Meet Cleveland’s 10 Highest Paid Public Employees
The list is out! The salaries of Cleveland’s public employees have been released in the form of a searchable list. We combed through that list, which can be found here, to find the top ten earners on Cleveland’s payroll for 2013. Mayor Frank G. Jackson comes in as the fourth highest paid employee. Many of…
Walmart Goes All Kafka For The Holidays: Food Drive Set Up for Employees (Video Update)
Two Walmart employees are seen speaking on camera about the recent tsunami of bad press stemming from a food drive taking place at the Canton store. “We as associates – we’re a family,” Cheryl says in the video. “We have come together as a team to help out those fellow associates who are in need…
Souper Market #4 Coming Soon to Kamm’s Corner
If all goes as planned, the fourth Souper Market will open in Kamm’s Corner by New Year’s Day. That soup shop is going into the space that housed Big Daddy’s Cheesesteaks (16804 Lorain Ave.), which closed earlier this year. The new location joins the original in Ohio City, an outpost in Lakewood, and the production…
Cleveland State University is the First Campus in the Nation to Launch New Safety App
Photo via Instagram Cleveland State University launched a new smartphone app today that identifies a user’s location and sends an alert signal to campus police, all with the touch of a button. “As one of the safest universities in Ohio, we regularly look to stay ahead of emerging new technologies, and this is a big…
Video: (Fictional) Cleveland Police Officer Berated On NBC Soap Opera
A Youtube user just unearthed a video of the youngest, scrawniest, and most fresh-faced officer ever to wear a Cleveland police uniform. He’s got to be high on the list for showing the most restraint in an altercation with a mouthy civilian, too. That’s because he’s an actor on NBC’s long-running daytime soap opera Days…
Fates Warning Impressive in First Cleveland Show in Nearly a Decade
Last night, Fates Warning, the masters of prog rock returned to Cleveland after nine years for a searing and tasty performance at the Agora Ballroom. The packed house of prog rockaholics was in heaven, singing along and absorbing every millisecond of the band’s expert musicianship and unique songwriting. Supporting their eleventh studio release, Darkness in…
Great Lakes Brewing Company Changes Name of Alchemy Hour IPA
Photo Courtesy of Dylan Nissen via Instagram Just after releasing Alchemy Hour Double IPA in February of 2013, the folks at Great Lakes Brewing Company learned they’d have to change the beer’s name due to an unanticipated trademark hiccup. Alchemy Hour’s new name? Chillwave. “[The trademark incident] kind of took the wind out of our…
Chef Walks Away From Restaurant to Pursue Porky Passion
Last month, Melissa Khoury walked away from her job as executive chef of Washington Place Bistro to pursue her porky passion of making charcuterie. For years she’s been supplying her restaurants, as well as those run by other chefs, with high-quality sausage and cured meats. Now, the self-described “Queen of Pork” will focus on introducing…
Ohio May Do Away With Renewable Energy Mandates
While a massive wind energy project tilts on the precipice of Lake Erie, the Statehouse is considering a bill that would rescind the renewable energy mandates that currently frame the energy efficiency in Ohio (and dozens of other states). Senate Bill 58 is widely backed by utility companies like FirstEnergy because it would rid them…
Clevelanders are Dumping Gallons of Human Urine into Lake Erie
Cleveland’s Fox 8 News published a rather frightening video report yesterday detailing the poor bathroom etiquette that goes down on game days at the Muni lot. The video opens with footage of Clevelanders slinging back beers and getting amped for kickoff, then proceeds to illustrate the cause and effect scenarios of guzzling large quantities of…
Cleveland is Center of Massive U.S. Military Accounting Fraud
From Reuters, the Cleveland office of the U.S. Defense Department’s Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has been cooking the books for years, revealing waste on a grand scale. The Reuters special feature, published yesterday, reported that fudging the numbers for the Army, Navy, Air Force and other defense agencies has been standard procedure. In the…
See Architect’s Rendering of New Gordon Square Restaurant
