Tri-C Announces Lineup for the 38th Annual JazzFest
This year’s JazzFest, which takes place from June 22 to 24 at Playhouse Square, will feature eight shows in the venue’s historic theaters. The 38th annual festival will showcase a wide range of music. “These world-class artists reflect the diversity, power and soul that make this music such a beautiful art form,” says Terri Pontremoli, director of…
Terminal Tower Observation Deck Opening in February
The Terminal Tower observation deck is primed to open soon, and just in time for Valentine’s Day. Early action at one of Cleveland’s most awe-inspiring viewpoints happens February 10 through 14th with $5 tickets benefiting St. Jude’s Children Hospital. The deck, located on the 42nd floor of the 52-floor building, provides views for 30 miles…
One-Time Clevelander and Likely Labor Secretary Andrew Puzder: ‘We Hire the Best of the Worst’
[image-1]Today, former Clevelander Andrew Kaczynski of CNN reports on former Cleveland Andrew Puzder, who’s looking like the presumed Labor Secretary of the U.S. and who has delivered some alarming speeches over the past few years (uncovered by the aforementioned Kaczynski). Speaking to a students of Westmont College in February 2011, Puzder discussed the changes he made…
A Spiritual Journey Inspired Singer-Guitarist Doyle Bramhall II’s Latest Album
Even by musicians’ standards, Texas-born blues singer-guitarist Doyle Bramhall II received a tremendous amount of exposure to music while growing up. “It was constant music in the house, not only with all the musicians who lived in the house,” says Bramhall via phone from a Fort Lauderdale tour stop. He performs at the Kent Stage…
Philip Glass’s “Songs from Liquid Days” and Four More Classical Music Events Not to Miss This Week
This week is all about contemporary music — whether discussed in words; attached to film, songs, or opera; or honoring a longtime Cleveland musician. The Cleveland Museum of Art will host Chicago-based writer, curator, and music producer John Corbett in readings from his 2015 book Microgroove: Forays into Other Music — a collection of essays,…
Cleveland Hotel Occupancy Falls in 2016 Due to Massive Building Boom
The Plain Dealer’s Susan Glaser reported Tuesday morning that Cleveland’s hotel occupancy rates fell in 2016, despite an unprecedented number of major events. The Republican National Convention and championship runs by both the Cavaliers and the Indians weren’t enough to compensate for the glut of new available rooms. Overall occupancy fell from 67.9 percent in…
Cleveland Police Officer Killed in Hit-Skip on I-90, Suspect Taken Into Custody
Update: Police have taken a man into custody in connection with the hit-skip that killed Cleveland police officer David Fahey this morning on I-90 near Warren Rd. Law enforcement agencies had surrounded a home in Lorain where a car matching the description had been found. 44-year-old Israel Alvarez is facing charges of aggravated vehicular homicide…
Oberlin, Cleveland Residents Return Home After March on Washington
Ninety minutes after Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 45th president last Friday, John Elder found himself swimming against a red tide. Elder, an Oberlin resident and longtime activist, was walking toward Union Station in Washington, D.C., after participating in an anti-Trump demonstration. Hundreds of Trump supporters in red were walking in the…
Neal Morse Band’s First Proper Tour Comes to Beachland This Weekend
Singer-songwriter Neal Morse’s latest U.S. tour is a leap of faith. Even though he’s worked as a solo artist officially since 2002 when he announced his departure from the progressive rock group Spock’s Beard, the bulk of his touring has often been focused overseas with only a smattering of select U.S. dates. Which is why…
Local Service Workers Union Endorses Jeff Johnson For Mayor
Less than a week after the announcement of city councilman Jeff Johnson’s Mayoral candidacy, the local Service Employees International Union has endorsed him. “Councilman Johnson has demonstrated a real commitment to the people of Cleveland, standing up to corporate and political opponents to lift up the voices of people throughout the city,” said Becky Williams,…
House of Blues to Host Annual Local Brews Local Grooves Event in February
A slew of terrific craft breweries will participate in House of Blues’ annual Local Brews Local Grooves. The event, which takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, aspires to be “the ultimate craft beer & music festival featuring the finest breweries, hottest bands, & the tastiest food,” as it’s put in a press…
“This Is NOT About My Dead Dog” — A One-Woman Play Largely About Drinking and Vomiting
