Yes, You Can Once Again Order a $100 Margarita for Cinco de Mayo in Cleveland
This month, Fleming’s Steakhouse in Woodmere and Akron is once again offering a $100 margarita to guests daring (and wealthy) enough to imbibe. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican holiday that Americans have turned into another excuse to drink, Fleming’s has concocted a margarita so rich and potent, it needs to come in…
State Legislators Will Debate a Music Recording Tax Credit
Reps. Sarah LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) have once again teamed up to introduce a music recording tax credit that, as theorized, would bring artists to Buckeye State to produce new albums. The idea is to fan out the recording industry’s base in Ohio, creating jobs and adding one more reason to equate…
On Kizer, Patience, Analytics and The 6 — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac are back. In Toronto, Andre delivers the baseball minute. Back at home, Zac discusses his interview with Andrew Berry of the Browns, and the guys chat about what’s ahead for the Cavs, what good organizations do and Big Baller Brand.
Kidnapping Survivor Michelle Knight Finds ‘Life After Darkness’ With Upcoming Book
Cleveland kidnapping survivor Michelle Knight is writing another book, publisher Weinstein Books announced today. After surviving Ariel Castro’s house of horrors for more than a decade before being rescued in 2013, everyone wanted to know what happened to Knight and fellow abductees Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus. All of the women wrote books recounting their personal experiences,…
Rapper Tech N9ne Talks About How Life’s ‘Drama’ Inspired His Latest Release
Last year, rapper Tech N9ne (Aaron Yates) embarked on what he called the Independent Powerhouse Tour 2016 with acts such as Ces Cru, Stevie Stone, ¡Mayday!, Rittz, Krizz Kaliko. It capped off yet another busy year for the rapper who seemingly can’t stop and won’t stop touring and recording at a feverish pace. “Last year…
Ohio EPA Slams Rover Pipeline for ‘Pattern’ of Spills
[image-1]The Ohio EPA is getting fed up with Energy Transfers’ handling of its newly certified Rover natural gas pipeline. On top of a list of blunders, the pipeline has already spilled millions of gallons of drilling fluid into wetlands near Navarre, Ohio. Craig Butler, the director of the Ohio EPA, said the agency has been…
Louis Sockalexis’ Tribe Angry About Chief Wahoo, Logo Obviously Does Not “Honor” His Legacy
Brian McQuarrie, writing for the Boston Globe, traveled to Indian Island, Maine, to visit the Penobscot Indian tribe and the descendants of Louis Sockalexis. Sockalexis was an extraordinary multi-sport athlete and the first Native American to play professional baseball. McQuarrie’s story, “From Maine tribe to Cleveland Indians: Enough is enough” appeared in the Globe Tuesday…
‘American Pickers’ Heads Back to Ohio This Summer In Search of More Stuff
The American Pickers team is coming to Ohio once again this summer, and they want to see your stuff. It seems that Iowans Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz can’t stay away; last year the antique collectors visited the Northeast Ohio region, rolling through Vermilion and Lodi, along with Stark and Summit Counties. This year they’ll…
The Cleveland Chamber Choir Does “No Time Like Spring,” Plus Five More Classical Music Events Not to Miss This Week
The Cleveland Orchestra was busy last week with a staging of Debussy’s only opera. The spirit of theater continues at Severance Hall this week as Franz Welser-Möst leads the Orchestra in Felix Mendelssohn’s incidental music to Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with actor/narrator Itay Tiran, soprano Anya Matanovic, mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, and the sopranos and…
Punk Rockers Against Me! to Play House of Blues in October
Plenty of punk bands have succeeded purely because they bring the noise. Against Me! does that and the some. Much like the Ramones and the Clash, the band has left its mark because of the great songs it writes. Three years ago at House of Blues, the group kicked off the Alternative Press Music Awards…
Rappers Meek Mill and Yo Gotti to Launch Their Co-Headlining Tour at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
On July 5, multi-platinum rappers Meek Mill and Yo Gotti will launch their coheadlining Against All Odds Tour at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. Last year, Meek Mill issued the mixtape DC4, the follow-up to his gold-certified sophomore album Dreams Worth More Than Money. Memphis rapper Yo Gotti released his latest album, White Friday, this year.…
Local Rock Act the Shadow Division Celebrates Release of New Single with a Show at CODA
Initially, the Shadow Division guitarist Michael Ridley started the local group after transferring from the U.K. to Cleveland a couple years ago. The band existed in the U.K. but since Ridley owns the rights to the name, he decided to launch it in the States and used BandMix to recruit a new set of bandmates.…
Former Clevelander Dr. E to Play CD Release Party at East Cleveland Public Library