Back in May, we broke the news that former Lola and Bistro on Lincoln Park chef Cory Hess had inked a deal on one of the most looked-at properties in Gordon Square: the old City Grill. Well, that project, which is gearing up for February opening, now has a name and a face to go…
The Local News Is Selfie-Obsessed
NEWS! There’s one major news story today sweeping through the city today: selfies. That’s according to the local news stations on Twitter, at least, which are picking up the story that “selfie” is Oxford English Dictionary’s 2013 word of the year. Some people just love being in front of a camera. I haven’t seen any…
Orale Opens New Bar and Dining Room in Adjacent Space
All systems are go for Orale Contemporary Mexican Kitchen’s new bar and dining room, which opened this week in the space immediately next door to its Ohio City restaurant. Since August, chef and owner Roberto Rodriguez has been busy constructing a new bar, dining room and bathrooms, to go along with his new liquor license.…
16 Peanut Butter Lover Dishes You Can Find in Cleveland
November is National Peanut Lover’s Month! Peanut butter is delicious and has health benefits. It contains over 30 essential nutrients, like protein and the B vitamins. The high protein content makes peanuts a natural source of energy. Peanuts are also naturally cholesterol free. According to the National Peanut Board, women and children prefer creamy peanut…
Frank Jackson Declares “Brown and Orange Week” in Anticipation of the Upcoming Steelers Game
Photo via Instagram It’s time to show your true colors, Cleveland (and those colors had better be brown and orange). Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has officially declared this week “Brown and Orange Week,” in efforts to rally fans as the Browns gear up to take on long-time rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers. Considered to be one…
Rough game, rougher landing for Cleveland Browns yesterday
The trip back home for the Browns narrowly avoided becoming a tragic metaphor for their disastrous second half against the Bengals when the team’s plane nearly crashed as it was touching down in Cleveland in the midst of the storms that swept through the midwest yesterday. ESPN Cleveland reporter Pat McManamon writes the team hurried…
Dion Waiters and the Chamber of Secrets
One rumor which has picked up considerable steam online, despite multiple debunkings, is that Dion Waiters punched Kyrie Irving in the face during last week’s players’ only meeting after the Cavs’ garish loss to the Timberwolves. Early rumors suggested that Waiters’ performance was singled out and that things got quote “confrontational.” Those rumors have now…
Scene Podcast: Turmoil at the Museum
Read this week’s feature story, if you haven’t already, about the turmoil at the Cleveland Museum of Art after the affair, suicide and abrupt resignation that has caused an enduring scandal at one of Cleveland’s largest cultural institutions. And then dive into this week’s podcast: Host Craig Lyndall is joined by Scene writers Sam Allard…
Concert Review: John Legend at the State Theater
Hip-hop/R&B/neo-soul sensation John Legend and the very saucy opener Tamar Braxton blessed Clevelanders with their presence at the State Theater Saturday night. Legend, the Ohio native, assured his audience, “I’ll always be a Buckeye,” and mentioned his family from Springfield, Ohio, was present in the audience. Perhaps, then, he chose the carnation artwork on his…
An Interview with bluesman Robert Cray, who plays the Kent Stage tomorrow
It’s been a busy year for Robert Cray and even as the veteran bluesman begins to wind down his touring in support of his latest album Nothin’ But Love, he’s already looking ahead. When the tour wraps at the end of this week, he’ll hunker down and get set to record his next album, which…
Deer Crashes Through Window, Wrecks Havoc Inside Condo in Avon Lake
The overpopulation of deer is a growing problem in Northeast Ohio. With decreasing habitat and increasing population, these animals often venture into suburban backyards and gardens to scavenge for food. We know that deer can cause devastating car accidents, as well as damage to plants and shrubs. But, who would have thought that they could…
East Cleveland Public Library Dedicates Room to Murder Victim Shirellda Terry
