The Most Popular Travel Destinations for Clevelanders in Summer 2017
Cleveland is developing into a tourist destination of its own, but that doesn’t mean folks here don’t want to flee the city every once in a while, especially during June through August. Jenene Mealey, Director of Outside Sales at Canary Travel, said the top summer vacation spots for their Cleveland area clients are Cancun and…
ekoostik hookah Founding Member John Mullins Has Died
John Mullins, a founding member, singer and guitarist for Ohio’s beloved jam band godfathers, ekoostik hookah, died unexpectedly yesterday. He performed off and on with the band since its inception in 1991, ultimately leaving for good in 2010. (He sat in with the band here and there in the ensuing years.) Along the way, Mullins…
Ohio Light Opera, ChamberFest Cleveland and ENCORE Chamber Music Performances Launch This Week
Three large cycles of performances — ChamberFest Cleveland, ENCORE Chamber Music, and Ohio Light Opera — are set to launch this week. Diana and Franklin Cohen’s imaginative ChamberFest Cleveland begins its 11-concert cycle of concerts on Thursday, June 15 at 7:30 pm in Mixon Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music. “Cycles — Phases” features…
Brothers Lounge’s 10 X 3 Showcase to Celebrate Its Sixth Anniversary
Local singer-songwriter Brent Kirby models 10 x 3, the weekly singer-songwriter showcase he hosts at Brothers Lounge, after off-night jam sessions he would attend when he lived in Nashville just over a decade ago. One such event was called 12 on 12th, and it featured 12 bands playing the club 12th and Porter. Bands would…
Women Dressed Like Handmaids in Columbus Today To Protest Kasich’s 19th Abortion Restriction
Building off the popularity of Hulu’s hit TV show The Handmaid’s Tale, women in states like Missouri and Texas have protested various reproductive rights bills and laws dressed in the white bonnets and blood red robes first depicted in Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel. Today, women in Ohio followed suit. ProgressOhio, a community organization based in Columbus, filmed…
A Conversation With Master Luthier Jeffrey Elliott
Jeffrey Elliott believes there are two kinds of guitar-makers: technical and intuitive. He places himself in the latter category. “Any time I was on the fence about something and I did the thing that logic dictated, I was wrong,” Elliott said. Elliott often encounters situations in his workshop where he needs to make a design…
Cleveland Police Announce Arrest in Mr. Cars Double Homicide, Investigation Remains Open
The Cleveland Division of Police announced Tuesday that they have made an arrest in the case of a double homicide at an auto lot in Collinwood. Owners Michael Kuznik and Trina Tomola-Kuznik, as well as their dog, were shot and killed at the Mr. Cars lot on Good Friday. Police say they won’t release any…
Cuyahoga County Overdose Death Prediction Climbs to 806 for This Year
With the latest data now available from May, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has increased the overdose death prediction for 2017 from 775 to 806, a sign that the crisis continues to grow worse with each day. More than 250 people have fatally overdosed on opiates in Cuyahoga County this year so far, with a…
Mercury Theater Company’s ‘Carousel’ is Simple and Rich
If you’re looking for reasons to see Carousel again, the iconic musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that opened on Broadway more than 70 years ago, you won’t have to search far. The show features signature R&H touches, such as the surprising “Carousel Waltz” that opens the show, without a word being sung…
Arrested Suspect in North Royalton Murder Case Could be Connected to North Canton Killings
Brunswick Police have apprehended the man suspected of killing three women in North Royalton this weekend, and say that may not be the full extent of his crimes. A nearly nine-hour standoff concluded this morning around 5:30 a.m. between police and the 45-year-old man, George Brinkman. Police tracked him to the house on Valley Forge…
Here’s How You Can Score a Free Taco Bell Taco Today
While we’re all still mourning last night’s terrible Cavs loss, you can at least drown your sorrows in some free Taco Bell. The chain is handing out complimentary Doritos Locos Tacos (one per person) today nationwide, as part of their “Steal a Game, Steal a Taco” campaign, as the Warriors won (or “stole”) a game on…
Cavs Margin For Error Too Thin To Survive Non-Call on Durant
It wasn’t their night. On their night, the Cavaliers could have taken apart the Warriors like Legos. On their night the Cavs are even more explosive than Golden State (as Cleveland’s record-breaking Game 4 performance demonstrated). They might be Warriors, but the King’s forays to the hoops left them as befuddled as Monty Python’s watchtower…
Singer-Songwriter Gavin DeGraw to Launch His Trio Tour in Cleveland
Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw got his start in the 2000s when TV shows such as One Tree Hill provided good exposure for sensitive singer-songwriters. While One Tree Hill is now defunct, DeGraw has kept at it; just last year, he released his latest effort, Something Worth Saving. Now, he’s announced dates for his first-ever “intimate trio”…
