Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is Once Again Offering Free Admission on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a trying time for many. From dealing with all the relatives you only see once a year, to battling that turkey coma, the holiday can often leave Ohioans feeling like they need to get out of the house. Thankfully, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is offering a means of escape this season with free…
Update: Stella’s Music Club to Host a Record Label Launch Party Next Week
Update: Last month, Stella’s Music Club announced that it would launch a record label. Now, it’s just released more details regarding the label. All of the artists who sign with Stella’s Records will have their music produced by locally based Jim Wirt (Incubus). During the course of his lengthy career, Wirt has won numerous awards…
LeBron’s Return to the Q Tonight Will Thankfully Be Nothing Like the Hateful Reception That Greeted Him in 2010
If, like us, you’ve partially forgotten just how vitriolic and hateful Cavs fans acted on the night of Dec. 2, 2010, there are timely reasons, as you probably know, to revisit that evening. LeBron makes his first return to Cleveland tonight as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, almost eight years to the week…
Pusha T Delivers an Energetic Performance at House of Blues
Rapper Pusha T began his career alongside his brother, No Malice, as the group Clipse. The duo released three albums between 2002 and 2009 before ultimately disbanding but not before developing a cult-like following of fans who couldn’t get enough of their detailed travails of street life in their native Virginia and beyond. Pusha pushed…
Stellar Performances Distinguish the Feel-Good Film ‘Green Book’
Though probably not destined to take home any Oscar wins, Green Book, the new period piece that stars Viggo Mortensen as an Italian bouncer and Mahershala Ali as the black pianist who hires him to be his driver, still has plenty going for it. The feel-good movie features two terrific performances from its lead actors and…
Can Drivers Avoid this Rock in the Avon Commons Parking Lot? An Investigation Reveals No
There is a rock in the Avon Commons shopping mall parking lot that seems to be causing quite a bit of trouble for drivers. As seen above, the decorative, but strong stone appears harmless, minding its own rocky business. But as Avon resident Tim Deditch posted on his Facebook page recently, at least five cars…
OSU/Michigan and LeBron’s Return to Cleveland — The A to Z Podcast with Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Andre and Zac discuss Urban Meyer’s future, what makes Ohio State vs. Michigan special, Hue Jackson’s impact on the Bengals and LeBron’s Wednesday night return to Cleveland. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
Cleveland Has Some of the Worst Pre-Thanksgiving Traffic in the Country, But it Can Be Avoided
It’s not all in your head, Cleveland has the second highest concentration of Thanksgiving traffic in the country the day prior to the holiday, a Google Trends analysis called Mapping Thanksgiving recently discovered. According to the data, as compared to Cleveland area traffic patterns on a regular Wednesday (because, duh, plenty of other cities have…
Polling Reveals Disconnect on Harm of E-Cigs While Majority of Ohioans Support Tax on Them
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Health groups say there’s a disconnect when it comes to the harmfulness of electronic cigarettes and their usage among Ohioans. New data from the 2018 Ohio Health Issues Poll shows that nearly half of Ohio adults between ages 18 to 29 have tried e-cigarettes, as well as 30 percent of adults ages…
Smog Veil Records’ Peter Laughner Boxset Closer to Completion
For years now, the folks at Smog Veil Records, the record label that specializes in reissuing old Cleveland punk releases, has worked on putting a together a restrospective of music the late Peter Laughner. Though a release date hasn’t been set, the five LP/CD box set is currently in production. “I want to be certain…
Cleveland POPS Begins the Holiday Concert Season and the Rest of the Classical Music to Catch This Week
Thanksgiving week is largely a week off for Northeast Ohio’s classical musicians, but here are four events that can lure you away from the dinner table and the shopping frenzy. The Cleveland Orchestra welcomes early music guru Nicholas McGegan back to Severance Hall for performances of Vivaldi’s ever-popular The Four Seasons on Friday and Saturday,…
Buckeye-Shaker Employee Files Class-Action Lawsuit over Unpaid Wages, Ken Johnson ‘Civil Conspiracy’
[image-1] Sunday, attorney Scott Perlmuter with the Tittle & Perlmuter law firm filed a class-action suit seeking unpaid wages for hourly employees who worked at the Buckeye Shaker Square Development Corporation this summer. The suit alleges that as many as 50 employees worked hours, primarily doing grass cutting and other manual labor, for which they…
