Annual Short. Sweet. Film Fest. To Screen Nearly 300 Short Films
Last year, organizer Mike Suglio took his annual Short. Sweet. Film Fest. to Atlas Cinemas Shaker Square. He’s been quite happy with the results. “It’s been fantastic,” he says over beers one night at Brick and Barrel. “It’s really cool to have not only four screens but we’re showing these wonderful films in a movie…
City of Cleveland Eyes Permanently Closing West 29th in Hingetown to Traffic. Businesses Have Concerns
Last September, following years of political and technical hurdles, the City of Cleveland succeeded in its goal of permanently closing down Market Avenue in Ohio City to car traffic. A sigh of relief came came for many: the tiny corridor filled with bars and restaurants would finally become the pedestrian street so many had envisioned…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Feb. 15-18)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 02/15 Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express When a man is stabbed in his locked compartment while riding the famed Orient Express, investigator Hercule Poirot tries to figure out whodunnit. Tonight’s performance of…
Lakewood-Based Lion’s Share Spirits Now Offering Locally Made Vodka, Gin and Tequila
The world might not need another vodka, gin or tequila brand, Phil Hockey admits, but there’s definitely some space in the market for a quality local brand. “Cleveland needs more local spirits,” Hockey explains. “We are really great at supporting our local restaurants, our local breweries, but we don’t have a lot of local spirits.”…
The CAN Triennial Art Exhibition is No More
Cleveland will not just lose one of its art triennials, it will lose both. The Collective Arts Network has announced that the CAN Triennial, which launched in 2018 after community interest for a regionally representative and grassroots-focused answer to the FRONT International Cleveland Triennial, won’t go on as planned for 2025 or after. In a piece…
Brecksville Declines to Host LGBTQ+ Pride Event on City Property
At 3:45 p.m. on a Sunday in February, six people helped rearrange tables at the back corner of the Panera in Brecksville. By 3:58 p.m., a crowd had gathered, swelling to almost 30. The group scrambled to add more chairs as people crammed into the makeshift meeting space, shoulder-to-shoulder. Before the clock struck 4 p.m.,…
New Ohio Department of Children and Youth’s First Goals Center Around Infant Mortality, Child Welfare
A representative from Ohio’s new Department of Children and Youth set out their initial goals in conjunction with an advocacy group’s push to reduce incarcerated parents and the impact that has on children. Kim Kehl, a project manager for trauma-informed care services with the department, said their early aims focus on reducing infant mortality, reducing…
‘Mother Courage and Her Children’ at Ensemble Theatre is a Gritty Portrayal of the Grisly Business of War
It takes some balls to decide to stage Bertolt Brecht’s classic opus Mother Courage and Her Children, since this bleak look at the ravages of endless war doesn’t have the usual rest stops for an audience that most plays provide. Sure, there are characters, but in true Brechtian fashion they are kept mostly at arm’s…
FRONT International Cleveland Triennial Abruptly Cancels 2025 Show, Will Shut Down Operations
FRONT International, the triennial, citywide art exposition that helped boost Cleveland as a global arts destination since 2018, will no longer be debuting new pieces.Last week, its board of directors decided that the arts festival will cancel its 2025 show, and subsequently shut down future operations, about a year and half before its planned opening…
Cleveland’s Brian Alan Hager Returns with Second ‘Rock and Soul’ Release
Local singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Brian Alan Hager began his musical journey decades ago. He started playing guitar and keyboards at the age of 7, shortly after his mom passed away from diabetes and heart disease. Then, his dad bought an organ, and he played that. After dabbling on organ, Hager gravitated to guitar. His friend…
Biden’s Climate Corps Could Bring Jobs to Appalachian Ohio
A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate and clean-energy jobs. Still in the early stages of development, groups in Appalachia say the program could potentially steer a significant number of young people in the region into well-paying jobs. Director of the non-profit Green…
‘Architectural Digest’ Names the Arcade One of the 27 Best Hotel Lobbies in the World
Singapore, Tokyo, London, Barcelona… Cleveland? While a list like that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense at first blush, it does after you read Architectural Digest’s ranking of the 27 best hotel lobbies in the world. The Hyatt Regency, which opened downtown in 2001, gets the nod thanks to the historic arcade, a singular…
“Trans Ams Are Red, Camaros Are Blue”: An Ode to Old Scene Personal Ads
