Update: Michael Bublé Reschedules Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Date for October
Update: Citing COVID concerns, singer Michael Buble has rescheduled the upcoming date of his Rocket Mortage FieldHouse concert that was set to take place on Aug. 21. The new date is now Oct. 21. Tickets for previously scheduled dates will reportedly be honored. Original Post 7/7/2021: Just this week, singer Michael Bublé announced rescheduled dates for…
Update: The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express to Open Second Location in Warehouse District on Sept. 11
Update: Back in May, we reported on Kyler Smith’s plan to expand his popular restaurant The Sauce Boiling Seafood Express to downtown. We now have an official opening day: Sept. 11. He opened his first location in University Heights last year. Here is the original story. ***** Kyler Smith was a huge fan of seafood boil…
UJerk Caribbean Eatery Opens in Downtown on July 3
A little taste of Jamaica will make its way downtown thanks to Jon Manning, who will open UJerk Caribbean Eatery (850 Euclid Ave.) in the former Cleveland Pickle/Hatfield’s Goode Grub space in the City Club Building. The fast-casual restaurant will specialize jerk chicken in various forms. UJerk opens for business on July 3. “We really…
Waste Collection Tickets are No Longer Being Issued by City of Cleveland
In the wake of revelations late last month that the City of Cleveland’s recycling contract had expired and the city was sending all recyclable material to a landfill, City Council met last week to get answers from the administration and berate officials for their lack of communication. Among the big disclosures by Cleveland COO Darnell Brown…
As Ohio Considers Shielding Business Owners From COVID-Related Lawsuits, Here’s Who Workers Should Call If They Have Safety Concerns
Ohio recently set up a portal on its unemployment page for employers to narc on employees who refused to come back to work during the pandemic for fear of contracting the virus. Not only did the state decid to offer the snitching tool in the midst of stay-at-home orders, it took the added step of…
Death of Plain Dealer Arrives Sunday, Cleveland.com to Produce all Local Content for Paper
While the doctors won’t pronounce The Plain Dealer officially dead until May 17, news of its imminent demise was blithely shared in a column Tuesday by editor Tim Warsinskey. But not before he took the opportunity to note he’d accepted the role of Senior Projects Editor for Advance Local, Advance Ohio’s parent company. Bully for…
Playhouse Square Restaurants Face Uncertain Futures Following Postponement of Shows
This week, Playhouse Square announced that shows scheduled for late summer and fall, including sold-out runs of “Hamilton” and “Disney’s Frozen,” have been pushed back until January 2021 at the earliest. The decision will postpone or cancel hundreds of planned performances when you take into account plays, concerts, dance troupes, comedians and speakers. The news…
Savage Love: My Friend Jokes About Having Sex With Me. How Can I Tell If She’s Serious
It’s taken a lot to do this, but here goes. I am a 38-year-old gay male. I’ve been dating this guy for one year and 10 months. It’s been a lot of work — he’s cheated on me numerous times. He lives with me and doesn’t work, and I’ve been taking care of him for…
Cellphone Data Shows Northwest Ohio Staying Home Less than the Rest of the State Since May 1
Some Ohioans, mostly those who live in northwest Ohio, are ignoring Gov. DeWine’s stay-at-home order and leaving their homes again, according to a new estimate from the New York Times, which analyzed cellphone data from users who agreed to share data from downloaded apps. The data shows activity from May 1 through May 8 compared…
Akron Civic Theatre to Host an Online Benefit Auction
The Akron Civic Theatre has just announced that its annual Spirits of the Civic auction will be moved to an online experience. The auction site will be opened for bidding at 8 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, and bidding will end at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. It will feature 80 different items. In…
Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose Hopes to Make Mail-In Voting Easier for November Election, Dems Say Changes Not Enough
