Folk Rockers Dispatch Team Up with John Butler for Summer Tour
Dispatch singer-multi-instrumentalist Chad Urmston says it seems like he reaches out to musical friend John Butler on a regular basis about doing a tour together, but their schedules don’t align. This year, however, they did, and Dispatch and John Butler will bring their co-headlining tour to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights on Friday, June 27.…
Betty Who Returns with Two Anthemic New Singles
Australian-born, American-based pop singer-songwriter Betty Who admits things worked out well for her from the start of her career. She had a hit out of the gates with 2014’s “Somebody Loves You,” an infectious, Katy Perry-like pop tune. “In your career, there are these moments when the stars align,” she says via Zoom from New…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 12-15)
Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar. THU 06/12 Caamp The jam/folk band has come a long way since it started playing coffeeshops in Athens, OH when band members were students at Ohio University. On tour in support of the new album,…
TRUSS Returns with a Hard Rocking New Album
The local hard rock group TRUSS has recently picked up some steam and hired a respected national PR firm led by veteran publicist Mike Cubillos to promote its forthcoming album, Fluorescence. “[Cubillos] was recommended to me by a friend who had a good experience,” says TRUSS singer Hannah Crandall via phone. TRUSS plays a release…
Solon Man Loses $500,000 in Cryptocurrency Scam Amid Rise in Similar Fraud Cases
By all accounts, it seemed to S.W. that Kristina Tian was a reliable investment partner to send money to last summer. It was July 22, 2024, when Tian reached out via LinkedIn. She immediately touted her credentials: a degree from Stanford, a high position at Mucker Capital. You should invest with me, Tian told S.W.…
Ohio Lawmakers Want Local Governments to Create Cybersecurity Plans
Ohio House lawmakers got a stark warning Tuesday from a leading cybersecurity firm: potential threats are changing “dramatically” in terms of “sophistication, speed and complexity.” The presentation came on the heels of lawmakers introducing a bill requiring municipalities to develop their own cybersecurity policies. What’s in the bill? House Bill 283 is a response to…
Latest Cuyahoga County Jail Design Features Natural Aesthetics and ‘Earthy’ Designs to Make a More Livable Environment
Oceanscape murals and “abstract visuals” of water. “Residential warmth,” wood acoustic paneling and “resilient woven floor tiles.” “Earthy & nature inspired hues.” These aren’t design details for some suburban dentist office or boutique hotel. These are plans for how Cuyahoga County is going to design the bulk of its new jail, to be built in…
Lawsuit Alleges Cleveland Heights Underpaid, Discriminated Against Black Employee
Cleveland Heights, fresh off of a complaint of alleged antisemitism at City Hall, is dealing with another lawsuit with racial undertones. According to a complaint filed in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, the city allegedly discriminated against Earline Robinson, a Black woman in her sixties living in Richmond Heights, in various capacities since…
Luchita’s to Reopen at Shaker Square this Summer
For many Northeast Ohioans, July 5, 2022, was a dark day in dining. That was the day Luchita’s Mexican Restaurant closed after a remarkable 40-year run. Family matriarch Maria de la Luz Galindo opened the restaurant in 1981, making it one of the first Mexican restaurants on Cleveland’s west side. Since the closure, there have…
Cedar Point Partners with Secret Society Comedy for New Showcase Series
Hoots & Hollers, an exclusive stand-up comedy series coming to Cedar Point’s Palace Theatre in Frontier Town this summer, will feature nationally touring comedians who have performed on programs such as “America’s Got Talent,” and Late Night. Hoots & Hollers is a collaboration with Secret Society Comedy, a Cleveland-based pop-up comedy club that’s produced over 475…
An FAQ on Scene’s Best of Cleveland Issue and Voting
Hey, I’m a reader/business owner/nominee/person whose browser autofilled to clevescene.com instead of cleveland.com, and I’m now looking at the winners of your Best of Cleveland 2025 issue. It’s out now! It’s pretty exciting, right? Related It is. But I have some questions. We’re bleary eyed from the production cycle but we have nothing but time…
North Mississippi Allstars Come Full Circle with Latest Album
North Mississippi All-Stars frontman Luther Dickinson started recording the songs on the band’s new album, Still Shakin’, in January of 2024. And from the start, he knew what the title would be since he conceived of it as a callback to the band’s full-length debut, 2000’s Shake Hands with Shorty. “I knew the debut album’s…