A few years ago, I was archiving a pile of old newspapers and magazines at work and found myself reading the personal ads in the back pages of many of them, including Cleveland Magazine, Great Swamp Erie da da Boom, The Cleveland Express, and Scene, which had some of the best ones. When I learned…
Paid Leave Still Inaccessible to Majority of Ohioans
Paid leave continues to be a problem in Ohio and the country, with a vast majority of working people still living without it, according to a recent study. The National Partnership for Women & Families said 73% of people working in the U.S. don’t have paid leave through their employers, and federal unpaid leave through…
Mapleside Farms to Add Winery to Mix of Offerings at this 100-Year-Old Attraction in Brunswick
Since Greg and Kelly Clement purchased Mapleside Farms in 2010, they haven’t stopped updating, improving and adding amenities. For 100 years, the 144-acre property in Brunswick has been the place to go to celebrate all things autumn, but the Clements have a plan to transform the orchard into a year-round destination. “Me and my wife…
Cold War Kids Take More Aggressive Approach on New Self-Titled Album
Dating back to the ’80s, Orange County, CA, home to acts such as Social Distortion and the Offspring, has delivered its share of alternative and indie acts. Cold War Kids, a band that formed in Orange County in 2004, has tried to tap into that energy during its 20-year run. “From No Doubt to Sublime…
Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance Slams “Elites” Despite Shared Backgrounds
While it’s impossible to know what’s in his heart, Ohio Republican J.D. Vance has been taking some positions against so-called elites that would seem to be squarely opposed to… guys like him. They include statements he’s made about people trying to disqualify former President Donald Trump from running again. It’s widely thought that Vance is…
Police Chiefs Sue Portage County Sheriff for Chunk of Drug Task Force Seizure Money
The largest cities in Portage County have filed a lawsuit alleging the county and its sheriff have refused to share seized money and assets from a defunct drug task force. The case lays bare a strained relationship between local and county officials who once worked as a team with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security…
Cleveland Reducing the Number of Police Officer Positions as Hiring Lags
For the second year in a row, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration has proposed stripping more positions from the city’s shrinking police department. Last year, council members criticized, but eventually approved, Bibb’s proposal to cut 142 vacant officer positions from the police budget. Cleveland is among several cities since 2020 that has had more officers…
Madonna Puts on Chaotic, Riveting, Career-Spanning Show at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
Madonna’s first concert in Cleveland in more than a decade was a nostalgic career overview, a dance spectacular and a visual extravaganza. There were some moments Thursday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse where she tried to push buttons and others where The Queen of Pop simply tried to create the best dance party in the…
Debut of Cleveland’s MLS NEXT Pro Team May Be Delayed Until Soccer Stadium Built
Assorted local leaders joined Cleveland Soccer Group co-founders Michael Murphy and Nolan Gallagher at Pin’s Mechanical in Ohio City just hours prior to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup game against Wales in November 2022 for a big announcement: Cleveland had been awarded an expansion team in the MLS NEXT Pro League and would…
Stout It Out Loud Festival Returns to Butcher and the Brewer Feb. 17
Everybody’s favorite oyster-and-ale festival returns to East 4th Street on Saturday, February 17. Stout It Out Loud will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at Butcher and the Brewer (2043 East 4th St.). The popular years-running event (save for a brief absence) rounds up the state’s best craft stouts and pairs them with a bevy of freshly…
Appeals Court Orders New Trial for Octavius Williams in Attempted Murder Case His Brother Has Since Confessed To
Octavius Williams, the 27-year-old Clevelander accused and convicted of murder in 2011, will have a yet another chance at clearing his name, judges said.Eighth District Appellate Court Judges Eileen Gallagher, Lisa Forbes and Kathleen Ann Keough announced Thursday that Williams’ previous denial for a new trial would be “reverse, vacated and remanded.” Williams will get…
Legislation to Tweak Ohio’s New Adult-Use Marijuana Law Continues to Be at a Standstill
Lawmakers have yet to bring changes to Ohio’s new marijuana law over the finish line. The Ohio Senate passed a bill in December with major changes to the marijuana law, but the Ohio House, once again, did not bring that bill to the floor to concur during Wednesday’s session and has not moved its own…
