat Cafe Will Open Jan. 2
For all you feline lovers out there, good news waits around the corner in 2019. affoGATO Cat Cafe, Cleveland’s first such establishment, will open its doors on Jan. 2, 2019, in the former Lilly’s space in Tremont (761 Starkweather). What is a cat cafe? Here’s their mission in their own words: We provide a safe…
Upcoming Ohio Event Focuses on Uniting Social Justice and Food Justice on Farms
DAYTON, Ohio – Healthy food and justice for all need to be united in order to create a food system worth sustaining, according to an organic farmer who pioneered the community-supported agriculture model. At an upcoming event in Ohio, Elizabeth Henderson will speak about agrarian justice, which she has described as connecting soil and human…
Buckeye Beat Writer Tim May on Urban Meyer, Journalism and More — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Retiring Columbus Dispatch writer Tim May joins Andre and Zac for a discussion on his lengthy career, the night Buster Douglas busted Mike Tyson, Urban Meyer, the state of journalism and more. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
Poll: Most Ohioans Support Raising Tobacco Age to 21
CINCINNATI – A majority of Ohioans say the minimum age for buying tobacco products should be raised to 21, according to a new survey. The annual Ohio Health Issues Poll released by Interact for Health finds 54 percent of adults favor raising the age from 18 to 21, including 56 percent of Democrats and 55…
Citizen-Led Ballot Initiative Will Allow Toledo Residents to Vote on ‘Lake Erie Bill of Rights’
After a long and arduous process that has gone through the Ohio Supreme Court and various public agencies, citizens in Toledo, Ohio will finally get their chance in February to vote on a bill that has caught the attention of environmental groups worldwide. The citizen-led ballot initiative, called the “Lake Erie Bill of Rights,” has…
Doug Dieken Has a Story About That
Doug Dieken is in the middle of talking about why he’s happy he waited until after his playing days were done to start a family. “You wouldn’t have time to spend with them,” he says slash grumbles. “You come home miserable, all beat up from the game … It just wouldn’t be fun.” He’s perched…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This New Year’s Weekend
WED 12/26 Jim Brickman’s A Joyful Christmas A Northeast Ohio native, singer-pianist Jim Brickman routinely brings his Christmas tours to town in December. This year is no different. Brickman’s A Joyful Christmas tour comes to Severance Hall at 7:30 tonight. Special guests include singer Anne Cochran and electric violinist Tracy Silverman. The show will include…
Huzzah! Cleveland Scene Theater Awards, 2018
Ever since we got our first participation ribbon for archery at day camp, we’ve all been hooked on awards. And why not? Our poor egos take such a battering every day, it’s wonderful when someone stops and tells everyone, “Hey, you did good!” The following theaters and individuals did real good last year. BEST PLAYS…
The Fresh Cheney Biopic Fails to Condemn
VICE, a political biopic starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney, opened Christmas Day in wide release and enjoys the distinction of being the 2018 film nominated for the most Golden Globes. Its six nominations include Picture (musical or comedy), Director (Adam McKay), Actor (Bale), Supporting Actress (Amy Adams), Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), and Screenplay. The…
Band of the Week: Ouster
MEET THE BAND: Desarae Petersen (vocals, guitar), Matt Meinke (vocals, bass), Richard Spitalsky (drums) A RANDOM THING: Petersen grew up in Wasilla, Alaska, and moved to the Cleveland area for college in 2008. Meinke grew up in Northeast Ohio. They met in 2012 while working at the Get Go in Avon. “It was the most…
Savage Love: Two Breakups, One Brake On
I’m a thirtysomething straight woman married for 16 years. Eighteen months ago, I met a man and there was an immediate attraction. For the first 15 months of our relationship, I was his primary sexual and intimate partner, as both sex and intimacy were lacking in his marriage. (My husband knew of the relationship from…