If you’re going to write a one-woman play that is largely about drinking and vomiting, it helps if you’re an engaging and at times electric actor. Thankfully, that’s what writer-performer Amy Schwabauer has going for her in this apparently autobiographical journey through bottles of wine, whiskey and cans of beer to supposed self-understanding. Along the…
Johnny Manziel Had Some Twitter Advice for Donald Trump, Before Deleting His Twitter Account
It’s not often an aspiring reality TV hopeful like former football player Johnny Manziel deigns to give advice to the master of the genre, but here we are. Manziel tweeted this advice just a little bit ago and then deleted his account, which might be even better advice then what the nightclub enthusiast initially laid…
Despite Widespread Opposition, City Council Will Likely Pass Dirt Bike Legislation Tonight
[image-1]Monday night, Cleveland City Council is expected to pass legislation that will authorize $2.3 million in spending for a Motocross track on the city’s east side. It’s a costly project promoted by Mayor Frank Jackson that many residents nevertheless look upon with skepticism, if not outrage. Some councilmen, who’ve expressed reservations about safety and a…
County Jail Cell Door Issues Have Been Ongoing Since At Least 2013
Among the many issues at the Cuyahoga County jail in the past year — and there are many — officers have singled out faulty doors as one of the most persistent and dangerous. Video provided to Fox 8 last month, for instance, showed that some doors could be popped open by inmates with plastic spoons.…
Public Water Systems in Ohio Are Mapping Lead in Pipeline Infrastructure. Check Out Cleveland’s Data
[image-1]With the force of a relatively new law, cities around Ohio are setting to work and mapping their water system pipelines. The idea is that a visual record will assist health officials if and when a lead crisis breaks out (which it will). Lead exposure is associated with cognitive impairments (diminishing IQ, difficulty concentrating, fatigue…
Press Wine Bar to Close, Rebrand, and Reopen in Spring
It’s curtains for Press Wine Bar (2221 Professor Ave., 216-566-9463), says owner John Owen. Come the end of the month, the four-year-old finer-dining Tremont restaurant will close. When it reopens in spring, it will do so with a different name, chef, concept and design. “The wine bar concept obviously didn’t work,” Owen says. “We’re trying…
Dan Gilbert Doesn’t Attack His Critics, Says Dan Gilbert Spokesperson in Article That Included Dan Gilbert Attacking a Critic
The New York Times took a look at Quicken Loans over the weekend in a semi-lengthy article. The hook here is that the Department of Justice’s suit against the mortgage company will be heard this year (in Detroit) and in the wake of the recession, Quicken has emerged as the nation’s “second-largest retail mortgage lender,…
15,000 Women and Men in Cleveland Peacefully Protest New President in Solidarity with Millions Around U.S.
From grandmothers holding “I can’t believe I still have to protest this shit” signs to toddlers waving rainbow banners, this past Saturday’s Women’s March on Cleveland – part of an international outpouring of female-based political consciousness – was a noisy, rowdy but well-behaved expression of concern from 15,000 Northeast Ohioans (men included) about the direction…
Rod Stewart/Cyndi Lauper Tour Coming to Blossom This Summer
When rocker Rod “The Mod” Stewart played the Q back in 2012, he displayed loads of energy for someone who had just entered his late sixties. He got the party started with a cover of “Love Train” and then never let up during a fantastic 90-minute set, delivering hits such as “Some Guys Have All…
Cleveland Rocks With Standing Rock
Like many folks who grew up in Northeast Ohio, Bob Hughes enjoyed Lake Erie. That enjoyment, born of childhood trips to Mentor Headlands, is part of what made Hughes passionate about water as he got older, something he kept tucked away as he participated in various charitable endeavors over the years. The two intersected recently…
Up-and-Coming Rapper D.R.A.M. Draws Inspiration From ‘The Good Stuff’
Back in 2015, D.R.A.M. (an acronym that stands for Does Real Ass Music) went viral with his hit song “Cha Cha.” Everyone from Beyonce to Snoop Dogg and Chance the Rapper sang the praises of the infectious jam. D.R.A.M., who sings, raps and also produces, possesses a love for performance that speaks to his various…
Hard Rockers Breaking Benjamin Reap Musical Dividends with Retooled Lineup
When Breaking Benjamin singer Ben Burnley founded the hard rock band back in Wilkes-Barre back in 1999, he probably didn’t imagine the group would sustain such a lengthy career. Having weathered the rise and fall of nu-metal, a movement with which the group was loosely associated, the band continues to top the charts even as…
Local R&B Singer MAZ Preps for Her First Official Release