Ohio didn’t have a lot of time before the primary election to adjust after the pandemic struck. The hectic, confusing announcements from DeWine, ensuing court battle and eventual postponement from March to late April is something the state will be looking to avoid in November’s presidential election. “Clearly, nobody envisioned the Ohio primary occurring this…
Pandemic EBT to Help Low-Income Families with Kids Buy Groceries
COLUMBUS, Ohio — About 850,000 Ohio children who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches at school now will receive about $300 each to make up for the meals they’re missing with schools closed due to COVID-19. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved Ohio’s application to launch a temporary pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer…
City of Cleveland Surpasses 1,000 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
The City of Cleveland announced Tuesday night 33 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, which brings the City’s total to 1,011. Cleveland’s first two confirmed cases were recorded on March 14, with steady daily increases in the two months since. Cleveland has also seen 41 resident fatalities from the virus. The State of Ohio announced updated…
Ohio Gyms Sue Department of Health for Enforcing Closure of Fitness Centers During Stay at Home Orders
A collection of 35 independent Ohio gyms is suing the Ohio Department of Health and its director Dr. Amy Acton for enforcing the closure of fitness centers during the state’s Stay Safe Ohio order. Cincinnati’s Iron Plate Gym, Evolution Fitness & Lifestyle Management and Gracie Cincinnati Jiu-Jitsu training center are included in the list of…
Cleveland Cinemas to Offer “Curbside Concessions” Friday at Area Theaters
Cleveland Cinemas is offering “curbside concessions” Friday afternoon to remind local movie goers of going to the movies. It won’t be the same, of course, but you can pick up your popcorn and beer and then screen a movie from the Cleveland Cinemas “Virtual Screening Room,” and comfort yourself in the knowledge that you’re supporting…
Owners of Spotted Owl, Porco Lounge and Velvet Tango Room United on Decision to Remain Closed Until August 1
Bars and restaurants often get lumped together when discussing the effects that COVID-19 and the accompanying restrictions and guidelines will have on the industry. But the truth is they are very different, not just in practical ways but also less obvious behavioral ones. We go to restaurants primarily to eat and secondarily to socialize. Those…
Columbus Named as COVID-19 ‘Location to Watch’ in Unreleased White House Report
According to an unreleased White House report obtained by NBC News, Columbus, Ohio is listed as a “location to watch” in regards to a possible spike of COVID-19 infections. NBC News says: “The data in a May 7 coronavirus task force report are at odds with President Donald Trump’s declaration Monday that ‘all throughout the…
Kroger to Discontinue ‘Hero Bonus’ for Frontline Workers, Unions Urge for Extension and Safer Conditions
It may be the end of the aisle for a meager hourly bonus for essential grocery workers risking their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. In late March, Kroger announced that it would provide thousands of its hourly frontline grocery, supply chain, manufacturing, pharmacy, and call center associates with weekly $2 per hour pay increase, or…
Florida-Based Adult Film Studio is Making a ‘Tiger King’ Parody Porno
One of the true constants in life is that everything you enjoy will eventually end up as a porno parody in some form or another, and the Netflix docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness is no exception. Last week, Tampa-based Blazed Studios announced that they have begun casting calls for a Tiger King porno…
In Defense of Donald Trump, America’s Manliest Man
The scene: In a small Ohio town, a bar owner quietly opens so his regulars can drink against tyranny. The cast: Dick, a part-time school bus driver and frequent complainant at City Council meetings. Jerry, a former roofer on disability who fears America’s creeping slide toward socialism. We join our heroes in mid-conversation: Dick: “Get…