Since 2019, Ohio Has Solicited Highway Safety Sign Message Suggestions From the Public. It’s Gotten More Than 4,300
DON’T BE LIKE MY EX-WIFE STAY IN YOUR LANE There was as fair bit of consternation and confusion recently as the Federal Highway Administration, in an update to its thousand-page manual governing traffic signs across the country, recommended against using puns and jokes in safety sign messaging. ODOT and transportation agencies in other states had…
At Waterfront Summit, Optimism That a String of Major Projects Will Reconnect Cleveland to Lake Erie
As things stand in Cleveland today, the most common and convenient way of traveling east to west along Lake Erie’s shoreline is by the highway that’s lined it since the 1960s. The byproduct of that convenience: a shoreline devoted to cars.On Wednesday, a summit gathered together the leaders of seven major waterfront projects set to…
BD’s Mongolian Grill on Coventry Has Closed After Nearly 30 Years in Business
When BD’s Mongolian Grill (1854 Coventry Rd.) opened its doors in 1997, the restaurant offered a unique and interactive dining experience akin to hibachi, but without all the splatter. Diners took pleasure in piling ingredients and sauces into a bowl and then handing them off to a grill cook, who would stir-fry them up in…
Schnitz Ale Brewery Expands With New Production Facility and Tasting Room in Strongsville
When Fat Head’s moved into its massive Middleburg Heights production facility, it set off a game of craft-beer musical chairs. Eager for more production capacity themselves, the Brew Kettle team decamped from its Strongsville-based brewery for the former Fat Head’s facility on Sheldon Road. That cleared the way for the Djurin family to make a…
Beachland Ballroom To Host US Air Guitar National Finals in July
Each year, US Air Guitar competitions take place regionally prior to the championship event that sends one winner to Finland to compete in the Air Guitar World Championships. For the first time ever, the championship event will be held in Cleveland. The US Air Guitar Finals will take place on July 20 at the Beachland…
Fewer Than Half of City of Cleveland Employees Live in Cleveland
Every week, 7,265 employees of the City of Cleveland leave their homes to attempt, in their own individual way, to make the city a better place to live. Yet, the majority of those workers—some 53 percent of them—opt not to live in the city for which they work. While 3,452 employees sport Cleveland addresses, the…
Cleveland Guardians Home Opener on Eclipse Day Won’t Start Until at Least 5:10 PM
With Cleveland in the path of totality for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, local leaders have been diligently planning for months and years to prepare for an influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors to Northeast Ohio descending to enjoy the celestial phenomenon. Among those that have been eyeing logistics: The Cleveland Guardians, who…
Campaign Finance Reports Show Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown Far Out-Raising Republican Candidates
In just six weeks, Ohio voters head to the polls to pick their party’s nominees, and the U.S. Senate race is one of the most hotly contested of the March 19 primary election. Last week the candidates turned in their year-end campaign finance reports. The three Republicans running to challenge Democratic Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod…
Does the City of Cleveland Need a New Flag? Many Think So. This Group is Doing Something About It
The city of Cleveland’s official flag, approved by City Council in 1895 and by Mayor Robert McKisson in 1896, was designed by Susan Hepburn, an 18-year-old art school graduate whose submission to a contest sponsored by The Plain Dealer, quickly organized in advance of the city’s centennial, gained the admiration of the selection committee, which praised…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (Feb. 8-11)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 02/08 Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and…
Bibb’s Proposed ‘Shore to Core’ Downtown TIF Could Collect Billions. Council Wants Half to Go to Neighborhoods
Mayor Justin Bibb has always said the proposed “Shore to Core to Shore” overlay TIF, which would allow the city to collect an estimated $3.5 to $7.5 billion in property tax over the next four decades to seed major projects including the lake and riverfronts, would benefit not just downtown but Cleveland’s neighborhoods as well.…
Black History Month Concerts and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
Let’s start this busy week with some recommended Black History Month events. – On Wednesday at 6 pm, The Music Settlement’s “Linking Legacies” concert featuring Classical works by African American composers with deep ties to Northeast Ohio will be presented in Gallery 229A at the Cleveland Museum of Art. – On Saturday at 7:30, the…
