Brothers Fight Over Fried Chicken, One Taken to Hospital
The cause of 87% of sibling disputes. Where to even begin except saying this is the best tale of fried-chicken-inspired violence you’ll read all day. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Tony, 37, and Thomas, 41, Morris were at their mother’s house for a nice visit recently. Tony was in one room watching TV, Thomas…
Plymouth Park Tax Services Takes Homes Over Late Taxes, Then Fails to Pay Taxes Itself
Plymouth Park Tax Services proudly proclaims that it has “provided over $4 billion to governments through the purchase of real estate tax liens.” About $33 million of that went to Cuyahoga County, where outgoing Treasurer Jim Rokakis has worked with the New Jersey company since 1999. The idea is that it’s preferable to get something…
Morning Brew: Cliff Lee is a Hero, Man Saves Family From Quicksand, Pittsburgh Airport Targets Cleveland Travelers, and Twins Try to Run Across Ohio
The most nonchalant catch in the history of baseball. Good morning, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you teach your children the virtuous tradition of hating the Yankees. — Former Indian Cliff Lee was thought to be heading either to the Yankees or the Rangers. Then the Phillies swooped in, signing Lee out from…
New York Times Handicaps Cleveland’s Chances of Landing Democratic National Convention
This could be Cleveland. Cleveland is battling with Charlotte, Minneapolis, and St. Louis for the right to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. The New York Times took a look at the contenders and broke down the pros and cons. Here’s what the Old Gray Lady had to say about Cleveland:
The Last Batch of Christmas Ale Has Been Brewed
Don’t go. Please don’t go. This is the end, beautiful friend. This is the end, my only friend, the end. Cleveland, we knew this day would come, but knowing that fact in advance doesn’t make it any less sad. Great Lakes Brewing Company has brewed their last batches of Christmas Ale. This means whatever ends…
Teachers Behaving Badly in Northeast Ohio
Yes, get them away. Of all the things that you don’t want yours kids’ teacher emailing to his colleagues, this is probably tops on the list: “After school, I’m the guy that’s gonna rape [male student] with a broom handle all the while making him yell that he loves young boys. Then, when I’m done…
96.5 FM Now Censoring “LeBron” From Jay-Z Song
There are George Carlin’s seven dirty words, which you’ll never hear on terrestrial radio, and there’s a host of others that probably won’t make the airwaves anytime soon because of decency standards, but how about the word “LeBron”? In Cleveland, it’s a dirty word. Offensive, one might say. 96.5 FM, taking the city’s LeBron hate…
Report: Eugene Sanders Eying Top Post at Bowling Green
Eugene Sanders, looking west. When Dr. Eugene Sanders resigned as CEO of Cleveland Public Schools earlier this week, it came as quite a shock to everyone. The district is in the midst of its “Transformation Plan,” Sanders had just received a contract extension, and expectations were that Sanders would ride out that contract to oversee…
Afternoon Brew: Racism on RTA, Cute New Baby Animal at the Zoo, Man Hit by Snow Plow, and the Black Keys Officially Move to Nashville
Um… cute? Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you listen to Cleveland’s plan to have employees leave work in staggered stages and put dibs on whatever the earliest time is. — What’s cuter than a super-cute new baby animal at the zoo? A super-cute new Bush Baby baby, of course. Yes, the…
Don King Stopped at Airport for Having Gun Ammo in His Luggage
“What? I’m not allowed to bring this on the plane?” Don King, in town for his late wife’s funeral, was on his way out of Cleveland via Cleveland Hopkins Airport yesterday. The perfectly coifed promoter’s plans hit a snag though when TSA stopped him for having items in his carry-on luggage that are clearly not…
Akron Wins National Championship in Men’s Soccer, Team Dances and Sings in Pacific Ocean
Congratulations go out to the University of Akron men’s soccer team for winning the Division I National Championship yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Louisville in California. Akron came into the game ranked 3rd in the nation; Louisville was ranked 1st. From ESPN.com: “It’s been a long journey,” Akron coach Caleb Porter said after the…
John Boehner Cried… Again
Really? He doesn’t go to tanning salons? Really? Serial-crier John Boehner was on 60 Minutes last night and guess what? He cried again. Yep. Gawker has the breakdown of the full segment, which is embedded below in its entirety: All Lesley Stahl had to do was mention “opportunity” or “achievement” and voila: Explosive tears, from…
The New Big Ten Logo
The Big Ten unveiled its new logo a few minutes ago. Here it is. It’s certainly conservative. The new divisions will be named Legends and Leaders, which makes little to no sense. The breakdown of schools: Leaders division: Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin; Legends division: Northwestern, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and…
Pic of the Day: Merry Christmas From the Goodyear Blimp
Akron Beacon Journal Stop on over to Ohio.com for the nice little story behind this cool photo from Ed. Suba Jr.
