Look Out for Hot Air Balloons This Memorial Day Weekend in Chagrin Falls
A Memorial Day Weekend tradition, the Blossom Time Festival illuminates the city of Chagrin Falls with carnival rides and activities, along with the event everyone can’t wait to arrive, the enchanting Balloon Glow. Tonight at 7 p.m., watch as fire perks up nearly a dozen colorful balloons bringing a dazzling spectacle to the night sky…
Case Western Researchers Determine Domestic Violence Victims Are Higher-Risks for Homicide
Researchers at Case Western Reserve and members of the Cuyahoga County Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT) hope to reduce fatal domestic violence cases countywide by focusing on higher-risk cases, starting with Cleveland. DVHRT is a task force of criminal-justice professionals, victim advocates, and researchers who, along with CWRU researchers, partnered with the 1st and 5th district…
10 Bands to See Next Weekend at the Agora at Spring Fling V
It’s that time of the year when every weekend brings with it another festival. Over the weekend of June 2 and 3, the Agora Theatre and Ballroom will host the fifth incarnation of its annual Spring Fling. The Front Bottoms will headline Saturday night and indie rockers Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness will headline Sunday…
Singer-Songwriter Charley Crockett Relishes Being ‘Somebody on the Outside’
Singer-songwriter Charley Crockett has become a key player in the discussion of contemporary roots music, but that wasn’t always the case. Just a few years ago, an unknown Crockett hitchhiked across the country for several years, relying on the kindness of strangers and believing that his music would one day conquer his circumstances. “My storytelling…
More Americans Are Rooting For the Cavs Than You Think, According to Twitter Data
It may feel like Cleveland is its own island, like, as the T-shirt says, it’s us against the world. However, at least according to a new set of Twitter data, more states are rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers to do well in the NBA Conference Finals than any of the other three teams (see map…
6 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, MAY 25 Marc Cohn/Nate Jones In 1991 when “Walking in Memphis” was breaking nationally, it was getting airplay locally on WMMS. For singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, a Beachwood native, it was a victory that had been a long time coming, as he scored his first hit with the track, which eventually peaked at No. 13…
Westlake Teen Changes How We Discuss Inequalities of Gender and Sexuality With MVMENT Magazine
After the unfortunate tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, young Americans fought back and have started a revolution of teenage activism. But even before the March For Our Lives event took the country by storm, there was MVMENT. Run by high schoolers and college students, and made specifically for students, MVMENT magazine works…
Hard Rock Cafe to Sell 71 Cent Burgers on June 14
In honor of its 47th birthday, Hard Rock International, which was founded in 1971, will offer 71 cent burgers on Thursday, June 14. The Hard Rock Café at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park will participate in the event, which commences at 11 a.m. and will be for dine-in only. The Hard Rock will not take…
Helen Hunt Has a Rockin’ Start to Her Time Filming in Cleveland
Helen Hunt may be busy making a movie in the Land, but that doesn’t mean she’s not making time to get to know the city. Hunt first indicated she was in Ohio last week, tweeting a photo of watching the Riverdale season finale while on a lunch break from shooting her upcoming horror film, I…
Annual Women Rock CLE Concert Coming to House of Blues in July
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. Earlier today, organizers announced that the event will return this year on July 6. It will take place at House of Blues and feature local female-fronted bands such as the…
Detroit Shoreway to Welcome Flight Cleveland, a Wine Shop and Bar, This Fall
For years, Lindsay Smith has been obsessed with wine. Come autumn, she’ll be surrounded by it. That’s when she’ll open Flight Cleveland, a wine shop and bar, in the former home of Latitude 41n (5712 Detroit Ave.) in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood. “Flight is something that has been bouncing around in my head for many,…
Man Now Charged With Felony in Beachwood Place Mall Shooting