In Advance of Her Agora Concert, Banks Talks About How Personal Growth Influenced the Songs on ‘The Altar’
Singer-songwriter Jillian Rose Banks started writing songs when she was 15 because she “needed an outlet.” That approach has served her well. Her debut album, 2014’s Goddess, debuted near the top of the Billboard charts and yielded four singles, including “Brain,” “Goddess,” “Drowning” and “Beggin for Thread.” Her latest album, last year’s The Altar, builds…
Otep Brings Its Politically Charged Resistance Tour to the Agora
Politically minded Otep singer Otep Shamaya says she never thought highly of bullies (so you can imagine what she thinks of President Trump). “To me, that’s the root of all my activism,” she says in a recent phone interview from an Atlanta tour stop. The band brings its Resistance World Tour to the Agora Ballroom…
Council Weighs in on City’s Ballsy Legal Maneuver in Q Deal: Suing Itself
Neither side has a “slam dunk argument” in the Q Deal controversy, Cleveland.com reported last week, in a story that topped the PD Sunday edition’s front page. The case “could hinge on whether Cleveland’s charter is in line with the Ohio Constitution, and whether actions the city has taken after the legislation was approved on…
Mayor Jackson’s Grandson Indicted on Felony Gun Charge
Frank Q. Jackson, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s 20-year-old grandson, was arrested last Friday on charges of carrying a handgun without a concealed carry permit. The offense is a fourth-degree felony. According to court records, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police pulled up behind “a 2001 Ford F150 that was blocking traffic in the 4200 block of Green Court,” reports Cleveland.com The…
Old School Jazz Initially Inspired Miike Snow Singer Andrew Wyatt
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, New York produced several significant pop and punk acts, including Talking Heads, the Ramones and Blondie. But for Andrew Wyatt, the singer in the indie pop act Miike Snow, jazz had a significant role in shaping his music. On tour in support of last year’s breakthrough album, iii,…
Cleveland Police to “Chill” With Residents This Summer
The old “don’t take free ice cream from strangers” rule remains in effect this summer, but you can accept the sweet treat from Cleveland Police officers. This summer, they’re launching a “Let’s Chill Together” campaign, providing free ice cream for children in local neighborhoods courtesy of Cleveland’s own Pierre’s. Kicking off yesterday, when Cleveland weather…
Zygote Press Hosts 24-Hour Monoprint Marathon This Weekend
What do you get when you combine the unique, spontaneous process of monoprinting, a technique of “painting” individual prints on paper using ink on plexiglass, with a 24-hour marathon? Zygote Press’ Monothon, a 24-hour printmaking marathon from 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, until 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 18. “Zygote has always brought in…
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Celebrate Their 40th Anniversary with a Rousing Performance at the Q
One of the greatest creative partnerships in rock ’n’ roll almost wasn’t — at least that’s the way Tom Petty tells the story. Midway through last night’s sold out show at Quicken Loans Arena, Petty took a moment to introduce each of his longtime traveling comrades, the Heartbreakers. When he got to Campbell, he spun…
Zac Brown Band Puts Its Versatility on Display at Blossom
With its latest album, Welcome Home, which came out earlier this year, Zac Brown Band returns to the more traditional country sound it adopted on its 2008 debut, The Foundation. As a result, it made perfect sense that the group would occasionally play stripped down segments during last night’s terrific two-plus hour performance in front…
Local Dance Group to Perform Concert Inspired by David Bowie
In tonight’s performance, The Best of Bowie, local dance troupe Dancing Wheels will perform four works inspired by David Bowie’s music. The night will also feature the Cleveland premiere of Labyrinth: A Tribute. The performance will also include a presentation by CoolCleveland’s Thomas Mulready, who’ll present a history of the Thin White Duke’s career. For…
Cavs Unleash Pent-up Offense, Spoil Warriors’ Perfection with Record Barrage
Every journey begins with that modest first step, and the Cavaliers finally took theirs. Like any artist, they want to top their last effort, so you’ll excuse them for seeking a larger challenge than trailing 3-1 to a 73-win team. (After all, their medium’s drama.) After watching last night’s performance, you wouldn’t need David Blaine…
World’s Only All-Female Iron Maiden Tribute Act to Make Local Debut at the Beachland
During hair metal’s glory days, the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles was the place to be. At that time, Linda McDonald (aka Nikki McBurrain), who currently plays drums with the all-female Iron Maiden tribute act the Iron Maidens, played in the Los Angeles-based metal act Phantom Blue. She has fond memories of that time period.…
We Need a New Spark: Author Dan Egan Urges Action on Great Lakes Health