A graduate of the Cleveland Public School system, singer Dr. E received her B.A. and M.A. from Cleveland State University and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Currently a professor of Literacy Studies in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Ohio State University, she has won several literary awards. This month, she’ll release…
Lawsuit: Cleveland Police Won’t Give Burglary Victim His Gun Back
A Cleveland man is going after the city of Cleveland’s police department for what’s rightfully— Constitutionally-stamped— his. That’s the gist of a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of Brian Bridges against the city in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas court. Following a 2015 justified shooting, Bridges claims the city are still holding onto his firearm and…
Phoenix Coffee to Return to Warehouse District This Summer
Phoenix Coffee will return to the Warehouse District this summer, the local coffee company announced Monday. It will open in the former home of D’Vine Wine Bar in the Worthington Building on St. Clair between W. 6th and W. 9th. The Warehouse location will be Phoenix’s fifth. They currently operate two coffee shops in Cleveland…
Aussie Rockers Midnight Oil to Play House of Blues in August
Perhaps inspired by the current political climate, Aussie rockers Midnight Oil will embark on an extensive summer tour, their first U.S. jaunt in 15 years. The tour’s initial schedule didn’t include a Cleveland show, but the band has just announced a new set of dates that includes a stop at House of Blues on Aug.…
New Dance Festival Coming to Akron in June
Taking its name from Akron’s legacy as the birthplace of toy marble-making automation, the new Lose Your Marbles dance festival debuts in downtown Akron on June 9 and 10. “With Akron’s reputation for dance, and audiences hungry for it, the city is a perfect platform for a festival that showcases new and emerging artists,” says Victoria Rogers,…
Marc’s Now Accepts All Major Credit and Debit Cards at All Stores
[image-1]In November, some Marc’s grocery stores began experimenting with the newfangled idea of accepting all major credit cards and debit cards. The innovation was available at only 11 of its 58 locations. The experiment to join modern society must have gone well, because the discount store chain announced today that all customers now have the…
Donny & Marie to Perform at Hard Rock Live in August
Famous for hosting a variety show in the ’70s, squeaky clean superstar siblings Donny & Marie Osmond will perform at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park on Aug. 27. While The Donny & Marie show ended back in 1979, the duo has experienced a bit of a resurgence and performed together in Vegas since 2008. The…
Federal Judge Rules Against Army Corps in Dredging Dispute
U.S. District Court Judge Donald Nugent ruled on Friday against the Army Corps of Engineers in a years-long dispute about the placement of material dredged from the Cuyahoga River. [You can read all about it here.] The Army Corps, which performs the annual dredging, has wanted to dispose of the sediment directly into Lake Erie.…
Cleveland ‘American Ninja Warrior’ Competitor Admits It’s Not Easy Being a Ninja
Just listening to Logan Broadbent explain his daily schedule makes you want to take a nap. The 29-year-old starts his day running through his eastside neighborhood. After putting in a few hours at his job at GE, he heads to the office gym during his lunch break. He’ll then zoom over to a rock climbing…
Rise Against to Play Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in September
Earlier today, the melodic hardcore band Rise Against announced the dates for a North American fall headlining tour. The band also just released a lyric video for its new single, “The Violence.” The track comes from the group’s forthcoming album, Wolves, which arrives on June 9. Fans who pre-order the digital album will instantly receive “The Violence.” To support…
A Chance Meeting with Jason Aldean Has Led to Steady Summer Work for Dee Jay Silver
Las Vegas niteclubs regularly employ celebrity DJs to keep their parties hopping. For Dee Jay Silver, a veteran of the circuit who currently holds down a residency at the Rehab Pool at the Vegas Hard Rock, appearing at various Academy of Country Music Awards events during the infamous “Week Vegas Goes Country” gave him a…
Jeff Johnson Responds to Critics, Campaign Eligibility Challenge
Councilman and mayoral candidate Jeff Johnson said in a public Facebook post Monday that recent attacks against him regarding the eligibility of his candidacy would be “defeated soon.” “I have already accepted my past mistakes and the punishment that came with it,” Johnson wrote. “From then on, the Ohio Supreme Court, Cuyahoga County Court and…
SNL’s Weekend Update Used Chief Wahoo as the Obvious (and Right) Punchline for a Joke About Racism in MLB
MLB strongly decried the incident in Boston recently where the Baltimore Oriole’s Adam Jones said at least one fan called him the n-word. It became fodder for SNL’s Weekend Update, naturally, and they made the obvious connection to Cleveland. SNL Weekend Update speaking the truth, Cleveland! We are better than this. I love our baseball…
Cavaliers Make Dino Heel and Ask, “Who’s next?”