Patrons of the Beachwood Place Mall were thrown into a whirlwind of terror on March 17, when a robbery and shooting took place in the parking lot of Saks Fifth Avenue. Today, prosecutors have approached a grand jury with eight charges against Jamallee McKinley Jr. including aggravated robbery, felonious assault and weapons charges. According to…
Cleveland Cosmetic Company Macy and Mia Collaborates with WWE Superstar for New Makeup Line
Cleveland stylist and makeup artist DJ Victory has been beautifying Northeast Ohio for many years out of Enzo’s Salon & Spa in North Royalton, including her jaw-dropping signature extension color work. On June 1, Victory’s own cosmetics line Macy & Mia releases a makeup collection called ‘Playtime is Over’ in collaboration with Seven Hills’ Ashley Sebera,…
Rock Hall to Host More Than 50 Concerts and Events This Summer
Much like it did last summer, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will host a slew of events this summer (more than 50, if you’re counting). Country rocker Jesse Dayton (June 23), Inductee Ricky Byrd (July 14), Inductee Wanda Jackson (July 21) and Sum 41 drummer Frank Zummo (Aug. 4) are among the national…
Everything You Need to Know About Cleveland’s Taste of Summer This Memorial Day Weekend
The Taste of Summer, sponsored by Scene and Flats East Bank, returns this Memorial Day Weekend, kicking off the unofficial start of summer. This free event is family-friendly and appeases all ages, thanks to a bouncy castle and giant Jenga, vendors, craft cocktails, and even a Yappy Hour for your furry family member, starting Friday…
University Circle Announces the Debut of Its Uptown Summer Series
You can add several more free summer activities to your list of things to do once the weather warms up. Earlier today, University Circle Inc. and Case Western Reserve University announced that their Uptown Summer Series will debut on Saturday, June 2, with the Uptown Miniature Golf and Ice Cream Social. The event will take…
Cleveland Will Have Lead Legislation By the End of the Year
Monday, the Health and Human Services Committee of Cleveland City Council hosted a hearing to review legislation and hear testimony from local organizations working to help eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Led by committee chair Blaine Griffin, the hearing was part of an ongoing campaign to inform council members and the general public about solutions to Cleveland’s…
Roy Wood Jr., Who Performs at Hilarities This Weekend, Explains Why People Need Comedy Now More Than Ever
Between his many late-night performances and routinely working as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, it’s hard to understand how comedian Roy Wood Jr. even has time to constantly tour the country. And yet, Wood Jr., who currently hosts This Is Not Happening on Comedy Central, still comes to Cleveland on a regular basis.…
U.S. Marshal Caught On Tape Using Racial Slur After Arrest of Suspect Who Fled Police
Update: The law enforcement officer who used a racial slur after the arrest of the suspect last Friday is a U.S. Marshal. That deputy is now on administrative leave after a Facebook live recording caught them saying “f*** that n******” after the apprehension of Ziaire Duffy, who led police on a chase before his arrest. A…
Several Cleveland Acts to Play Benefit Concert for Local Photographer and Videographer
A well-known local photographer and videographer, Alexander K. DelaMotte passed away earlier this month. The owner and founder of Stayin’ Hungry Productions, DelaMotte previously worked at Nemeth’s Lounge as a bartender and endeared himself to local musicians and rappers by helping them with his photo and video skills. To help fund a Lake Erie College…
Canada’s Sultans of String to Bring 10th Anniversary Tour to Nighttown
The members of the classical crossover act Sultans of String possess some impressive resumes. Bassist Drew Birston has played with acts such as Chantal Kreviazuk and Melanie Doane, guitarist Kevin Laliberté spent five years travelling around the globe performing with Jesse Cook, percussionist Rosendo “Chendy” Leon can play a number of world music instruments and violinist Chris…
Food Truck Tuesdays Return Tomorrow to Public Square
Tomorrow kicks off food truck season in Public Square, a weekly roll out of the best food trucks in Cleveland. From May 22 to October 16, patrons around Public Square will have access to roughly six different food truck choices covering a wide range of food styles and flavors. Each week will also feature live…
Watch This Dog Expertly Crowd Surf at Rock on the Range