Local R&B singer MAZ says that she’s been creating since birth. Her mother was a portrait artist and her father a producer, so it would seem almost predestined that she would always follow a creative path in her life. She was always auditioning — mimicking her favorite artists at the time, Whitney Houston and Mariah…
Singer-Songwriter Sondre Lerche to Play the Grog Shop in April
Influenced by exotic Latin American music, singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche started writing songs in his early teens; growing up in Norway, his influences were much more varied than they might have been if he had been born in the U.S., where radio stations adhere more strictly to formats. Living on what he has called the “outskirts…
More Than 120 Local and National Breweries to Participate in Fourth Annual Cleveland Beerfest
Even the pickiest beer snobs should find something to their liking at the Fourth Annual Cleveland Beerfest. The two-night event returns to the Cleveland Convention Center on Jan. 27 and 28. More than 120 local and national breweries will sample more than 400 different craft beers. Fat Head’s Brewery and Sierra Nevada Brewing serve as…
Indicted Cleveland Rapper Lil Cray Films Music Video in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center Courtroom
Even as he faces a litany of charges, local rapper Lil Cray was allowed to film part of his latest music video in a Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center courtroom. It was “probably not one of the better choices that I made,” Judge Michael Ryan said. Crayshaun Bates — “Lil Cray” to his pals —…
Zygote Press Hosted a Women’s March Poster Party in Advance of Inauguration Weekend
Today’s inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States is many things and a women’s rights event is one of them. With reports of more than 1,000 requested bus permits than Friday’s Inauguration Day, Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington could be one of the largest civil rights marches of the 21st century. Additionally,…
Another Really Cool (Imaginary) Regional Transit Map for Northeast Ohio
Ethan Cameron, who studies urban planning at at Newcastle University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, has been working for the past few years on an updated Cleveland transit system. Using Google My Maps, Cameron created an imaginary system complete with bus lines, light rail, metro lines and even a commuter line from Canton. He envisioned zone-based fares,…
Bad Words, Bad Comparisons and Jadeveon Clowney — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
In an extra explicit (at least for 10 minutes) version of the podcast, Andre and Zac talk knocking down walls, the traits the NFL teams playing on Championship Weekend share, a discussion that must be had in every NFL draft room and what’s up with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Subscribe to A to Z…
Keane Frontman Tom Chaplin Brings First-Ever Solo Tour to House of Blues
Shortly after the UK alt-rock band Keane went on hiatus in 2013, frontman Tom Chaplin started writing songs for a solo album. A drug habit would get in the way of any real progress, but after hitting rock bottom, Chaplin would kick his habit, and the songs would just pour out. Now, Chaplin, who released…
5 Concerts to Catch This Weekend
FRIDAY, JAN. 20 Push Back 2017 Local indie rockers Signals Midwest are among the group of local acts performing at this concert which will also feature a print sale of artwork from local artists, a raffle with prizes from area businesses and nonprofit organizations providing information about their services to the community. The purpose of…
Canadian Producer and DJ Datsik Bringing Monster Sound System to House of Blues
Last year, Troy Beetles, a Canadian producer and DJ who records as both Datsik and Ephwurd, brought his Spring Loaded tour to House of Blues. It featured a massive sound system and light show. This year’s tour will be even bigger. As Datsik explains in a phone interview from a Burlington tour stop, the Spring Loaded…
The Galleries at CSU Open Four New Exhibitions, Each Telling a Stirring Story
As the spring semester begins, the Galleries at Cleveland State University are ready to debut the first four exhibitions of 2017 with an opening reception this Friday, Jan. 20. The evening begins with a gallery conversation with the artists at 4 p.m., and continues with an opening reception following until 8 p.m. At 6 p.m.…
This Looks Like the Definitive Cleveland RNC Documentary
Holy George. Watch the trailer for A More Civil War, a documentary about the RNC in Cleveland, above. Produced by the local outfit Think Media Studios, the documentary features some of the best footage of the convention we’ve seen. And while the four-day assault on the city in July was notable for a lack of…
Pop/Rock Act Train to Play Blossom in June
