Here’s What You’re Legally Allowed to Light Up in Cleveland This Fourth of July
There are not a whole hell of a lot of fireworks you can legally light off in Cleveland this Fourth of July. Although state legislators have attempted to pass laws legalizing amateur firework displays for decades, nothing has yet to stick. The closest we are right now is a current Senate bill that is still pending…
Rep. Jim Jordan Denies Knowing History of Sexual Abuse at OSU, Claims Alleged Victim is Sending Him ‘Bullying’ Emails
Before Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (R-4th District) was a congressman, he was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University. Last week, former wrestlers accused the Trump ally “of failing to protect them from sexual abuse at the hands of a team doctor.” According to NBC News, the wrestlers claim that they suffered years of…
10 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, JULY 6 Women Rock CLE with the Whiskey Hollow/AJ & the Woods/Niights/Sam Fox/The Katy Last year, several local bands teamed up to launch the inaugural Women Rock CLE, a concert showcasing some of the best female-fronted bands in the city. The second incarnation of the event comes to House of Blues tonight. It features…
Rock Hall to Open New Exhibit, ‘Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball,’ on July 11
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has just announced that its new exhibit, Part of the Machine: Rock & Pinball, will open on Wednesday, July 11. The interactive exhibit showcases rock-themed, playable pinball machines as well as merchandise and artifacts that explore the “artistic portrayal of artists and bands.” “Rock ’n’ roll and pinball…
Visible Voice Books to Host Rock-A-Lot Pop-Up Party During Taste of Tremont
Two years ago, Visible Voice owner/founder Dave Ferrante held the inaugural Rock-A-Lot in the parking lot of what would become the new location of his bookstore. Now, the bookstore is up and running, and Visible Voice will again host Rock-A-Lot on Sunday, July 15, during this year’s Taste of Tremont. The free event, which takes…
Sin Tax Funds Will Be Gone Soon, Yet Stadiums Continue to Heedlessly Seek Major Upgrades
A few days before Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley rejected more than 20,000 signatures seeking a referendum on the Q Deal in 2017, the executive director of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization that owns and leases the Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field on behalf of taxpayers, announced that the Sin…
Get Your Christmas Ale Fix at Great Lakes’ Christmas in July Later this Month
For those not willing to wait until the fall for that first taste of Christmas Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co. is releasing the holiday specialty later this month. Back once again, the seasonal favorite will be offered at a Christmas in July party at the company’s Ohio City brewpub July 25 at 11:30 a.m. This is…
Here’s Your Chance to Appear on the ‘Today’ Show with the Cleveland Orchestra July 6
The Cleveland Orchestra and NBC’s Today show are looking for enthusiastic audience members this Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. at Cleveland’s Mall B, as the morning news program is broadcasting weather segments from this classic downtown Cleveland spot with meteorologist Dylan Dreyer. Audience members — who are invited to bring signs celebrating the orchestra’s 100th birthday or…
Mini Algae Blooms Arrive Earlier, Larger Than Normal as Lake Erie Temps Touch 80-Degrees
Mini algae blooms are a regular occurrence in the western basin of Lake Erie. They pop up early in the season and usually dissipate before the main bloom forms and hangs around until October. Those mini blooms have already been picked up on satellite imagery this year, and they’ve formed earlier in the season than…
For Cavs Fans in Los Angeles, Conflicted Feelings on LeBron’s Move to the Lakers
For Cavs fans in Cleveland, LeBron’s decision to join the Lakers means he’s leaving our team and our city. For Cavs fans in Los Angeles, LeBron’s decision means he’s leaving their team but coming to their city. There’s sadness, to be sure, but also some bittersweet feelings as well. Andrew Woods, a freelance writer and…
‘The Land’ is Finally Available to Watch on Netflix
2016’s The Land was a mega-hit amongst Clevelanders, and now the rest of the world will finally have the opportunity to see why it’s always been and always will be ‘Cleveland Against The World.’ Directed by Steven Caple Jr. (who is currently filming Creed II), The Land is a love-letter to this city from the perspective of people…
University Hospitals Denies Liability After Freezer Failure Destroys 4,000 Eggs and Embryos
The lawsuits filed against University Hospitals regarding the loss of approximately 4,000 eggs and embryos, after a cryopreservation system failure at the Ahuja Medical Center back in March, have begun and the first bout of documents show University Hospitals have denied liability. Documents filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, reveal hospital attorneys said families signed consent…
Expect Record Numbers to Hit the Road This Fourth of July in Cleveland