Photo Courtesy of the Shirellda H. Terry Legacy & Memory Facebook Page The East Cleveland Public Library dedicated their teen department to Shirellda Terry, one of three young women allegedly robbed of her life by serial killer Michael Madison. The dedication ceremony took place over the weekend, and featured several guest speakers including Carol Rivchun,…
Drew Carey Slated to Conduct Cleveland’s New Year’s Eve Countdown in Public Square
Clevelanders planning to ring in the new year in public square this year will spot a familiar face among the masses. The folks at Ohio Homecoming Group announced this morning that funnyman and Cleveland-native Drew Carey will deliver the countdown into 2014 for all of Northeast Ohio. From 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Carey will…
Fitz and the Tantrums turned House of Blues concert into dance party
Just a year ago, indie soul outfit Fitz and the Tantrums was playing in front of hipsters at small clubs. Thanks to the success of “Out of My League,” the catchy synth-pop single from the band’s new album, More Than Just a Dream, the group’s popularity has dramatically escalated. Last night’s show at House of…
Spotted: 10 One-of-a-Kind Pieces You Can Find (and Buy!) at MOCA ArtScape
Billed as “Cleveland’s hippest art design gift event,” ArtScape offers an alternative to shopping at the big box retail stores. The Museum of Contemporary Art has curated the more than 40 local and national artists and vendors who will sell jewelry, accessories and gifts at the event. This year’s event kicks off today from 5…
Ex-Kent State Ph.D-Candidate’s Lawsuit: No Such Thing as ‘Plagiarism’ in First Drafts
Carrie Pfeiffer-Fiala, 45, was a Ph.D candidate in education at Kent State and was one dissertation away from finishing her degree last fall when she got caught up in allegations of cheating. Now, she’s suing the school for two counts of breach of contract, one count of negligent supervision, one count of defamation, and one…
FBI Seeking ‘Serial Robber’ Following This Morning’s Chase Bank Robbery in Detroit-Shoreway
The Chase bank on Detroit Road in Cleveland/Detroit-Shoreway was robbed this morning, promoting local FBI officials to string together a series of recent robberies. The man involved passed a note to the teller; no weapon use or injuries were reported. According to the FBI, the man pictured here is suspected of robbing the US Bank…
Here’s Councilman Polensek’s Badass Statement on Browns’ Stadium Upgrades
Via the Cleveland City Council Facebook page, here’s Councilman Mike Polensek speaking truth about the Cleveland Browns, First Energy Stadium and sensible use of the city’s tax dollars: I had the pleasure to attend the Cleveland Planning Commission hearing today and testify. Even though I am impressed with many of the fan enhancements proposed to…
French Ministry Removes Cleveland Suburbs from Travel Advisory List
The French Ministry ruffled a few feathers this week when it named three Cleveland suburbs on its national travel advisory list: Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, and Euclid. A lot has unfolded since then: suburbanites became pretty pissed off, Power of 5 Chief Meteorologist Mark Johnson started bashing all things French, and officials in the three cities…
Cleveland Planning Commission Denies McDonald’s Permit for Ohio City Location
The Cleveland Planning Commission voted unanimously (5-0) to deny McDonald’s a conditional use permit which would have let the fast-food giant set up shop on Lorain and W. 38th in Ohio City. The meeting this morning featured an extensive public comments portion in which residents and small-business owners argued that a McDonald’s posed a serious…
14 Places to Get Great Subs In and Around Cleveland, According to Reddit
A couple of days ago, Reddit user anlk took to the social site in hopes of satiating a desire to find some stellar new sub shops here in the Cleveland area. Under the headline Best Places to Get Subs in Cleveland, anlk posted: “Girlfriend and I want a good sub and sick of the normal…
SPACES Seeking New Location
SPACES is officially seeking a new home after 35 years. On Nov. 4, the art organization that serves as a resource and a forum for artists who explore and experiment finalized the sale of the building it has owned and occupied since 1990. The organization is seeking a more visible and vibrant setting that will also give…
John Donald Cody, the Fraudster Who Raked in $100 Million for a Fake Navy Veterans Charity, Has Been Found Guilty