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter Dan Egan recently published The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, and he’s hoping that the conversation it produces is as much as a spark as the Cuyahoga River fires were in the nascent environmentalist movement 50 years ago. He spoke at the City Club of Cleveland today as part of…
Big Win for Plaintiffs in Nanny School Sex Abuse Case, Plus Victory for First Amendment
In what attorneys are calling a victory for state policies against child abuse and a vindication for the First Amendment, Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld the trial victory of a former student and former employee of the Chagrin Falls-based English Nanny & Governess School. The appeals court also found that trial court judge…
Few Answers in Officer-Involved Shooting of Brendan Hester in Ashtabula
Brendan Hester, 23, remains in critical condition in the MetroHealth ICU after being shot twice by an Ashtabula police officer in the early hours of June 2. The particular sequence of events that led to his shooting and the consequences for those involved are less clear. Police responded to a 9-1-1 call that morning at…
Aptly Named All Access Cafe Offers Quick-Serve, Chef-Driven Fare to Rock Hall Visitors
Given that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has more than 50 live concerts, shows, events and themed happy hours planned for the main plaza, All Access Café could not have come at a better time. The brand new operation replaces and vastly improves upon the original quick-serve food stand on an upper level…
Flat Out Fridays Returns to the East Bank of the Flats
The East Bank of the Flats features a slew of great bars and restaurants right on the river. To take advantage of the terrific location, the venues have partnered for Flat Out Fridays, a summer concert series featuring “sweet treats, beverages and other outdoor entertainment.” The Spazmatics will perform at tonight’s event. Flat Out Fridays…
Steel Yard Sound System Launches Its Warehouse Parties This Month
Jamaica’s sound systems were the forebears for modern day DJ and hip-hop culture. Sound engineers like King Tubby and Lee “Scratch” Perry came onto the scene and pioneered a new genre known as dub. They twisted and manipulated pre-recorded sound in a way that was never done before, often removing the vocals (known as the…
Feel-Good Flick ‘Megan Leavey’ Presents an Unconventional Love Story
Based on the true events concerning Marine Megan Leavey and the combat dog that accompanied her to Fallujah in 2005 and then to Ramadi in 2006, Megan Leavey should be a better movie than it is. The source material is good stuff. The film, not so much. The movie, which opens Friday area-wide, settles for…
Music Box Supper Club to Host Whiskey Tasting Prior to Tonight’s Concert
[image-1]Tonight at 6, the Music Box Supper Club hosts a special rooftop whiskey tasting in advance of a concert by the Americana act Whiskey Gentry and Angela Perley & the Howlin’ Moons. The club will sell whiskey flights for $20. Whiskey Pete & Friends will be on hand to tell you all about the three-sample…
Lakewood Police Respond to Mom’s Lawsuit Against Officer Who Broke Her Daughter’s Jaw
Earlier this week, Lakewood mom Sabrina Robinson filed a lawsuit against the city and Madison Branch library due to a police officer’s alleged abuse of her teenage daughter there last year. Now, the Lakewood police have released a statement regarding the lawsuit against Officer Kevin Jones, who allegedly broke the girl’s jaw after he says…
New Helen Hunt Horror Flick Set to Film in Cleveland This Summer
[image-1]Helen Hunt is soon coming to Cleveland, Variety reports. Not for a getaway vacation, but to begin work on her new horror movie, I See You. After the recent success of films like Don’t Breate and Get Out, it’s no wonder the Academy Award winner is hopping on the horror film bandwagon. Here, Hunt stars…
End of the Line for B Spot, Rosie + Rocco’s at Jack Casino
Five years ago last month, Jack Casino (formerly Horseshoe Casino) opened its doors in downtown Cleveland. And ever since then, diners could count on reliable quick-serve meals at Rosie & Rocco’s, chef Rocco Whalen’s Italian concept, and Michael Symon’s B Spot. Those two options closed at the tail end of May when their contracts expired,…
Jeff Johnson, Kevin Kelley in Testy Email Battle over Minimum Wage, Ballot Initiatives
A Cleveland mayoral candidate is waging an ideological war, via email, with a presumed future mayoral candidate on the subject of the city charter, the Ohio Revised Code, and recent hot-button issues at City Hall. The combatants are, in one corner, Jeff Johnson, the “Neighborhoods” mayoral candidate who is backed by the powerful SEIU. In…
Euclid Family Who Neglected Bedridden, 97-Pound Husband and Father Receive Sentences
A Euclid woman and her three children have received sentences in the neglect of their bedridden husband and father, Richard Brichacek. Wife, Deborah Brichacek, 60, was sentenced to seven years in prison and charged with “involuntary manslaughter and failing to care for a functionally impaired person,” Cleveland.com reports. The Brichaceks went with a plea deal…
Katie Couric and Matthew McConaughey Talk Cleveland Resurgence, Schools in Episode Clip
