Chef Jill Vedaa’s Lakewood Bistro Salt is Now Open
Update: Salt is open now, if you hadn’t noticed or heard, and has been for a couple of weeks. Full menu here. *** (Original story 6/29/16): As chef Jill Vedaa guides this writer around her soon-to-open restaurant, her excitement is evident and contagious. After 20 years of cooking professionally for other owners (at Bohemia, KeKa,…
BAYarts Celebrates Past Decade with 10 Artists’ Work
The latest exhibition at BAYarts celebrates 10 years of high quality art exhibitions with an invitational group exhibition showcasing 10 artists, each of whom has had a solo exhibition at BAYarts during the past decade. Artists participating in this special exhibition include: Edward Beyer, Judith Brandon, John Carlson, Mary Deutschman, George Kocar, Liz Maugans, Marsha…
Prophets of Rage’s Tom Morello and Tim Commerford Talk About Coming to Cleveland
“There’s evidence that suggests the music of Rage Against the Machine riles people up, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” says Rage guitarist Tom Morello, who brings his newly formed Prophets of Rage, a band that also features former Rage Against the Machine members Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk along with Public Enemy’s…
Downtown Starbucks Will Be Open 24/7 During RNC
[image-1]Two downtown Cleveland Starbucks locations will be open 24 hours a day during the Republican National Convention later this month. Cleveland 19 News reports that both the Playhouse Square location in the Hanna Building on Euclid and E. 14th and the Warehouse District location on W. 6th will remain open from Sunday July 17 through…
The Orchestra at Blossom and Four More Classical Music Events to Put On Your Calendar This Week
The Kent/Blossom Music Festival continues with faculty, student, and guest recitals this week. On Wednesday, July 6 at 7:30 pm in Ludwig Recital Hall at Kent State University, the Miami String Quartet — Benny Kim and Cathy Meng Robinson, violins, Scott Lee, viola, and Keith Robinson, cello — will keep its annual date with pianist…
Drunk Parents Have 15-Year-Old Son Drive Family on Two-Hour Trip to Cedar Point
Too drunk to take the wheel but still need to check out the new Valravn pronto? The solution to that quandary for an Ohio couple was having their 15-year-old son take the wheel of the family van to make the trip to Cedar Point from Columbus. The teen was pulled over for speeding on July…
Singer-Songwriter Clarence Bucaro Kicks Off Summer Tour with Beachland Show
A Chardon native, singer-songwriter Clarence Bucaro, who lives in New York by way of New Orleans after a stint studying political science and natural resources at Ohio State, thanks his brother for his interest in music. “I always gravitated toward music since I was really young,” he says. “The thing that led me into it…
Cleveland’s Newest Brewery, Goldhorn, Just Days From Opening
Cleveland’s newest brewery is just days from opening. Goldhorn Brewery (1361 E. 55th St.), which sits immediately adjacent to Sterle’s Country House, is phase two of developer Rick Semersky’s ambitious Hub 55 project. The brewery and taproom joins Café 55 inside a sprawling 30,000-square-foot complex. In preparation for the big day, brewer Joel Warger, who…
Weapons of Mass Creation Offers Buy-One Get-One Special This Week
[image-1]Although Weapons of Mass Creation Fest is still a month away, it always seems to sell out well in advance of the event itself. While we’ll have more details on the weekend’s events closer to this year’s event (Aug. 5 to 7), organizers are offering a very special deal this week. In fact, their website…
MadKnits Hosts ‘Monster Mania’ at Urban Orchid
With all the anxiety and anticipation surrounding this month’s Republican National Convention, an exhibition entitled Monster Mania at a flower shop sounds like a welcome relief — or par for the course, depending on your outlook. This month, Urban Orchid’s Hingetown location hosts the work of both local and visiting artists from throughout the East…
911 Call for “ISIS Supporter” in Avon Who Was Simply an Arabic Business Man Draws International Attention, Apologies
Update: Last week’s incident involving a 911 call for a supposed “ISIS supporter” at a hotel in Avon has now become an international incident of sorts. That’s because it wasn’t an ISIS supporter at all but just an Arabic businessman in traditional garb. That man’s name is Ahmed Al Menhali and he’s from the United Arab…
Karamu House Regains Nonprofit Status, Looks Ahead to New Season
If any local arts institution has mastered the art of the bounce-back, it’s got to be Karamu House. The nation’s oldest African-American cultural organization was reeling from a one-two punch. In April, the organization lost its tax-exempt status – just weeks after executive director Tony Sias shaved 15 staffers to save money. But the non-profit…
In Search of a Proper Northeast Ohio Fourth of July
I moved here last June so, while I technically spent last 4th of July in Cleveland, it was such a shitshow of a cluster of a day that I have decided that it does not count. My kid was feverish, snotty, and miserable. My husband was lying on the bathroom floor with a stomach full…
A Look Back at Timofey Mozgov’s Greatest Local Television Commercials
The Los Angeles Lakers are not only getting a new center with former Cavaliers player Timofey Mozgov (who the AP reports will sign a massive four-year, $64-million contract with the team), but a local television commercial phenom as well. Mozgov leaves behind a legacy of some great local television spots. There was the time he…
Dance at Mahall’s Tonight and Help the Ohio Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild Defend Activists Who Might Be Arrested During the RNC
The Ohio Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild will be on the front lines of First Amendment protection during the Republican National Convention. To do that, however, the NLG needs funds in order to do things like rent an office close to downtown to be near the action and help gather people who can step in and…
The Purge: Election Year is Fast, Funny and Incredibly Loud.