This weekend’s Rock on the Range at Columbus’ Mapfre Stadium was full of wild antics and fans, but one rock lover in particular chose to bring their dog to the event … and then go crowd surfing. Strangely, the animal looks pretty calm and collected while cruising over hundreds of hands with its owner. First…
LeBron Statue GoFundMe Seeks Totally Reasonable Sum of $1 Million
There will one day be a statue of LeBron James in Cleveland, and probably Akron too. There should also be one that perpetually follows Dan Gilbert around for the rest of his life to remind him who’s truly responsible for bringing a championship to Cleveland. But we digress. That day isn’t today, nor is it…
Here’s an Exclusive Makeup Tutorial From Kent State Student and NYX Face Awards Finalist Carrie Esser
After a search to find the best makeup artists in the country, NYX Cosmetics has selected its top 30 artists, with Kent State University student and North Royalton resident Carrie Esser as one of the finalists. The brains and beauty behind Makeup Madhouse, the self-taught 20-year-old body painter and makeup artist has 12.7 thousand followers…
Miss Greater Cleveland and Mechanical Engineer Xyla Foxlin is Revolutionizing What it Means to be a Beauty Queen
Xyla Foxlin is a mechanical and aerospace engineering major at Case Western Reserve University, a robotics whiz kid, the founder and inventor of Parihug, a pilot, former president of CWRU’s Robotics Mining Team, the founder of Beauty & The Bolt (an online village where anyone can learn physics, math, engineering, making), a violinist and oh yeah,…
After Years in the Making, Western Reserve Distillers will Welcome First Guests this Weekend
This weekend, Western Reserve Distillers (14221 Madison Ave., 330-780-9599) will welcome its first public guests after years of planning, design and construction. The Lakewood-based distiller will begin offering tours of its facility on Friday evenings and throughout the day on Saturdays and Sundays. Ann Thomas, who runs the business with her husband Kevin, says that…
Def Leppard’s Vivan Campbell Talks About Teaming Up with Journey for the Tour That’s Coming to the Q
Classic rock acts Def Leppard and Journey toured together some 12 years and now the bands are back on the road together again this summer for a tour that features both stadium and arena concerts. The tour comes to the Q at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 28. One of only five artists to sell…
North Ridgeville Police Save Man From Persistent Pig
North Ridgeville police assumed the Ohio man was drunk or on drugs. Why else would a person call authorities to say a pig was following him on his walk home at 5 a.m. on a Saturday? But when the police arrived on the scene that morning, they found an incredibly sober individual actually being tailed…
After Nearly 40 Years, Todd Rundgren’s Utopia Makes a Triumphant Return to Town
Todd is coming. Nearly 40 years ago, only those three words were required in a concert ad to announce Todd Rundgren’s pair of shows with Utopia at the Cleveland Agora on August 23, 1978. Similarly, when Rundgren announced earlier this year that he’d be taking Utopia back out on the road for their first extensive…
What You Need to Know About This Weekend’s Cleveland Asian Festival
The Cleveland Asian Festival has only been operating since 2010, but it seems like it’s been around much longer than that. The festival, which takes place all day today and tomorrow, is located in the heart of Cleveland’s AsiaTown (Payne Ave. between East 30th St. and 27th St.) and offers all sorts of vendors, food,…
98° to Bring Its Christmas Tour to Hard Rock Live in November
Keeping track of all the summer concerts has been difficult enough Now, fall and winter concert announcements have begun to roll in. The latest concert announcement? The boy band 98° will bring its annual Christmas tour to Hard Rock Live on Nov. 23. An AMEX and Fan Club pre-sale started today, and a Ticketmaster pre-sale…
Surviving Five Glorious Nights of Beethoven Symphonies, with the Cleveland Orchestra
To be sure, the Cleveland Orchestra’s Prometheus Project — playing all nine Beethoven symphonies over a two weekend stretch — is an over-the-top attention-grabbing stunt. It’s the equivalent of performance clickbait or, as music director Franz Welser-Möst described last year, a “sort of sports event.” But that doesn’t mean the performances so far (there are…
Here’s Your First Look at the New Murals Coming to Gordon Square
The continued beautification of Gordon Square and the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood is pressing forward with the installation of eight new murals. Started in 2017, in an effort is to infuse the neighborhood with art that is free and accessible to anyone and everyone, the project is expected to be completed by the end of May. These…
