Solon High School Students Drop Threats Via Online Rap Battle
Per WEWS: Solon High School officials, along with police, are investigating a threatening rap battle between two students on Facebook. In light of the county’s overall downward spiral into Hell On Earth at any and all public education institutions, threats of any kind are to be taken seriously. But rap battles may be the most…
Video: Ready for a Coach from the CFL?
We can’t offer much more than is already out there about the Browns’ head coaching search. Someone will eventually say yes to the job, even if it’s Haslam himself. But the Browns did interview Marc Trestman, coach of the Montreal squad up in Canadaland, yesterday. And if 30 Rock is right, this is what pigskin…
Pure Filth… What We’re Reading This Morning: Jan. 9
– A Lorain woman was sentenced to 186 days (already served) in jail and three years of probation after being found guilty of child endangerment. Last July, police discovered that Erica Perez had been keeping her seven children in an environment riddled with garbage, alcohol and swarms of flies. The story is heinous and the…
Local Woman Dies After Two-Story Fall At Christie’s Cabaret (Updated)
Jan. 9 Update: Lauren Block, 22-year-old Richmond Heights resident, died Wednesday morning, according to reports. She fell 15 feet over a railing at Christie’s Cabaret Jan. 2. Her family released the following statement: “We would like to thank the community for their outpouring of support and prayers for Lauren. She has passed away but is…
Pere Ubu issues first new studio album in three years
One of the most famous bands to ever come out of Cleveland, Pere Ubu issues its first studio album in three years today. Arriving 35 years after the group issued its debut, Lady From Shanghai is a dissonant listen, punctuated by trippy electronics and singer David Thomas’s acerbic vocals. In rare form, Thomas writes about…
Video: Hall & Oates Go Hardcore
From Mike Polk and Chad Zumock… (NSFWish)
Lola’s Little Sister
Mary Manno Sweeney Lolita’s Big Bold Board If you haven’t been to Lolita in Tremont lately, you probably haven’t tried one of the best salume platters in town: the aptly named Big Board. According to Executive Chef James Mowcomber, “All the meats offered on our Big Board are house-cured with the exception of the prosciutto,…
Former Indian Jody Gerut In New Role As ‘Anti-Bankruptcy Agent’
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince took an interesting look at one of the Cleveland Indians’ most interesting alumni. The former outfielder retired in 2011, following nearly a decade of mostly stellar playing that was contrasted against injuries, trades and trips to the Minor League. Along the way, though, he picked up a fair bit of financial acumen…
Willoughby Police Chase: Suspect Still At-Large, Prostitute Charged
The News-Herald reports that a police chase beginning in Willoughby early Monday morning ended with the driver still at-large and a local woman arrested for prostitution: At 1:20 a.m. on Monday Willoughby Police made a traffic [stop] on Maplegrove Road and the minivan pulled into the parking lot of Motel 6. The driver then fled…
Ken Johnson’s Reappointment Strengthens Double-Dipping Practice Locally
And almost as quickly as he had left the building, Ken Johnson was back. Toothy smile and all. With hearty slaps on the back from nearly everyone in the room, a Jan. 7 caucus of Cleveland City Council voted to recommend Johnson to fill the Ward 4 vacancy left by Johnson’s own retirement. (The ward…
Strickland’s Out… And More Morning Reading in Cleveland: Jan. 8
– Via The PD’s Henry Gomez, former Gov. Ted Strickland diffused any speculation of a return to office when he announced this morning that he will not challenge Gov. John Kasich next year. The news paves the way for other likely challengers to truly step into the ring, as they say. Cuyahoga County Executive Ed…
Dinner in the Dark at Bac’s Asian American Bistro
Edsel Little Dinner in the Dark 25 – Maryland Crab Crêpe Jimmy Pintiello, Blue Door Cafe and Bakery The latest installment of Dinner in the Dark was held at Bắc Asian American Bistro this past Sunday evening. The most noteworthy aspect of these events is that — like snowflakes gently falling in winter — they…
The Weekend’s Big Heroin Bust: 40 Grams In Richland County