40% of Cleveland Kids Are Fat
We knew our kids were fat, Cleveland. Now we’re finding out just how fat. According to numbers out last week, 40% of fifth-graders in “inner-ring schools” in Cleveland are overweight or obese. We can get into the details in a second, but to boil it down quick and dirty: Science says almost half of our…
LeBron James Tops Sports Twitter Trends for 2010
TechCrunch posted the top Twitter trends of 2010 and LeBron James was the No. 1 tweeted about Sports topic in the last year. (Fun fact: Twitter says 25 billion tweets were sent since January. That’s, um, a lot.) Here are the top five for sports: Sports:1. Lebron James2. Wimbledon3. Manchester United4. Brock Lesnar5. Celtics And…
JJ Hickson Posterized in Cavs Loss
Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers! You can’t find a better visual representation of this season. (Oh, and in case you care, the Cavs lost last night’s game to the Oklahoma City Thunder 106-77 to bring their current losing streak to eight.)
Morning Brew: More Snow, A Special Flight to the North Pole, Med Mart Update, and Delayed Flights
Don’t forget to shovel the snow off your boat. That’s essential in Cleveland. Good morning, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you drive 5mph. — It’s snowed, it’s snowing, and it will snow more. Here are some snowfall totals so far. (WOIO) — Continental lined up a flight to the “North Pole,” complete with…
Trailer for ‘Kill the Irishman,’ Movie About Cleveland Mobster Danny Greene
Here’s the trailer for ‘Kill the Irishman,’ a film about Cleveland mobster Danny Greene. It’s due out in March. Oh, and it looks pretty freaking badass.
The 12 Days of Quitness LeBron Song
Quitness. It never ends. This time it’s a Christmas carol parody, and it’s actually kind of funny. Sing along with us.
Afternoon Brew: Woman Gets 8th DUI, Cleveland Schools Get Big Grant, ODOT’s New Signs, and Vince Russo is Sentenced
Karen Baker can’t stop drinking and driving. Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you call the city of Cleveland to warn them it’s going to snow this weekend. — A Canton woman was nabbed for her 8th DUI. That’s like three too many. (WEWS) — A umbrella group that runs four charter…
Pic of the Day: Two People Survived This Plane Crash
And with nothing more than a couple of bruises. Check out the full story over at NewsNet5.