Two fellows are enjoying a tankard of ale in 16th century Rome, complaining about their arranged marriages and the plague of carriage travel when talk inevitably turns to Michelangelo. “Eh, I never thought much of him,” says the first fellow. “I’ll give ya, David is pretty good, but I’ll take Donatello any night of the…
The Band Perry Shows Off Its New Pop/Rock Sound at Hard Rock Live Concert
At the beginning of last night’s 75-minute concert before a near-capacity crowd at Hard Rock Live, the Band Perry singer Kimberly Perry encouraged patrons to let loose. “We have one rule,” she said. “You need to get loud, wild and crazy. Do I need to remind you that it’s Saturday night?” Those efforts came to…
Burning River Roller Derby Team Hosts Season Opener Tonight
[image-1]Though they haven’t had much success in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), Burning River Roller Derby did make the WFTDA playoffs back in 2013. This year, they will aim for a better record when they kick off their 2017 season at the CE Orr Ice Arena. The opener will feature Burning River’s All-Stars…
Music Box Supper Club to Launch Summer-Long Happy Hour Concert Series in June
In the attempt to emulate the WMMS Coffe Break Concerts that were so popular here in the 1970s and 1980s, the Music Box Supper Club has teamed up with locally based oWOW Radio for a new, summer-long Happy Hour Concert series every Wednesday starting on June 7. The series will feature up-and-coming national and local…
Country Singer Joe Nichols Reflects on the Ebb and Flow of His 20-year career
Singer Joe Nichols received a good dose of country music while growing up in Arkansas. “My dad played country music and I went to some of the places he played as a kid,” he says via phone from his Nashville home. Nichols performs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, at the Goodyear Theatre in…
The Cleveland Orchestra Makes a Quiet Impact With ‘Pelléas and Mélisande’
Pelléas and Mélisande is meant to be quiet and dark and otherworldly. And the most striking aspect of last night’s Cleveland Orchestra’s performance of Claude Debussy’s only completed opera came in the quietness of its ending. Of course, like any other epic, concertgoers had to endure three hours of ups and downs to be worthy…
Organizers of the Rock Hall Half Marathon Are Looking for a Few Good Local Bands
The upcoming Rock Hall Half Marathon isn’t your typical half marathon. In true rock ‘n’ roll fashion, organizers will line the route with rock acts who’ll perform as contestants run. The Rock Hall Half Marathon has issued a call for musicians to entertain the thousands of runners, walkers and spectators who’ll make their way along…
Frank Jackson Presents Big Legislative Package Aimed at Neighborhoods, Challengers Cry Foul
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Frank Jackson presented a legislative package that he said was aimed at improving Cleveland neighborhoods. He said the ordinances (some of them already passed, some of them pending, some of them new) were in keeping with statements he’s made in the past about measuring a city’s success by…
Here’s What Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman Have Said About the House’s Healthcare Vote as Senate Takes Up the AHCA
[image-1]As you probably know by now, the House passed the AHCA yesterday, which would repeal large swaths of Obamacare. Its highly contentious and problematic policies — regarding Medicaid expansion and pre-existing conditions, to name just two — as well as the long-term prospect of millions of Americans losing coverage, will now be taken up by…
Indie Rockers Spoon Expand Their Sound on Their Terrific New Album
Austin’s annual South by Southwest festival features a logjam of bands trying to woo industry insiders and demonstrate their viability to record label heads and marketing reps. Standing out from the fray doesn’t come easy. So credit indie rockers Spoon for coming up with a novel way of getting some well-deserved attention. During this year’s…
Another Brutally Honest Obituary From a Family Who Lost a Loved One to a Heroin Overdose
As Northeast Ohio, along with many, many parts of the nation, continues to deal with the death toll of the ongoing and growing opiate public health crisis, more and more families are forgoing the vagaries usually found in obituaries and instead offering up brutally honest details of their loved ones’ addictions in the hopes it…