Mother of Tamir Rice to Open Afrocentric Student Center in Honor of Son
In November of 2014, Samaria Rice endured a parent’s worst nightmare when her 12-year-old son was shot and killed by Cleveland police officers outside Cudell Recreation Center. The police had been called about an “armed person,” which turned out to be a child playing with a toy gun. The murder of Tamir Rice sparked community and…
Local Indie Rockers Curtail to Play Release Party at Musica in Akron
Singer-guitarist Jesse Sloan Cherry (Cola Champions & Bethesda), singer-guitarist Ben Hendricks (Annabel), drummer Eric Sandt (The Ground is Lava/ Heavenly Creatures) and bassist Dan Corby (of Bethesda), the members of the Akron-based indie rock act Curtail, say their band sounds like “if Sheryl Crow wrote songs for Archers of Loaf.” The Archers of Loaf part…
Prosperity Social Club to Launch Whiskey & Women Summer Music Series in June
Prosperity Social Club has just announced that it’ll launch the inaugural Whiskey & Women summer music series this summer. The second Friday of every month, Prosperity will serve up bourbon- and whiskey-based cocktail and dinner specials that go with the local female artists who’ll perform. “These soulful sirens are my honkytonk heroines,” says Prosperity Social…
93-Year-Old Zanesville Man Makes Hole-in-One on Final Round
[image-1] A 93-year-old man in Zanesville, Ohio, hit a hole-in-one on what he said would be his final round of golf ever. “It seemed the Lord knew this was my last round,” Ben Bender told the Zanesville Times Recorder, “so he gave me a hole-in-one.” After nearly seven decades of golf, Bender hit his magical…
Joe Schiavoni Will Introduce Bill to Legalize and Regulate Sports Betting in Ohio
[image-1] State Senator Joe Schiavoni, the boxer from Boardman who ran for Ohio Governor, has just announced that he plans to introduce a bill that will legalize and regulate sports betting in Ohio. In a statement, Schiavoni said that it makes sense for Ohio to take advantage of sports betting as a revenue stream in the…
‘Passing Strange’ at Karamu House is the Most Exciting Show in Cleveland Right Now
In this musical the coming-of-age story is familiar and there are so many excesses it would take five columns to list them all. There is no scenic design to speak of. And often, the narrative arc of the storyline is muddled beyond comprehension. And to top it off the music, which weaves itself intricately into…
Lit to Headline the Downtown Willoughby Rib Burn Off
The seventh annual Rib Burn Off returns to Downtown Willoughby on Saturday and Sunday. Attended by thousands from all over Northeast Ohio, the family-friendly outdoor celebration provides an opportunity to showcase the bars and restaurants in Downtown Willoughby as well as bring regional and national barbecue vendors to provide a wealth of food options. There…
ARTattack Studios Unveils Apparel Line for Cleveland Pride 2018
With June just around the corner, there’s no better time to get ready for the Pride in the CLE Festival by sporting a new look from ARTattack Studios’ ‘PRIDE in The Land’ apparel series. Composed of local photographer Roy Coffey and designer/artist Jereme Nogueras, ARTattack Studios is a Cleveland based graphic design, advertising, fine art…
Destination Cleveland Touts Tourism Growth at Annual Meeting
Yesterday at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, Destination Cleveland used its annual meeting to tout the city’s growth as a tourist destination. Apparently, people love coming here (though we imagine the influx is rather seasonal). David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, and Dan Walsh, founder and CEO of Citymark and chairman of Destination Cleveland’s board of directors, both spoke…
A Timeline of the Cavs’ Bizarre 2017-18 Season in 45 Storylines
Ever since the Cavaliers lost the 2017 Finals to the Golden State Warriors in five games, the organization has been in flux, from not bringing back the general manager who built the 2016 Championship roster to moving star guard Kyrie Irving for peanuts and everything in between. How crazy has this last season been? You…
Panic Time for Cavs? — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac are back. They discuss the Browns on Hard Knocks, the NBA Lottery, the Indians’ struggles and the Celtics’ ability to throw the knockout punch on the reeling Cavs. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here.