GOP-Proposed Ohio Legislation Would Include Possible Murder Charges for Abortions
Flexing their renewed majority in Ohio’s House of Representatives, Republican lawmakers last week passed a number of pieces of staunchly conservative legislation. Those included a potential law co-sponsored by Republicans Ron Hood and Christina Hagan that would outlaw abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected — as soon as six weeks after conception. But another…
Robin Hood Reboot Lacks a Compelling Narrative
Three years ago, a script began circulating for a Robin Hood reboot. Originally dubbed Robin Hood: Origins, the script featured a plot that dwelled on the circumstances that led Robin of Loxley to turn into a crusader who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. While an origin story might work well for…
In Advance of Ministry’s Upcoming Agora Show, Singer Al Jourgensen Talks About Taking Aim at Trump
Ministry’s newest album, AmeriKKKant, features Fear Factory’s Burton C. Bell, DJ Swamp, NWA’s Arabian Prince and Lord of the Cello on nine tracks linked as one continuous piece of music. Even by Ministry standards, it’s an intense listening experience. On the opening track, “I Know Words,” singer Al Jourgensen takes aim at President Trump and samples…
In Defiance of Decency and Fact, Mayor Frank Jackson is Actually Standing By the Hiring of Lance Mason
Lance Mason, the former Cuyahoga County Judge who served nine months in prison for the brutal beating of his then-wife Aisha Fraser in 2014, and who was hired by Mayor Frank Jackson last year, is presumed to have stabbed Fraser to death this weekend in Shaker Heights. He has not yet officially been charged with Fraser’s murder,…
Shaker Heights Teachers’ Association Hosts Vigil, GoFundMe Campaign for Aisha Fraser Mason
Saturday, Shaker Heights 6th grade teacher Aisha Fraser Mason was stabbed to death at her home allegedly by estranged husband and disgraced judge Lance Mason, who is currently in police custody. The Shaker Heights School District has canceled classes for today and tomorrow and a candlelight vigil is being held tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Woodbury Elementary.…
Man Caught on Camera Stealing Scarf at Willoughby Restaurant, Internet Appalled
The Cleveland area was hit with some extremely sad and disturbing criminal activity this last week, including the alleged murder of Aisha Fraser Mason and a violent carjacking in Brooklyn Centre. But over in Willoughby, police needed help finding a man who stole … wait for it … a scarf. Seems that while patronizing the city’s…
Mushroomhead to Play a Special Krampus Christmas Show at the Agora
Given the decidedly dark nature of its music, it’s no surprise that the local metal band Mushroomhead would play a special Christmas show in honor of Krampus, the mythical creature who punishes bad children during the Christmas season. The special concert takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Agora. Tickets go…
Miracle Pop-Up Bar Brings Christmas Cocktails Back to Cleveland
What began as a holiday-themed pop-up cocktail lounge in the midst of a New York City bar’s construction five years ago, has now spread to dozens of bars around the world this Christmas season. And this year, the Miracle pop-up bar is coming back to the Spotted Owl in Tremont as well as offering a…
Sources: Ex-Wife of Former Judge, Current City Employee Lance Mason Found Dead After Domestic Incident
Sources tell Scene that Aisha Fraser Mason, the ex-wife of former county common pleas judge and current city of Cleveland employee Lance Mason, was found dead today after a domestic incident involving Mason. He’d previously been convicted of and imprisoned on domestic violence charges after he viciously beat her in 2014 in front of their…
Punch Bowl Social Opens New Indoor Mini Golf Course
As of yesterday morning, work crews were still putting the finishing touches on a makeover of Punch Bowl Social. But as of today, the makeover is complete, and the Flats East Bank restaurant now has a 9-hole mini golf course It’s also been spruced up a bit. The mini golf course has a Nordic Woodland theme…
Halestorm Singer Says She’s Thrilled to Tour with Female-Fronted Bands In This Moment and New Years Day
Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale says she and her current tour mates, In This Moment and New Years Day, have talked about touring together for years. But the three hard rock acts, each of which features a female front person, finally got their schedules synced earlier this year to hit the road together. They bring their tour…
J.R. Smith Wrote a Children’s Book, Holding Signing Next Weekend in Woodmere