Josh Mandel Made a Really Stupid Video Supporting Trump’s Wall
Josh Mandel, the Treasurer of the state of Ohio, who is also running against Sherrod Brown for a Senate seat in 2018, made a really stupid video somewhere on the border of Mexico and the U.S last week. (Or quite possibly somewhere on the side of the road in Dublin or something. Either way, he…
On LeBron’s Greatness and Where Sports Media is Heading — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac go long — and long-winded, per usual — on LeBron’s brilliance. ESPN’s layoffs, the future of sports media, the Kentucky Derby and a whole bunch more.
Mark Leahy Out As General Manager of Cleveland Convention Center
[image-1] Mark Leahy’s last day as General Manager of the Cleveland convention center and Global Center for Health and Innovation was this past Wednesday. He’d led the $465-million dollar publicly financed facility since a few months after it opened in 2013. There was no public announcement of his departure, nor has a permanent replacement been…
John Oates to Make a Special Appearance at the Rock Hall on May 21
Earlier this year, the pop duo Hall & Oates announced it would come to town for a May 20 show at at Quicken Loans Arena. Now, John Oates, one half of the popular duo (he’s the one with the mustache), has announced he’ll appear at the Rock Hall at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 21.…
Superman Exhibit to Open at Cleveland Public Library
Tonight at 6:30, the Cleveland Public Library’s main branch hosts a special preview of the exhibit Superman: From Cleveland to Krypton, which features memorabilia, art and artifacts from the Mike Curtis Collection of Superman Memorabilia and other prominent collectors. The Curtis Collection was acquired last year from Curtis, an Arkansas collector and superman, who donated…
Proper Pig’s Shane Vidovic Competes on Food Network’s “Chopped” on May 23
Big things are happening for Shane Vidovic and Ted Dupaski, the owners of Proper Pig Smokehouse. Their Lakewood shop opened to rave reviews last June, and even though the debut coincided with the launch of Mabel’s, Proper Pig quickly emerged from the Michael Symon shadow as Clevelanders lined up for their outrageously good ‘cue time and time again.…
Rock Hall Celebrates Opening of Rolling Stone Magazine Exhibit with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Party
Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner stepped back in time last night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as the museum opened its Rolling Stone exhibit that celebrates the magazine’s 50th anniversary. The private event commenced with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included remarks by Rock Hall CEO and President Greg Harris and Wenner.…
Breaking Down Cavs Beatdown of Raptors
It’s not true that history repeats but it certainly stutters, and at the moment its syllabic stopping point in James. LeBron James. Not shaken. Unstirred. The Eastern Conference Vishnu, the not-so-secret destroyer of dreams for teams this side of the (figurative) Mississippi. There is no answer for him, only questions, for any attempt to stop…
Every Republican House Member From Ohio Who Voted to Repeal Obamacare
[image-1] The House voted 217-213 this afternoon to repeal major swaths of the Affordable Care Act and replace them with a plan that was not released in full to the public before the vote, was not scored by the CBO, would result in millions of people losing coverage, and would likely affect the coverage of…
Plain Dealer “Metro” Section to Return on Sundays
The Plain Dealer’s Metro section will return to the Sunday edition, the paper announced in print this morning. The local news section will, according to PD, give readers “more news from around the metro area, and bring together current features, such as the Our Towns news and events compilation, and new features, such as occasional columns…
Cleveland State University to Host Humanities Festival in June