15+ Things to Do in Cleveland This Weekend (June 5-8)
THU 06/05 Apollo’s Fire Countryside Concerts, ¡HISPANIA! From today through Sunday at Holden Arboretum, a Grammy-winning eight-piece instrumental ensemble, plays music by Spanish composers Diego Ortiz, Gaspar Sanz and Santiago de Murcia. Check the website for more details. 9500 Sperry Rd., Kirtland, 440-946-4400, holdenarb.org. Charming Disaster This New York-based Goth-folk duo inspired by the likes…
Many Unaware of Threats to Ohio Medicaid, Advocates Say
As threats build to Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, even many Ohioans who stand to be affected don’t know it, advocates said Saturday. Federal fallout As federal funding and systems dwindle, states are left to decide how and whether to make up the difference. Dozens gathered on the west lawn of the…
Cleveland State to Convert Part of Parking Garage Into New Art Gallery
By most estimates, either from Cleveland City Hall or the Parking Reform Network, about a good quarter of Downtown Cleveland is land dedicated to parking. That’s about 56,493 spaces, according to the city. So, getting rid of 20 isn’t going to hurt. That’s part of Cleveland State University’s general idea of converting some 4,000 square…
Cleveland’s C-Level Celebrates New Single’s Release with Special Show at the Winchester
The local funk/rock/reggae band C-Level began more than a decade ago when singer-guitarist Dave Deitke and bassist Coda Cross hit the open mic circuit. They were only teenagers at the time. “I met Coda when I was 12, and he was 15,” recalls Deitke over coffee one afternoon at Rising Star in Lakewood. “We played…
Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist: Sexual vs Romantic Compatibility: Which One is More Important?
Welcome to Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist. Want to ask Matt a question that could be tackled in a future column? Click here. Now, onto this week’s topic. I’m a 24 year old woman and I’m in a bit of a weird situation. I recently ended a short but intense situationship with this guy I…
Kyuramen to Open at SouthPark Mall on Monday, June 9th
After nearly a year of construction, Ohio’s first Kyuramen is one week away from opening its doors. It will do that Monday, June 9th at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. Founded in 2014 by Gary Lin – and imported to Cleveland thanks to Sheng Long Yu – the quickly expanding brand is reinventing the ramen experience. The…
Beck Center’s “The Robber Bridegroom” is a Gem
“The Robber Bridegroom” at Beck Center for the Arts is a gem in the rough. That’s not how the saying goes, of course, but to call it a diamond in the rough is disingenuous. Diamonds evoke images of grandeur, sparkle and precise cuts. “The Robber Bridegroom,” a tall tale with robbers, mischief, kidnapping and killing,…
Advocates: Huge Numbers of Ohioans Stand to Lose Food Benefits if GOP House Budget Becomes Law
The executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks is trying to get the word out: If the budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives becomes reality, it could trash the state budget and make many, many Ohioans go hungry. The matter goes next to the U.S. Senate. But the members of the Ohio…
Hangry Brands to Open Second STEAK Concept in Chagrin Falls
Since opening in Tremont this past summer, STEAK (2179 W. 11th St., 216-331-2724) has continued to win over fans thanks to its bold décor, playful vibe and all-inclusive price structure that combines salad, steak, sauce and a side for a single fee. Next up for parent company Hangry Brands is a location in Chagrin Falls.…
Critics of Cleveland Heights Mayor Begin Days-Long Recall Campaign in Effort to Oust Him
Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren’s tenure as the city’s first-ever mayor could come to an end sooner than his term limit dictates. That is, if enough of his city’s residents decide so. This weekend, a week after Cleveland Heights City Council posed the possibility of Seren resigning, a coalition of the mayor’s staunchest critics will…
Cleveland’s Sophia Fisher Releases Soulful New Single
Sophia Fisher, a 23-year-old neo-soul/pop artist from Cleveland, has just released “Twenty Times This,” a new single that addresses “avoidant behavior in relationships,” as she puts it. “The track is about the love we miss out on because of [avoidant behavior], a theme that’s both deeply personal and relatable,” she says in a press release.…
An Ohio Court Passed Rules Barring ICE Arrests. A State Senator Wants to Scrap Them
In March, Franklin County, Ohio judges passed a pair of local rules barring immigration arrests at the county courthouse. A new measure in the state Senate aims to invalidate such restrictions statewide. After President Trump took office, his administration quickly issued guidance giving Immigration and Customs Enforcement the greenlight to make arrests in or near…