A Cleveland jury found John Donald Cody, aka Bobby Thompson, guilty of stealing millions of dollars from donors to his fake national charity, the U.S. Navy Veterans Association. After a six week trial, which covered the testimony of 42 prosecution witnesses, Cody was convicted yesterday on 23 charges including theft, money laundering, tampering with records,…
Parker, the New Downtown Parking App, May Be More Dangerous Than You Think
Photo Courtesy of Instagram Finding a vacant parking space in downtown Cleveland is part sleuthing, part sport. We circle, like animals hunting for prey, outmaneuvering our fellow motorists, dodging pedestrians, bikers, and the like, only to ease into a space and discover it’s a loading zone— amiright? In Cleveland, finding parking is a vexing traffic…
Analysis: Hollie Strano is excited on Twitter! (updated)
Hollie Strano, the most enthusiastic tweeter in northeast Ohio (click to go to her page) (update): Hollie Strano is a good sport: Thank you for the love @Cleveland_Scene !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Xoxo— Hollie Strano (@holliesmiles) November 14, 2013 For the record, that’s 95 exclamation marks, which is almost certainly a new record. **** (original story, 4:15 p.m.…
Here’s One of the Anonymous Letters Sent to the Cleveland Museum of Art Trustees About David Franklin’s Affair
This week’s feature delves deep into the affair, suicide and abrupt resignation that rocked the Cleveland Museum of Art. There are multiple issues with the departure of former director David Franklin here, including what and when the museum knew of the affair and death, the Plain Dealer’s curious lack of coverage and subsequent regurgitation of…
10 Things Going on in Cleveland this Weekend (November 15-17)
Lovers of the arts, this weekend is for you— Kick off your Friday night with some artsy holiday shopping at ArtScape and a not-to-be-missed Miles Davis Tribute by the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. On Saturday, stop by contemporary artist JoAnn DePolo’s dynamic new exhibit, which features a unique collection of sculptures made entirely from outdated computer…
Welcome to the Hotel Cuyahoga
So you want to build a hotel! (…“You,” of course, being the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County and Cleveland footing the bill for the $260-million Hilton hotel slated for Ontario and Lakeside downtown. And though some of “you” may not want to build or fund or even cast a wayward glance at the comped breakfast offerings,…
Retired FBI Agent Returns to Bay Village to Reinvigorate Investigation in Amy Mihaljevic’s Kidnapping, Murder
Mihaljevic Phil Torsney, a retired FBI agent, joined Bay Village police officers yesterday to explain what lies ahead in the investigation of a heinous, evasive mystery. “I was working for the FBI back when this took place in 1989,” Torsney told the crowd, alluding to one of the region’s coldest kidnapping/murder cases. “I’m in a…
Johnny Marr Capably Revisits the Past During Sold Out Grog Shop Show
Though they only existed for a short stretch in the early ’80s, the Smiths were something special. With singer Morrissey’s crooning vocals and self-loathing lyrics and guitarist Johnny Marr’s retro-sounding guitar riffs, the band had a singular sound and vision. Marr brought some of that magic to the Grog Shop last night during a two-hour…
Cleveland Meteorologist Mark Johnson is Pissed About the French Ministry’s Travel Warning
The French Ministry struck a nerve with many a Clevelander after it recently issued a travel warning deeming three Cleveland neighborhoods unsafe. But none seem to be more upset than Power of 5 Chief Meteorologist Mark Johnson, who’s taken to social media to express his outrage. Last night, his weather report was a snarky two-word…
TOA Technologies, A Beachwood-Based Startup, is Giving Away a Retro Volkswagen Van
Photo Courtesy of TOA Technologies TOA Technologies, a Beachwood-based startup, likes to think of itself as retro. Next week at DreamForce, a huge technology user and developer conference in San Francisco, TOA will be giving away an old school VW Van. TOA Technologies specializes in scheduling and management software for companies that have large mobile…
UPDATE: President Obama is Coming to Cleveland This Week
President Obama will be in Ohio for a whole two hours today. He is slated to arrive at Cleveland Hopkins airport at approximately 2:25 this afternoon, and will make his way over to the ArcelorMittal steel mill in Cleveland to promote his energy efficiency, business attraction, and auto industry policies. He’s also likely to touch…