Student Stabs Teacher Nine Times
Teach was not cool like this guy. 19ActionNews has a scoop about an attack at the Westbridge School, a part of the local Positive Education Program for troubled kids. The school is just west of Tremont. According to the report, a nine-year-old student flipped his shit on Thursday and went after a teacher — twice.…
James Orr Attacks Mom’s Cat, Cops, Then Gets Tasered
James Orr, noted animal lover. Welcome to the most batshit-crazy story you’ll see all day. James Orr, who probably won’t be the face of any PETA campaigns anytime soon, is in trouble with the law for a small mountain of questionable actions. The mentally ill 36-year-old was apparently upset about his mother’s cat, and when…
Eyes on the Fries: Chef Shawn Monday is Hudson’s king of frites
Attention to perfection at One Red Door Any critic will tell you that you can’t judge a restaurant on the basis of one dish. Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day, right? On the other hand, you can tell a lot about a chef by the attention he lavishes on even the…
NOACA Board Decides Against Honoring Jimmy Dimora
Sad Jimmy Dimora. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has a long history of honoring departing board members. Jimmy Dimora is a departing board member of NOACA. And thus the dilemma. Would NOACA honor Dimora, even with the small matter of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation and federal indictments attached to his significant girth like…
Blame Game For Traffic Mess During Wednesday’s Snowstorm
If you live or work downtown, you probably noticed that streets around the city were a bit of a mess Wednesday afternoon and evening. Lake-effect snow buried the city, traffic was at a standstill, traveling even a few blocks took hours, and… well, you get the point. It was a cluster. Now people are asking…
Scott Bickel’s Attempt to Eat 242 Chicken Wings
Scott Bickel, a local amateur competitive eater and all-around character, set out last night to break the world record for chicken wings eaten in a single sitting. The goal: 242, which would top the 241, the previous record, eaten by Joey Chestnut. Your humble blogger was in attendance for the festivities, which could be described…
Man Sets World Record for Wearing Ties
Two Cleveland men attempted to set world records last night. One was successful, one was not. We’ll get to the unsuccessful voyage later, but for now bear witness to 19 Action News meteorologist Jason Handman and a world record 131 ties around his neck. Sure, why not. The previous record was 50. It took Jason…
Go Home!
With a title like The Tourist, you can bet this movie is going to have plenty of pretty locales. What this slow-moving European-set Hitchcock-style thriller/James Bond-like adventure doesn’t have is much of a plot. Elise (Angelina Jolie), the British girlfriend of a big-time thief, uses vacationing American math teacher Frank (Johnny Depp) to throw police…
The Blizzard Bank Robber
Everyone was pretty preoccupied in downtown Cleveland yesterday, what with the 137 inches of snow that fell between noon and midnight. Businesses shut down early, commuters clogged every road in the city, traffic was at a standstill in the slush, and those in no hurry to go anywhere either watched the carnage in delight or…
Afternoon Brew: Ohioans’ Drunk Driving Rates, Feds Take Back Rail Money, Dale Miller Bows Out, and a Woman Vandalizes Her Own Home
But, officer, humans can’t walk in a straight line to begin with! Good afternoon, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you look forward to a commute home lasting less than two hours. — After the brouhaha over council-elect’s secret meeting, Dale Miller has taken his name out of the running for president or vice…
Council Members Reach for the Not-As-Bad-As-Dimora Defense; Don’t Do That
Now that the newly elected county council is knee deep in their first public controversy, we here at Scene are going to humbly offer up a tip on public persona management. If you’re trying to soft pedal some accusations that you’ve been less than legit in your government work, it’s probably not a good idea…
Surprise! No-Show Jones Cancels Concert
“Can I drink this thing?” We picked country legend George Jones’ appearance at the Akron Civic Theatre tonight as one of the week’s don’t-miss concerts. Well, hope you have a backup plan: the singer known as No-Show Jones, you guessed it, won’t be showing up tonight. Word is he’s having problems with his voice or…
Steve Petrick, Kent State Student, Named “America’s Biggest Harry Potter Fan”