Local Multimedia Artist Kasumi Launches ‘ShuffleHead’ App
Kasumi — the prolific Cleveland-based, internationally acclaimed multimedia artist, writer, film maker, and musician — is now adding app creator to her already overwhelming resume. Shufflehead is Kasumi’s latest brainchild. It’s described as “a mix and match coloring book, story creator, and beat-maker all in one.” Now available in the App store for Apple users…
Lox, Stock and Brisket to Relocate to Van Aken District; Rice Shop to Take its Place in University Heights
Anthony Zappola made a huge splash two years ago when he opened Lox, Stock and Brisket (13892 Cedar Rd., 216-471-8175) in University Heights. While the chef was a big deal in Las Vegas, where he earned recognition as Best New Chef by Las Vegas Weekly, he was an unknown entity in Cleveland dining. That quickly…
Lit Cleveland Needs Your Help to Document a Day in Cleveland During the Pandemic
Literary Cleveland is once again endeavoring into a creative, collective writing project. This time, the organization is soliciting writing and observations from May 12 that it’ll compile and edit into a composite tale of one day in the life of Cleveland during the pandemic. Instructions below: Literary Cleveland is inviting you to participate in a…
Early Data Shows Black People Are Being Disproportionally Arrested in Ohio for Social Distancing Violations
ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. On April 17 in Toledo, Ohio, a 19-year-old black man was arrested for violating the state stay-at-home order. In court filings, police say he took a bus from Detroit to Toledo “without…
Trump Team Considering Drive-In MAGA Rallies Due to Coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic has put a pause on almost every aspect of life in the United States — including political rallies. But President Donald Trump’s team has reportedly been at work considering possible workarounds. One idea floated involves holding rallies at drive-in theaters around the country. According to The Daily Beast, Trump’s team plans to…
Justin Caldbeck: Transactional Consumer Tech – An Interview with a Binary Capital Co-Founder and Former Duke Basketball Player
Transactional consumer technology opens up new opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, and gig workers. Apps like GrubHub and Doordash expand delivery options beyond large chains and primarily pizza and Chinese takeout to enabling every single one of our favorite restaurants. Uber helps us get to and from where we want to go safely–even if we live…
High School Rock Off Finalists Fake ID Issue Their First Single
Close to three years ago, singer Norah Hyman met guitarist Ryan McKendry and drummer Ethan Ventresca at a local School of Rock program. They hit it off and decided to form the modern rock band Fake ID. Just this week, they released their guitar-heavy first single, “Good Times.” “We all liked playing music together and…
Independent Music Venues Are Asking for Your Support for Federal Financial Relief Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
It’s an inarguable fact that smaller independent venues help form the backbone of a music scene in a city, and are often key in giving support and spotlight to bands on the rise. Locally speaking, places like the Grog Shop, Beachland Ballroom and Now That’s Class (and many more) are places that have hosted an…
Veteran Local Drummer Helped Shape the Songs on the New You’re Among Friends Album
Friends from the local music scene, singer-guitarist Anthony Doran and bassist Kevin Trask formed the indie rock act You’re Among Friends in 2007, and while the group took some time off in the early 2010s, it returned to recording and playing live in time to celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2017. Since celebrating that milestone,…
Here’s This Week’s Updated Breakdown of Cuyahoga County COVID-19 Cases by Zip Code
Another week, another week of new COVID-19 cases, another week when you should be staying inside and watching the Golden Girls. Again, these show the zip code residence of people with confirmed or probable cases. For all the nitty gritty from the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Health’s weekly update, click here.