Aside from the fact that “40 Grams in Richland County” sounds like a really cool country song that we’re totally not trying to write in the newsroom today, Ohio State Highway Patrol can chalk up another win against the ceaseless tides of heroin trafficking in the region. Officers were investigating a driver’s warrant violation Jan.…
County To Begin East Suburbs’ Merger Study
Talks of four east side suburbs merging into one are continuing following news that Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald selected the Rochester, N.Y.-based Center for Governmental Research to oversee the study process. In mid-2011, county leaders and four local mayors announced intentions to merge Moreland Hills, Orange Village, Pepper Pike and Woodmere. The study will…
What We’re Reading in Cleveland This Morning: Jan. 7
– The final pretrial hearing for accused Chardon High School shooter T.J. Lane is set for today. 19 Action News has an ongoing lineup of past stories for background reading. Lane’s trial is slated to begin later this month, though lawyers are expected to ask for more time. – The Plain Dealer followed up on…
Fake Plain Dealer Twitter Account Spreads Chip Kelly Non-News
A fake Plain Dealer Twitter account, @ClevPlainDealer, sprouted up today to spread news that Chip Kelly had signed a five-year contract with the Browns: Breaking Cleveland Browns News…Chip Kelly agrees to 5-year contract to coach the #Browns, details to follow!— ClevPlainDealer (@ClevPlainDealer) January 4, 2013 It was untrue, but the account’s lone tweet garnered dozens…
The Browns Are Everywhere In The NFL Playoffs, Except Actually There
As clevelandbrowns.com writer Matt Florjancic points out, the Cleveland Browns are everywhere in the NFL post-season, except actually there. Just like former Tribe hurlers uncannily wind up in the MLB playoffs and, inevitably, the World Series, the Cleveland Browns are a prominent denominator in this year’s gridiron glory games. Ohio natives are everywhere on the…
Phil Davison: Washington Post’s ‘Greatest Political Rant Of All Time’
Following New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s recent rant against Congress, The Washington Post dug into the nation’s wonderful history of overzealous politicians. And we’re glad they did, because we’re always interested in running any highlight reel that features Stark County’s own Phil Davison. “My Name IS PHIL DAVISON!” Yeah, that guy. “This, from the Ohio…
Melt owner to debut radio program
Before he got into the grilled cheese business, Melt owner Matt Fish thought he’d be a rock star. He played in a few bands and even did some regional touring. Even though he’s turned Melt into a successful franchise, his passion for independent music hasn’t subsided. On Sunday at 11 p.m. on 87.7 WLFM-LP, Cleveland’s…
Private Property Rights Questioned Over Lakewood’s Heideloff House
Over the past few weeks, a battle of the past, present and future has been playing out at Lakewood City Hall. The property in question, the Heideloff House on Edgewater Drive, is in the midst of a debate over historic preservation and the rights of private property owners. The Lakewood Planning Commission deferred any action…
What We’re Reading in Cleveland This Morning: Jan. 4
– The city collectively experienced spasms of joy yesterday as outfielder Nick Swisher was publicly introduced as a member of the Tribe. The Columbus-born Yankee-transplant was beaming during his presser (“This is the place for me to be. All roads led to Cleveland.”) and manager Terry Francona mirrored his smile: Francona signing Swisher: “There’s no…
WMMS Buzzard Illustrator Reviews His Legacy
The Pulse, Chattanooga’s alt-weekly, recently discussed David Helton’s legacy as the guy who created radio station WMMS’s infamous buzzard logo. Currently working as a children’s book illustrator in Chattanooga, Tenn. (from which he originally hails), Helton now looks back on those days fondly, according to his interview with writer Bill Ramsey. He explained that the…
Jonathon Sawyer Checks In From Aspen
AFAR, a collaborative travel magazine, caught up with renowned Cleveland chef Jonathon Sawyer in Aspen this week, where he’s guest-cooking at the St. Regis Chefs Club. He helped curate a seasonal menu for the restaurant, which will carry diners throughout the wintry Colorado months. He even picked up the friendly vibe of Cleveland thousands of…
Michael Symon Pens Invitation To Chip Kelly