School’s out for summer, but the folks at Cleveland State University will be plenty busy on June 7, 8 and 9. That’s when the university hosts the Arts and Humanities Alive (AHA!) Festival. The three-day fest will feature a free, all-day book fair, the local premiere of Ken Burns’ new PBS documentary The Vietnam War,…
Singer-Guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks Uses Music to Get Through the Tough Times
Blossom Music Center was the place to be on August 11, 1993. That was the day that legendary bluesman B.B. King brought his inaugural Blues Festival through town with a stunning lineup. The bill that day featured King and a dizzying collective of his blues contemporaries, including Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Koko Taylor, Eric Johnson,…
Indie Rockers the XX Deliver an Emotional Performance in First-Ever Cleveland Show
It would be reasonable think that indie rockers the XX might be a disappointment live — after all, their music is very sparse, quiet and subdued — qualities that don’t exactly make for gripping live entertainment. But during last night’s concert at a chilly Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, the low-end and beats came alive, giving…
Tremont Carjacking Trial Shines Light on the City-Neighborhood Divide That’s Only Getting Worse
Late Monday morning in the carjacking trial of two suspected Heartless Felon gang members, Federal prosecutors were expecting to land their coup de grace when everything suddenly went belly-up. Sitting on the witness stand, shackled and wearing an orange prison jumper, 24-year-old Tervon’tae Taylor whispered to his attorney. The conversation dragged. The courtroom waited. A few strides…
6 Concerts to Catch This Weekend in Cleveland
FRIDAY, MAY 5 Holden Laurence Album Release/Bad Hounds/John’s Little Sister As a member of The Modern Electric, Holden Laurence has captivated many a Northeast Ohio audience over the years. Now, he hits the stage with tonight’s solo release party for Wild Empty Promises, a fantastic debut that blends (in his spot-on words) mope-rock, post-punk and…
2017 Cleveland Arts Prize Winners Announced, Including Russell Atkins, Christi Birchfield, and Jeannette Sorrell
For the first time in the organization’s 57-year history, the eight recipients of the 2017 Cleveland Arts Prize were formally announced live Wednesday evening at MOCA Cleveland. It was a big night for the Cleveland Institute of Art, as three recipients have deep ties to the school. The winners include two visual artists, a poet…
ASCAP Music Royalties Group Accuses Willoughby Brewing Co. of Violations
ASCAP identified Willoughby Brewing Co. this week as one of nine bars and restaurants “nationwide” that is broadcasting or playing copyrighted music with neither permission nor payment. ASCAP is one of three main performing rights organizations (PROs). They’re the middlemen between songwriters and platforms that broadcast music (radio stations, Pandora, sports arenas, restaurants, etc.). “The songwriters…
Police Warn of Fentanyl Blend Called ‘Gray Death’ in Ohio
[image-1]For a while now, we’ve seen overdoses in Ohio continually linked to a combination of heroin and fentanyl. The heroin supply chain is such that, as the drug is trafficked from Point A to Point Z, dealers along the way “step on” the heroin and cut it with fentanyl or a chemical analogue. The result…
Aut-O-Rama Drive-In to Launch Retro Tuesday Series in June
Back in the 1950s, the drive-in movie theater became a fad. About 5,000 of them dotted the nation. Now, they’re a dying breed. But here in Northeast Ohio we’re lucky to have one of the few remaining drive-ins. Located in North Ridgeville, Aut-o-Rama remains an active drive-in. Now, its owners have just announced they’ll launch…
‘Jesus’ Invaded Home, Prayed with Man, Stole Golf Cart, Asked to Fornicate with Police: This May Be Greatest Criminal Narrative of All Time
Down near Wooster, Ohio, a man identifying himself as Jesus was apprehended Tuesday night in a stolen golf cart. According to Wayne County Captain Douglas Hunter, the man had invaded a home, discharged a fire extinguisher, laid down at the foot of the residents’ bed and then prayed for a short time with the man…
LeBron Talked About the Adam Jones Situation and Racism After Last Night’s Win