Everyone’s favorite mostly-shirtless Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith is known for making headlines on and off the court. But in a rather surprising turn, the father of all girls (who asked to be traded from the LeBronless Cavs earlier this season) has now written a children’s book with his younger brother Chris Smith. Called HoopSmiths, the…
Cleveland Still Has the Worst Bed Bug Infestation Problem in the Country, Terminix Finds
In news that’s certain to make you itch all over, the pest control company Terminix reports Cleveland has the highest instances of bed bug infestations in the country. Despite Cuyahoga County raising its bed bug extermination funding last year, Cleveland unfortunately holds Terminix’s title for the second year in a row. Ohio seems to have a…
The Cleveland Arts Community Remembers the Legacy and Life of Nikki Delamotte
The city and the Cleveland arts community mourn the unnecessary and tragic death of journalist Nikki Delamotte. We shared the idea that arts writing should be for everyone, not just academics. It bears noting the hurdles creatives face, whether or not one’s work is worthy or whether the public even cares. Nikki wanted everyone to…
Canton Band Releases a Cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’
The Blue Winter, a new local band out of Canton that’s essentially a solo project for singer-songwriter Aaron Troyer, has released a few singles to date. The latest, a cover of the Fleetwood Mac tune “Landslide,” came out today. “I take great joy in writing songs, and I shoot for honesty in each one,” says…
Here’s What One of the Manhole Cover Explosions in Downtown Cleveland Last Night Sounded Like
Thanks to a rolling dash cam from YouTube user Buddy Love, you too can now know exactly what one of the manhole cover explosions — this one near West 3rd and St. Clair — sounded like last night. “What the fuck was that,” he says after the explosion, which is the only reasonable response to…
Cleveland’s Transgender Day of Remembrance Memorial, Candlelight Walk is Tonight
Raising the public’s awareness of anti-transgender hate crimes, the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is back nationwide this month. Cleveland’s own inclusive event kicks off tonight, put on by the Margie’s Hope organization. As we’ve reported earlier this year, Cleveland is sadly home to a significant percentage of transgender homicides, making tonight’s assembly all the…
9 Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend
FRIDAY, NOV. 16 The Accidentals We last saw The Accidentals in Cleveland on their tour with Keller Williams in early 2016. The show was great, and, honestly, they’ve pretty much been touring ever since — with no plans to slow down. The trio returns to Cleveland this week to showcase their chops and show off…
A Chat with Terry Pluto on LeBron, Journalism and the Browns — The A to Z Podcast With Andre Knott and Zac Jackson
Award-winning author and columnist Terry Pluto joins Andre and Zac for a discussion on his career, LeBron James, the state of journalism, the plight of the Browns and more than a little Glory Days, presented by American Fireworks. Subscribe to A to Z on iTunes here or stream below.
Ohio Lawmakers Heard Testimony on Controversial Anti-Protest Bill This Week
COLUMBUS, Ohio – There was a packed house Wednesday at an Ohio Senate committee hearing on a bill that could silence a form of free speech. Senate Bill 250 would tighten the state’s laws regarding trespassing and property damage involving oil and gas pipelines, and other industrial infrastructure. (Read more from our previous coverage here.)…
Ohio House Passes Heartbeat Bill
The Ohio House of Representatives today passed one of the nation’s strictest abortion restrictions. But even if the Senate passes it as well, it could face a veto by Gov. John Kasich. House Bill 258, sponsored by Republican State Reps. Christina Hagan and Ron Hood, would make it a fifth-degree felony to administer an abortion…
Dan Gilbert Buys Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com
Promise (noun): a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one; an express assurance on which expectation is to be based; something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected. Bait and switch (noun/adjective): denoting a deceptive method of selling, by which customers, attracted to a…
Coheed and Cambria to Play the Agora in February
The progressive metal act Coheed and Cambria has just announced the dates of a new U.S. headline tour dates that kicks off in February. The tour supports the group’s latest album, The Unheavenly Creatures. It will include a Feb. 26 date at the Agora Theatre. The indie rock act Maps & Atlases will open. A…
Festival of Laughs Returns to Playhouse Square in March