As Ohio Reopens, Its Neighbors in Michigan and Kentucky Take a Slower Route
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton have received national praise for the speedy and deliberate action taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the state. While approval ratings for both remain high for now, the question will be what those numbers, and Ohio’s COVID-19 stats, look like two to four weeks…
Food Strike Begins at Ohio’s Marion Correctional Institution, One of the Country’s Worst Sources of COVID-19 Cases
The incarcerated men of Marion Correctional Institution in Ohio began a food strike on May 6, protesting deteriorating meal services as COVID-19 continues to sweep through the prison. Marion is home to one of the most concentrated coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S. As calls for mass release grew louder in the state capital, the 86…
CDC Reverses Course on Using Race as COVID-19 Testing Criteria
COLUMBUS, Ohio – After changing the guidelines to test ethnic minority groups disproportionately affected by COVID-19, the CDC reversed course again Wednesday, saying that African Americans exposed to the virus could not get tested without symptoms. A May 3 directive allowed physicians to test “persons without symptoms who come from racial and ethnic minority groups…
‘Call it a Mixed Bag’ — Cleveland Barbers On Getting Back Behind the Chair Next Week
Daisun Santana just got another text from a guy who needs a haircut. No, he says aloud, sorry, but he can’t do that. It’s May 7, hours before Gov. Mike DeWine will announce the plan for barber shops across the state of Ohio to reopen, and Santana is still getting daily requests for an off-the-books…
Ohio Small Businesses Are Charting a New Path During the Pandemic
Cindy Michael, owner of Harps & Thistles Yarn Emporium in Cuyahoga Falls, was worried when she had to close her doors to customers because of the coronavirus in March. For many, knitting and crocheting are social activities, and Michael thought customers not being able to gather in her shop would negatively affect her business. So,…
Survey: Ohioans More Concerned About Potential Health Threat Posed by Other Restaurant Diners Than by Staff
A recent survey conducted by Columbus-based national PR firm Inspire PR Group, with marketing research firm Illuminology, found that Ohioans were more concerned about distancing themselves from other diners and possibly getting sick from them than they were about contracting COVID-19 from restaurant staff. The survey, Eating 2020: How COVID-19 Will Change Consumer Engagement with…
Distill Table in Lakewood Announces Plans to Permanently Close
Sad news to report out of Lakewood as Distill Table announces that it will close its doors for good as a result of the pandemic. The small, buzzy space is not conducive to any sort of social distancing. Following is a note from management describing the painful decision. ******** To Our Distill Table Family, Since…
Wrongfully Convicted Trio Exonerated After 45 Years Reaches $18 Million Settlement With City of Cleveland
Rickey Jackson, Kwame Ajamu and Wiley Bridgeman have reached an $18 million settlement with the city of Cleveland for their wrongful convictions in a 1975 murder case that put the trio behind bars for a combined 100 years. “I guess I would say to the world, I am elated and very satisfied that this day…
DANCECleveland To Hold a Free Facebook Live Event for Kids Tomorrow
Anyone stuck at home with kids will likely appreciate the fact that DANCECleveland will offer kids from age 3 to 6 the opportunity to join in a free Facebook Live session for its program Read to Learn…Dance to Move. The 30-minute event will be posted on DANCECleveland’s Facebook page tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Read To…
In Place of a Canceled Concert, Local Alt-Country Act Big Hoke to Host a Virtual Release Party Tomorrow
Though he might be known for the madcap polka parties he throws at the Happy Dog as DJ Kishka, Justin Gorski actually listens to a wide range of music. “I have always loved music from the ’50s and ’60s,” he says via phone. “When I grew up, there were ten people in the house, and I…
Ohio Restaurants Can Reopen on May 15 for Outside Dining and May 21 for Indoor Dining
As anticipated, Governor DeWine today gave restaurants the go-ahead to reopen — May 15 for outdoor dining and May 21 for indoor dining — assuming they follow the best practices as recommended by the restaurant advisory panel and adopted by the state. These guidelines are designed, says the Governor, to marry the science and practicality…
On the Rise Named One of Food & Wine’s 100 Best Bakeries in America
On the Rise (3471 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights) drew some deserved nationwide praise this week as it was named to Food and Wine’s 100 Best Bakeries in America list. The write-up about the beloved Cleveland Heights bakery read, “Nearly twenty years ago now, before good baguettes were a thing in a lot of other places…
Frank Jackson, Marcia Fudge to Host Virtual Town Hall Thursday Evening
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson will host a virtual town hall meeting Thursday at 5:40 p.m. to discuss the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and his plans for “rebooting” Cleveland’s economy “in a safe and responsible manner.” Jackson will be joined by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge and will take resident questions after delivering prepared remarks. The mayor…
Closing Streets to Expand Seating Would Help Struggling Restaurants and Bars. Will It Happen in Cleveland?
