Locally Produced Quarantunes Music Video Series Features Themed Remote Collaborations
Two years ago, Michael Weber, a local guitarist enrolled at Kent State University at the time, won first prize on MTV’s talent show, Amazingness. Weber has continued to record and perform in the wake of that program, but now, with live performances on pause to help stop the spread of coronavirus, Weber has tried to…
No News is Bad News: Ken Carman Says Support Your Local Writers at Scene
This is the first in a series of essays from readers in support of our recently launched Scene Press Club. I was in high school the first time I went to Cleveland without my parents. We came up for a Browns game and as I was walking back up West 3rd after the game there…
Death, Destruction, Vice & Sleaze: Jake Kelly Releases the First Installment of Cleveland True Crime Series “Doomsday Map”
Cleveland artist and illustrator Jake Kelly has released the first in what aims to be a long series of comic books exploring Cleveland’s squalid past. “Doomsday Map” is the 24-page, primarily black and white, true crime installment of what Kelly hopes to eventually become his first graphic novel, the whole of which is self-described as…
How Fear and Anger Change Our Perception of Coronavirus Risk
Even as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in many places, some U.S. states are starting to relax social distancing guidelines. With public health experts often disagreeing with politicians pushing for reopening, in many cases individuals may decide for themselves when and how to return to society. To be clear, for many people, the decision…
Cleveland Companies Join Forces to Make Local Hand Sanitizer and Masks
No Sanitizer. No Masks. A problem that swept the nation, that was felt by two local Cleveland companies. Doctor Shultz’s Premium Hand Sanitizer, who manufacture less abrasive sanitizer with essential oils and vitamins, and Ilthy, a popular Cleveland clothing brand, team up to get scarce products into the hands of the community and make a…
Ukrainian Oligarch Who Amassed Downtown Cleveland Real Estate with Laundered Funds is Under Investigation
BuzzFeed News reported Wednesday that Igor Kolomoisky, the Ukrainian oligarch who became the largest owner of commercial real estate in downtown Cleveland using allegedly laundered funds, is now under investigation by U.S. authorities. A Federal grand jury in Cleveland, the FBI and an international money laundering and kleptocracy team from the Justice Department are all…
As Ohio Debates Voting Reforms for November, Michigan Says It’ll Mail Absentee Ballot Applications to Every Voter
Ohio is pondering a short list of proposed reforms to adopt by summer in advance of the November election. They include allowing voters to request mail-in ballots online and increasing the number of dropbox locations for ballots. Groups like the League of Women Voters want more, including moving the deadline to request an absentee ballot…
EPA Enforcement Pause Could Spur Harmful Algae-Bloom Growth in Lake Erie
Every summer, harmful algae blooms begin to form in lakes and ponds across Ohio, turning bodies of water into oxygen-deprived pools, toxic to humans and animals. Algae blooms thrive in years with more rain and more runoff pollution, and this year could be another bad one. In addition to another warmer, wetter summer, would-be polluters…
Hospitality Restaurants to Open All Eight Restaurants on Thursday, May 21
“We are going to open all eight restaurants with the snap of a finger when the clock strikes 3 p.m. on Thursday,” says George Schindler, owner of Hospitality Restaurants. “We decided we’re just going to do it.” For those keeping count at home, that includes – in chronological order of opening date – Cabin Club,…
Beloved Farmer’s Rail to Open Greatly Expanded Butcher Shop Concept in the Heart of Hudson
Jeff and Melanie Brunty started small by raising free-range chickens and eggs on a small plot of land in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. They sold those products at the West Side Market, area farmer’s markets and through the Brunty Farms CSA. Over the years, that modest patch of earth grew to encompass more than…
Pacific East Now Open at Crocker Park
After starting on Coventry Rd. and expanding to Woodmere and Kent, Pacific East has finally turned west. The restaurant’s fourth location and its first on the other side of the Cuyahoga is now open at Crocker Park next to Nordstrom Rack. There’s no sushi at the new spot, but the menu offers a roster of…
Ohio Student Association to Host a Virtual Concert to Benefit the Incarcerated Community
At 7 p.m. on Friday, local acts Kyle Kidd & Pete Saudek, Collin Miller and Teezy From the Chair will perform as part of Let Them Go!, a virtual concert to benefit the incarcerated community impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio prisons and jails are the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and in Marion County,…
Souper Market Eyes Expansion at Midtown Production Facility and With New Shop in Old Brooklyn
Matthew Moore launched his popular soup-kitchen concept in 2002, when he debuted the first Souper Market across the street from the West Side Market in Ohio City. Since then he’s added soup shops in Lakewood, Kamm’s Corners and Downtown, all supported by a production kitchen in Midtown with its own retail presence. Thanks to some…
A Cleveland Hero Has Made a Lido Lounge for Squirrels
View this post on Instagram SquirreLido Lounge Grand Opening! $5 cover, free parking, 4 squirrels, 1 chipmunk and free peanuts! Please welcome the beautiful Chippy to the main stage. Fluffy is making her way to the VIP. Watch them shake their tails to your favorite song, Squirrels, Squirrels, Squirrels! (Sung in the tune of Motley…