Katie Couric came to Cleveland last month to film an episode of “Cities Rising,” her series on resurgence and growth in (formerly?) distressed cities across the country. She even toured the West Side Market with Scene’s own Doug Trattner. You can watch clips from the episode here. Enjoy all the AARP commercials! In the above,…
9 Concerts to Catch This Weekend in Cleveland
FRIDAY, JUNE 9 Zac Brown Band While singer-guitarist Zac Brown caters to a country crowd, he and his band can play a bit of everything. When they played at Blossom two years ago, they covered Charlie Daniels’ Band redneck anthem “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” offered up a grunge-y rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”…
Warpaint Keeps Things Dark and Moody at the Beachland
The female foursome Warpaint that is Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Jenny Lee Lindberg, and Stella Mozgawa took the stage last night through a thick foggy haze. Since the band was backlit by simple white lights, you barely could make out the shapes of their faces as their dark tonal pulse began filling up the room.…
Cavs Lose Focus for Four Minutes and Warriors Bury Them
We romanticize our youth because there’s no better time in life than when you didn’t know any better. Similarly, when you live the dream for long enough, you don’t believe you’ll ever wake up. Last night any Cavs fans not woke to Golden State historic roster talent had to escape from the burning wreckage of…
Eight People Charged for Illegal Deer Poaching in Broadview Heights
Oh deer. Investigators with the Ohio Division of Wildlife uncovered an illicit deer poaching ring that involved eight people and over a ton of meat sold. Those charged, as of June 6, are John Zayac, who appears to have been the ringleader, Todd Neczeporenko, John Stofam, Terrance Ankrom, Rebecca Gregerson, Tina Ankrom, John Frost and Craig…
Ohio Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against East Cleveland Dump Owners to Recoup Clean-Up Costs
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine has sued the owners of Arco Recycling in East Cleveland — the Noble Road dump — in an effort to recoup the $6-million Ohio EPA clean-up costs. While the clean-up process will begin later this summer and the budget line item is expected to sail smoothly through the legislature, taxpayers…
Francisco Lindor’s New Balance Sneaker Debuts at Xhibition Thursday Night
When it comes to sneakers the NBA might be king but that doesn’t mean that other sports don’t and can’t get into the game every now and then. Which brings us to Francisco Lindor, who left Under Armour for New Balance last year, and his first major release with his new brand is this week.…
Due to Construction, Bike Lane Now Closed on Detroit-Superior Bridge
After some hubbub on Twitter about the appearance of orange barrels in the bike lane on the Detroit-Superior Bridge, Bike Cleveland managed to get an explanation from Cleveland’s visionary traffic engineer, Andy Cross. “You are correct about this being a priority bike route into downtown,” Cross wrote in an email to Bike Cleveland. “Unfortunately, the…
The Q Unleashes New Cavs Mural for NBA Finals Games
You may not be able to land a photo with the actual Cavs players this week, but here’s the next-best thing: A 9-by-10-foot mural (designed by Elliot Gerard and John “Graph” Boyce) depicting the team, will stand outside the Q’s Arcade entrance for the next two NBA finals games tonight and Friday. For the mural,…
La Bohéme and Five More Classical Music Events Not to Miss This Week
This week’s picks are a mix of one-off performances and series events — either involving classical guitars or trombones in one venue or multiple performances of the same program around the area. Liza Grossman’s Contemporary Youth Orchestra has invited Melissa Etheridge to headline its annual “Rock the Orchestra” concert at Severance Hall on Wednesday, June…
The Great Lakes Are Being Poisoned By Poop
Pam Taylor, a woman I admire a great deal, lives in a rural community in Lenawee County, not far from the Ohio border, a place where her family has been farming since 1837. You wouldn’t call her lifestyle wild and crazy. A retired teacher in late middle age, she celebrated Memorial Day by taking her…
Innovative ‘Red Ash Mosaic’ Explores the Mysteries of Death at Cleveland Public Theatre
We humans have a strange relationship with death, and that’s as it should be. After all, we’re the only animals (as far as we know) who are aware of our own mortality. That does tend to focus the mind. The minds at Cleveland Public Theatre have been focused on this topic fairly frequently over the…
Raspberries Live Album Due Out in August
On November 26, 2004, members of the Raspberries, arguably one of the best bands to ever come out of Northeast Ohio, put aside their well-documented differences to play a reunion show at House of Blues. That show would launch a reunion tour. Now, Omnivore Recordings has just announced it’ll release Pop Art Live, a 2-CD/digital set that…
Wow the Warriors Are Good, Plus Thad Matta’s Exit — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac are back and they’re discussing the Warriors’ dominance in the first two games of the NBA Finals. Beyond that, they dive into Thad Matta’s exit from Ohio State, the danger of counting LeBron out and where the NBA might be headed.