The Festival of Laughs, a touring comedy show featuring Sommore, George Wallace, Tommy Davidson, Earthquake, Tony Rock and Guy Torry, is back for 2019. The show comes to Connor Palace on March 2. Sommore will host the evening, and Earthquake [pictured] will close the night. In her more than 20-year career, Sommore has become one…
Investigative Reporter Carl Monday Leaving Channel 19, Hanging Up His Trench Coat … For Now
The Dean of Cleveland’s TV investigators, Carl Monday, has announced that after a decade working for WOIO Channel 19, he’ll be signing off. “It’s been a blast exposing government waste, consumer fraud, and corruption in Cleveland here at Channel 19,” he said in a statement. “Yes, even the marathon edits, midnight surveillance and crazy confrontations.…
This Year’s Light Up Lakewood to Include a Beer Garden
[image-1] Organizers of Light Up Lakewood, the annual holiday event that takes place on Dec. 1 in downtown Lakewood, have announced that this year’s event just became a lot more enticing. It will now include a beer garden. Located at the intersection of Mars and Detroit Avenues, the Roundstone Beer Garden will be open from…
RTA Red Line Train Slowly Breaks Through Banner, Celebrates 50 Years of Airport Service
Happy 50th anniversary!! Here’s to the next 50!! pic.twitter.com/fp50UQA0q6 — Greater Cleveland RTA (@GCRTA) November 15, 2018 Above, watch an RTA Red Line train slowly break through a banner commemorating the 50th anniversary of direct rail service to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The banner ceremony is a callback to 1968, when on Nov. 15, per…
INKcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival to Return in 2019
More than 30 bands performed earlier this year at the inaugural INKcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival that took place at the Historic Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield. The bill included acts such as Rise Against, A Day to Remember, Bush, Black Label Society, Clutch, Our Lady Peace, Suicidal Tendencies, Fuel, Hatebreed, Sevendust, Living Colour and Alien…
Amy Ray Embraces Country and Draws From Her Punk-ish Past for Her New Solo Album
For more than 30 years, the Indigo Girls have been examining differences. “What separates me from you,” asks singer-guitarist Amy Ray in “Tried to Be True,” a track from the group’s 1989 self-titled major label debut. The pair have been longtime advocates, using their songwriting as a platform to explore a variety of topics and…
Ohio House of Representatives, Which is Definitely Not Racist, Does Racist Thing as it Passes Racist Bill
Wednesday, the Ohio House of Representatives voted along party lines to pass a “Stand Your Ground” bill which Democratic lawmakers who oppose it refer to as the “Kill at Will” bill. They say it will endanger Ohio’s communities by allowing individuals to “shoot first and ask questions later.” The bill would reduce some firearm offenses to…
Cleveland Play House Offers $5 ‘A Christmas Story’ Tickets for Ohio Direction Cardholders
Cleveland’s favorite Christmas movie featuring a glowing leg lamp has gotten the stage treatment annually with the Cleveland Play House for some time. This year, wanting to include as many as possible in the A Christmas Story action, the theater company is offering $5 tickets for Ohio Direction Cardholders. Members can secure up to eight tickets…
In Advance of This Week’s Hard Rock Live Show, Little Steven Talks About His New Live Album
When we last spoke with singer-guitarist Little Steven Van Zandt, the timing was perfect. He was not only re-launching his long dormant solo career but also bringing the full package — a gargantuan 15-piece band out onto the road to replicate what he had done in the studio for 2017’s Soulfire. The album, a wonderfully…
Pinecrest Announces Its Holiday Happenings and New Store Openings
Pinecrest has just announced its schedule of holiday happenings and grand opening celebrations. Illumin18, its inaugural holiday lighting event, takes place on Sunday. It’ll include family-friendly activities and performances, including the opening of its Central Park skating rink. Ohio City Singers, the local ensemble that plays original Christmas music, will perform at 4:30 p.m., and…
Jon Bellion Coming to Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica in 2019
Rapper/singer-songwriter/producer Jon Bellion has just announced dates in support of his new album, Glory Sound Prep, and the jaunt includes an Aug. 3 stop at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica. The album marks Bellion’s follow-up to his 2016 debut, The Human Condition. All three legs of the tour in support of that album sold out. Tickets…
Taco Bell Brings the Party to Downtown Cleveland With Reservation-Only Options
Taco Bell is getting into the party business. For the first time, the fast food chain (well known for its feeding of the late-night high/drunk masses) is offering special party box options at 10 of its Taco Bell Cantina locations around the country, including the downtown Cleveland spot. Starting Nov. 24, Americanized Mexican food fans…