You can bet the pop/rock act Train will “play that song” as well as the rest of its many hits when it performs at Blossom on Saturday, June 24. The San Francisco-based band has just announced dates for its summer tour in support of its tenth studio album, a girl a bottle a boat, which…
Two Suspected Overdoses, Four Assaults on Officers in Last Week at Cuyahoga County Jail
[image-1]Two inmates were treated for suspected drug overdoses at the Cuyahoga County jail over the weekend, a county spokesperson confirmed yesterday, and investigations are underway on four assaults on corrections officers in the past week. Such safety concerns are not a surprise to officers working in the facility, which has of late been the subject…
Cleveland Transit Group Reiterates Call to Open Public Square in Light of FTA Extension
Clevelanders for Public Transit, the local coalition representing transit riders, has called once again for Public Square to be opened immediately. In light of a Jan. 12 letter from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) granting RTA a 30-day extension on a $12-million debt, Clevelanders for Public Transit issued a press release reminding RTA of its…
Country Megatickets to Go on Sale on Jan. 27
Now in its 10th year, the Country Megaticket offers local country fans the opportunity to buy one concert ticket to six of the biggest country concerts taking place this summer at Blossom Music Center, including Jason Aldean (May 12), Lady Antebellum (July 21), Dierks Bentley (July 27), Florida Georgia Line (Aug. 11) and Brad Paisley…
Local Rockers Rosavelt to Celebrate Anniversary by Playing Their First Album In Its Entirety
Way back in 1996, local singer-guitarist Chris Allen formed Rosavelt with friends from Cleveland and Cincinnati. The group drew comparisons to alt-country acts such as Son Volt, Whiskeytown and Wilco. But Allen and his bandmates didn’t benefit from the accolades. “That helped us for about five minutes,” he told Scene a few years ago. “All…
Third Eye Blind’s 20th Anniversary Tour Coming to Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
Last year, Yahoo News and other outlets report that alt-rockers Third Eye Blind, who performed at an Republican National Convention-related charity event held at the Rock Hall, angered some of the guests by using the opportunity to distance themselves from the Republican platform. The band reportedly played its more obscure songs and didn’t even deliver…
The Cavs vs. Boredom, and Put Your Damn Phones Down — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
It’s the return of one minute of baseball talk! Also, Andre and Zac dive into Cavs vs. Warriors, Cavs vs. boredom, Antonio Brown’s selfish Facebook Live video and some listening suggestions outside of A to Z. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here. Like ’em on Facebook here.
Members of Cloud Nothings Dissect the Tracks on Their Forthcoming Album
With 2014’s Here and Nowhere Else, which local indie rockers Cloud Nothings recorded in Hoboken at Water Music over an 8-day period, the band opted for a poppier, cheerier effort than 2012’s Attack on Memory. That trend continues with Life Without Sound, the forthcoming studio effort due out Jan. 27. The band will launch a North…
#RiseUpAgainstHate Exhibition at Good Goat Gallery Opens This Friday
While some artists and art professionals are organizing #J20 protests, encouraging artists, organizations and cultural institutions to close in protest of Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, others are using their talents to offer levity and hope during a day filled with much anxiety and anticipation. For example, hoping to kick off 2017 with positive energy, Lakewood’s…
Coming Soon: Tremont’s Literary Cafe Readies Itself for the Next Chapter
For 30 years, the property at 1031 Literary Road in the heart of Tremont was known as the Literary Café, or just “the Lit” for short. This past fall, Ross Valenti purchased the building from longtime owners Andy Timithy and Linda Baldizzi, who have operated the business since 1990. Escaping easy description, the eclectic space…
If Cleveland Had a Bigger, Better Metro Railway, This is What it Might Look Like
All credit to Jake Berman, who posted this imaginary map to reddit. Given that Ohio can’t be bothered to adequately fund public transit, and given RTA’s menu of impending financial disasters, the above is merely a pipe dream. But imagine! Mr. Berman left no stone unturned. In the “Special gameday service” box, he envisions the…
CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra to Pay Tribute to Rock Icon David Bowie
A series of orchestra concerts featuring music by rock icon David Bowie and the composers who inspired him, What’s on David Bowie’s Playlist, which takes place at various venues in town from March 15 to March 19, features an extensive program of music that both inspired Bowie and was written by Bowie. For the concerts,…