Responding to a question about the Adam Jones incident in Boston and its aftermath, LeBron James talked for a couple of minutes about racism, how he attempts to talk about the issue with his kids, what athletes can do even though, he said, racism isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and his experiences in Boston. Cavaliers'…
Now That’s Class to Host Vegan Cinco De Mayo Celebration
[image-1]Celebrating Cinco de Mayo doesn’t have to involve stuffing your face with beef tacos. Today at 5 p.m. at Now That’s Class, the restaurant Helio Terra presents Beast No Feast Cinco de Mayo, a vegan-friendly celebration that will feature bean and cheese enchiladas, Jicama Napa cabbage slaw and raw chipotle chocolate cashew cheesecake. Then, at…
Electropop Singer Halsey to Play the Wolstein Center in November
Last year, electropop singer Halsey’s riveting performance at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica stood out as one of the summer concert season’s highlights. Performing with a certain amount of swagger, the pint-sized singer regularly engaged the audience while her three-piece band added texture to pre-recorded beats. The 70-minute set had a real intensity to it that suggested…
Cleveland Roads Should See Improvement This Year As Construction Season Kicks Off With Multimillion Dollar Repair Projects
[image-1]From the west to the east side of Cleveland, you’ve felt it. That jarring rattle after hitting a pot hole so large you wonder if your car might be swallowed whole. Yet, even after pouring millions of dollars into reconstruction, Cleveland roads are still riddled with pockmarks and cracks from years of salt erosion and…
Matt Underwood Sang the Hot Pockets Jingle and Brought Last Night’s Indians Broadcast to a Screeching Halt
[image-1]There’s a noticeable shift going on among Tribe fans on the goodness or badness of Matt Underwood. It’s not seismic, by any means — the Souvenir Shitty contingent is still strong and vocal — but there’s a certain lovable affability to Underwood’s ramblings and interjections that’s winning at least some of us over. The latest…
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ Features Some Seriously Good Sci-Fi Fun
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 came to fruition at a time when superhero movies had started to take themselves too seriously. With its yacht rock soundtrack and anti-hero cast, the 2014 movie provided some serious comic relief as it followed the exploits of the half-human, half-alien Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt). In one interview, Pratt…
2017 Cleveland Arts Prize Recipients Announced Tonight at MOCA
The Cleveland Arts Prize is the oldest award of its kind in the United States. For more than 45 years, the organization has recognized local individual artists and arts advocates with special awards. From 6 to 8 p.m. tonight, MOCA Cleveland hosts a live announcement of the 2017 Cleveland Arts Prize winners. Wednesday’s event also…
Facebook to Add 3,000 Content Moderation Employees after Steve Stephens
Not three weeks after Steve Stephens randomly murdered Robert Godwin Sr. in Glenville and posted the video to Facebook, the international media behemoth has announced that it will hire 3,000 new employees to monitor violent content and review reports. Mark Zuckerberg, in a Facebook post (included below), said that in order to build a “safe…
Suspicious Bag that Caused Hopkins Shutdown Tuesday was an Empty Guitar Case
The news networks pounced, Tuesday afternoon, at word of a suspicious bag at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Some passengers were evacuated. The highway entrance was shut down. The Rapid Red Line switched to shuttle service. K-9 units and a bomb squad arrived on scene. (These are all natural precautions, of course, and it’s hard to…
Capitol Theatre to Screen ‘When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth’ as Part of Its Reel Science Series
Cleveland Cinemas and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History have teamed up for Reel Science, an ongoing series of films that features an eclectic and diverse line-up of classic and contemporary films. The series aims to “explore the facts and fictions in each film” with an introduction and post-screening discussion hosted by one of the…
Comedian Bill Burr Wraps Up a Two-Night Stand at Hilarities Tonight