America’s biggest Harry Potter fan is a Kent State student. Northeast Ohio can claim to be the home of the America’s biggest Harry Potter fan. We say “can” because… well, we’re not sure anyone wants to admit that fact out loud. Steve Petrick, a 22-year-old Kent State student, won an online vote by Moviefone.com to…
WKNR Fined $4,000 by FCC Over Rizzo’s “Who Said That” Contest
Rizzo, Goldhammer, and some dude. Longtime listeners of Rizzo’s morning show know all about the “Who Said That?” contest. Simply put, Rizzo and crew would play a short, bizarre audio clip and people had to guess whose voice it was. It was funny for awhile, and then became simply maddening near the end when literally…
Woman Injured While Trying on Jeans
Here’s our favorite police blotter item of the day. From the land of Strongsville: ASSISTANCE, SOUTHPARK CENTER: A female shopper at SouthPark Mall was not pleased with the way a store manager handled an injury she suffered while trying on a pair of jeans and notified police. Police received the call at 5:09 p.m. Nov.…
Footprints in Snow Lead to Arrests
Police can follow these, just so you know. Pro tip for criminals: If you leave footprints in the snow from the scene of a crime to your house, police will probably find you. Take these two incidents as confirmation of that fact. First, from Ravenna: It wasn’t a trail of bread crumbs, but a trail…
Reliving Yesterday’s Blizzard
Via Cleveland.com So that was fun, right? Downtown Cleveland was buried by a deluge of lake-effect snow yesterday which dumped tons of powder over the city just as everyone was trying to leave work for the day. Traffic? A clusterfuck. Commutes? Marathon lengths. It was exactly the kind of story local TV news is made…
Paper Reports Bob Feller Died, Except He Didn’t
The Lorain Morning Journal posted an article on their site last night reporting that Bob Feller had died. He had not. Feller is still with us, though the end is probably near; the 92-year-old is reportedly in hospice after a serious bout with pneumonia and his ongoing battle against leukemia. The LMJ posted this correction…
Akron-Canton Airport Hits Record Numbers
If you’re never flown out of the Akron-Canton Airport, you really don’t know what you’re missing. No lines, no hassle, cheap parking, convenient access, close to Cleveland, and did we mention no lines? It’s really the traveler’s best friend, especially when you factor in the cheap airfare you can get flying out of Akron instead…
Craigslist Man-Seeking-Man Ad Causes Woman to Go Off on Man
It’s never fun to discover that your significant other is cheating on you, or even thinking about cheating on you. There’s really nothing worse for the heart and soul than that. Unless your man is posting ads seeking other men. That’s a whole ‘nother level of hurt. That might cause some heightened issues. Let us…
Cleveland Clinic CEO Throws Taxpayers Under the Bus
The man who dreamed up and championed the Medical Mart that will cost county taxpayers $800 million, seems to have suddenly gone laissez-faire about the project. Some might even say Cleveland Clinic CEO Delos “Toby” Cosgrove’s recent comments sound downright flippant. In a comprehensive article somewhat critical of the Med Mart’s chances of success, Bloomberg…
Man Caught With Pot in Shrimp Cans
Maybe it’s really pot. Drug dealers and couriers have found ingenious places to stash their stashes throughout the years, but shrimp cans are a new one to us. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports that they arrested Jose Guzman, 60, from Kentucky, after a routine traffic stop on Tuesday. Troopers say they pulled over a…
Brad Daughtery Thinks Cleveland Should Get Over LeBron Already
In a short but entertaining Q&A with Dime, Brad Daugherty was asked his thoughts about LeBron James and Cleveland. Cavs fans are not going to like what he had to say. Dime: You’re as closely associated with the Cleveland Cavaliers as any player. What’s your view of the LeBron James situation?BD: You know, you have…
Santa Claus Un-Patriotic, According to Willoughby Residents
“Yo, Willoughby, you been naughty or nice?” These are the media doldrums for Willoughby. Not only does the city’s school district have a well-aired problem with homosexuals, now residents there are crying foul about a certain red-suited subversive who’s usurped the Stars and Stripes in an alleged effort to undermine the US war effort overseas.…
Crook Steals Bible, Sunday School Materials From Car