Residents First, a Major Cleveland Housing Law Overhaul, Approved by City Council
After a rigorous scrutiny for three hours on Monday, Cleveland City Council voted to approve the majority of Residents First, a sweeping package of changes to housing code meant to weed out “bad actors” and stabilize the city’s stock. The suite of new laws have been in the works for two years and faced scrutiny…
1988 Paris Township, Ohio John Doe Identified as David Kaziateck
After 35 years, The Portage County Sheriff’s Office, with help from Ohio’s BCI, has identified a John Doe, whose remains were found partially buried in a shallow grave in Paris Township in 1988. In August 2023, detectives finally learned their cold case victim’s name is David Ralph Kaziateck. He was 36 years old and living…
Ohio Placed More Than $7.65 Billion in Sports Bets in 2023
Ohioans wagered $7.65 billion in sports betting last year — the first year it was legal in Ohio. Ohio legalized sports betting in 2021 and the law went into when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1, 2023 — moments before the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in the final moments of…
East Palestine Wastewater Galvanizes Community Against Injection Well Disposal
It’s been a year since the East Palestine train derailment, and the accident’s impact stretches well beyond the borders of the eastern-Ohio village. About 75 miles away, a drilling company is using a deep injection well to dispose of wastewater from the crash’s cleanup efforts, despite staunch local opposition. That water has gone through extensive…
In Cleveland’s Fight to Address Growing Homeless Population, Outreach Workers Play a Frontline Role
When Dean Roff was homeless, circa 2006, his life was bifurcated into different realms: On the street, off the street. In the system, out of the system. On the wagon, off the wagon. Roff, then in his mid-thirties with a Charles Manson beard, was a man dealing with the troubles of his own itinerancy. If…
A Record 447,793 Ohioans Enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace in 2024
A record 477,793 Ohioans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace Plan in 2024, according to data compiled by the The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. This is an increase from last year’s report, which recorded only 294,644 Ohioans participating in the program, and more so from 2022, when 259,999 enrolled. Ohio’s…
Concord Casimir, Cleveland’s Pierogi-Eating Feline Answer to Punxsutawney Phil, Predicts Early False Spring
Around these parts, the most trusted animal prognostications on when winter will end and spring will begin rest not with that famous groundhog in Pennsylvania nor a newly re-introduced Buckeye Chuck, but with a cat and how it eats pierogies on Feb. 2. Concord Casimir, a feline found outside of St. Casimir Church in 2013,…
Fiery Passion and Purpose on Full Display in ‘At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen’ at Dobama
Have you ever gone to a play and wondered why the characters all speak in such tight, well-honed sentences—so unlike the usual clusterfuck of normal speech? Well, you won’t have that problem with At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen, the rhythmic romp of words and subject matter that is on fire these days…
Literary Lovers, a Valentine’s Day Event for Book Fans, Returns to Visible Voice
Book-loving couples looking for a way to escape the crowds while still celebrating their relationship are in luck. Once again, Visible Voice Books (2258 Professor Ave., 216-961-0084) in Tremont will be opening up its stacks for Valentine’s Day. Only a few lucky couples can reserve a spot for the special event on Wednesday, February 14th. “The event…
This Week in Cleveland Food News: Another East 4th St. Closure, Kurentovanje Kicks Off and More
– Stone Oven Bakery is changing hands in Cleveland Heights, and the good news is the new stewards are locals. Related – Scene dining editor Doug Trattner reviewed Lao Sze Chuan, the newly opened Szechuan restaurant at Pinecrest. Related – The Great Grog Bake Off is looking for contestants. Related – Kurentovanje kicks off this…
Ohio, Pennsylvania Mark the One Year Anniversary of East Palestine Train Crash
As the anniversary of Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine approaches, political leaders are taking stock in Ohio and Pennsylvania. East Palestine sits right along the Ohio Pennsylvania border, and on the evening of Feb. 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train more than a mile long leapt the tracks on its way out of…
Northeast Ohio’s New Area Code Will Be 436
Beginning March 1, new phone numbers issued in what is currently the 440 area code will be given a new set of digits fresh to the Northeast Ohio region: 436. That’s because the 440 area code, introduced in 1997, will become exhausted by the second half of 2024, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio announced last…