Rock Hall to open new Elvis Exhibit
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum has just announced that it’ll host a new exhibit devoted to rock icon Elvis Presley. Set to open at 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, this exhibit will be located in the Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall. It will center on Elvis’ Army career, the 1968 television…
Murderer of Cemia “Ce Ce” Dove Sentenced to Life in Prison
Via the Plain Dealer’s Rachel Dissell, the murderer of Cemia “Ce Ce” Dove was sentenced to life in prison today with a possibility of parole after 20 years. Dove was the transgender woman found submerged in a North Oldmsted pond in April. She was killed in January by Andrey Bridges, a jury ruled today, who…
Ex-Browns Player Trent Richardson Apparently Starred in a Sex Tape
What do former Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson and Kim Kardashian have in common? They both have been front and center of a sex tape shopping scandal. Word has it that the former 1st round NFL Draft pick was filmed having sex with at least three women, and the owner of the footage is…
Os Mutantes plays celebratory show at Oberlin’s ‘Sco
Sao Paulo, Brazil’s influential psychedelic pop group packed the house at Oberlin’s ‘Sco last night and delivered a terrific concert. Often pushed into that vague and boundless category of “world music,” Os Mutantes was part of the late-‘60s Tropicália movement and merged together traditional Brazilian sounds with outside influence. Their songs combine catchy rock ‘n’…
Electronic Music Pioneer Morton Subotnick to Perform at MOCA
One of the first recordings to make use of analog synthesizers, Morton Subotnick’s 1967 album From Silver Apples of the Moon broke new ground when it was originally released. It doesn’t sound particularly dated, as its percolating synthesizers have a sparse, metallic sound that almost sound contemporary. We spoke to Subotnick recently by phone to…
Cleveland Pickle Eyes First Week of December for Lakewood Opening
Cleveland Pickle (850 Euclid Ave., 216-575-1111) chef and owner Josh Kabat says that the second location for his popular gourmet sub shop, in the former home of Westside Yoga Studio (17100 Detroit Ave.) in Lakewood, should be up and running during the first week of December. “We’re excited to announce our Lakewood location will be…
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is Telling French Visitors to Cleveland to Avoid Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, and Euclid
If you were wondering what the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells its citizens who are contemplating a trip to Cleveland, wonder no more. According to its website, the ministry is telling French visitors to avoid the dangerous suburban neighborhoods of Cleveland Heights, Lakewood, and Euclid by night and by day. East Cleveland, it would…
Built to Spill Brings That Classic Blend of Emotion and Jammy Indie Rock to the Grog Shop
HEATHER VASELANEY Built to Spill at Grog Shop By the time the sun started ambling off the western edge of Northeast Ohio, the show was sold out. And goddammit if the fine folks over at the Grog Shop hadn’t warned ye. Plenty were left high and dry – and cold! – last night as Boise,…
You Should Watch This Chinese Rap Video About Cleveland Right Now
Local love for Cleveland is firmly established, of course. (But keep pouring it on!) You may not realize, though, that love for Cleveland crosses international borders. That and much more is showcased in a brilliant new rap video straight outta Beijing. The goods are embedded below. Listen/watch/enjoy Parma native Donny Newman (aka Li Mubai on…
Fem-Dom Fantasy is Whip-Smart in Venus in Fur at the Cleveland Play House
Okay, imagine that you’re forced to sit relatively motionless in a chair while someone teases you with a feather in some rather intimate and provocative ways. You can’t stop it from continuing, you are helpless, and you’ve forgotten your safe word. That’s kind of the feeling one experiences when watching Venus in Fur, now at…
Savage Love: Sluts ‘n Stuff
Dear Dan — Why am I such a slut? — Girl, Corrupted Are you a slut? Or are you a woman who loves sex, has a high libido, and has consensual sex with a lot of willing and grateful partners? Those are all traits for which culture wouldn’t conspire to leave you feeling conflicted or…