The thief got Jesus, and that’s probably a good thing. The thief who broke into a car in Elyria and swiped Bibles and assorted Sunday school materials is probably in line for some bad karma, or juju, or whatever you want to call it. It’s just bad. According to police, the Cash family returned to…
Brother Assaults Brother in Fight Over Who Got to Sleep on the Couch
Brothers fight every now and then. It’s just normal sibling rivalry stuff. There’s a fight over a toy, or maybe who gets to play a video game, or a mean word, and suddenly there’s a tussle. That’s exactly what happened between brothers Ricky Glover and Jerry Glover, except they aren’t 8-year-olds, the fight wasn’t over…
Morning Brew: Cavs Continue to Lose, CSU Continues to Win, A Lost Purple Heart Comes Home, and an Apple Accident
Byron Scott is not a happy man these days. Good morning, Cleveland. Here’s some stuff to read while you lace up your old sneakers in preparation for Byron Scott putting you in the game. — The Cavs continue their downward spiral, which is just about the least surprising development of the NBA season so far.…
Travel Log
The Tourist, one of the holiday season’s most anticipated releases, marks the first time global superstars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie share top billing in a movie. That might explain why fans from Des Moines to Sri Lanka can’t wait to see it. Still, the movie (which opens Friday) looks kinda familiar. Depp already played…
On View This Week
The art museum explores its sillier side Kim Beom is funny. You could find fancier things to say about the South Korean artist — like noting that his work absurdly endows objects with traits and abilities that they do not have. But all you really need to know is that his sculpture, drawing, painting, video,…
At the Arthouse
The Awful Truth Classic screwball comedy from 1937 made by people who know a thing or two about the genre, including director Leo McCarey and star Cary Grant. The latter plays one-half of a divorcing couple that keeps messing up the other’s chance of starting a new relationship. Think they’ll mend their ways before the…
Your Weekly Concert Calendar
GEORGE JONES He may look like a harmless grandpa now, but back in the day, country music legend George Jones caused enough trouble for several lifetimes. One of the purest singers the world has ever heard, Jones has racked up an impressive number of hit singles over the past 50 years. He’s also collected an…
Film Capsules
Burlesque (PG-13) — An early Christmas gift for Proposition 8 opponents, writer-director Steven Antin’s indifferently constructed, lazily written backstage musical is still worth checking out if you’re a guilty-pleasure enthusiast. Christina Aguilera (not terrible) plays a small-town waitress who, after hopping a bus to Los Angeles, gets a job as an all-singing, all-dancing showgirl at…
We Get Mail
Homosexuals and Deviants As a heterosexual male, I find the actions of Willoughby-Eastlake schools more than reprehensible; they are downright disgusting [“Where Not to Be Gay,” November 17, 2010]. Let me address the real issue at hand. Except for a genetic variation of nature, homosexuals are virtually identical to their heterosexual counterparts. Granted, there are…
HEAVY PRAISE
German rock writer Ironingo couldn’t be more excited about returning to Cleveland this weekend. Last year, he hosted Auburn Records’ 25th-anniversary concert, and he’s back at the Beachland at 4 p.m. Saturday to host another free metal blowout. This one features local bands Black Death, Breaker, Destructor, Eternal Legacy, Ground Zero, H.A.T.E., Lick the Blade,…
CD Review: The Singular
This talented Cleveland foursome cites Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Josh Ritter, and Wilco as influences. And they live up to those high standards on their debut album, which follows a pair of EPs. There are some missteps on The Sad Machine — the coy “CMF” sounds like Barenaked Ladies, hardly a band that should be uttered…
Home Movies
Inception (Warner) The year’s best movie looks absolutely amazing on Blu-ray. And now you can pick away at it, rewinding, pausing, and poring over the film’s many puzzling details. The extras (about the production, concepts, and various altered states) dive deeper into Christopher Nolan’s marvelous dream world, but none will blow you away quite like…
A Fresh Take on Tradition
If ever there was a cuisine fit for today’s palates, it’s Middle Eastern. Though steeped in several millennia of tradition, the cuisine is as flexible as they come. The grains, greens, and grilled meats that make up the dietary staples are both timely and timeless. And what dining trend is hipper than small plates, a…