Singer-Songwriter Judith Owen Talks About the Tracks on Her New Album of Cover Tunes
When she performed at the State Theatre last year with headliner Bryan Ferry, singer-songwriter Judith Owen immediately endeared herself by greeting the crowd with a “Hello Cleveland” as she began to play a 30-minute set of Norah Jones-like mellow jazz/pop tunes. As she explained, she had every right to use the phrase since her husband,…
State Rep. Dan Ramos Has a Cool Idea for Making College in Ohio Affordable (That Has No Chance Happening)
For the last four years, State Rep. Dan Ramos (D-Lorain), has been working on legislation that would cover 90 percent of the cost for students to attend public college in Ohio. Ohio currently ranks 45th nationally for college affordability, meaning Ohio families face some of the highest burdens of student loan debt in the country. Today,…
Capitol Theatre to Host Special Screenings for Pride Month
To celebrate Pride Month, the Capitol Theatre has partnered with the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland to present a special film series. The program kicks off on June 5 with a screening of The Constitution, a film about a gay professor who gets attacked by a homophobic ground of young men and women. The…
Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins Announces Bid for Democratic Party Chair
The Cuyahoga County Democratic Party is “feared for the wrong reasons,” said Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins in a video (above) announcing his bid for party chairman. “It’s feared because there’s a risk that if you don’t go along [to] get along with a select set of power brokers, that you’ll be punished,” he said.…
Winless Cleveland Browns to be Featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ This Summer
HBO has finally gotten its way. After years of prodding the Cleveland Browns football organization to be a subject on its much lauded sports program Hard Knocks, the cable outlet announced today that the team is participating in the 12th season of the show. Browns fans don’t need to be reminded of the turmoil surrounding…
Let’s Dissect the Kent State Graduation Photos Featuring an AR-10 Rifle
In 1970, 28 guardsmen fired approximately 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds murdering four unarmed Kent State University students and injuring another nine during a protest over Americans bombing Cambodia. Forty-eight years later, Kaitlin Bennett posed with an AR-10 rifle and a mortarboard cap reading “come and take it” on campus in honor of her…
Machine Gun Kelly Among the Acts to Perform at the Tenth Annual Roverfest
The tenth annual Roverfest will return to Black River Landing in Lorain this summer. The event that’s put on by local shock jock Shane “Rover” French will take place on Saturday, July 21, and feature musical acts such as local rapper Machine Gun Kelly [pictured], Shinedown, Lil Jon and Big Boi of Outkast. The hard rock…
Local Health Psychologist/Runner Launches Site Dedicated to Finding Dog Friendly Running Events
A Northeast Ohio native, health psychologist/runner Bethany D. Lavins-Merillat (MS Ohio University, MEd Cleveland State University) built her research career earning graduate degrees focusing on how to help people make healthier choices in their lives. When her husband came across a flyer for a dog friendly race last year, she started doing research online to…
Retro Tuesdays at the Aut-O-Rama Drive-In Are the Best Way to Spend the Summer
Sometimes there are experiences worth going the extra mile, like The Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In theater in North Ridgeville. As audiences grow increasingly frustrated with people talking, texting or bringing their young children to movie theaters with $15 popcorn, the drive-in is a perfect way to catch a new film without having to worry about any…
Local American Indian Leader from Viral Chief Wahoo Protest Photo Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
Robert Roche, the local American Indian leader who for years has been a vocal figure in campaigns to eliminate the Chief Wahoo logo, has pleaded guilty to embezzling federal funds. The money came from grants made by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to the American Indian Education Center, in Parma, where…
5 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, MAY 18 Justin Townes Earle/Lilly Hiatt Given that veteran singer-songwriters John Hiatt and Steve Earle both know each other, it only makes sense that their respective offspring, singer-songwriters Lilly Hiatt and Justin Townes Earle, would tour together. Both have terrific albums to promote. Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit), Earle’s Kids in…
‘Disobedience’ Shows Hollywood Still Doesn’t Understand How To Tell A Lesbian Love Story
Based on Naomi Alderman’s novel of the same name, Disobedience challenges the obdurate viewpoints of religion by presenting a stunning film in a world that is as dismal as it is beautiful. Ronit (Rachel Weisz) has returned to her estranged home in Hendon upon hearing the news that her father (Anton Lesser), a highly respected Jewish Orthodox…
Scientists Say Lake Erie Toxic Algae Blooms Could Be Part of Climate Change Loop
Toxic algae blooms affecting the western basin of Lake Erie stem from farm runoff but their severity and frequency are likely exacerbated by climate change, scientists have warned. A report this week from the Environmental Working Group cataloged 300 large blooms nationwide since only 2010, and the real number is probably higher. That news comes…
Ew, Catcalling Season In Cleveland Has Officially Begun