Here’s Cleveland at Night as Seen From the International Space Station
You can thank commander Shane Kimbrough for this gorgeous shot. Kimbrough’s aboard the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Expedition 50, which is conducting more than 250 experiments. Good morning USA! Detroit – Toledo – Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/bXwKdRLzRs — Shane Kimbrough (@astro_kimbrough) January 17, 2017
CMA Presents an Exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Notebooks
Few artists symbolize modern art as much as the late Brooklyn-born artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Opening this Sunday, the Cleveland Museum of Art presents Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks, the first major exhibition of Basquiat’s notebooks, featuring more than 150 pages of rarely seen documents, including sketches, poetry, wordplay, personal observations and more. Accompanying these pages are…
Cleveland Print Room’s New Slide Exhibition Explores Issues in Mental Illness
Curated by Maggie Goddard, Brown University doctorate degree candidate, the latest exhibition at the Cleveland Print Room is a truly unique and challenging viewing experience. Inside Outside: Dr. Jelliffe’s Slides features an early twentieth century “magic lantern” slide collection from the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Hospital, now known as the Neurological Institute of…
Cleveland Bagel’s Come a Long Way in Three Years, and They’re Not Done Growing Yet
It’s been three and a half years since partners Dan Herbst and Geoff Hardman peddled their first homemade bagel at the Gordon Square Farmer’s Market — and that bagel truly was homemade, fabricated as it was like all the rest back then at Herbst’s apartment. This past fall the duo opened a production facility and…
The West Side Market is Your One-Stop Shop for Building Your Own Bloody Mary Bar
You can’t always get what you want, but with your own bloody mary bar, you can. Thanks to the West Side Market, you can stock that bar with fresh, local and delicious ingredients that’ll make your Saturday or Sunday (and any other day, to be honest) all the boozier right at home. We’ll take you…
Band of the Week: Transistor
MEET THE BAND: Tim Difrancesco (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Hlavna (backup vocals, guitar), Nick Mercurio (bass), Matt Hritz (drums) ALL OVER THE PLACE: All four members came together in October of last year. Veterans who’d played around town for a good decade, Hlavna and Mercurio recruited Difrancesco to front the fledgling band. “We heard Tim…
Astoria Market and Cafe Delivers an Unmatched Dining and Shopping Experience
There’s something reassuring about dining in a market setting like Astoria. Just feet from where one sits are coolers, bins and shelves filled with gourmet food products from around the globe. More than just show, those very items form the backbone of the lunch and dinner menu. What diners may or may not know is…
“The Founder” is Good, but Reveres McDonald’s Monstrous Empire Builder
When Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) first lays eyes on the original McDonald’s hamburger joint in San Bernardino, California, it’s love at first sight. He’d been schlepping all over the Midwest, hawking an eight-spindle multi-mixer with limited success — the latest in a series of speculative products on which he’d hoped to cash in — until…
“20th Century Women” Features Some of the Richest Characters of the Past Year
If you’re one of those complete-ists who insists on seeing all the Academy Award nominees — Picture, Director, Actor, Actress — before the Oscars ceremony, it’s a good bet that Annette Bening will nab a nomination for her turn in 20th Century Women, the ambling, nostalgic, slice-of-life period piece that features some of the richest…
A Better Brunch at Home With This Recipe From Spice Kitchen’s Ben Bebenroth
First, a drink, because you’ll want to be drinking with the meal, if not while you’re making it. The Wild Ones Stir • 1.5 ounces rum • 0.5 ounce Fernet Branca Menta • 0.5 ounce dry curacao • 0.5 ounce sweet cream • 2 ounces cold brew coffee • 2 dashes full measure bitters Shake…
Savage Love: Risky Business
Dear Dan About a year ago, I was pretending to read my boyfriend’s mind and jokingly said, “You want to put it in my ear.” Since then, I have seen references to ear sex (aural sex?) everywhere! There’s even a holiday (“Take It In the Ear Day” on Dec. 8), and I was reading a…
A Fairy Tale Mashup in “Into the Woods” at Playhouse Square
If you’re used to attending Broadway touring productions at Playhouse Square and getting your socks blown off by lots of amazing set changes and special effects, you may be a bit let down by this Fiasco Theater production of Into the Woods, now occupying the Connor Palace Theater. It is an intentionally bare bones type…