Northeast Ohioans can expect Fourth of July travel to be congested, hot and less cheap than in years past. Yet, more than 39 million people are expected to take to the roads nationwide starting today, including 2 million from Ohio, AAA reports. “This Independence Day will be one for the record books, as more Americans…
Local Rockers King Buu Show Off Wicked Sense of Humor on New Album
Transcending genres, King Buu’s new album, Songs from the Black Jacket Lounge, fuses bleak and sleazy vocals, aggressive ballads and dead tones to create a demented take on a garage rock album. The local band’s first full-length features abrasive storytelling, strung-out feedback and primal blues and rockabilly licks knotted with blistering bass and murderous drum…
Beachland Ballroom to Participate in the First U.S. Edition of Independent Venue Week
A week-long celebration of independently-owned venues. Independent Venue Week makes its U.S. debut this month following five editions in the UK. The Beachland is just one of 16 venues across the country that will participate, and it joins iconic clubs like First Avenue in Minneapolis and the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. in participating in…
The First-Ever Cleveland Burger Week Kicks Off July 30
The first-ever Cleveland Burger Week is set to fire up throughout the city later this month. From July 30 through Aug. 5, burger fanatics can score $5 burgers at 25-plus restaurants all over Cleveland, as well as craft beer pairings and off-menu specials. Each restaurant is asked to add its own one-of-a-kind twist to the…
The Wombats Like the Challenge of Opening for Weezer and the Pixies
One of those rare original bands to become popular, the Wombats, a three-piece indie rock group from Liverpool, speak to the wars waged in the human heart and mind with edgy, dark lyrics that somehow manage to provide a quirky sort of social commentary. With blatant British accents in their vocals and instrumental inspiration pulled…
Battery Park Pub to Open in Former Graffiti, Reddstone, Snickers… Space
Graffiti Social Kitchen closed its doors in the Battery Park neighborhood this past October. On Wednesday August 1, Battery Park Pub (1261 W. 76th St.) will take its place. Prior to Graffiti, the iconic Detroit Shoreway property was home to Reddstone, a casual pub that was a frequent destination for the new owner. “Reddstone used…
Mental Health Issues an Increasing Challenge for Ohio Jails
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Researchers say access to health and social services are vital to help prevent people struggling with mental health challenges or addiction from ending up behind bars. But are those who are incarcerated receiving the services they need to get back on track? A new report released by The Center for Community Solutions…
Well, at Least We Weren’t Planning to Pay for the Q Transformation with Cavs Playoff Revenue. OH WAIT.
On the same day that the greatest basketball player of all time signed a four-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cuyahoga County made its first debt payments on the bonds borrowed for the $140 million engorgement of the arena in which he will no longer regularly compete. According to payment schedules produced by KeyBanc…
Ohio Hasn’t Touched the $5 Million Allocated to Help At-Risk Youth
We’re seven months into 2018 and Ohio has yet to use the $5 million allocated this year to help youth on the cusp of removal from their homes or at risk of entering the justice or foster-care systems. Around a year ago, the Crisis Stabilization Fund was designated to help families pay for support groups, child…
The LeBron Banner is Coming Down Today
As it should, the LeBron banner will be coming down this week, Sherwin-Williams confirmed this morning. Why anyone would want it to remain up is a bit confusing. (Like, we’re don’t hate LeBron for his decision, but he also doesn’t play for Cleveland any longer.) Anyway, the company will evaluate what to do with the…
Local Singer-Songwriter Hannah Stak to Play Release Party at CODA
Local singer-songwriter Hannah Stak grew up listening to bluegrass CDs from her father’s record collection. She’d walk around the yard, listening to them in a MP3 player. Eventually, she started writing poems and then began writing songs; she learned to play guitar when she was a senior in college. She’s just completed recording her debut,…
FBI Arrests Suspect Who Talked About Fourth of July Terrorist Attack in Downtown Cleveland
The FBI announced this morning the arrest of Demetrius Pitts, aka Abdur Raheem Rahfeeq, who has been charged with material support of a foreign terrorist organization. Authorities say in discussions with someone who he believed to be an associate of al Qaeda, but who was really an undercover FBI agent, Pitts talked about conducting a…
Common Takes Tri-C JazzFest Audience on a Trip Down Memory Lane
It’s an indisputable fact that rapper/actor Common is one of the most highly respected elder statesmen in hip-hop. After he debuted back in 1992 with his first album, Can I Borrow a Dollar, it has been quite the journey for the Chicago native. Last night, the rapper shared some of that journey at the State…
Ray LaMontagne Taps Into a Classic ’60s Vibe at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