Michael Symon began his day with a quick plea to University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly to come to Cleveland. Kelly’s currently being courted by Browns management, following the New Year’s Eve firing of Pat Shurmur. dear chip kelly…come to cleveland…coach my beloved browns..ill cook you dinner..cheers, michael symon— michael symon (@chefsymon) January 3,…
Three More Departures at The Plain Dealer
In a year that has seen some of the top talent at The Plain Dealer either exit or contemplate exiting as substantial changes to the paper’s business and editorial operations await, the goodbyes aren’t stopping. According to a couple of sources at the PD, three more have made their way to the door: Joe Guillen,…
What We’re Reading in Cleveland This Morning: Jan. 3
– Cuyahoga County Council met yesterday to swear in its second iteration (all the same members as before) and to discuss plans for the county’s future headquarters. Via The PD’s Michelle Jarboe McFee, a downtown property owner offered a second proposal to contrast County Executive Ed FitzGerald’s recommendation to sell the Ameritrust complex along East…
Video: Polar Bear Plunge at Edgewater
Did you celebrate the new year by jumping into Lake Erie nearly naked? No? These people did. Enjoy the video from the warmth of your couch with non-shriveled genitals. (Via Rustwire)
Tremont Scoops Changes Hands
For those that have driven down Professor street in Tremont you might have noticed the brown paper in the windows. Usually when this is spotted it signals a new era for the location. And in this case you would be right. Long time owner operator Mary Ann Ludwig has sold both her Scoops ice cream…
Band of the Week
Meet the Band: Phil Sonner (guitarist), Marius Fakadej (bassist), Dan Cameron (vocals), Tim Seal II (drums) Back to Basics: Originating in Cleveland, Bound by Fate plays traditional heavy metal with a twist. “We kind of take the metal down to the basics,” says Sonner. “We have a whole lot of mile-a-minute riff lines and all…
Leatherface’s Legacy
Now considered a cult classic, Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre didn’t receive a warm welcome when it was originally released. In fact, several movie theaters in the U.S. stopped showing it because of complaints about the violence. And yet nearly 40 years later, the franchise is still going strong. Texas Chainsaw 3-D, the latest…
CD Review: The Chromes
reverbnation.com/thechromes Led by snotty singer-guitarist Brian Hager from local glam rock outfit Vanity Crash, the Chromes evoke the British rock of the ’70s on this 5-song debut. You can hear elements of T. Rex as Hager whispers his way through the chug-a-lugging “Little Evil,” and the same goes for the stuttering, bluesy “Talk That Walk.”…
Magical Mystery Tour
Last year, Scott Freiman’s lectures on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club and The White Album went over so well that the Cleveland Museum of Art invited the Beatles fanatic to return this year to present a series of new lectures. Freiman, a composer and producer who started putting together Beatles lectures four years ago as…
Words With Friends
When singer and rapper Dessa came through town in 2011 and played the Beachland Tavern, she didn’t have her full ensemble with her. “I just wasn’t in a position to tour with another female vocalist,” she admits via phone from her Minneapolis home. “I think people who did come last time and come this time…
Orgies and Chainsaws
If you wanted to stage your own lesbian orgy with teenage cheerleaders, you would probably land in jail. A better idea: open a theater, book Debbie Does Dallas, the Musical, and post a call for auditions. Although Patrick Ciamacco had many other reasons for starting his thespian enterprise, Blank Canvas Theatre, it turned out that…
Eroc’s Trip
For almost a decade, Wish You Were Here, the locally based Pink Floyd tribute act, has put on a special holiday show at the House of Blues. Usually, the guys adopt some kind of theme for the gig, but this year, the group has decided to play classics and, as bandleader Eroc Sosinski puts it,…
Sole Connection
The inaugural regular season home opener for the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center was a star-studded affair for the team and minority owner Jay-Z. After years of haggling and construction and a billion dollars of development at the Atlantic Yards, the official unveiling of the borough’s first professional team since the Dodgers left town…
Savage Love