Lead-footed and trigger happy, The Purge: Election Year is fast, funny and incredibly loud. There is absolutely no better time for The Purge: Election Year to grace audiences and theaters. The film debuts Friday, day one of July Fourth Weekend, during perhaps the strangest election cycle in history. As you may have figured out from the title…
Some Trump Delegates Bringing Guns to RNC: “We’re Talking About ISIS”
A group of Pennsylvania delegates tied to Donald Trump’s candidacy have announced plans to bring guns to the Republican National Convention, according to this report from Mother Jones. Remember that, yes, guns are allowed within the RNC “event zone.” (BB guns, paintball guns and water guns, though? Nope.) James Klein, a pro-Trump delegate from the Harrisburg…
Backstage Pass: An Interview With Singer-Songwriter Eric Hutchinson
Having just finished a new studio release that’s due out in August, singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson, who’s known for catchy tunes such as the soulful “Rock & Roll” and “Watching You Watch Him,” performed last night at the Live at Aloft Hotels 2016 Tour in the XYZ bar located at the downtown Aloft hotel located on the…
Free Sugar Ray Concert Headlines Two-Day Warehouse District Block Party
This July Fourth weekend, you have any number of festive ways in which to celebrate. One of those should be celebrating with us. Saturday July 2 and Sunday July 3, Scene, Liquid, Tru Events, and Halo Live are taking over the Warehouse District at the corner of West 6th and St. Clair for Rock the Lot.…
Want to Know What Bars and Restos are Open or Closed During the RNC? Read This
[image-1]Lately here at Scene, we are getting asked the same question over and over: What bars and restaurants are closed for private events during the RNC and which ones will be open for regular schmos like us? You might expect the folks at Destination Cleveland, or the City of Cleveland, or us here at Scene…
Ray LaMontagne Charges Nautica Atmosphere with Electricity, Nuance
Last night was a statement show for Ray LaMontagne. Really, actually, this whole tour is. “This run of shows this summer is very special to me. This new album is very special to me,” he told the crowd last night during a brief acoustic set to start the show. And why not? LaMontagne sounds more…
Preview: 811, the Next Big Act from Moxie/Red Restaurant Group
For years, the mantra in fine dining has been “do one thing and do it well.” Heck, that’s how the folks from Moxie and Red have continued to prosper in a crowded, challenging market. But for their next big act, partners Brad Friedlander, Jonathan Bennett, Peter Vauthy and Jon Gross have tossed aside the playbook…
‘Our Kind of Traitor’ Offers a Fresh Take on the Mafia Movie
From The Godfather trilogy to Goodfellas, mafia movies have proven time and time again to be a success. Love and violence have a way of intertwining together in the creation of a full-bodied narrative that’s amplified in Our Kind of Traitor, now playing at the Cedar Lee Theatre. Our Kind of Traitor is a riveting…
Exclusive Video: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Cleveland-based Film “The Land”
Earlier this year, Cleveland native and director Steven Caple Jr.’s film “The Land” had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (to much acclaim, we should add). In case you forgot, the film follows four friends who dream of skateboarding professionally but catch the attention of a local drug Queen-pin instead. The film is set…
Kick off Fourth of July Weekend at the Van Aken Beer Garden Friday Night
Every other Friday, beginning tomorrow, July 1, and running until September 9, Scene will be celebrating the summer at the Van Aken Beer Garden. The outdoor, summer-long, family-friendly celebration will be held in the parking lot of the Van Aken Center in Shaker Heights. Festivities include crafts for all ages, music, local restaurants and food…
AWOLNATION Avoids ‘Sophomore Slump’ With Acclaimed Second Album
AWOLNATION had lined up a slew of dates for a headlining tour in support its latest album, Run, when Prophets of Rage, the new supergroup featuring members of Rage Against the Machine along with rappers Chuck D and B Real, asked them to provide support for their fall tour. As a result, the band canceled…
Michael Symon Won’t Let Donald Trump Into His Restaurants During RNC
If presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump plans on eating local when he’s in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention, he should steer clear of any of Michael Symon’s eateries. “There’s not a chance I’d let him into one of my restaurants,” the celebrity chef said with laughter during a phone interview with 92.3 The Fan Thursday morning.…