Fun in a Box is Back, Baby!
Folks of a certain age will recall with fondness sitting on a low brick bench on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights hunched over a small white cake box layered with fried chicken wings, french fries and tangy barbecue sauce. The menu item’s name – “Fun in a Box” – was an apt descriptor to be…
Savage Love: Get Out
Dear Dan, I hate how my boyfriend has sex with me. It used to be fine, but a year ago he started adding new moves he obviously got from porn: smacking my pussy with an open palm, vigorously rubbing my clit, wrapping his hands around my neck. I’m not anti-porn; what bothers me is that…
‘I, Daniel Blake’ Pits Little Guy Against Bureaucracy
You’ve probably already seen Wonder Woman. And if you haven’t, you ought to. Gal Gadot kicks ass. The film is a transformative and long overdue installment in the superhero genre — it stars a woman and is also directed by one, go figure — but it remains, in the end, a big, messy superhero movie.…
Spotlight: ‘It Comes at Night’
It Comes at Night, the taut new thriller from writer-director Trey Edward Shults (Krisha), commences with a particularly intense scene in which Paul (Joel Edgerton), his wife Sarah (Carmen Ejogo) and their son Travis (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) must kill Sarah’s father, who has contracted an incurable disease and been quarantined in one section of their…
It’s the Survival of the Fittest on Campus in ‘Really Really’ at the Beck Center
There are plenty of reasons to dislike and distrust college kids. For one thing, they’re young. For another thing — well, never mind, that’s enough. But the young people in Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo will really, really make you hate them more than you already do. Written when the playwright was in his…
A Sandwich Shop from the Owner of Jack Flaps and a Quick-Serve Jamaican Joint Bolster the North Collinwood Food Scene
East 185th Street, which also happens to be the border between Cleveland and Euclid, recently snagged a couple new quick-serve food options that will help to keep diners in and around the North Collinwood community happy and well fed. From a modern-day Jamaican cafe to a hand-crafted sandwich emporium, there are now two tasty new…
Negroni Week Comes to Cleveland Cocktail Bars and Restaurants
If you’re drinking in Cleveland this week, you may notice an abundance of sweet vermouth, orange twists, and vividly red cocktails at the bar. It can only mean one thing: Negroni Week is upon us. Negroni Week is an international charity event sponsored by Imbibe Magazine and Campari. From June 5 through 11, bars all…
Band of the Week: The Missing
MEET THE BAND: Rick Ksiazka (bass), Christopher Marinin (vocals, guitar), Elliot Barry (guitar), Chad Martin (drums) DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK: Formed by singer Christopher Marinin in 2009, the Missing had released several independent albums on Ghost Laboratories Records before taking a hiatus. Just about two years ago, Marinin reunited the group to play its…
Biking To and Through a Groveland Utopia
My blue 1996 Raleigh hybrid bicycle may weigh more than a coat made of 10 Dunkleosteus, and I might not be in the best shape as I creep toward 49, but summer is here and the weather has been perfect and I wanted to check out some art exhibitions. That’s all by way of saying…
Get Out: The Things To Do This Week (June 7-13)
WED 06/07 Deconstructing the Beatles’ Revolver A classically trained pianist, Scott Freiman started listening to the Beatles when he was 11 years old and quickly became a fan. Then, as an adult in 2013, Freiman lectured on the iconic rock group to some 15,000 people nationwide, including employees at Pixar, theaters and museums. He’s recently…
A Grieving Father Helped Bring a New Model of Fighting Heroin Addiction to Summit County, and It Might Change Everything
Things would have been different, maybe, if Greg McNeil and his family knew then what they know now. His son, Sam, overdosed on heroin and died at the age of 28 in the fall of 2015. The McNeils are far from alone in this, both in facing the tragedy of losing a loved one and…