In cities across America and abroad, local governments are scrambling to assist struggling restaurants that are being devastated by the Coronavirus pandemic. One of the seemingly easiest solutions being advanced is the conversion of public roads, sidewalks and parks to dining and entertainment spaces. Also part of these solutions is the relaxation of zoning and…
The Ohio Department of Health is Hiring Coronavirus Contact Tracers
Looking for a new part-time job? Want to do something that makes a difference during the COVID-19 outbreak? The Ohio Department of Health has posted links to jobs for contact tracers, both entry level and supervisor roles. Now more than ever, #Ohio needs people who can make a difference. Consider joining @OHdeptofhealth as a temporary…
Quarterbacks and Quarantines — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss the waiting game for pro sports, the NFL’s decision on Browns-Steelers and a little “Last Dance” on the new A to Z Podcast. Subscribe to A to Z here or stream below.
Former Jekyll’s Kitchen, Now Called 17 River Street, Still Aiming for Summer Opening
One day before Governor DeWine ordered restaurants to close, Jekyll’s Kitchen in Chagrin Falls did just that of its own accord. The 11-year-old restaurant, which had been operated by the Hyde Park Restaurant Group, was changing hands, changing concepts and set to undergo significant physical renovations that would reshape the entire space. When we first…
Arrest Made in 1987 Cold Case Murder of Barbara Blatnik Thanks to Genetic Genealogy
Cuyahoga Falls police today announced the arrest of 67-year-old James Zastawnik of Cleveland for the December 1987 murder of Barbara Blatnik. Blatnik was just 17 when her nude, strangled body was found near Blossom Music Center, some 30 minutes away from her home, five days before Christmas. The three-decade-old cold case had received renewed interest…
80 Things We Learned in Quarantine (And Hope to Remember)
Chances are, if you are a human on the planet Earth, you’ve recently spent four to six weeks (or more) in some type of quarantine — self-imposed, government-mandated or a combination of both. Unless, of course, you’re a health care worker, essential employee or have other extenuating circumstances that meant you couldn’t safely lock yourself…
Central Kitchen Teams up With Local Farms to Offer End-Around to National Meat Shortages
Like many of us, Eric Diamond kept reading about increasing meat shortages as supply chain interruptions resulting from Coronavirus continue to mount. At the same time, he was talking to local farmers who no longer have an outlet for their fresh products thanks to shuttered or diminished-capacity restaurants. It didn’t take much reflection to attempt…
Rewind: 44 Years Ago This Week, Scene Interviewed David Bowie
This July, Cleveland Scene will turn 50 years old, and in advance of the occasion, we’ve decided to dig into the archives on a weekly basis to republish something that appeared in the paper on that date (or thereabouts) during Scene’s first decade. This interview with David Bowie by John Steel appeared in the issue that came out on…
Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In Movie Theatre Plans to Re-open May 12th
Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In (33395 Lorain Rd., North Ridgeville), Northeast Ohio’s long-running open-air movie theater, was recently given the go-ahead from the DeWine administration to restart business as soon as May 12th, albeit with new social distancing guidelines in place. “We know people want something to do right now, and we hope we can provide a…
Indie Rockers the Modern Electric Launch Cleveland Verses Foundation to Support Local Venues and Musicians
Earlier this week, the local indie rock band the Modern Electric announced that it has launched Cleveland Verses Foundation, a non-profit designed to provide financial help for local performers and venue employees who can no longer return to work because of the coronavirus pandemic. The mission is to “provide an outlet for musicians in the…
Savage Love: Finding a Sexual Middle Ground in a Marriage
I’ve been with the same amazing man a dozen years. We’ve had our ups and our downs, same as any other couple, but these days life is better than it ever has been for us. Except in the bedroom. A few years ago he started having fantasies about sucking dick. Specifically, he wanted to suck…