WRUW’s “The Good Nite Show w/ Little Triv” Pays Satirical Tribute to Cleveland’s Mike Trivisonno
Whether you tune in to listen to his daily rants or just stumble on his show after leaving 1100 on from the previous night’s Indians telecast, most Clevelanders intentionally or accidentally have listened to WTAM radio’s Mike Trivisonno at some point. Triv is legendary and notorious and the perfect fodder for satire, which means WRUW’s The Good…
The Scene Podcast With Aaron Sechrist Talking Weapons of Mass Creation Fest
Aaron Sechrist, aka OK Pants, has done Scene covers and a whole host of other local projects which you’ve probably seen. Aaron is also an entrepreneur who created his own career. He’s emceeing Weapons of Mass Creation 7 in Cleveland in August and we talked about that convention, its goals and what it can do…
Video: Akron Man Records High Speed Chase With Police on Cell Phone
Jessie Smith, a 27-year-old Akron man, allegedly led police on a 7 to 8 minute chase through the city in the early morning hours of July 28. He was in a 1995 Honda Civic with his girlfriend when they began arguing; she left the car, he drove on. As cops were interviewing her, Smith drove…
Cavs Parade, LeBron James, and How About The Tribe?! -The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Well, well, well, Cleveland, we’re still caught up in a heady buzz following last week’s Cavs mania. A championship parade hangover, to be sure. Our pals Dre and Zac return today to break down the post-Cavs wonderland and, almost more importantly right now, to talk about the Tribe’s current successes. How about the team’s longest…
A Chick-fil-A Kiosk is Opening in the Galleria Next Week
[image-1]You can now “Eat Mor Chikin” at a new Chick-fil-A kiosk in downtown Cleveland. Yes, you read that correctly. Now, keep in mind you can’t quite get all the offerings of a full-fledged restaurant, but we’ll take what we can get. The kiosk officially opens for business on Tuesday, July 5. It will have test…
Cleveland Eases Up on RNC Map and Brings Parade Route to East 9th
[image-1]After a federal judge intervened and overturned the city’s RNC security measures, Cleveland officials and ACLU officials sat down to hash out a settlement. Today, the city announced a smaller “event zone” and a different parade route that will bring participants back to East 9th, rather than languishing on Orange Avenue. The “event zone” refers…
Cleveland Says No to $50,000 Dallas Ads at Hopkins
The latest in an ongoing feud: Cleveland has reportedly denied $50,000 worth of advertising at Hopkins International Airport that the city of Dallas had purchased to remind RNC delegates what they were missing. Ads showcasing various Dallas attractions would have invited delegates arriving in Cleveland to a “Grand Old After Party” in the Texas city.…
A Dozen Indie Rock Bands to Play Inaugural AGUMBOOT Music Festival
Earlier this year, local promoter Thomas Fox, the guy who helped turn Brite Winter Festival into the mammoth music festival that it’s become, announced plans to launch AGUMBOOT Music Festival, a summer music festival slated to take place on the lakefront. Fox has just announced details for the festival. Because Fox was unable to use…
Report: Ohio Lacks Any Meaningful Data on Juvenile Court Cases
Wrapped up in red tape and regulations, it’s incredibly difficult to squeeze any meaningful information out of the juvenile justice system. Although this kind of data lockdown is meant to protect children, in the end it might be creating a blind spot. That’s the takeaway from a new report released this week by the Juvenile…
Maria Neil Art Project Opens Two Enticing Exhibitions This Week
Due to the short week between the Waterloo Arts Fest last weekend and July’s first Friday Walk All Over Waterloo event, most of the art district’s exhibitions remain on view this week. However, the Maria Neil Art Project is busy with two new exhibitions. “Never did I imagine that our little ‘art project’ would blossom…
Hard Rockers Disturbed Score Their Biggest Hit With a Cover of a Classic Rock Song
In 2010, the Chicago-based hard rock act Disturbed had just issued a new studio album, Asylum. Like the band’s previous three albums, it debuted at the top of the Billboard charts. In fact, Disturbed is one of only three bands to have four consecutive albums debut on top of the charts The group headlined the…
Who’s the Dick Behind the “Dick to Dick LLC” Billboard on Carnegie?