There are concerts you stand for and ones you sit for. Singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne is the kind you sit for. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. For nearly two hours last night at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, LaMontagne performed a subdued set that drew heavily from his latest album, Part of the Light. Wearing…
Van Aken District Lands Banter, On the Rise, Brassica, and Craft Collective as Shaker Development Takes Shape
When the Van Sweringen brothers were developing the idyllic Village of Shaker Heights in the early 20th century, they fashioned a residential community largely devoid of industry and commercial districts. This “garden city” was to be a leafy oasis that stood in stark contrast to the crowded, cacophonous downtown Cleveland, which was easily accessible by…
Ohio is About to Get a $2 Billion Entertainment Park Bigger Than Disneyland
A new entertainment park is about to give Cedar Point a run for its money, as developers announced plans yesterday for a $2 billion entertainment park outside of Columbus in Delaware County. Planet Oasis is being billed as the “ultimate entertainment experience,” according to developer David Glimcher. The completed park is expected to be 350…
Greater Cleveland Aquarium to Celebrate International Women’s Dive Day in July
Last year, the Greater Cleveland Aquarium hosted one of the more than 900 Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) events that were held in 85 countries around the globe. On July 21, the aquarium will again join PADI in celebrating International Women’s Dive Day with special programming. “Diving is definitely a valued skill here,” says…
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria to Offer 20 Cent Desserts in July
This fall, the Brazilian-American restaurant Texas de Brazil Churrascaria that has locations in Westlake and Woodmere will celebrate its 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, it’ll offer 20 cent desserts with the purchase of a meal on every Monday in July. During July and into September, the steakhouse will also add special quarterly menu additions…
A Series of Coming Soon Signs for Fake Businesses Ends in a One-Night Only Pop-Up Exhibition Tonight at 3904 Lorain Ave.
I did a quick u-turn on my bike after I passed this sign on Lorain Ave. near West 41st St. the other day. We are in the information gathering business, after all, with dining editor who would be interested in the apparently imminent arrival of a new restaurant in SoLo, one that would specialize in…
Cleveland Couple Sentenced For Death and Backyard Burial of 5-Year-Old Special Needs Child
Common Pleas Court Judge Nancy Margaret Russo broke down in tears for the first time in her career as she sentenced Larissa Rodriguez and her boyfriend Christopher Rodriguez for their roles in the death and backyard burial of their 5-year-old special needs child, Jordan. “I know as a judge I’m not supposed to show emotion…
‘Guns: An American Conversation’ Special Section Coming to Plain Dealer Sunday
Sunday, a special section about guns will appear in the Plain Dealer. Titled “Guns: An American Conversation,” the section is a joint project of Advance publications, Spaceship Media, TIME, and others. (The PD, Cleveland.com and Sun News comprise Advance Ohio). The material for the special section was gathered at a two-day conversation hosted by the…
Singer-Pianist Jim Brickman to Bring his Holiday Tour to Severance Hall in December
For singer-pianist Jim Brickman, the holidays tend to be a busy time of the year. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he has said he was “a little bit of a black sheep,” Brickman released his first Christmas album some 20 years ago and has celebrated the holiday with a national tour…
Iconic and Controversial Cleveland Sci-Fi Author Harlan Ellison Has Died at 84
Harlan Ellison is considered perhaps one of the most fascinating authors of science-fiction and fantasy both in work, and as an individual. The Cleveland-born writer penned a wildly impressive career spanning over six decades and accumulated a variety of awards for his work. As a teenager, he rode the rails with hobos, joined Martin Luther King…
Mayflies are Swarming Cleveland, and That’s Actually a Good Thing
First it was pesky swarms of midges, but now hordes of mayflies are plaguing Cleveland from the shores of Lake Erie. So many, in fact, that the National Weather Service Cleveland picked up the “invasion” on its doppler radar today. See that large area of green just off the shoreline? Those are mayflies! There are…
High School Singers Get Chance at $10,000 Scholarship Through Shining Star CLE
The scholarship singing competition Shining Star CLE is back in action this year, once again offering a grand prize of $10,000. Any high school student in grades 9-12 (as of October 2018) in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage or Summit counties (including home-schooled students) are eligible to enter this entry-fee free performance based…
Old Brooklyn’s Drink Bar and Grill to Become Opal on Pearl
For the past five years, the Drink Bar and Grill has served as a popular watering hole for the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. That bar closed this past weekend. But the property won’t sit idle for long as industry veteran Tony Mellon has purchased the business and will open Opal on Pearl (4250 Pearl Rd.) in…