Aside from selling out shows internationally, comedian Bill Burr has made his way into a few movies — playing both serious and comedic roles — and put out five albums, all while being hailed as one of the top comedians in the industry. It’s for good reason, though, because the brutally honest Burr’s “against the…
Bigger Each Year, Free Comic Book Day Promises Galaxies of Fun in Cleveland
With more than 5.7 million comic books being given away by more than 2,300 comic book specialty retailers, this weekend’s 16th annual Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) is sure to be the biggest and best yet. In total, 50 titles from 37 publishers will be available. Taking place annually on the first Saturday of each…
Savage Love: The Leftovers
Nancy, the tech-savvy at-risk youth, two gimps, Christ on the cross, the Easter Bunny, two weeping women, and the Easter Bunny’s smoking-hot leather master took to the stage at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon, for a live taping of the Savage Lovecast on Easter weekend. Audience members submitted their questions on cards —but with Rachel…
Band of the Week: Axioma
MEET THE BAND: Cyril Blandino (guitars), Aaron Dallison (bass, vocals), Jon Vinson (drums), Justin Meyers (guitars) THE FRENCH CONNECTION: A dark metal band from Cleveland featuring members of Keelhaul, Brain Tentacles and Forged in Flame, Axioma came together in 2015. Originally, the group only consisted of Meyers and Blandino, who also play in the local metal act Forged…
Cynthia Nixon Shines, But Emily Dickinson Biopic May Be Dourest of All Time
A Quiet Passion stars Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon as the 19th century American poet Emily Dickinson. Like other biopics that contrive to tell a story of a life entire, the film lacks natural momentum and a central conflict. Rather, in small stories of anger and loss, we watch Dickinson retreat into bitterness and despair;…
Spotlight: ‘Another Evil’
If the big box office success of Get Out is any indication, the horror genre has shifted from trying to scare audiences to using the set-up of typical horror movie in order to experiment with other genres and cinematic styles. Another Evil, the debut from writer-director Carson D. Mell, also aims to move the horror genre in…
25 New Restaurants, Breweries and Bars We’re Looking Forward to This Summer in Cleveland
Loosen your belts, Cleveland diners and drinkers: The next few weeks and months will be filled with gobs of restaurant, bar and brewery openings. If you thought 2016, which brought the arrival of Salt, Mabel’s, The Plum, Proper Pig, and Parker’s Downtown, to name just a few, was a frenetic year for new eateries, just wait…
Get Out This Week in Cleveland (May 3-9)
WED 05/03 Art Doc Double Feature Tonight at 6:45, the Cleveland Museum of Art will screen two films about groundbreaking American artists. The first, What About Style? Alex Katz: A Painter’s Painter, focuses on Katz, a subject of a current CMA art exhibit that showcases nearly 80 key loans of Katz’s work. Tonight’s program also…
Is Some Theater As Good As Sex? Well, Yes, and if You Love Musicals, You Really Need to Hit ‘Something Rotten!’
If you love Broadway musicals (or even if you hate them), there is a show in town that will massage your theatrical g-spot to multiple orgasms. Of course, searching for a partner’s actual physical g-spot can sometimes resemble a futile journey to the lost city of Atlantis: “How about here? No? Okay, how about here?”…
Years of Planning and Some Early Adjustments Have BRIM Kitchen + Brewery on the Right Path
The trend in breweries these days is to focus on the beer and let somebody else worry about the food, whether that somebody happens to be a food truck, revolving pop-up, or a nearby restaurant. The few new breweries that do have a kitchen wisely limit their food ops to a few basic menu items:…
Kifaya’s Kitchen is Home to Cleveland’s Somali Refugee Community
The bucket list of ethnic cuisine in Cleveland expanded by yet another country when Kifaya’s Kitchen (3650 W 117th St., 216-219-8263) opened its Somali-themed eatery in 2013. It was a long journey for Kifaya Mohamed and son Ahmed Galeb to establish the family business after arriving in the United States as refugees from a Yemen…