As temperatures continue to rise, and less clothing is worn to combat the heat, Clevelanders are sure to experience a spike in catcalling and other forms of street harassment. As we’ve previously discussed on Scene, catcalling in Cleveland is not an isolated incident. Sarah Vulpio’s article “I’m Just Trying to Get to Work, Stop Looking…
WJCU to Debut the Latest Single From Local Indie Rockers Bro Dylan
In 2016, local indie rockers Bro Dylan released Crisis, a concept album about a character struggling to find hope in his “vapid existence.” Currently at work on a follow-up album, the guys will release a new single, “Alone in the Wilderness,” on Monday, May 21. The song will premiere at 8 that night exclusively on 88.7…
George Dixon III Owes RTA More than $1.1 Million, Investigation Reveals
In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Trustees announced that former board president George Dixon III owes the agency more than $1.1 million in unpaid health insurance premium, health benefits and cell phone bills. Dixon, who had served as president of the board for 24 years, resigned…
Singer-Songwriter Liz Phair Coming to the Beachland Ballroom in September
In the wake of the recent release of Girly-Sound to Guyville: The 25th Anniversary Box Set and a summer tour in support of the album, singer-songwriter Liz Phair has just announced the dates of a fall full-band tour. Dubbed the Amps on the Lawn tour, the 24-date jaunt includes a Sept. 11 stop at the…
Cleveland Heights-Based Rib Cage Opens Next Wednesday in Ohio City
In March, we revealed plans by the Cleveland Heights-based Rib Cage Smokehouse (2214 Lee Rd., 216-321-RIBS) to expand to Ohio City. Today we learned that opening day will be Wednesday, May 23. Since 2012, the Rib Cage in the Cedar-Lee District has been dishing up Southern-styled barbecue that is smoked on site in a custom-built brick pit.…
Modest Mouse to Play the Akron Civic Theatre in September
Earlier this month, indie rockers Modest Mouse played a sold-out show at the Agora Theatre as part of an extensive spring tour. The band’s summer schedule includes several festival dates, and the group has just announced even more dates for the fall. The band will return to Northeast Ohio to perform at the Akron Civic…
Local Bluesman Travis Haddix to Kick Off Happy Hour Series at the Music Box
Last year, in the attempt to emulate the WMMS Coffee Break Concerts that were so popular here in the 1970s and 1980s, the Music Box Supper Club teamed up with locally based oWOW Radio for a new, summer-long Happy Hour Concert series. The program is set to return to Music Box this summer and will feature both…
The Browns Are Talking About a New Stadium…
“We’re excited for the opportunity to be part of the conversation about downtown re-development,” Browns co-owner Dee Haslam told ESPN a few weeks ago, confirming rumors that the team has begun initial discussions about a new stadium at a new downtown site or major renovations on the current facility. “We should be part of the…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Weekend (May 16-22)
WED 05/16 Beehive — The 60s Musical Produced by Great Lakes Theatre, Beehive: The 60s Musical features 40 chart-topping songs from the years as it aims to relive “one of music’s truly golden eras.” You’ll hear tunes from the Supremes, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Hanna Theatre.…
Derek Hess Opens a Visual and Verbal Dialogue About Mental Health and Addiction With His New Book
I remember seeing Derek’s artwork on flyers that graced staple-ridden telephone poles around the city. This was back in the day, back before social media. I had always seen him as one of those “Art Gods” that was untouchable and unapproachable. It was cool to say that you knew Derek Hess even if it was…
Boxing Packs a Wallop, Without Any Actual Punching, in ‘The Royale’ at the Cleveland Play House
The stage is small like a boxing ring and the overhead spotlights shine down, piercing the black air like a knife. So it all looks and feels like a boxing event. But The Royale is a play about boxing in the same way that A Streetcar Named Desire is about urban public transportation. Written by…
‘Deadpool’ Sequel Has Jokes on Jokes, But Nothing Beneath the Surface
The raucous, raunchy Deadpool 2, which opens in wide release Friday, is a fitting sequel to the wry and self-referential original, a superhero film billed as a new frontier in superhero cinema that took the box office by storm in 2016. (The Ryan Reynolds action-comedy delighted studio executives and surprised everyone when it raked in…
Lox, Stock and Brisket Arrived With Almost No Notice to Dazzle the East Side with Jewish Deli Perfection
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: After nearly 20 years away from Cleveland, a mysterious Italian chef sneaks back into town, opens a Jewish deli practically overnight, and quickly becomes the talk of the east side. You haven’t? Neither had I. But that’s precisely the way it went down when Anthony Zappola opened…
Band of the Week: Marc Lee Shannon
MEET THE BAND: Marc Lee Shannon (vocals, guitar) A SESSION PLAYER: Shannon grew up in Akron and got a record deal right out of high school. That didn’t quite pan out, so he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his musical dreams in the late ’70s. “I got into a guitar school in Los Angeles…
Savage Love: Denver’s Oriental Theater
Savage Love Live at Denver’s Oriental Theater last week was epic. I fielded sex questions in front of a sold-out crowd, singer-songwriter Rachel Lark performed amazing news songs, comedian Elise Kerns absolutely killed it, and Tye—a token straight guy plucked at random from the audience—joined us onstage and gave some pretty great sex advice! We…