Ohio is About to Ban Sexting for Anyone Under 19
Yesterday, the Ohio House voted unanimously in favor of House Bill 355, a bill prohibiting anyone younger than 19 from sexting and establish a second-chance program for first time offenses. First time offenses would be considered a misdemeanor punishable by eight hours of community service, though judges would have discretion to dish out alternative sentences.…
You Can Soon Enter Lottery for $10 ‘Hamilton’ Tickets in Cleveland
All is not lost for people who didn’t already nab tickets to the upcoming Cleveland run of the smash-hit musical Hamilton at Public Square. You can soon enter a lottery for $10 tickets for every performance of the show. Of course only 37 lottery tickets will be sold per performance. Each lottery will begin two…
The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde Explains How She’s ‘Cleared the Decks’ to Concentrate on a Variety of Projects
The Pretenders’ singer Chrissie Hynde has a number of new projects currently in the works. She recently started painting again, picking up a hobby from her youth. And she’s become quite prolific at it too, though she admits she’s not officially “trained.” A book featuring about 175 photos of her oil paintings will come out…
Ohio Doesn’t Need a ‘Pastor Protection’ Law Because Freedom of Religion is Already Enshrined in the U.S. Constitution
[image-1] Yesterday, the Ohio House of Representatives approved a preposterous and unnecessary bill to “protect pastors” from having to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies. Crucially, the bill also grants religious societies these same protections, so a Knights of Columbus lodge, for example, that is rented to the public may now be denied for marriage celebrations if…
Fourth Annual FireFish Festival to Take Place in Lorain in September
Launched four years ago, the FireFish Festival transforms downtown Lorain into a stage for vibrant arts performances. This year’s fourth annual event will take place from 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, and Saturday, Sept. 22. Oreganizers promise there will be even more diversity in art and performances. The event will conclude with…
Singer-Songwriter Dan Tyminski Discusses the Theme of His Latest Album, ‘Southern Gothic’
While growing up in Vermont, country singer-songwriter Dan Tyminski used to attend bluegrass concerts and festivals. His parents, he says, encouraged his love for the music. “Any live music they could hear, they went to see, so I got a lot of live exposure from my earliest memories on,” says Tyminski in a recent phone…
Cleveland May Have New Air Quality Champion in Ward 2’s Kevin Bishop, Who is Super Into Electric Cars
Cleveland Ward 2 Councilman Kevin Bishop likened air pollution to cigarette smoke Wednesday morning, at a Willard Park press event announcing the release of a new report by the Environment Ohio Research & Policy Center. “I don’t know about anybody else,” the councilman said, “but when I’m in the presence of a smoker, it’s kind…
Report: 100,000 Ohio Kids May be Missed in 2020 Census
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio is doing better at improving the lives of children, according to the new 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book. However, the report also warns progress could be undermined by a 2020 census under-count. The annual snapshot of child well-being includes an estimate that 100,000 Ohio children live in areas deemed by the…
Christmas in July Comes to Tremont’s ‘A Christmas Story’ House
As we’re nearly halfway to Christmas, Tremont’s A Christmas Story House & Museum is ready to celebrate. While the house (3159 W. 11th St.) commemorates the holiday season no matter the month, its annual Christmas in July festivities feature special guests and goodies for all come Saturday, July 21. This year’s guest stars include Patty Johnson, a…
More Than 15 Percent of This Year’s Transgender Homicides Have Happened in Cleveland
The body of Keisha Wells, 58, was identified by a family member at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office after being killed on Detroit Avenue near West 87th Street early Sunday morning. Wells’ body was discovered a few blocks away from Cocktails, one of the last remaining gay bars in Cleveland, despite it’s arguably “rough” location.…
Cleveland Kraut to Replace Familiar Glass Jars with Eco-Friendly Pouches
Cleveland Kraut has just announced the rollout of a new standup pouch that will replace its familiar glass jars. The purpose of the transition is multifaceted, say the principals. When they begin landing on store shelves in July, the lighter stand-up pouches are not only recyclable, they also greatly reduce the company’s carbon footprint during manufacturing…
Bronze Radio Return to Headline Fifth Annual NEOCycle Music Fest
The indie rock act Bronze Radio Return formed ten years ago and took its name from an old radio that singer-guitarist Chris Henderson used to listen to. Since issuing its self-titled debut in 2008, the group has steadily toured and recorded. A festival favorite, the group will headline the fifth annual NEOCycle Music Fest that…
Was Last Night’s DUI Checkpoint at W. 150th and Lorain Used to Target Undocumented Immigrants?