Out of the Box
Nothing says “happy holidays” like an overstuffed box set of music by an artist who peaked long before anybody ever heard of global warming. Gone are the days when record companies would gather a bunch of hit singles, a smattering of popular album tracks, and a handful of rarities, plop them onto four discs, and…
Bites: Strongsville Gets a New Bistro
The last few months have been a bit of a whirlwind for chef Jeff Jarrett. He left his post at Hudson’s North End Market after a year and a half; he traveled to China to adopt a child; and he returned home just in time to launch his own restaurant. Slated to open this week…
Sounds of the Season
Once you’ve plastered the outside of your home with oversized inflatable Santas and a ridiculous amount of lights, it’s time to head indoors and enjoy a holiday tradition: this year’s batch of new Christmas music. There’s a bunch to choose from — covering pretty much every genre you can think of (nope, we didn’t forget…
CD Review: The Black Eyed Peas
For a group so often dismissed for playing crowd-sourced pop, the Black Eyed Peas sure pack a lot of styles. Take any one of their songs, and you’ll likely hear three or four different things going on at once. The Peas’ sixth album, The Beginning, is less rooted in funk than last year’s global smash…
One-Man Town
Okay, I admit it, I’m an It’s A Wonderful Life whore. If I see the classic Frank Capra flick listed on cable for another marathon run, I’m right there sobbing into my popcorn like John Boehner at a podium. So I was completely ready for the one-person stage adaptation, This Wonderful Life, now at the…
CD Review: NATASHA BEDINGFIELD
Of all the post-Britney pop starlets, Natasha Bedingfield seems like the most grounded. She doesn’t sing about puking in Paris Hilton’s closet, wear slabs of meat, or expose her cooter in public. The nice-girl image has made her an unassuming but sorta-blah chart presence over the past five years. The British singer’s third album doesn’t…
On Stage This Week
APORKALYPSE! Convergence-continuum concludes its 2010 season with this “porkalicious world premiere,” a dark comedy from playwright, author, and company member Chris Johnston. Through December 19 at The Liminis Theatre, 2438 Scranton Rd. Tickets are $12-$15. Call 216-687-0074 or visit convergence-continuum.org. Billy Elliot: The Musical What could have been predictable treacle is redeemed by muscular staging…
CD Review: Duffy
Welsh singer Duffy made a splash two years ago with her debut, Rockferry, a collection of neo-soul songs that adhered a little too closely to their old-school roots. Still, the blond and blue-eyed Duffy offered a safe alternative to Amy Winehouse. For one thing, she isn’t batshit crazy. Plus, her songs don’t take as many…
Stay In!
TOP PICK — DVD Elf: Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Warner) Just in time for Christmas, one of the best holiday movies ever gets super-sized in this cool new set. Goodies include a CD soundtrack, gift tags, a picture frame, and a big yellow stocking you can hang for Santa to fill. It’s all great stuff, but…
CD Review: Daft Punk
Sci-fi fans are an excitable lot. Certain things send geekboys into a frenzy — like, say, the upcoming sequel to 1982’s guy-stuck-in-a-computer movie Tron. And who better to handle the soundtrack than French robo-duo Daft Punk? Since Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are huge fans of the original film, Tron: Legacy is as much…
A Dead Boy Lives
A few years ago a young musician was heard talking about how he wished he had been around to experience Cleveland’s underground music scene of the 1970s. The words tumbling out of him were tinged with romanticism; he imagined that it was very much like Paris in the 1920s or San Francisco in the ’60s,…
An Early Gift?
Beginning this month, Cuyahoga County residents in need of treatment and without health insurance could be spared some of the endless hoop-jumping required by hospitals and health clinics. How fast the red tape gets cleared, however — and how many patients will be welcomed into the long-awaited coordinated system of care — remains to be…
Get Out!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9 Holidaze in Hicksville Dan Hicks Plays Kent Stage Together with his band, the Hot Licks, musician Dan Hicks has been laying down a reliably weird mix of swing, folk, jazz, and country music since the 1960s. So it’s likely his Christmas concert Thursday night at the Kent Stage — Holidaze in Hicksville…