More than a thousand people showed up for a recent Savage Love Live event at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It goes without saying that the students at UW submitted more questions than I could answer in 90 minutes. As promised, some bonus answers to questions that I didn’t get to during our time together… Can…
His People
William H. Johnson’s “Ring Around the Rosey,” an oil painting on cardboard from 1944, three girls, two burnt sienna and one bronze, dance in a circle with long legs and bare feet. Orange flowers spring from behind the trio, as if radiating from their limbs and dresses. The first two girls watch each other’s faces,…
Screens
Is there any Clevelander that hasn’t seen A Christmas Story? It’s pretty much a rite of passage in Northeast Ohio to watch it at least twice a year, usually during it’s 24 hour Christmas Eve marathon on the TBS. While it’s a darn entertaining movie, worthy of the top-shelf reputation its gained as a cult…
On the Other Side
Today, Brandon Chrostowski is the impeccably dressed manager, sommelier, fromager and “Johnny on-the-spot,” if you should need anything while dining at L’Albatros. He makes sure you get seltzer if you spill something on your new silk tie, recommends a special dessert if it’s your birthday or the perfect celebratory cocktail, wine or champagne if you’re…
Opening: Promised Land
Matt Damon and John Krasinski wrote the screenplay to this very dull Gus Vant Sant film about fracking, aka hydraulic fracturing. The topic isn’t one that’s naturally filled with drama and suspense. In addition to writing the screenplay, Damon and Krasinski also star in the movie. Damon plays Steve Butler, the corporate guy sent into…
Chef Confidential
Melissa Khoury boasts about being “fat and happy.” Why wouldn’t she be? How many people do you know who can break down a pig in 45 minutes? Khoury, who turns 30 this May, studied at Johnson and Whales College of Culinary Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. “Good ham-smoking country,” she says. “Unfortunately, it’s also where Smithfield…
Opening: Hyde Park on Hudson
After Steven Spielberg’s worshipful Lincoln, it should be refreshing to see a presidential biopic that doesn’t evade its subject’s flaws. Hyde Park on Hudson offers an unflinching view of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, showing us his withered legs, his need to be carried bodily by attendants, and his private frustration over his handicap. It also highlights…
Oui, s’il vous plait (Or: Yes, Please)
For years, we have driven past Le Petit Triangle on our way to The Flying Fig, Momocho, SOHO, The Black Pig, Bar Cento, Crop and basically every other restaurant in Ohio City. Finally, a few weeks ago, we did what we should have done a long time ago and stopped in for a bite. It…
Opening: The Impossible
Based on the true story of a Spanish family that somehow survived the horrible tsunami that ripped through Thailand in 2004, the new film from Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage) benefits from the fact that it has a natural arc that naturally lends itself to the big screen. Bayona does a good job…
An Evolving Mix
In September, Lil Wayne released his fourth mixtape, Dedication 4, via Live Mixtapes, a Cleveland-based online media company that is at the forefront of the hip-hop mixtape revolution. Dedication 4 generated 1.8 million pageviews and 400,000 downloads in a single day. It took nearly a month for LMT competitor DatPiff to generate that kind of…
Top Pop Culture PIcks for the Week
TOP PICK Grant Lee Buffalo Copperopolis (Rhino/Slash) Rhino has just reissued this moody 1996 album from the venerable alt-country band that is somehow still actively recording and touring. Justified: The Complete Third Season (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) Timothy Olyphant is terrific as Marshal Raylan Givens, a tough-as-nails law enforcement official who shoots first and asks…
What’s Goin’ on Down There?
Sex can be a complicated, uncomfortable topic, but maybe the hardest part (pardon the pun) of the whole knocking uglies thing is that we can’t be completely honest with each other about it. We make up anatomical terms for children instead of using the real terms. We treat sex as a competition, measure ourselves against…
We Get Mail
A Few Reactions to Our List of “13 Bands to Watch” If you aren’t in the know about “ON LOAN” you aren’t in the know. Marv Conner … and reggae is entirely ignored… again. Tons of up and coming talent, too. Susie Sharp I personally have only heard of two of these acts and I…