Social media was a flurry last night after a spontaneous Tuesday night checkpoint at West 150th and Lorain appeared with reports of Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) trucks spotted in the nearby K-Mart parking lot. While DUIBlock.com confirmed the spot as a sobriety checkpoint, many Clevelanders spent hours on Facebook and Twitter arguing about whether or not…
The Neighbourhood Captivates Sold-Out Crowd at House of Blues
A hip-hop-meets-indie band, the Neighbourhood doesn’t sound like any other band, and last night at House of Blues, it captivated a sold-out crowd with its unique style. Frontman Jesse Rutherford commanded attention effortlessly. The wildly energetic crowd was in the palm of his hand for the entirety of the hour-and-a-half set. Teenage girls crowded the…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Weekend (June 27-July 3)
WED 06/27 United Way of Greater Cleveland’s Community Wide Event This summer, Welshly Arms is plenty busy. The local band will support Thirty Seconds To Mars on the last leg of its tour, and it will perform at festivals such as the Hangout Music Festival, BottleRock, Bunbury Music Festival, Firefly Music Festival, Summerfest, Lollapalooza and…
An Israeli Family is Tormented by Uncertainty on Their Independence Day Cookout
We have never had a war fought on our homeland. Still, every Labor Day when you hear the sonic booms in the clear blue sky, you halfway wonder if the bombing has begun. No, it turns out it’s just the Cleveland Air Show’s annual flyovers. But in other countries, such as Israel, those deafening whooshes…
‘Sicario’ Followup ‘Day of the Soldado’ Loses Steam
Released three years ago, the artsy crime drama Sicario didn’t exactly cry out for a sequel (and it only generated moderate revenue at the box office). Helmed by the French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, who’s since gone on to direct Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, and written by Taylor Sheridan (Hell or High Water, Wind River),…
Climbing Documentary Makes it Easy to Understand Humans’ Obsession With Mountains
There was a story in Sunday’s Plain Dealer, on the front page of the Metro Section, about concerned conservationists in Geauga County and their beef with the parks district there. The conservationists were exercised about “extreme” recreation options now available at a park in Clarion Township. Why sully the precious natural acres with ziplines and…
Larder is a Traditional Jewish Deli With a Twist
Some of my fondest memories as a child revolve around trips to Jack’s or Corky & Lenny’s, back when I was too short to see over the tops of the coolers. But that was fine with me because all the real action was right there at eye level: plump knishes, glistening smoked fish, pancake-size latkes,…
Band of the Week: Violet Ray
MEET THE BAND: Billy Somerville (vocals, guitar), Mike Layton (guitar, backup vocals), Rich Kauffman (bass, backup vocals), Ryan Gerhart (drums) A GROUP OF HOOLIGANS: The group’s roots go back to the punk rock scene of the ’90s. Somerville used to sing in the Hooligans, a popular local punk band that broke up in 2000. At a…
Savage Love: Both & Baggage
When I started dating my husband, he told me he had a low libido. I said I could deal with that. We waited several months before having sex, and then after we started, it was infrequent and impersonal. Then we got married, and suddenly he had no libido at all. Despite being diagnosed and successfully…