Ohio House Could Pass Stand Your Ground Today
Ohio looks likely to get its very own “Stand Your Ground” law soon. House Bill 228, which Ohio House members will vote on today, would remove requirements that Ohio residents try to flee a confrontation before using deadly force in self-defense. Supporters, including gun rights groups, say removing the so-called “duty to retreat” gives residents…
Columbus Offered Amazon More Incentives than New York, D.C. and Nashville Combined
A report in the Columbus Business Journal published Tuesday listed many of the tax incentives that Ohio’s capital city offered Amazon in its bid to lure the tech giant’s second headquarters to central Ohio. Over 30 years, a grand total of $2.8 billion in tax breaks and incentives were offered, exceeding — according to the…
Here’s a Trevor Bauer “Bauer Outage for America #BOFA” Shirt You Can Buy
[image-1] As we come upon gift-giving season, Tribe fans might want to add the latest offering from Trevor Bauer to their wish list — the Bauer Outage for America (#BOFA) t-shirt, now retailing for a bargain $29.69 on the pitcher’s website. The $0.69 portion of the pricetag is no coincidence, of course, but simply another…
Steve McQueen’s ‘Widows’ is Not Your Conventional Heist Flick
In his first feature film since the Best Picture-winning 12 Years a Slave (2013), director Steve McQueen returns with a slick, taut thriller about race and crime and politics. There’s a police shooting. A heist gone wrong. A racially divisive alderman’s race on Chicago’s South Side. Another heist! These storylines, brought to you by a…
‘Wildlife’ Starts Slow, But is Redeemed With Incredible Performances
Richard Ford’s novels and short stories have received wide acclaim, and critics have likened the author to Hemingway and Faulkner on account of his ability to create compelling narratives and complex characters. His 1990 novel Wildlife, however, isn’t generally regarded as one of his best works and certainly hasn’t been as anthologized as either 1987’s…
After Revelations of Sustained Misuse of Public Dollars by Ken Johnson, What’ll Happen to Ward 4’s Long-Tenured Councilman?
In 2017, 54-year-old small business owner Gail Sparks ran against Councilman Ken Johnson in Cleveland’s Ward 4, an area that includes portions of Buckeye-Shaker (including Shaker Square), Woodland and Mt. Pleasant. Sparks ultimately lost the election, but came within 13 percentage points. Other than the razor-thin margins that separated candidates in three contentious races where…
‘Instant Family’ is Yet Another Mildly Funny But Ultimately Forgettable Film From Wahlberg
After earning a few Oscar nods in the early 2000s, actor Mark Wahlberg has gravitated to throwaway comedic roles. He teamed up with funny man Will Ferrell in 2010’s The Other Guys and then worked with Ferrell again on Daddy’s Home and its lame-brained sequel, last year’s Daddy’s Home 2. Wahlberg’s latest venture, Instant Family,…
Band of the Week: The Sonder Bombs
MEET THE BAND:Willow Hawks (vocals, ukulele), Jimmy Lo Fi (electric guitar), Kevin Cappy (bass), Eric Heald (drums) JAM ON IT: Hawks and Lo Fi met through a mutual friend two years ago. At first, they just jammed to see if they might be compatible. “Initially, [Lo Fi] was going to help me record demos, so I…
Trio Might Face an Uphill Battle, but It’s Primed to Come Out on Top
It was approaching the end of autumn and I’d somehow missed every single clambake that had dotted my calendar. During that same period of time I managed to dodge all versions encountered at restaurants because rubbery clams and dried-out chicken never seem to capture the spirit and flavor of the season. But, at the suggestion…
Savage Love: Bound and Gagging
I’ve always wanted to tie girls up, but I can never convince a woman to let me. Lately, I’ve been exploring “bondage singles” sites online, but I’m totally new to this. How do I know which ones I can trust? There are hundreds of profiles, but it’s hard for me to believe I can really…
Get Out: Everything You Should Be Doing in Cleveland This Week (Nov. 14-20)
WED 11/14 Cleveland Stories Dinner Party The goal of Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to “bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past — from sports, to rock ‘n’ roll, to Millionaires’ Row,” as it’s put in a press release. Admission is free, with no cover charge, although a prix fixe…
‘Day of Absence’ at Karamu House Hits Us Right Where We All Live
As we watch the clown show from hell play out in Washington, D.C., many may feel baffled about how to put what this country is going through into an understandable context. Well, guess what? Karamu House has fashioned the ideal context in their current production of Day of Absence by Douglas Turner Ward. Ward wrote…