Drive by the intersection of Carnegie and East 18th and you’ll see this billboard. “Need Campaign Financing?” “Dick to Dick, LLC, Executive Consulting” “We’re not going to live forever, so why should the Earth? – Drew Dogan III” What’s all that about? The smarm, the straight-from-stock-photo lawyer shot, the dire language? Google Dick to Dick…
Here’s Pepsi’s New Uncle Drew Championship Ad
“Buckets aren’t given away,” intones a hooded, priestly Uncle Drew in Pepsi Max’s latest ad. “Buckets are earned.” Yes, Kyrie Irving’s elderly altar ego, who arrived in 2012, is here given the championship treatment in honor of the Cavaliers’ success. Though there’s not much new footage with Kyrie directly — most of it is shadowy…
Cru, a High-End French American Restaurant, to Rise at Corner of Chagrin and SOM
Demolition has begun on the site of the former Lee Road Nursery, a prominent parcel at the intersection of Chagrin Boulevard and SOM Center Road in Moreland Hills. When the construction process is complete, residents in the area will see a small-scale replica of a French country inn, according to plans posted by the Village…
Adega: The Restaurant at The 9 Fires Up the Grill for a Mediterranean Summer
Eddie Tancredi, the executive chef of the Mediterranean-focused Adega at The 9 (2017 East Ninth St., 216-331-6289, metropolitancleveland.com) says that competition drives him. After advancing in the WorldChefs Global Chef Challenge held in Ecuador last October, he’ll be representing the United States against 20 other countries at the next level in Greece this September. But…
Cleveland Artists Celebrate the City’s Historic Championship
Art and sports have rarely mixed in Cleveland quite like they did in the aftermath of last week’s Cavs’ championship. Artists throughout the city have been busy creating celebratory Cavs-themed work. It’s almost impossible to catalog it all, but we’ve picked out some favorites. Cleveland’s printmaking oasis, Zygote Press, has produced multiple editions of Cavaliers-inspired…
Plum Cafe and Kitchen is Doing Things More Than a Little Differently
Every time I’ve eaten chicken feet, the setting has been the same: some cacophonous Chinese restaurant with sticky seats, outdated carpet and dim sum carts rattling around a cavernous dining room. Dining at Plum is the polar opposite. Plucked from the pages of an interior design magazine, the venue is peaceful, elegant and stunning. It…
A Cleveland Man Fights to Prove His Innocence in a System That Appears Incapable of Correcting Its Own Mistakes
Dude was ready to smoke some water. The five bucks he’d started off with in his pocket had already stretched into a day of low-key devilment, steady drinking and smoking. Now, as the November night outside sharpened into the mid-30s, he was ready to get high. Again. For hours they’d been sitting around Puddin’s house…
Despite Scatological Obsession ‘Swiss Army Man’ Soars
One immediate benefit of Swiss Army Man, the zany scatological dramedy starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe, is that you’ll know right away if it’s your speed. Hank (Dano), seeing a body wash ashore on the deserted island where he’s been stranded, escapes from the noose with which he intends to hang himself. And the…
Film Spotlight: Unlocking the Cage
How do you differentiate yourself from an ape, chimpanzee or elephant? What, in your mind, makes you different than they? Aside from the obvious external differences, internally our brains all work on a very similar level, as repeatedly proven by science. Yet at the end of the day, we call ourselves humans while they remain…
Savage Love: Douche Moves
Dear Dan, Is it a super douchey move to pretend to be a lesbian to avoid unwanted male attention? I’m a straight single woman in my mid-thirties and a very plausible lesbian in terms of sartorial stereotypes. Occasionally a guy will hit on me in an awkward or creepy way and I’ll trot out a…
‘Sister Act’ Delights as the Opening Show of the 2016 Porthouse Season
What happens when a new musical opens at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse in California and becomes the highest grossing show ever at that venue? Obviously it’s grabbed up by a Broadway producer who opens it on the Great White Way. Right? Wrong. For the musical Sister Act, success took a far less direct path from…