Cleveland Clinic Doubles Back on Its Upfront Copay Policy
Ten days after a legal complaint accused them of violating state law, Cleveland Clinic decided this week to rollback a new company policy that would have required patients to pay copayments before, and not after, their hospital visit. On May 13, the hospital system based in University Circle announced that all patients would have to…
Opponents Warn of Harm to Eligible Voters if Ohio Lawmakers Require Citizenship Documents
Ohio senators are considering a plan to require voters show proof of citizenship to register to vote. In a hearing this week, more than a dozen organizers and activists argued the bill’s stringent requirements would wind up disenfranchising eligible voters. There is still no evidence of widespread voter fraud, despite Republicans warning for years about…
The Monday Program to Perform at Special Event Supporting Cleveland Music
Two of the area’s most acclaimed restaurants — Cleveland’s Cordelia and Oberlin’s ThiNi Thai — will join forces for a special culinary event that takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, at Cordelia. Dubbed the Tuesday Menu, the one-night-only experience, will feature a curated menu fusing East Asian and Midwestern influences.…
Geauga County’s First Women’s Shelter, Once the Subject of Protest, Finds a Home in Chardon
It’s fair to say that residents of Munson Township weren’t exactly thrilled when, last February, they heard a Christian nonprofit was bringing a homeless shelter to town. Not just any homeless shelter: Geauga County’s first ever shelter for women, built by the Geauga Faith Rescue Mission as a companion to their men’s shelter down the…
Review: AC/DC Shows It Still Has Some Life Left at Tour Closer in Cleveland
There were signs that the most consistent hard rock outfit ever formed, which made its debut at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland to close the U.S. leg of its Power Up Tour, was aging. Hair was grayer, key members were missing and frontman Brian Johnson’s voice was, to put it charitably, pretty weathered. But what…
Bar Fuoco Replaces Jojo’s Backyard in Chagrin Falls
Rick Doody is never satisfied with the status quo. For the past three summers, JoJo’s Backyard has bloomed behind JoJo’s Bar in Chagrin Falls. The suburban oasis beckoned guests with its posh décor, outdoor kitchen and secluded setting where diners enjoyed grilled-to-order items such as steaks, chops, ribs and kebabs. Recently, Doody and company have…
Ohio Pie Co. Now Open in Parma
Last week, Ohio Pie Co. opened its new location in Parma (6847 Ridge Rd., 440-888-3000), joining the original shop in Brunswick and the second store Rocky River. Nick Robson launched the company in 2019 with his self-titled “Ohio-style” pizza, which arrives with a medium-thick crust, edge-to-edge cheese and toppings, a sweet red sauce spiral on top, and…
Hundreds Push Back Against Bill Prohibiting Foreign Nationals From Buying Property in Ohio
An Ohio Senate committee heard from opponents Tuesday of a measure placing restrictions on foreign ownership of land. The sponsors argue keeping foreign governments — particularly China — at least 25 miles from military installations and critical infrastructure is a matter of national security. But opponents contend the bill casts too broad a net, wrapping…
Livewire: 10 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Week
WED 05/28 AC/DC — Power Up Tour 2025 These Rock Hall Inductees from the Land Down Under just won’t quit even though most members are now at least 70. The hard rock group that practically defined the genre comes to town as part of a tour celebrating the 2020 album, Power Up. The concert begins…
Cleveland to Convert Parts of Huron and Prospect to One-Way Streets Downtown, Add Protected Bike Lanes
On your typical game day downtown, Huron and Prospect avenues just about shut down to normal street traffic. Road barriers are put up to cater to fans entering and exiting parking garages. Traffic bound for East 9th on Huron shifts to one-way. “Most of the time it’s empty,” Matt Moss, Senior Strategist for Thriving Communities with…
Cleveland Pops Does Decades of Delight and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
Here’s a short list of classical music events scheduled to take place between the end of the winter season and the beginning of summer festivals next week. MAY 28 – WEDNESDAY 6:00 pm – Heights Arts presents an open rehearsal by the Omni Quartet of Beethoven String Quartets to be performed on Sunday. Brief Q&A…
Ohio Near the Top in April Unemployment
Ohio had the sixth-highest unemployment of any state in April. The news comes after years of state officials spending billions on economic growth programs tilted heavily toward the wealthy. It might seem ironic, but Ohio’s economy added jobs in April even as unemployment continued to grow. That’s because job growth isn’t keeping up with the…
Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist: Our Son Caught Us Having Sex
Welcome to Ask a Cleveland Sex Therapist. Want to ask Matt a question that could be tackled in a future column? Click here. Now, onto this week’s topic. We have camera for security throughout the house and basement…with a 10-year-old we slip away when we can and have quickies (basement) now we come to find…
Lao Sze Chuan to Open in Strongsville
No local restaurant operator can match Sheng Long Yu’s breakneck pace. Since opening Shinto in Strongsville 20 years ago, the unstoppable entrepreneur has opened more than a dozen concepts, both locally and out of state, including Kenko, Hell’s Fried Chicken, Dagu Rice Noodle, YYTime, Build the Pho and Lao Sze Chuan. At present, Yu is building out a third Shinto…
‘I Am Not Your Negro’: A Defiant Kahlil Seren Tells Off Cleveland Heights Council in Tense Emergency Meeting
Where in the world is Mayor Seren? Is he okay? And who’s to replace him if he’s no longer in office—either due to recall or his own resignation? Those were the brimming questions on everyone’s mind at Cleveland Heights City Council’s emergency meeting Friday afternoon, a gathering centered on Seren’s whereabouts this week amid ongoing…
First Look: Jolene’s Honky Tonk, Opening on East 4th Street in Early June
“We only play two types of music here, Country and Western,” jokes Jason Beudert as he ushers me into East 4th Street’s next big destination. Opening in early June, Jolene’s Honky Tonk (2038 East 4th St.) will bring a refreshing jolt of energy, enthusiasm and fun to Cleveland’s most prominent pedestrian-only strip. Offering four floors…
Experts Say Rash of Pride Flag Vandalism Across Ohio Points to Shifting Trend in Anti-LGBTQ+ Violence
At a remote campground in southern Ohio – miles from the couple’s two-bedroom home in the Cleveland suburb of Brooklyn – Tyler Diamond and his husband, John Fleeman, sat beside a dying campfire. The pair had just spent a long weekend celebrating Diamond’s 35th birthday with a small group of family and friends. But by…
The Unbearable Darkness of the Cuyahoga County Jail
This article was first published by The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Instagram, TikTok, Reddit and Facebook. Jails are notorious for inhumane conditions. Detainees often complain of violence, inedible food, limited programming and subpar healthcare. Lack of sunlight may…
U.S. House Republican Cuts to Medicaid, Food Assistance Would Impact Hundreds of Thousands in Ohio
The U.S. House Republican budget bill could spell significant losses for low-income families in Ohio, specifically those in need of food assistance and those on Medicaid. Advocates for Medicaid and anti-hunger leaders have said reductions and eliminations connected to the two programs would negatively affect Ohioans as a whole, and the state’s economy and spending…
Cleveland Heights Refuses to Release Police Bodycam Footage of Incident With Mayor’s Wife at City Hall
The City of Cleveland Heights this week refused to release police bodycam footage of an incident last December at City Hall involving Mayor Kahlil Seren’s wife, Natalie McDaniel, in response to a public records request from Scene. Despite the ongoing controversy involving McDaniel’s unofficial presence and role at City Hall, and the fact that the…
Cleveland Heights Mayor Denies Wife Made Antisemitic Remarks, Despite Her Allegedly Calling One Public Commenter a “Jewish Bitch”
Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren, after remaining silent for a week after reports surfaced that his wife, Natalie McDaniel, made a series of antisemitic remarks in person and in text messages, finally broke his silence. In a 15-minute recorded video Seren posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, days after a civil rights complaint was filed…
Livewire: 13 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland Through Early June
THU 05/22 Lettuce The psychedelic funk band out of Boston has been a going concern since forming in 1992. The current tour supports 2022’s studio effort Unify as well as 2023’s live effort, Live in Amsterdam. The group plays at 7 p.m. at Globe Iron. 2320 Center St., globeironcle.com. FRI 05/23 Jason Aldean The country…
With LGBTQ Ohioans’ Rights Under Assault, Cleveland Pride Supporters Are Set to Resurrect the Event’s Political Roots
It’s somewhat tricky to pinpoint when Cleveland’s first Pride celebration occurred – sources hint at 1972 or 1973 – but it’s not difficult to discern the why. There were the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Nixon had refused to include gay folks in federal anti-discrimination laws. Waves of demonstration were popping…