Despite Increased Demand, Cleveland Butcher Shops in No Danger of Running Out of Quality Meat
One of the most troublesome narratives to emerge during the Coronavirus pandemic has been the rise of fissures in the national supply chain resulting in meat shortages and price hikes. Local is always better — better for the environment, better for the economy, better with respect to quality, selection and service — but in troubled times…
Cleveland Business Journal Launches Today With Local Staff of One
The Cleveland Business Journal, a new online publication under the Advance Publications corporate umbrella, launched Friday. In an introductory column, Jon Wile, VP of Content for American City Business Journals, said that the new publication would focus on economic development news in Northeast Ohio. He said local content would be produced by veteran reporter Mary…
Is Dr. Amy Acton the Pandemic’s Most Midwestern Hero? Glamour Magazine Thinks So
In an interview released today, Glamour magazine asks: Is Amy Acton the Pandemic’s most Midwestern hero? The story, by Ohio-based writer Sarah Stankorb, tees up the argument this way: “Ohio Governor Mike DeWine broke with the GOP, saved thousands of lives, and is earning record bipartisan approval. You can thank Ohio State Health Director Amy…
The Tragic Backstory Behind Chuck E. Cheese’s New ‘Premium’ Takeout Pizza
Why is it that so many children’s stories are synonymous with suffering? We’re talking lots of dead dogs, dying trees, a dead spider, and one existentially doomed stuffed rabbit. But perhaps no story is as tragic as that of orphaned rat-turned-entrepreneur Chuck E. Cheese — who recently launched a new premium pizza brand so that…
After Backlash, Kroger Offers Workers Additional Coronavirus ‘Thank You’ Bonus
Kroger has agreed to pay its full-time workers a $400 bonus and its part-time workers a $200 bonus as “Thank You Pay” for working during the coronavirus pandemic. The $130 million deal follows a $2 per hour “Hero Bonus” the company started paying in late March with an initial planned duration through April 18. That…
Addressing Patio Concerns, Lago Ruminates on Nature of Art, TownHall GM Says ‘Go Back to the Country You Came From’
What is time? To what degree is art a reflection of real life? What sort of evolutionary herd instincts are buried deep in our DNA and how hard is it to control them? Does bone broth cure foot-in-mouth disease? These are but a few of the deeper questions raised after a statement issued by Lago…
DeWine: Restaurants That Ignore Patio Guidelines Could Lose Liquor License
Gov. Mike DeWine saw the same photos you might have seen from this weekend’s first round of patio openings across the state. It appears that while the vast majority of restaurant and bar owners have taken the state’s guidelines seriously and reopened in adherence with not only the letter but the spirit of the rules,…
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Mourning [A] BLKstar’s New Album is Out Today
Cleveland-based collective Mourning [A] BLKstar released their fifth album, The Cycle, today on Don Giovanni Records. MAB is the brainchild of founder RA Washington. The multi-generational group and self-described genre non-conforming amalgam of Black Culture consists of vocalists Latoya Kent, Kyle Kidd and James Longs; Dante Foley on drums and Pete Saudek on guitar along…
Cinco de Mayo 2020 Was Peak American Capitalism
Lauriel Plaza has lines a block long in both directions. 3 police vehicles to manage the crowd. pic.twitter.com/i0quRwcQVh — camilo arbelaez (@camiloarbelaez) May 6, 2020 On May 5, 1862, Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza led his undermanned troops to victory in the First Battle of Puebla over an invading French army that hadn’t been defeated in…
You Better Tip Like Your Money Is on Fire as Cleveland Restaurants and Bars Reopen
Restaurant patios in Ohio can open for business again under new safety guidelines as of today. Indoor seating at restaurants and bars begins next Thursday. There will be restrictions — including dividers or space between tables — and while important for helping control the spread of COVID-19, those restrictions are going to result in less of…
Here’s How You Can Stream Films from Cannes, Sundance, Tribeca, and Toronto Film Festivals
You don’t need to be an A-lister or a foot-loving director to catch some of the many films that once hit the big screen at international film festivals. Hell, you don’t even have to leave your house … or your sweats. Since March, the coronavirus pandemic has forced entire industries to a standstill, including those…
Cleveland Really Freaking Wanted a Haircut Today
Shaggy-haired Northeast Ohioans are running headlong into the barber chair today, the first day that barbershops and salons are allowed to open. Like thirsty Wisconsinites lining up to belly up to the bar, you brave (?) folks have waited long enough and will not wait one more day to have that unruly mop taken care…
Locally Produced Audio Fiction Podcast to Launch May 26th in Partnership With CPT
Local publishing company Footsteps Media and Cleveland Public Theatre are set to release The Mystery of Easter Island, a new fiction podcast launching on May 26th via iTunes and all major platforms. The story, written by Justin Glanville, was one of four Fiction Podcast finalists at The Austin Film Festival in 2017 and is based…
Chris Quinn is the Most Powerful Media Figure in Northeast Ohio. And He Won’t Tell the Truth.