Regional Beat: Dan Bankhurst
At First Sight (self-released) danbankhurst.com Right from the start of his debut, local jazz guitarist Dan Bankhurst makes his affinity for the jam band Phish known with “Phishin’,” a tribute of sorts to the group. Though inspired by the guitar work of Phish’s Trey Anastasio, Bankhurst embraces a wide range of musical styles on this…
Band of the Week: Into the Blue
Meet the Band: Tim Askin (guitar and vocals), Bob Gerhard (keyboards), Bill Horschke (sound wizard), Tim Lane (drums and vocals), Steve Masek (keyboards and vocals), Dan Shramo (guitar and vocals), Darren Thompson (bass and vocals) Organic Beginnings: “We had this gig opportunity, and we had been watching other folks do this for a long time,”…
Man on a Mission: Ed Kowalczyk Plugs in for his New Album, Unplugs for his Current Tour
Singer-guitarist Ed Kowalczyk was still in middle school when he formed the spiritually-inspired rock act Live. Though that band imploded in 2009 and Kowalczyk left on such bad terms that his former bandmates filed lawsuits claiming that he had ripped them off, the guy soldiered on and just released The Flood and the Mercy, a…
Livin’ the Dream: Fitz and the Tantrums Avoid the Sophomore Slump with Their Terrific Second Full-Length Album
Singer Noelle Scaggs had been in plenty of bands before she joined the neo-soul/indie rock outfit Fitz and the Tantrums in 2008. But from the moment she attended the first practice with the group, she knew it would amount to something significant. “The synergy was there from the beginning,” she says. “[Singer] Fitz and I…
Meet The Next Lena Dunham: Indie Up-and-Comers at the Cinematheque
What do Ryan Gosling, Hilary Swank and Lena Dunham have in common? They all appeared on Filmmaker magazine’s “25 New Faces of Indie Film” list at various moments since 1988, when the quarterly publication geared toward the American independent film community started printing the annual feature to spotlight notable industry upstarts. You’ll get a chance…
Film Review of the Week: Kill Your Darlings
Not sure why there’s so much interest in Beat poet Allen Ginsberg at this particular moment in time, but we sure have been inundated with movies about the man. James Franco starred in the 2010 biopic Howl and Tom Sturridge give it a go in last year’s On the Road. Now, it’s Daniel Radcliffe’s turn.…
Humbly Yours: Humble Wine Bar Keeps its Menu Simple and Doesn’t Plan on Changing
Humble doesn’t look or act much like your garden variety wine bar. Instead of dark and woodsy, with the requisite pockmarked wood floors and crumbling brick walls, guests here are treated to a contemporary space with baby smooth concrete, yards of glass and an ocean of white subway tile. A modern tin ceiling caps off…
Your Complete Guide to Cleveland Concerts (November 14- 20)
THURSDAY, NOV 14 Bad Boys Jam: 9 p.m. Brothers Lounge. Dysrhythmia/Zevious/Clan of the Cave Bear/Red Sun: With music that’s equal parts insanity and ingenuity, the appropriately named Dysrhythmia is an intellectual firestorm of sound. They’re smart enough to create complex rhythms and harmonies but wild enough to keep it heavy and gritty. It’s easy to…
Beer Cellars Opens in Uptown with a Metric Ton of Brew Options— But How Does One Make Sense of it All?
Walk into the new Beer Cellars at Uptown in University Circle and you can’t help but notice a striking similarity to the new World of Beer store that recently opened in Lakewood. An unbounded string of tap handles – in this case 40 – is flanked on either side by glowing coolers crammed full of…
Liquor in Ohio is a Bureaucratic Human Centipede
After Prohibition, the federal government created the three-tier system of alcohol distribution to minimize collusion, prevent widespread alcohol abuse and, most important, to make money for itself. There’s the supplier, which releases a given spirit; the distributor, the middle-man between supplier and seller; and the seller, who sells that spirit to buyers. Buyers range from…
Turmoil at the Museum: Inside the Affair, Suicide and Abrupt Resignation That Rocked the Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle is one of Northeast Ohio’s flagship cultural institutions. It is home to an impressive collection of major paintings — by Degas, Monet, Caravaggio — and boasts one of the fattest endowments of any museum in the country. It was established in 1913 “for the benefit of all…