In a moment of intemperance earlier this year, cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn disparaged Scene Magazine’s reporting as “misinformed ranting.” Our “outrageously flawed,” error-filled content was based on “almost no reporting,” he wrote, in reply to a reader email. In his view, Scene did not even rise to the level of journalism. We didn’t dwell on…
Johnny La Rock Releases a New EP Recorded in Quarantine
Producer/multi-instrumentalist/singer Johnny La Rock (Eddie Fleisher), who played in the local hip-hop outfit Presque Vu, has been a part of the local music scene for more than a decade now. After Presque Vu split in 2013, he started performing as Johnny La Rock and began creating moody electronic music that looks back to ’90s era…
Artefino Cafe & Gallery Announces It Has Permanently Closed
After 17 years, Artefino is closing its doors. Owner Karen Perkowski’s cafe and gallery had flipped the equation from the gallery first, cafe second operation originally opened by 3-D artist Hector Vega in 2003, offering a cozy coffeeshop and cafe with an emphasis on freshly made soups, sandwiches and salads as well as a space…
Local Singer-Songwriter Kevin Conaway Releases First New Music in Seven Years
Way back in 2013, local singer-songwriter Kevin Conaway released “The Day You Lost Your Crown,” a song about LeBron James. Seven years later, Conaway has finally returned with his first set of new music since then. He’s just released the new EP, A Deafening Silence, which is available today on all digital outlets. “It’s been…
DeWine Announces Ohio Reopening Dates in May for Daycare, Gyms, Horse Racing and More
During his press briefing on Thursday, May 14, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the reopening dates for additional sectors of the state economy and recreation: May 21: Campgrounds and camping May 22: Horse racing May 26: The BMV (for certain services), gyms and fitness centers, no-contact and low-contact sports and pools (this does not include…
Former Cleveland Clinic Employee Arrested by FBI, Charged With Wire Fraud Over Chinese Grants
Dr. Qing Wang, a former Cleveland Clinic employee, was arrested by the FBI today at his home in Shaker Heights and charged in federal court on allegations that he failed to disclose funding and employment in China to the National Institute of Health, from which he received millions of dollars in grants. The Feds also…
Good Government Groups Push for Ohio Voting Reforms Before November Election
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Voter Rights Coalition is pressing for a number of voting reforms to make voting safer and more convenient in the November election and beyond. The group supports Senate Bill 191, which would make it possible to order an absentee ballot online. Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women…
CAN Arts Journal Apologizes for Lack of Diversity on Cover of Summer 2020 Issue
There’s a whole lot of color in the assorted facemasks and backgrounds of CAN arts journal’s 2020 Summer issue, but not a whole of different colors in the faces behind those masks. CAN editor Michael Gill wrote a brief, heartfelt apology this week, admitting that, “The cover image does not accurately reflect the Cleveland art…
Hard Hit by Coronavirus, AsiaTown Restaurants and Markets Adapt, Pivot and Endeavor to Stay Afloat
Almost from the moment they opened their doors in AsiaTown three years ago, LJ Shanghai has been beloved for their xiao long bao, delicate steamed dumplings filled with ground meat and hot broth. But like a lot of foods, soup dumplings do not travel well. So the restaurant began selling a steam-at-home version of the…
New Cities & Coasts Single Recorded in Quarantine Speaks to Our Uncertain Times
About five years ago, local indie singer-songwriter Nathan Hedges began recording as Cities & Coasts. After releasing its debut in 2015, the band quickly gained some traction on the local scene and has been a presence ever since. Under quarantine like the rest of us, the group recently recorded a new single, “Can’t Afford to…
Join the Scene Press Club and Help Us Continue to Bring Alternative News to Cleveland
I spent a fair amount of time earlier this year digging through Scene’s archives as we began planning our upcoming 50th anniversary in July. The past five decades have seen considerable upheaval in the industry and in the city, but ever since that first issue on July 1, 1970, Scene has been there. Through recessions…
Dick Goddard is in Grave Condition. Prayers Up for Cleveland’s Legendary Weatherman
The world’s longest tenured weatherman, Cleveland’s own Dick Goddard, is in grave condition in a medical facility in Florida, his daughter has told Fox 8. Doctors have said he likely doesn’t have long to live. The 89-year-old Goddard was of course a beloved Cleveland local meteorologist for more than 50 years. He retired in 2016…
